Approved Sutton Conservation Commission
Meeting Minutes
October 10, 2007 @ 7:00 p.m.
Present: Betsy Forsham, Don Davis, Gerry Putnam, Rick Goddard and Jean LaChance. Bill Curless, Garrett Evans, Leslie Ward, Tim Davis and George Wells were absent.
Chair Betsy Forsham called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Rick was appointed to sit in for Leslie.
Review of September 12, 2007 Minutes:
A motion was made by Jean to accept the minutes of September 12, 2007. Gerry seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.
Financial:
Betsy reported the Town account balance was $1,665.04 as of the end of the month, which is 47.68% of the budget. Expenditures for the month were $551.
The Conservation Fund Account total, as of the end of the month, was $218,981.23, with
$11,340.64 in the KHR Fund and $207,640.59 in the Conservation Fund. $11,300 was received on
September 11 and $1,300 was expended to the ASLPT for the stewardship fund for the
Lefferts/Enroth easement.
Betsy asked the Board to be thinking about any additions to the budget for next year, as she will be
bringing the issue up at the next meeting.
Jean asked if there is still money available for mowing. Betsy replied this year’s mowing would be 75% covered through WHIP and added there are still two more years with the grant money from the Fish and Game available (There were originally six years).
Betsy asked the Board which fund should be used to pay the mowing bill of approximately $1,000
For KHR. The Board agreed the payment should be made from the KHR fund.
Betsy reported she received a bill from the attorney for the Wells easement for $2,500 and the funds appropriated at a special public hearing were insufficient to cover all the costs. She furthered there will need to be another public hearing to authorize more funds. The Board agreed to ask for $3,000 unless Betsy receives information that less is needed. A public hearing will be set for November 14 at 6:30 p.m.
Correspondence:
Betsy reported she received a thank you note from ASLPT for the donation of $1,300 to their Stewardship Fund for the Lefferts/Enroth Easement.
A letter from Banks Gallery regarding this years painting of conservation lands. The artist will be T.M. Nicholas.
There will be a Land Summit on October 27 at the High School sponsored by the ASLPT.
A workshop “Caring for Your Forest”’ for landowners in Plainfield and Epsom October 19, and November 2 and 9. Hosted by NRCS, NH Timberland Assoc., NH Div. Of Forests and Lands, and the UNH Cooperative Extension.
UNH Coop Extension’s “Landscaping at the Water’s Edge”’ an ecological approach to landscaping shoreline property. October 4 and 11 in Meredith.
Information on grants from PSNH for grassroots environmental projects. Don will review.
A workshop on November 1st in Bristol on Forest Laws.
Review of Wetlands Applications and Permits:
Betsy reported she received supplemental information pertaining to the preliminary report from Environmental and Groundwater Assoc. Inc. regarding the large groundwater withdrawal project, source #5, in Eastman.
A standard dredge and fill, Jessica Blaney, Route 103, T/M # 1/406,086. Betsy reported she reviewed the application and there were no issues.
A Complete Forestry Notification, Dave Anderson, Meeting House Hill Road, T/M # 4/192,453; re file# 2007-02270. This is for wetlands crossings.
Review of Intents to Cut & Logging Issues:
Wayne Wheeler, Jolly Farm Road T/L #2/242,536. Mike Carter is the logger. Betsy indicated there is a stream involved and this should be watched. Garrett and Rick will review the site.
The Duntleys, Roby Road, T/L #1/860,478. The logger is John Richardson. Betsy reported she did not see any wetland issues but will give to Garrett for review.
Old Business:
Betsy reported the Lefferts/Enroth easement was officially recorded on September 12. She was given signs to put up with one accidentally being erected at Russell Pond. Tim will make sure the misplaced sign gets to it’s home on Keyser Street. Betsy added the baseline documentation from ASLPT was received. Don asked if work could be done on a trail. Betsy answered the members can start on a layout.
There was a site walk on September 27 on a property of interest.
New Business:
Betsy asked the Board members to check on the yellow class VI road signs to make sure they were up and in good condition and she added she had already checked three.
Betsy mentioned there were a number of trees that were the remains of a blow down on Wadleigh Hill Road that contained a great deal of firewood if anyone was interested.
Sutton Conservation Commission 2 October 10, 2007
Betsy reported the mowing of KHR was done on September 30 by Peter Stanely and Dave Carey encompassing the two long trails, the road in and the log landing. She added that Peter remarked that the mowing was certainly worthwhile, as signs of animals browsing were everywhere. He felt the three-year rotation worked well. Betsy has not received the bill yet. She will send it to WHIP for the 75% reimbursement as soon as she does.
Betsy reported Mike and Kelly Daley were responsible for the unknown mowing on parts of KHR and that in a conversation with Mike she was informed that he wishes to continue mowing as well as become involved in helping the Commission on trail days. Betsy thanked him for his interest and suggested a meeting some afternoon at the Town Hall with Tim and Don, to discuss the particulars.
SCC Properties and Greenway Reports:
Don reported he received a call from Gerry Gold of the Greenway Commission and that he was upset about the trail through the new Middle School property. Gold expressed that the septic system had been put over the trail and that the Middle School was trespassing on State land. Don informed him first that the State land boundary was some distance away and had not been infringed upon. Regarding the septic system Don answered it is right up to the edge of the trail but not overlapping. Don added any changes are up to the Middle School adding they have made an effort to maintain the Greenway trail, even tarring the area where they cross the driveway. Don suggested after the construction has settled he and Jean talk with the Middle School regarding the possibility of moving the section of the trail away from the septic system to
create a buffer zone..
Don discussed some work he would like to have Matt Ordway do regarding gravel fill and drainage at the KHR.
A motion was made by Betsy to allow Don to oversee gravel and drainage work at KHR on the Hominy Pot Trail, not to exceed $1,500. Jean seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.
Don brought up the issue of putting the mowing at KHR out to bid next year, as someone had approached him who is interested in doing the work. The Board felt it should be discussed when more SCC members are present.
Betsy noted that Gerry Gagnon has mowed the entrance to and “parking area” of the Enroth gift property on Rt. 114. She added it looks great.
Any Other Business:
Jean announced the Sutton Historical Society would be honoring several residents, including Gene Aubert, the past president of the Sutton Conservation Commission, on October 21 at the annual meeting.
9:00 p.m. A motion was made by Jean to adjourn the meeting. Rick seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Swett
Secretary
Sutton Conservation Commission 3 October 10, 2007
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