APPROVED Sutton Conservation Commission
Meeting Minutes
January 9, 2008 @ 7:00 p.m.
Present: Betsy Forsham, Don Davis, Garrett Evans, Leslie Ward, Tim Davis, Gerry Putnam, Rick Goddard and Jean LaChance. Bill Curless and George Wells were absent.
Chair Betsy Forsham called the regular meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Review Previous Minutes:
A motion was made by Leslie to accept the minutes of December 12, 2007, as written. Jean seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.
A motion was made by Tim to accept the Public Hearing minutes of December 18, 2007, as written. Jean seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.
Financial:
Betsy reported the Town account balance was $419.62, which is 12% of the budget.
The Conservation Fund Account total, as of the end of the month, was $223,930.78. This figure includes payments to Nobis Engineering and the final payment regarding the creation of the Wells easement.
Correspondence:
Betsy handed out miscellaneous correspondence.
Review of Wetlands Applications and Permits:
Notice of Administrative Completeness, Standard Dredge & Fill Application, Blaisdell Lake Protective Assoc., dated 12/19/07, T/L #2-704,486, Rt. 114 & Blaisdell Lake; for beach restoration through removal of a concrete pad and grass, then replenishing with sand. This site was inspected last summer and the Board agreed there were no objections.
Betsy read a letter that was copied to the SCC, from DES to O’Malley, dated January 2, 2008, concerning Shaun Hathaway and Lost Cloud, DES File’s 2005-01301 and 2007-999, T/L # 1/192,030; Eaton Grange Road, Sutton. This is a response from DES to a request from Hathaway to view the site for previous logging violations. DES informed Hathaway and owner O’Malley that although the violations were already present, the owner was still responsible for repairs to the wetland impacts.
Review of Intents to Cut & Logging Issues:
There were no Intents to cut.
Betsy reported she had received a copy of a letter from the Division of Forests and Lands to Nicholas Brunet of Green Crow, Eaton Grange Road, Sutton. She called William Guinn, the Regional Forester, and asked what prompted the letter. She was told the owner wanted to clear and stump the lot and then reseed it to pasture/meadowland and wanted to be assured he was not violating any timber laws. McGuinn indicated he told the owners that he was not, but that there were DES site-specific rules he would probably need to follow. No action required from the SCC.
Old Business:
Betsy updated the Board on the Crowell land acquisition. Crowell’s lawyer, Malcolm Milne, sent the proposed boundary line agreements and Purchase and Sales Agreement drafts to both the Town’s attorney and Attorney Chiarella for review and comment. It is hoped that the attorneys will review and finalize the drafts sometime during the week of January 14th. The survey plan mylar needs to be made by Bristol & Sweet and recorded at the MCRD. Betsy indicated that she and Milne agreed to try and have the project finalized by the end of February.
Betsy asked Garrett where the Stockwells were on the boundary line agreement deed. Garrett said they wanted their lawyers to look at it, and he will email them again to check on the status.
Betsy reported the Select Board reviewed an email from her in which she outlined the problems regarding a boundary line agreement between Crowell and the heirs of Myrtle Wells lot. The Board agreed the problems do not pose a significant risk to the Town and should not hold up the Crowell project. Betsy forwarded a copy of the minutes, which stated this, to all the lawyers.
There was a Board discussion regarding the name for the sign for the Crowell land. The wording “Crowell/Webb Woodlot” was favored. This will be discussed again in February.
New Business:
Betsy raised the issue of positions up for reappointment in 2008. There was discussion.
Betsy mentioned Dan Sundquist had suggested the SCC develop a Comprehensive Conservation Plan and that he offered his services. The Board discussed the idea. On behalf of the SCC, Leslie will invite Dan to meet with the Board at the February 13th meeting, at 7:00p.m.
Betsy dispersed a draft copy of the Town Report submission. She asked for comments, suggestions, and changes and to let her know by the weekend when she will finalize the report to submit to the Town the first of the week. Garrett will email the pictures of the Board to Elly Phillips.
The Board discussed the need to change the meeting time for March due to the conflict with Town voting and Town Meeting. A temporary date of Thursday March 6th was picked. Betsy will check with the Town to see if there are any conflicts and the date will be finalized at the February meeting.
SCC Properties and Greenway Reports:
There were no reports
Any Other Business:
None
8:00 p.m. A motion was made by Leslie to adjourn the meeting. Garrett seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Swett, Secretary
Sutton Conservation Commission 2 January 9, 2008
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