APPROVED Sutton Conservation Commission
Meeting Minutes
June 11, 2008 @ 7:00 p.m.
Present: Betsy Forsham, Don Davis, Garrett Evans, Gerry Putnam, Tim Davis, Walter Baker and Rick Goddard. Jean LaChance arrived late. Leslie Ward and Leon Malan were absent.
Chair Betsy Forsham called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Review Previous Minutes:
A motion was made by Tim to accept the minutes of May 14, 2008 as written. Gerry seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.
Financial:
Betsy reported there were no expenses for the Town account for May and the balance was $2,435.68, which is 79.31% of the budget. The Conservation Fund Account total, as of the end of the month, was $107,785.30, with $97,003.27 in the Conservation Fund and $10,782.03 in the KHR Fund. She noted that recent Board of Selectmen minutes showed a Change in Use Tax had been assessed in the amount of $11,200. We will be receiving this at some point.
Correspondence:
Betsy reported on a copy of a letter she received, dated June 9, from the Board of Selectmen to Beth Palmer of the Kearsarge Mountineers Snowmobile Club, Inc. This was regarding a request for authorization to use Class VI and Class V summer maintained roads for their snowmobile trail system. Don said there would need to be copies of permission from the abutting property owners. As regards the KHR, Tim wanted to know where the trail would be and added some areas will be off limits. Betsy said stay tuned for more information.
Betsy handed out miscellaneous correspondence.
Review of Wetlands Applications and Permits:
A Denial of Request for Reconsideration letter from DES Wetlands Bureau, dated 5/29/08, to Pickman & Sons Development, LLC subdivision, File # 2007-01160, Old Sutton Rd.
Review of Intents to Cut & Logging Issues:
Peter Messer, Haines and Summit Road, T/M # 10/777,044. The logger is Brook Weathers.
Pfeifle/Erickson timber cut off Cottage Lane, T/L 2-041,017. Betsy updated the Board on the wetland issues/violations on the Warner side of the property. Betsy reported she had phoned the state forester, Doug Miner, on June 2nd and he had given her an update. Betsy also spoke with Eric Skoglund at DES. He had said he had looked at the site, saw three minor impacts and ordered Carter to clean them up by July 31, 2008.
Old Business:
Betsy reported the Town attorney was reviewing the draft ASLPT/ Russell Pond conservation easement.
Betsy reported she received an email from Dan Sundquist stating he was unable to come tonight but that he would generate a list and would like to come back in July. Betsy will ask that he send the list ahead of time.
There was discussion of the Crowell sign.
New Business:
There was discussion regarding the placement of a milfoil sign at Russell Pond.
It was brought to the Board’s attention that the Greenway trail sign by Pressey Bridge was gone. Jean will pass this on to the Greenway Committee.
Don reported the Kearsarge Middle School would be putting up signs where the Greenway Trail crosses the road.
There was discussion regarding Senate bill 381 which will become effective January 1, 2009. This pertains to purchasing interest in conservation lands outside a Town’s boundaries.
Betsy announced that the SPNHF’s annual meeting will be held at Muster Field Farm this year, on September 20th. She indicated that she had been asked by Dan Sundquist & Dave Anderson to help with a tour of the three protected properties in the area, as was done at the Saving Special Places workshop this past spring. The properties are the Muster Field Farm, the Putnam’s and KHR. Betsy asked if Don would be willing to help her with the KHR portion, to which he agreed. She will let Dan and Dave know.
SCC Properties and Greenway Reports:
Betsy reported she spoke with Jay Haines regarding the well near the proposed trail on the Lefferts/ Enroth property. Jay has graciously allowed the SCC to erect a fence around the well. Betsy asked for acknowledgment in writing. Types of fencing were discussed. Tim will call Paul to ask about snow fencing.
Betsy reported there is no monumentation on the Lefferts property along the boundary with Haines and added Bristol and Sweet would be willing to flag this area. Betsy asked the Board if they thought this was important. The Board agreed it was and agreed the flagging would be okay if the cost is minimal. Betsy will find out and email the members.
There was discussion regarding the lines on the KHR property that are unclear. The Board agreed these lines should be flagged.
Tim reported on the Crowell property. He, Garrett and Betsy met on site on5/29. They decided where some big rocks and logs were to be placed, at the end of the parking lot, to keep wheeled vehicles off the old woods roads. He said it would be good to mow the present old logging roads for
Sutton Conservation Commission 2 June 11, 2008
now, and that other expansion of trails could come later. He found a good spot for a bridge across the river but added it will be hard to get the materials in to the location. Don will check on getting a 4 wheeler that can tow the pole in. Walter volunteered to do the drilling and provide rebar. Garrett will talk to McMannis and or Rowe about the rocks.
Tim reported the amount of WHIP grant money still available was $14,000,and that it was available until 2010 or 2011. He reminded the Board that any project would include the Board being responsible for 25% of the cost. Betsy asked if some of the money could be used to mow KHR. Tim replied it could be used for this purpose. Tim will contact Mike for pre-approval. Other possible uses of the grant money were discussed and included drainage, brontosaurus work and other mowing.
Don announced the Trail Day would be this Saturday and reminded the Board a new volunteer list needed to be generated. The Board brainstormed potential volunteers.
Any Other Business:
Tim mentioned the application date for the Converts Program Seminar would be June 20th. This will take place at the Harris Center in Hancock and is a multi-day seminar.
Garrett reported Edna of the NHDHR will not be able to come before the Board for another couple of months and that she said it was fine to start collecting black and white photographs of important places.
Betsy mentioned the possibility of the SCC, and maybe the Planning Board, hosting a public informational session on”Conservation Design Subdivisions”, which is subdividing for optimum open space, maybe sometime in October. A woman from DES gave such a presentation at a recent workshop Betsy attended and it was great. The Board indicated that this idea should be pursued.
8:30 p.m. A motion was made by Gerry to adjourn the meeting. Jean seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Swett, Secretary
Sutton Conservation Commission 3 June 11, 2008
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