APPROVED Sutton Conservation Commission
Meeting Minutes
July 9, 2008 @ 6:30 p.m.
Present: Betsy Forsham, Don Davis, Garrett Evans, Gerry Putnam, Tim Davis, Leslie Ward, Walter Baker and Rick Goddard. Jean LaChance and Leon Malan were absent.
Chair Betsy Forsham called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Garrett was appointed to sit in for Jean.
Dan Sundquist met with the Board to continue the work on developing a long range conservation plan. Dan passed out a typed list of the areas discussed by the SCC at the last gathering as well as some other resource factors for comparison. The groups generally fall into two categories, natural resources and cultural resources. Under these groupings there are subcategories such as water resources and wildlife habitat which will encompass the major data that will be pulled together fro mapping. Dan has added the category of Connectivity, offering a different type of analysis that includes the consideration of land conservation in neighboring towns. The next step will be to put the information together on a set of maps. Betsy asked Dan what the SCC would do with these maps once generated. Dan answered the process will build
an understanding for the Board of the available resources. The goal is to find areas of the highest concentration of conservation value. This may then be used to help in the land planning process. It was decided the mapping would be taken in blocks, starting with the water resources. The Board again thanked Dan for his volunteer efforts.
The Board heard information on a proposed easement sale by the Bower family, on Kearsarge Gore Road, to the Forest Society. The Forest Society is interested in holding the easement and being responsible for the monitoring but is not looking to fund the project. It was suggested that this would be a perfect project for an LCHIP grant. The land involved is approximately 500 acres on Kearsarge mountain, about 100 of which is in Sutton, with the remainder in Warner. The Board is interested in the proposal and would like to receive more information. Leslie will let Brian Hotz know.
Review Previous Minutes:
A motion was made by Gerry to accept the minutes of June 11, 2008 as written. Tim seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.
Financial:
Betsy reported there were only secretarial expenses for the Town account for June and the balance was $2,288.37, which is 74.52% of the budget. The Conservation Fund Account total, as of the end of the month, was $107,979.67, with $97,178.20 in the Conservation Fund and $10,801.47 in the KHR Fund. Betsy added there would be some expenditure upcoming for the mowing at KHR as well as a bill from Bristol, Sweet for $334.90, for work relating to the Crowell easement that had not been processed by the bank yet.
Correspondence:
Betsy reported she received a copy of the ASLPT monitoring report for the Putnam property, dated June 25th and that all was fine.
Betsy said the Russell Pond easement with ASLPT should be recorded by the end of the week and that she sent a memo to ASLPT with the requested documents.
Betsy reported she received the ASLPT monitoring report for the Lefferts/ Enroth easement, dated June 27th, and that they had concerns regarding the Haines/ Lefferts property line. Betsy let them
know the SCC was aware of this issue and is working on addressing it. Betsy informed the Board she spoke with Doug of Bristol, Sweet and he felt he had enough information to lay out the line and that in should be in the ballpark of $800.
A Motion was made by Tim to expend $800 from the Conservation Fund to survey the line between the Haines and the Lefferts property regarding the Lefferts/ Enroth easement land. Seconded by Leslie. Unanimously approved. Betsy will let Doug know.
The Haines well was discussed. Betsy will call Alec McKinnon to ask about old snow fencing. Tim will inquire at DOT.
Betsy handed out miscellaneous correspondence.
Review of Wetlands Applications and Permits:
Begin Homes, T/L # 4-578,390, Brown Rd., copy of DES request, File # 2008-00168, dated 6/19/08, for photographs to complete “Request for More Information” of 4/18/08.
Blaisdell Lake Protective Association, Wright’s Beach, received approval to replenish the beach, dated 7/2/08, Wetlands & Non-Site Specific Permit, # 2007-02991.
Russell Ellsworth, Blaisdell Lake, T/L 2-542,190, Old Blaisdell Road, Permit by Notification to replace old concrete foundation on boathouse. Betsy reported she had signed the permit.
Fredrick and Jane Pratt, T/L 2-489,159, Camp Kemah Road on Blaisdell Lake, Minimum Impact Expedited Application received, to fix areas of an existing concrete retaining shoreline wall. Betsy asked the Board if she should sign.
A Motion was made by Leslie to sign the application. Seconded by Rick. Unanimously approved.
Betsy noted that both projects, Ellsworth and Pratt, would be done when the lake is drawn down this fall.
Betsy read a draft letter she composed regarding notification of commencement of work in wetland areas. She entertained comments and said she was looking for an approval of the concept, which was so approved. She will email the draft letter to the members.
Review of Intents to Cut & Logging Issues:
Peter Messer, Haines and Summit Road, T/M # 10/777,044. Betsy reported the Complete Forestry Notification was received.
O’Malley, T/L #1-192,030, East Sutton Rd., Mike Carter, logger. 60 of 90 acres. Betsy reported the Complete Forestry Notification was received, dated June 26th. It was noted there were some concerns from abutters.
Old Business:
Betsy noted the ASLPT/ Russell Pond conservation easement and the Lefferts/ Enroth easement were discussed earlier. Rick announced the milfoil sign was up at Russell Pond. The Board thanked him for the work. It was noted there were automobile tracks seen in the field. Discussion ensued and it was decided a sign with the wording “Hay field Foot Traffic Only” should be erected. Don will make the sign and Rick will install it.
Sutton Conservation Commission 2 July 9, 2008
Betsy announced she had received a letter from Haines, dated June 27th, giving permission for the Board to put a fence around the well.
New Business:
There was discussion regarding the apparent parking on Keyser Street near the granite bench, on the Town’s Lefferts property, which has caused concerns for both safety and aesthetics. Betsy will put up a “No Parking” sign.
SCC Properties and Greenway Reports:
Betsy reported she spoke with Leighton White and that he was informing the Board of upcoming clearing under the power lines at KHR.
Betsy reported one of the monitoring groups for the KHR mentioned the warming hut up by the towers had been trashed. The Board agreed it was time to get rid of the building. Options discussed were to have it burned or torn down, but there were no clear solutions. The site will be viewed and there will be further discussion on how to pursue. There was another monitoring complaint regarding debris near one of the tower fences. The Board concluded this is probably not on SCC land, but Betsy will look into it and report back.
Don announced the trail work dayon 6/14 was successful. He, Tim, Betsy, and son Donnie walked the new trail he had created, connecting the two entrances of KHR (Nichols Trail).
Any Other Business:
Don reported Gerry Gold of the Greenway contacted him with concerns that the work at the Middle School was not getting done. Don said he informed him the school was planning on seeding in the fall as well as posting signs at the trail crossing. He added Gold mentioned he would like to establish a new trail to link Muster Field Farm with King Hill Reservation. Betsy said he would be coming before the Board in August to discuss this issue further.
Don reported the Middle School is going to be building a nature trail and added he did not know any specifics but that they are looking for volunteers.
Betsy asked if Gerry Gagnon could mow the bittersweet at the Enroth Gift entrance. It was agreed and she will give him a call.
Don mentioned he saw a pink water lily on Kezar and the concern that it is not natural to the water body. It will be looked into further.
Garrettt said he is going to measure the distance needed for the bridge on the Crowell property and that stakes will be put in the ground to mark where the stones will go. Betsy said she has not heard back from Crowell regarding the sign and that she will make one more attempt to reach him.
9:00 p.m. A motion was made by Gerry to adjourn the meeting. Tim seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Swett, Secretary
Sutton Conservation Commission 3 July 9, 2008
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