APPROVED Sutton Conservation Commission
Meeting Minutes
September 10, 2008 @ 6:30 p.m.
Present: Betsy Forsham, Jean LaChance, Rick Goddard, Gerry Putnam, Tim Davis and Leslie Ward. Don Davis and Wally Baker arrived late. Garrett Evans and Leon Malan were absent, as was secretary Jen Swett. Betsy will take the minutes.
Chair Betsy Forsham called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Dan Sundquist present for more work on the Long Range Conservation Plan. He reviewed with us three beautiful maps he had created - a base map with all the tax lots shown as well as conservation lands, and two others showing water resources, steep slopes, hydric soils, etc. More next meeting.
Review Previous Minutes:
A motion was made by Jean to accept the minutes of August 13, 2008 as written, seconded by Don. The motion was unanimously approved.
Financial:
Betsy reported there were only secretarial expenses for the Town account for August and the balance was $2109.03, which is 68.68 % of the budget. She noted that she had submitted an invoice to the bookkeeper for payment of annual dues, which will show in the Sept. report. The Conservation Fund Account total, as of the end of the month, was $108,046.58, with $97,204.79 in the Conservation Fund and $10,841.79 in the KHR Fund. We will be paying the ASLPT Stewardship donation for the Russell Pond easement this month, as well as the brontosaurus work at KHR, if it gets done. Betsy noted that she saw in recent Selectmen’s minutes that more LUCT is due for collection.
Correspondence:
-Letter and documents received from Beth McGuinn of the ASLPT concerning the finalization and recording (on 8/29/08) of the Thad & Virginia Johnson conservation easement, in Sutton Mills, with thanks to the SCC for its part in the process.
-Email from Peter Steckler of the Nature Conservancy with request to help update NH Conservation/Public Lands Data Layer Map created by NH GRANIT. Betsy will review the current Sutton map when she receives it from Mr. Steckler. Dan offered to help with the GRANIT forms which should accompany any changes.
- Reminder that the Forest Society’s annual meeting will be September 20th at Muster Field Farm.
- Email request from Laura Alexander of the ASLPT Outreach Committee for Sutton Board members’ addresses for flyer mailing about a workshop on Nov. 13. Betsy forwarded the SCC roster to her.
-Betsy handed out miscellaneous correspondence.
Review of Wetlands Applications and Permits:
Minimum Impact Expedited Application, dated 9/2/08, received for William Hallahan, T/L #2-624,462, Route 114 and Blaisdell Lake, for repairs to existing retaining wall. Notification of Administrative Completeness, dated 9/4/08, also received.
Review of Intents to Cut & Logging Issues:
-Garrett told Betsy that he had viewed the O’Malley/Carter timber cut, T/L #1-192,030, East Sutton Rd.. They have finished the operation and all the wetland crossings appear to have been removed.
- W. & N. Whitehead, T/L #9-668,062, Shaker Rd., M. Carter, logger. 7 of 25 acres. We have also received the Complete Forestry Notification for wetland crossings, dated 9/4/08. Betsy has and Garrett will view the site. Doesn’t appear to have been much activity of late, but machinery still present. Betsy said she expressed concern to the owners that a tree buffer be left around the big wetland, as great blue herons nest there.
- D. & J. Griffiths, T/L #2-055,155, Cottage Lane, Warren Wesoja, logger. 40 acres. Garrett viewed the site and spoke with the logger. No issues there.
-Garret reported that he viewed the Wendy Benedict cut, Route 114, T/M # 2/525,582 and found no issues there.
Old Business:
- Betsy reminded everyone of the SPNHF annual meeting on 9/20. She will be on vacation, but Don agreed to assist if needed with the KHR walk.
SCC Properties and Greenway Reports:
-The Board discussed the fencing issue adjacent to the Lefferts/ Enroth property. Tim offered to donate pig wire fencing, but several members said they would prefer the snow fencing. Tim will check with the store in Bradford about availability and pricing. This will be discussed further at the next meeting. Betsy will try and measure out what is needed.
- Betsy said that she walked the Quarry Walk and part of KHR and environs on 8/14. She reported on the condition of KHR warming hut, trees down on Quarry Walk, power lines cleared, etc. Tim agreed to take his chain saw up there and cut out the end of the Quarry Walk trail at the power lines.
Betsy noted that she had spoken to Tom Paul who will bring up the issue of the warming hut at the snowmobile club’s next meeting on 10/4 and report back.
-Tim said that Leon Riel had not started brontosaurus work at KHR but should be doing so soon. Tim hoped he would work 5 days, and maybe more, if we still have funds available from the WHIP grant.
-Betsy noted again that Gerry Gagnon had mentioned there were limbs in the open space/parking area of the Enroth property that needed trimming, as they interfered with his mowing of the site. Tim will try and get to that with his chain saw. It was agreed that he should mow that one more time this season.
-Betsy asked if the entire Sundell property needed to be mowed every year. Someone mows around the sign and the Town along the road. It was agreed to do the rest every other year, especially as there is a great stand of milkweed and other wild flowers.
Sutton Conservation Commission 2 September 10, 2008
-It was noted that Rick had put up both the ASLPT sign and the “foot traffic only” sign at Russell Pond field. Members felt the ASLPT sign should be attached to the wooden sign at the parking area, which Rick will do. Betsy will try to get a small ASLPT sign for the field post. Thank you, Rick!
-Members discussed a possible work day at the Crowell property. Will tentatively shoot for Sat., 10/4. Tim will get in touch with Garrett about the status of placing rocks there to block the road/trail. He will also ask for an update on the fences which Chip Rowe might build for various sites.
8:10 p.m. A motion was made by Jean to adjourn the meeting. Tim seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Betsy Forsham, Acting Secretary
Sutton Conservation Commission 3 September 10, 2008
| 
