APPROVED Sutton Conservation Commission
Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2008 @ 7:00 p.m.
Present: Betsy Forsham, Don Davis, Garrett Evans, Walter Baker, Leon Malan, Rick Goddard, Tim Davis, Jean LaChance, Leslie Ward and Gerry Putnam.
Chair Betsy Forsham called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Review Previous Minutes:
A motion was made by Jean to accept the minutes of October 8, 2008 as written. Walter seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.
Financial:
Betsy reported the balance for the Town account as of the end of the month was $1,651.72, which is 53.78% of the budget. The Conservation Fund Account total, as of the end of the month, was $128,387.80, with $117,508.74 in the Conservation Fund and $10,879.06 in the KHR Fund. This does not reflect the $9,828.75 received for the WHIP grant, $9,000 of which will go into the Conservation Fund and $828.75 into the KHR Fund. There is also $4,700 received for a Change in Use Tax that has not been recorded yet.
The Board reviewed the second draft of a proposed budget for 2009 with the suggested 5% decrease. The additional reduction in the secretarial salary yields a 9% reduction.
A Motion was made by Rick to accept the second draft of a proposal budget for 2009. Seconded by Don. Unanimously approved.
Betsy will drop it off tomorrow. The SCC Board will also be asking for the $30,000 for the Capital Reserve Fund for Conservation Land.
Correspondence:
Miscellaneous correspondence.
Review of Wetlands Applications and Permits:
E. Meehan, Minimum Impact Expedited Application, T/L #2- 707,401, Watkins Ave. Repair of existing stone retaining wall. Request for More Information, dated 10/14/08, received from DES. Betsy has not heard anything.
Letter of Compliance, dated 10/17/08, received from DES for L. Harper, T/L # 4-126,518, Route 114, for corrections of “deficiencies” from 2006 that were inherited when the Harper’s bought the property.
Review of Intents to Cut & Logging Issues:
There were no intents this month.
Garrett reported it had been brought to his attention that there appears to be a concern on the Benedict property, Route 114, South Sutton, near the road where there is some wetlands. Garrett will check it out.
It was suggested if anyone is in the vicinity of the cut on Cottage Lane that they view it.
Old Business:
Betsy reported she attended an outreach meeting, hosted by ASLPT, that included the conservation commission chairs of the 12 surrounding towns. The discussion included support in working with the Wildlife Action Plan and legislative bill SB 381. The Sutton SCC is currently using some of the Wildlife plan in its work with Dan Sundquist. It was the sense of the Board to pursue SB 381 further. This bill has two parts to it. It authorizes towns to contribute conservation funds to projects within town boundaries, sponsored by private conservation groups, without the town holding a property interest (i.e. backup easement holder). There is also a section of the new law that specifically allows a town’s Conservation Comission to expend conservation funds to purchase interests in land outside the municipal boundries
(protecting a common watershed in an adjacent town, for instance). This law becomes affective January 1, 2009. For the town to vote on this the SCC must submit two warrant articles for a vote at the 2009 Town Meeting. Otherwise it can be done in the future.
New Business:
Betsy reported she received a request from Peter Steckler of the Nature Conservancy, who has received a grant to update the GRANIT maps of all protected land in New Hampshire. GRANIT is based at UNH. Betsy gave Steckler information in October on the Wells Family Trust, the Webb/Crowell Woodlot, the Seymour Natural Area and the Sundell Natural Area. Betsy noted as a side that ASLPT is also in the process of sending their updates to GRANIT.
The town road agent notified Betsy of a call from a truck club looking for information on use of class VI roads. Betsy was looking for input from the Board. It was agreed Betsy would call the contact and advise him of Sutton’s ordinance regarding the posting of class VI roads in the springtime as well as remind him to stay clear of private lands, wetlands and that no ATV’s are allowed.
There was some discussion regarding the 90 acres that is the phase II development of the Meadow View subdivision.
Betsy passed out copies of a volunteer form generated by town council and the town administrator for coverage of an abutter to the KHR. The Board agreed the form did not meet the needs and discussed other options. Don spoke about RSA 508:17 which addresses this subject and shared his experience with similar forms. He will give copies to Betsy and she will pass this on to Town Council. Betsy will also let the abutter, Mike Daley, know he will need to meet with the Board next spring to go over the specifics.
Betsy asked members to be thinking of ideas and pictures for the upcoming Town Report.
SCC Properties and Greenway Reports:
Betsy reported the fencing for the cistern is at Rick’s, and thanked Rick for getting it. It is awaiting installation. Garrett and Tim will work on this.
Betsy thanked Garrett and Rick for putting up the beautiful Webb/Crowell sign, and a thanks to Dan for making the sign.
Tim reported “No Trespassing” signs had been posted again on the Quarry Walk on land that belongs to the SCC. Tim added he removed the signs.
Sutton Conservation Commission 2 November 12, 2008
Tim reported the brontosaurus work is all done. The total cost was $12,000 of which the SCC is responsible for 25% and the WHIP grant covers 75%. The mowing is also done at a cost of $1,105 again with the 25/75% split. The Whip grant money is now all used up although there are still funds available from Fish and Game for another 2-3 years, for mowing. Betsy thanked Tim for all his work related to the WHIP grant.
Don reported on his meeting with Charlie Forsberg regarding new snowmobile access into the KHR as the Meadow View access has been closed off. It was suggested the trail come from the Muster Field Farm down the old section of Harvey Road, by Marion Barnett’s, cross Hominy Pot Rd. and the bridge and enter the Hominy Pot entrance to the KHR. It would then continue along to the Nichols Trail, on to the White Rabbit and over to the 3 trails on the King Hill side. Charlie was asking for permission to cut a line straight up from the crossing of 114 to the entrance, for safety reasons. Charlie also requested some trimming where the Hominy Pot Trail T’s to the White Rabbit. The Board agreed to the requests. It was mentioned that the snowmobile club uses the warming hut.
Garrett reported Chip is planning to get the gates done soon. Garrett will give a reminder call this weekend. The locks will not be put on until spring.
Other Business:
Don asked the Board to consider purchasing plastic blazes for the trails at KHR for next year. It was mentioned that it would be a good idea to get some this year if it can be done in time. Jean will ask Gerry Gold about the type used for the Greenway.
9:15 p.m. A motion was made by Jean to adjourn the meeting. Tim seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Swett, Secretary
Sutton Conservation Commission 3 November 12, 2008
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