APPROVED Sutton Conservation Commission
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday March 4, 2009 @ 7:00 p.m.
Present: Betsy Forsham, Don Davis, Tim Davis, Leslie Ward, Jean LaChance and Rick Goddard. (Garrett Evans, Walter Baker, Gerry Putnam and Leon Malan were absent.)
Chair Betsy Forsham called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Rick was appointed to sit in for Gerry.
Review Previous Minutes:
A motion was made by Jean to accept the minutes of February 11, 2009 as written. Tim seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.
Financial:
Betsy reported there is still no official Town account until after the Town Meeting. The only expenditures were for secretarial services. The Conservation Fund Account total, as of the end of February, was $145,023.33, with $134,376.80 in the Conservation Fund and $10,646.53 in the KHR Fund.
Correspondence:
Betsy reported all four of the 2008 ASLPT monitoring reports for the KHR had been received. There was mention by ASLPT of a need to locate some of the boundary markers. It was suggested that Garrett might be able to locate some of them.
Betsy read a letter from the SCC to the Board of Selectmen regarding the reappointment of SCC members.
Miscellaneous correspondence.
Review of Wetlands Applications and Permits:
There were no wetlands applications.
Review of Intents to Cut & Logging Issues:
There were no intents. Betsy mentioned there is a big cut on the Streams Ministry property which needs to be checked.
Old Business:
Betsy read a draft of a memo regarding the Class VI Roads posting. This is to send to the Police, Fire and Highway departments, with a cc to the Selectmen. The only add this year will be in the InterTown Record on March 10th and 31st. Regarding the condition of the existing posted signs, Betsy will check Pound Rd and the North end of Nelson Hill; Rick will check Wright Hill Rd, Bum Carter and both ends of Brown and Tim will check Birch Hill, Eaton Grange and Gore.
Betsy read a draft of a memo for the Sutton Police regarding ATV/OHRV (Off Highway Recreational Vehicles). OHRV’s are not allowed to use Class VI roads without a special permission from the Selectmen.
A Motion was made by Jean to accept the memo for ATV use on Class VI roads and the memo for the posting of the Class VI roads. Seconded by Don. Unanimously approved.
Betsy mentioned the ASLPT Conservation Commission Roundtable Discussion meeting, which will be March 26th from 6-8 pm. This is for conservation commission chairs, or their representative, from the surrounding towns, who would come together to discuss issues of common interest. Betsy asked if anyone was interested in attending to please get back to her, as she is unable to attend.
New Business:
Betsy mentioned the upcoming CLCA Saving Special Places Workshops on April 4th at the Gilford High School.
Leslie and Betsy reported on the March 1st lecture by Skip Lisle on the Beaver Deceiver and the Castor Mastor. The Beaver Deceiver is made for use in culverts and the Castor Mastor is for use in dams. Andover is currently utilizing the Deceiver. There was discussion. Tim reported Paul Parker had called him to say there were no funds available for this project and Betsy answered any purchases would be made from the SCC funds, although it was hoped that if any roadwork, such as around culverts, was needed that the Town Highway department would assist. Betsy thought it would be best to ask Paul which road floods the worst in the spring and to start there. Tim suggested asking Paul to talk to the Andover Road Agent about their project. Betsy will look into the legal side of collecting funds for this purpose. It may
be questionable as to whether money from the Conservation Fund could be used for this. Tim asked about permits needed to drain wetlands. Betsy thinks this is probably under special provisions. Tim asked about a situation where installment of one of these devices would reach beyond the road right-of-way into private property. These issues will be revisited.
SCC Properties and Greenway Reports:
The following work dates were set: Cistern and Enroth/Lefferts trail, April; Webb/Crowell bridge, late April and/or June 6th; Seymour lot viewing, some day after work in April or May.
Other Business:
Tim raised the question of the long-term effects on the forests if slash is no longer left to decompose in the forest, as with the whole-tree chipping practice that is now quite common in the industry. Leslie will look into this subject and report back to the Board.
There was discussion regarding the large number of Pine Siskins dying of the salmonella virus and the White Nose Fungus affecting the bat population.
8:50 p.m. A motion was made by Jean to adjourn the meeting. Leslie seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Swett, Secretary
Sutton Conservation Commission 2 March 4, 2009
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