APPROVED Sutton Conservation Commission
Meeting Minutes
October 14, 2009 @ 7:00 p.m.
Present: Betsy Forsham, Don Davis, Walter Baker, Jean LaChance, Tim Davis, Rachel Ruppel, Leon Malan, Gerry Putnam and Leslie Ward. (Garrett Evans was absent.)
7:00 p.m. Dan Sundquist met with the Board to discuss the Long Range Conservation Plan. He passed around and reviewed with the Board new maps generated from the co-occurence map with a tax parcel map overlay. He also shared three other maps that scored the individual parcels and the co-occurence values at different levels. He recommended producing an ending chapter that would tie the findings together in a report for the town. It was agreed Dan will write a primer to explain the process. From this primer as simple summary can be generated for the public. It was asked if a separate map of all the green properties could be generated. It was agreed the master map should be the co-occurence map with the map parcel overlay, but not with individual parcels graded.
7:40 p.m. Chair Betsy opened the regular meeting.
Leslie recused herself from the Board for the upcoming discussion of the project costs. Rachel sat in for Leslie. There was discussion.
A Motion was made by Betsy to expend from the Conservation Commission Fund $3,300, payable to Dan Sundquist, for services, past and future, for the Long Range Conservation Plan, to be payable at a rate of $50 per hour, with Betsy reaffirming the total number of hours. Seconded by Jean. Unanimously approved
A Motion was made by Betsy to expend $350 from the Town account payable to SPNHF for large format maps. Seconded by Tim. Unanimously approved.
Leslie came back in as a regular voting member.
Previous Minutes:
A Motion was made by Leslie to accept the minutes of September 9, 2009 as written. Seconded by Jean. It was unanimously approved.
Financial:
Betsy reported the Town Account balance, as of the end of September, was $1,508.79, which is 55.17% of the budget. The Conservation Fund Account total, as of the end of September, was $153,715.49, with $143,010.60 in the Conservation Fund and $10,704.89 in the KHR Fund.
It was noted there is $28,000 in LUCT that will be forthcoming.
The 2010 Budget Request was discussed. It was agreed to have a flat budget except for an increase in the secretary’s salary and an increase in one of the memberships, which already occurred in 2009.
A Motion was made by Jean to present the proposed budget of $2,935 to the Town. Seconded by Leslie. Unanimously approved.
Betsy will be requesting $20,000 for the Capital Reserve Fund, which is the same amount as approved last year, but down from the original amount of $30,000.
Correspondence:
-Betsy reported she received several thank you letters for dues that were paid.
-An invitation from ASLPT for their Annual Meeting on October 25th.
-John Simms retirement party will be the 20th of October at noon.
-The NH Assoc. of Conservation Commission’s Annual Meeting and workshops on November 7th.
-Betsy acknowledged her email to members regarding the Meadow View Farms lot owners meeting on the 10th. There will be another meeting at some point. The Board will need to revisit the issue of who controls the Common Land around Lyon Brook. Betsy asked the members to think about this issue and it will be on the agenda for the next meeting.
Review of Wetlands Applications and Permits:
A Wetlands Approval Permit was received, # 2009-01620, dated 09/17/09, for the Pratt Family Minimum Impact Expedited Application, T/L # 2/442-154, Blaisdell Farm Road.
The Standard Dredge and Fill Application for Douglas Southard was approve on 10/07/09,
File # 2009-01736, T/L # 2/598-367, Blaisdell Lake.
Minimum Impact Expedited Application, T/L #2/041-017, T & T Jackson, Cottage Lane, for a driveway crossing to access a new garage. The Notice of Administrative Completeness, dated 09/21/09 was received. It was approved on 10/07/09, Permit #2009-01736.
Permit by Notification for KRHS, submitted 09/29/09, T/L #5/505-365, to remove siltation from an existing approved level spreader.
A wetlands complaint was discussed. It was agreed more information was needed.
Review of Intents to Cut and Logging Issues:
The Whitehead cut on Shaker Road, T/L #9/668-062, needs to be reviewed. The associated activity should only be clean up from a cutting the previous year.
Old Business:
Don reported on the 5K Strut hosted by the PTO. He attended a table with Rachel to give information and answer questions regarding the SCC. Don said he talked to a lot of people but not many signed up to help out with trail work. There was an inquiry regarding biking and four wheelers on class VI roads. The Board will discuss Class A and B trails at the next meeting. (Title 10/Transportation RSA 231-a)
Leon reported on the Bower Farm visit on October 3rd. He said it was a beautiful farm with the next generation involved, that it involves two towns and would include protecting some of Palmertown. This would be the first piece of property to be protected on this side of Sutton and it
Sutton Conservation Commission 2 October 14, 2009
would complete a nice block of land. There are several issues including the appraisal which came back lower than Bower expected. Bower has taken out an 11 acre parcel and the dead line for Brian Hotz may not be met. The ability to access the property from the Town of Sutton was also discussed by the Board. It is not clear legally what the rights are as the class VI road was thrown up. It may be possible to gain rights through adverse possession. Betsy will forward Brian’s email when she gets it.
New Business:
Betsy reported there is a six acre piece of land, T/L #4/110-318, that the Town of Sutton has taken for owed taxes. Betsy will send a letter to the Town stating the SCC is interested in the Town keeping the land.
Betsy reported she received calls regarding inadequate erosion control measures at one of the lots at Meadow View. She thinks it has been resolved.
Betsy announced the upcoming meeting with the Lake Sunapee Protective Society regarding the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) grant and the Sunapee Watershed. It was noted Sutton has a tiny amount of land in this watershed. Betsy encouraged interested members to attend.
The three Wells easements need to be monitored. Volunteers were requested. This will be on the agenda for the next meeting.
SCC Properties and S-R-K Greenway Reports:
Tim reported Chipper Rowe worked on the trails and the Hominy Pot entrance of the KHR for the Sutton snowmobile club. He said Chipper did a great job. Tim added the snowmobile club requested rerouting the snowmobile trail through the Meadow View land. It was agreed this was not something that should be done.
The bounds of the Meadow View Lot 3 property need to be walked.
Tim signed the permission slip for trapping beaver on Wadleigh Hill Road and Lane River on
behalf of the Board.
Betsy and Don will flag the Enroth Trail.
9:45 p.m. A Motion was made by Jean to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Gerry. It was unanimously approved.
Respectfully Submitted
Jennifer Swett
Secretary
Sutton Conservation Commission 3 October 14, 2009
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