APPROVED 1/13/10 Sutton Conservation Commission
Meeting Minutes
December 16, 2009 @ 7:00 p.m.
Present: Betsy Forsham, Don Davis, Tim Davis, Rachel Ruppel, Garrett Evans, Walter Baker, Jean LaChance, Gerry Putnam and Leslie Ward. (Leo Malan was absent.)
Chair Betsy opened the meeting.
7:00 p.m. The Board met with Tom Paul and Roger Wells for discussion of the Common Land at the Meadow View Farms subdivision. Betsy read a related email, dated 11/29/09, that had been previously sent to the Board. Roger stated he wanted the property to be properly maintained. Betsy asked Roger to define properly maintained and he responded this meant not to let the land revert to woodland, but remain as meadow. Roger added the intent was wherever there is old-field succession it would remain as such but that the rest needs to be mowed or cut. Roger stated there is a Homeowner’s Association covenant that requires the land to be mowed every three years. Roger indicated that the Homeowner’s Association would become a legal entity tomorrow. Betsy stated the SCC interest in owning the land is to control
pollution and encroachment. Garrett asked about the Shoreline Protection Act applying. The land appears to be far enough from the lake that this is not an issue. Several concerns were raised including the funding, scheduling and administration of the mowing, access to the land, delineation of the buffer zone and the liability of the old snowmobile bridge. Rachel added it is important to make sure the intent doesn’t change. Roger suggested the cost could be collected from the Homeowner’s association. The time frame for this is sometime next year. Betsy said the sense of the Board is that they are interested in this piece of land, but they would need to do some fact finding. Further discussion revealed the Board would like the Association to do the first cutting and to have the final decision clearly spelled out for clarity. The Board will view the site and revisit the issue in the spring. Betsy will contact the Board members to organize.
Roger Wells handed out copies of the Warranty Deed Draft for Lot 3. The draft now needs to go to the Town attorney. The closing will be between January 10-15th. Betsy reminded Roger the Board would need a receipt of the costs. Roger stated it was important the two documents, the Deed and the Easement, be signed in a specific order, that of signing over the land first, then signing the easement. He added it was important to make sure the documents were also recorded in this order. Betsy asked who would do the recording. Roger replied that would be the Town attorney but Betsy felt that wasn’t her purview and Betsy therefore volunteered to do it.
Betsy continued with the regular meeting.
Previous Minutes:
A Motion was made by Tim to accept the minutes of November 11, 2009 as amended. Seconded by Garrett. It was unanimously approved.
Financial:
Betsy reported there were some accounting discrepancies for the months of November and December, which have been corrected. The Town Account balance, as of the end of November,
was $578.98, which is 21.17% of the budget. The Conservation Fund Account total, as of the end of November, was $170,476.46, with $159,764.53 in the Conservation Fund and $10,711.93 in the KHR Fund. All outstanding LUCT’s have been credited.
Betsy reported she met with the Budget Committee on December 14 and all went well.
Correspondence:
Betsy reported on the 6 acre land-locked parcel that was let go for taxes that the SCC was interested in, T/L # 4/110,318. She stated the Board of Selectmen reviewed her letter, dated 11/14/09, and their minutes stated the SCC “highly recommended the land be kept for conservation”. The Board of Selectmen recommended the land be left for the SCC.
Two Town memos regarding final bill submissions and salary and benefits.
Betsy announced all submissions for the Town Report must be in by January 15.
Misc.
Review of Wetlands Applications and Permits:
Permit By Notification, James and Linda Greico, Shaker Road, T/L # 07-678,297, dated 11/25/09. It is for two simple driveway crossings and there are no concerns.
Review of Intents to Cut and Logging Issues:
A Complete Forestry Notification, Peter Mebel, Stone House Road, dated 11/19/09, File # 2009-02667, for wetlands crossings. The Intent to Cut was received on 11/13/09, T/L # 10-817,377. The logger is Robert E. Burke. 80 of 85 acres.
Scott Hill, Stoney Brook Road (Stone House Road), T/L # 10/895,352. The owner is the logger. He anticipates starting in January. 93 of 93 acres.
Old Business:
Betsy gave an update on the Bower Farm property. There will be a site visit tomorrow. Betsy and Dan Sundquist will attend along with representatives from the Warner Conservation Commission and L-CHIP. There may be $50,000 contributed through a QB2 grant. It was asked whether that contribution would lessen Sutton’s share. This needs to be checked.
There was an update on the work on Poor Farm Road by the snowmobile club. Garrett had spoken with Elly. Wally said the main issue was the land beyond the culvert needs wetland permits to do any work as any Class VI road between two pieces of land that are wetlands, is also considered wetlands. The snowmobile club stayed south of the culvert, away from the wetlands, and worked on pulling out some big rocks. Wally was concerned with the fact the group went ahead and performed the work before getting permission and stated he was not happy and that this should not set a precedent for future work. This issue needs to be addressed further.
Pound Road discussion was deferred to the next meeting.
New Business:
Betsy will write the SCC report for the 2009 Town Annual Report and email her draft to all Board members. Photos will be taken at the next meeting on January 13th.
Sutton Conservation Commission 2 December 16, 2009
SCC Properties and S-R-K Greenway Reports:
Garrett said he would be monitoring the Wells properties. He will call Betsy and Tim with a date.
The invitation for Chief Korbet to meet with the Board will be put off until early spring, in February or March.
Don read a report from Charlie Forsberg regarding work that was performed at the KHR, dated 10/21/09. An 8x8 bridge platform was completed; they installed two culverts, cleaned a section of rocks and roots, spread 25 lbs of seed and locked the gates. Charlie also requested the gates be unlocked for the snowmobile season. Don will relay to Charlie the Selectmen requested the hand-written report be submitted as a typed copy so that it may be added to the files.
Jean announced the annual Greenway meeting would be March 28th at the Lady of Fatima Church.
9:00 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 December 16, 2009
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