Warner Conservation Commission

Minutes of Meeting

January 6, 2010

Attending:  Nancy Martin, Russ St. Pierre, Doug Allen, Mimi Wiggin, John Dabuliewicz, Peg Bastien, and Jim McLaughlin (recording).

Note: The Commission met with the Warner Budget Committee at 7:00 P.M. to discuss the pending warrant article that would add $30,000 to the Town’s Conservation Fund for land protection and specifically for the Bower/Gore Farm project. The regular meeting then convened at 7:35 P.M. in the Selectmen's Office.

2010 Warrant Article:  There was considerable discussion about the amount to be requested in the warrant article for the 2010 Town Meeting. Currently the article requests $30,000. Brian advised that he has been successful in obtaining a grant from the Quabbin to Cardigan Collaborative to help with this project. He said that he would be comfortable with a lesser amount of Town commitment, but stressed that the Commission should have the flexibility of using whatever additional funds are placed in the Fund for other land protection projects, assuming there are sufficient local funds to complete the Gore Farm project. This position was supported  by the Commission and a motion was made and seconded to ask the Selectmen to reduce the amount requested in the subject article to $20,000. This motion was approved by majority vote. There was also a consensus that this reduction was primarily to respond to the Budget Committee’s concerns and to gain a favorable recommendation from that body. Should the Budget Committee vote not to recommend, the Commission was of the opinion that the original $30,000 amount should be requested. Brian reiterated that LCHIP was scheduled to release its funding decisions on the 11th or 12th of January. If the project is funded, this fact should be made known to the Budget Committee at its meeting on the 14th. Jim offered to find out the impact of raising $30,000 or $20,000 on the tax rate.

Approval of Minutes of the December 2, 2009 Meeting

The minutes of the meeting of December 2, 2009 were approved as submitted.

Conservation Plan

Several minor corrections to the Conservation Plan were discussed. An errata sheet was reviewed. Appendix D was discussed, since it contains incomplete information on conservation easement activity from 2000 to 2009. A consensus was reached to leave it in the plan, but provide a footnote indicating the incompleteness of the information.

Land Protection

Bower Property

Nancy reported on the LCHIP site walk on the Bower Farm on December 17. Nancy and Brian represented Warner, Betsy Forsham and Dan Sundquist from Sutton and two LCHIP staff. Brian said that although bitterly cold, he thought the outing was successful in conveying the scope of the project.

Bound Tree Walk

The walk on the Bound Tree property is set for Saturday, February 13 at 9 A.M., with folks to meet at Town Hall for a brief ceremony for the Stones, owners of Bound Tree. Dave Anderson of SPNHF will inform participants on the walk of wildlife and other ecological characteristics observed by the group. Peg offered to help publicize the walk with posters and information on the Town’s web calendar. Brian said the walk is also in the next edition of SPNHF’s Forest Notes. Jim suggested inviting landowners of other conservation easements in Town to this event.

 

Wetlands Issues

Russ reported that there have been two timber harvest operations permitted, both on State lands - Carroll and Harriman State Forests.

Planning Board

Jim reported that the Planning Board recently approved cell tower expansion on the Kearsarge Mountain Road site.

Other Business

John and Brian will speak to two individuals about possible membership on the Conservation Commission.

Peg said she had observed a hunting stand on the Indian Museum easement without any identifying information as to who constructed it. Such information is legally required under State law, unless it was placed there by the property owner.

Jim asked if those landowners who, during the natural resource inventory process, indicated a desire to talk to the Commission, had ever been contacted. Brian said that not all have been contacted and offered to follow up.

The next meeting is February 3, 2010.

Meeting adjourned at 9:07 P.M.