Warner Conservation Commission

Minutes of Meeting

March 4 2008

Attending:  Nancy Martin, Ted Young, Sarah Allen, Peg Bastien, John Dabuliewicz, Russ St. Pierre, and Jim McLaughlin (recording).

Approval of Minutes of February 6, 2008

The minutes of the meeting of February 6, 2008 were approved as submitted.

Town Meeting 

Brian was unable to attend due to illness and submitted written notes for this evening’s meeting. He reported that he appeared before the Budget Committee on February 7 to answer questions about the Commission’s request for $50,000 for the conservation fund. After a short discussion, the Budget Committee voted to recommend the $50,000. The article now has both Budget Committee and Selectmen’s recommendation.

Brian will speak to the article when it is introduced at Town Meeting. He plans to be brief and cover progress on the Natural Resources Inventory (NRI), Courser Phase 3, and argue for approval of the $50,000 appropriation. 

Land Protection

Brian’s notes indicated that there was not much to report. He continues to work with the extended family of a landowner on Kearsarge Mountain Road to discuss possible donated conservation easement on this property. Some progress, but still moving slowly.

Jim mentioned a conversation with one of the Selectmen about interest from the Trail Snails Club in establishing a snowmobile trail on the Badger property, The query was whether the easement language prohibited snowmobile use on the land. Jim had checked the easement deed and found no outright prohibition, but that the landowner had the right to post the property against vehicles, including snowmobiles. He suggested that the landowner be contacted directly by the Club to seek permission.

Forest Society

Brian’s report noted that he is approaching the Forest Society's Land Protection Committee on March 19th concerning the possible transfer of the Fortin and Redmond (now Ries and Contoocook) easements to Forest Society. The staff review of the proposal was supportive. If the Forest Society agrees to take the easements over (with Town as a back up) we will need to get Selectmen’s approval.  We will also need to notify the landowners. This transfer would relieve the Conservation Commission of the duty to monitor these very large properties on a regular basis. No mention by Brian of the cost to the Town to make this transfer happen.

Natural Resources Inventory (NRI)

Jim reported that he had met with Dan Sundquist of the Forest Society and planners at Central NH Regional Planning Commission last week to review the NRI maps and coordinate on the master plan update. Jim said the Planning Board is anxious to have the Conservation Commission take the lead in the natural resources/conservation planning aspect of the master plan. He will continue to work with the Planning Board’s Master Plan Committee. Jim urged members to review the goals and recommendations of the 1999 Master Plan in anticipation of the upcoming update. The Town’s web site has the plan on-line.

Wetlands Issues

There were no wetland issues raised by members.

New Paper-Article

It was decided to do an article for the May issue on the Natural Resources Inventory.

Easement Monitoring

Discussed monitoring easements and the need to reassign responsibilities since the Commission has had some turnover in its members. Agreed to put this item on the April meeting agenda. Ted raised the point that the Commission may not need to visit every property with a conservation easement every year for monitoring purposes.

Other Business

Sarah was contacted by Susi von Oettingen of the US Fish & Wildlife Service about the Commission’s interest in contributing $500 to installing bars across the entrance to the lead mine in Kearsarge Mountain State Park. The purpose of restricting access is that a disease that is causing predation in the bat population in this part of the country is thought to have its origins in human disturbance/contact. There was discussion on this request and there was a question as to whether this mine was actually in Warner or in Salisbury. After some further discussion, Sarah offered to find out in which town the mine is located, before we make a funding decision.

Meeting adjourned at 7:45 P.M.