Warner Conservation Commission
Minutes of Meeting
April 6, 2011, 7:00 P.M.
Attending:
Nancy Martin, Mimi Wiggin, Russ St. Pierre, Scott Warren, Doug Allen, John Dabuliewicz, and Jim McLaughlin (recording).
Also Beth McGuinn, Ausbon Sargent Land Protection Trust.
Minutes of the Meeting of March 2, 2011
The minutes of the meeting of March 2, 2011 were approved as submitted.
Beth McGuinn - Land Protection Workshop
Beth gave a brief description of ASPLT’s interest in putting on land conservation workshops in towns to build interest among land owners in conservation easements. They have time now to invest in this educational effort and Beth suggested doing something this spring or in the fall. The Commission members expressed support for such a workshop this spring and agreed to find a date at the Bookends in May. Nancy will check with Katherine Nevins. Discussed ways to publicize this event and agreed that in addition to general public notices, letters should be sent to specific landowners whose properties have special importance. Jim will put together a list, based on information in the NRI, Mink Hills Plan and Warner Conservation Plan.
Conservation of Town-owned Properties
John gave a synopsis of the statutory basis for a Town’s placing a conservation easement on property it owns. Under State law, a third party - a conservation organization such as the Forest Society - is required to hold the easement, and the process of granting the easement would involve legal and possibly survey expenses, including a substantial contribution for monitoring. There was a general consensus that easements were not the appropriate mechanism to achieve long term protection. The group discussed other ways of protecting Town-owned property, particularly designation by Town Meeting of a suitable tract as Town Forest. The Carriage Trail Acre property was mentioned as being especially suited for this type of designation. Town meeting vote would be required to make this happen. Two possible agencies are mentioned in the statutes to manage a Town Forest - a special committee, such as the Chandler Forest Committee, or the Conservation Commission. This item will be taken up at a future meeting.
Wetlands Issues
Russ indicated that a shoreland protection permit issued for a property on Tom Pond and a forestry notification on a lot west of Pleasant Pond were the two most recent State actions involving wetlands.
Planning Board Report
Jim described several applications approved by the Planing Board on Monday evening, three for site plan review approval and one for a subdivision approval. All were approved by the Board. Jim also described a potential application at Exit 7 for a commercial use. The Commission agreed to seek a meeting with the developer to assess possible wetlands limitations to the site. Jim will make the contact.
Old Business
Storm Drain Stencil Project - Nancy said that she and Judy Pellettieri have set the dates for the stencil project as June 14, with a rain date of June 15. Russ will advise the NHDOT of this date to reserve their traveling exhibit on storm water drainage. Jim received agreement on ordering materials.
KAEL - Mimi discussed the two books on sustainability agriculture that the Commission is considering purchasing to be made available to the Kearsarge Area Eat Local group and the public through the Pillsbury Free Library. The cost is $15 per book plus postage. This purchase was approved by the Commission.
New Business
- Map copies - Nancy reported that an individual at Town Meeting asked if it were possible to purchase copies of the large scale maps in the NRI and Nancy wondered if this could be a money raising project. Jim said he checked with Brayshaw Printing for a cost estimate and was given a figure of $100 per copy. Both Scott and Russ offered to check into other possible ways that copies could be made more cheaply. It was pointed out that all of the Commission’s maps are on the Town’s web site and can be downloaded.
- New members - Nancy will contact a person who has expressed interest in being appointed to the Commission.
- Colby Sawyer Presentation - Nancy described a presentation scheduled for April 21, at 7 P.M. at the College’s Ivey Science Center of a regional natural resources inventory project involving Sunapee region communities, including Warner, carried out by students.
- Information on environmental laws and regulations - Discussed putting together a packet of information on environmental laws and regulations affecting new developments that could be distributed to persons seeking a building permit from the Town. Jim will check with the Selectmen’s office to see what is handed out now.
- Selectmen’s representative on the Conservation Commission - Nancy suggested seeing if the BOS would be interested in having one of them be represented on the Commission. She will follow this up.
- Easement Monitoring - Jim reminded the group of the Commission’s obligation to monitor those easements for which the Town holds an easement. There are eight of these. He noted that two individuals who live nearby to two of the easements have expressed interest in volunteering in this monitoring effort. After some discussion, the group agreed to meet on Saturday, April 16 and monitor several of these as a way of becoming educated in the process.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:45 P.M.
The next regular meeting is May 4, 2011.