Warner Conservation Commission

Minutes of Meeting

May 5, 2010

Attending:  Nancy Martin, Doug Allen,  Russ St. Pierre, Jim McLaughlin (recording). Also Paul Violette and Dick Strickford representing the Bound Tree ATV Club, and Ted Young.

Minutes of April 7, 2010

The minutes of the meeting of April 7, 2010 were approved as submitted.

Bound Tree ATV Club Discussion

Paul Violette and Dick Strickford, officers of the Bound Tree ATV Club, described the club’s history and purpose. There are about 40 members from Warner, Hopkinton and Henniker in the club. The club was formed to provide ATV trail opportunities for their riders in this area, sanctioned by the State. The club has asked the Selectmen in Warner to allow ATV use of a number of class 6 roads, a total of 8.8 miles, that would create a loop system connecting Bear Pond with the southwest part of Warner, into Henniker. The club would put up signs identifying the trail and advising users to keep on the roads, off of private property. Dick described the improvement in ATV user behavior on land around Bear Pond, Contoocook Village’s water supply, after the club established a trail system. He said that the club would work to improve the physical state of the roads used. Paul pointed out the advantage of a responsible organization being out on these roads and acting as a deterrent to irresponsible motorized vehicle drivers. Paul showed a petition of more than 130 Warner residents who support the club’s proposal.

In response to a question if all of the trail shown was on class 6 roads, Paul said where it was not, the club has obtained landowner permission. Daisy Hollow Road was discussed. The club shuts down its activities in winter when snowmobiles are in use, as well as any time a Town closes class 6 roads in mud season.

Paul also said that the club would ask the State not to display their trails on the State’s web site.

The next step is for the Board of Selectmen to hold a public hearing and then make a decision on the request.

Conservation Lands

Nancy referred to the email sent around by Brian with an update on the Kearsarge Gore Farm conservation easement. Negotiations over additional land to be excluded for a house site and the total acreage coming out of the survey results are continuing.

Wetlands Issues

Russ reported that there were only two culvert replacement applications on Mason Hill Road by the Town.  No concerns were raised.

Planning Board Report

Nothing of interest to the Conservation Commission to report.

New Business

Kearsarge Indian Museum Easement

Ted Young described what was apparently an illegal camping episode this past weekend on the conservation easement near Tory Meadow. He and Steve Daigle had witnessed a group of young men leaving this property who had used it as a camp site. They left garbage and a number of camping items behind. Steve took some photos of the site. Ted’s recommendation was for the Commission to write the land owner, no longer the Indian Museum, and apprise them of this event and ask if this has occurred with the landowner’s knowledge and/or approval. Having the campfire is certainly illegal. The Commission agreed to this proposal and wanted to offer some suggestions to the landowner to deter future activities of this nature. Jim will prepare a draft and email it to the members.

Conservation Easement - Public Access

Jim reported that he had received a question about public access to the Katharine Brown Easement and after checking the wording of the agreement, found that the public does not have the right to access this property, without the landowner’s permission. This property was one of the Commission’s earlier land protection efforts and was established through Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust. The easement was a donation, with the Town contributing some funds to the survey. A similar situation exists with regard to the McCausland property, a ten acre parcel on Connors Mill Road, also a donation, where the public’s access right is at the pleasure of the landowner. It was pointed out that both of these were established ten or more years ago, as gifts, and that the landowners’ concerns for public access was given priority.

The next meeting is June 2, 2010.

Meeting adjourned at 8:30 P.M.