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Warner Conservation Commission Minutes of Meeting August 5, 2009
Attending:
Nancy Martin, Brian Hotz, Russ St. Pierre, Doug Allen, Mimi Wiggin,
Peg Bastien, and Jim McLaughlin (recording). Also Margaret Watkins and
Chris Connors.
Approval
of Minutes of the July 1, 2009 Meeting
The
minutes of the meeting of July 1, 2009 were approved as submitted.
Conservation
Plan Survey
Margaret
reported on the survey results. A total of 154 questionnaires were
returned, a rate of about 11 percent. She distributed summaries of the
responses to each of the questions and various conclusions were
discussed. On the matter of recreational opportunities, 30 percent of
respondents said they didn’t know enough about Warner’s protected
lands to be able to answer the question. This indicates a need for
public information on this issue.
Discussed
suggestions made to concentrate on smaller parcels for protection.
Brian advised of the move by many to address this issue by developing
simpler easement tools. This is partly the result of the need to
address conservation developments where dedicated open space is
created.
The
suggestion of putting information about the Town’s protected lands
on the web met with general approval. Other ideas for addressing
issues raised by the survey were: a program of nature walks,
particularly a walk in the Minks that visited the various properties
protected by the Town; and a photography project meant to highlight
protected lands. Several other ideas on land protection were also
discussed.
A
drawing was held from survey respondents to determine the winner of
the $50 Warner Farmers’ Market prize. The winning ticket belonged to
Nancy Ladd.
Discussed
doing a more in-depth focus group session to talk about conservation
issues with members of a number of local interests. Possible interest
groups mentioned were: Parks and Recreation Commission, Warner Fish
and Game Club, Tom Pond Association, Chandler Reservation Committee,
Warner Water District, Trail Snails Club, and Warner Historical
Society. After some discussion, it was decided to invite a small
number of representatives of Fish and Game, Trail Snails and Parks and
Recreation to a focus group meeting sometime in late August. Margaret
said she intended to meet individually with the Chandler reservation
Committee and with the Water District.
Margaret
asked to meet with the Commission in September to review progress on
the plan.
Capital
Improvements Program
Jim
supplied a draft of the Conservation Commission’s project that could
be advanced to the Planning Board for inclusion in the 2010-2015 CIP.
This would involve a request of $50,000 as revenue to be placed in the
Town’s Conservation Fund in each of the six years in the CIP time
period. This is the same submittal as has been introduced in each of
the past six years. The Commission voted to submit the same proposed
project as in the past. Jim will handle the submission.
Land
Protection
Bound
Tree Parcel
- Brian reported that he will meet with the Selectmen tomorrow evening
to present the draft conservation easement document for the Bound Tree
property and answer questions. The Conservation Commission can hold a
public hearing at its September meeting on expending $100,000 for this
project, with the Selectmen signing the document later in the month. A
suggestion was made that the Commission send out a postcard to all
Warner residents, once the Bound Tree parcel has been protected to
announce this success to the community.
Bower
Property
Brian
advised that he planned to meet with Bob Bower on Friday to discuss
land protection on his property, a significant unprotected area on the
mountain that connects State and Town forest property. Brian stressed
the significance of this property in terms of its attractiveness to
LCHIP: tow towns (Warner and Sutton), organic farming operation,
adjacent to other protected lands, and other characteristics that
would make it an ideal candidate to attract external funding.
The
Commission voted to use $600 from the Conservation Fund toward a
preliminary appraisal on the property, with the Town of Sutton being
asked to advance the balance of an estimated $1,000.
It
was noted that Brian abstained from this vote.
Other
Land Protection
There
was a general discussion on the virtues of larger versus smaller land
holdings, or groups of smaller parcels as a land protection strategy
for the Town in the future. One drawback to smaller properties is that
the costs to protect small parcels is often as much as for larger
pieces of land. Brian indicated that the Forest Society is not
interested in being involved in small projects, but that either Ausbon
Sargent or Five Rivers would be. Brian said he would find some
information to share on approaches to land protection. There followed
a consensus that further discussion of actions to meet needs raised in
the survey or land protection strategies be deferred until the plan is
completed. The plan should provide a more comprehensive approach to
identifying implementation steps.
Wetlands
Issues
Discussed
several wetlands issues in Warner, including Warner Aggregates
alteration of terrain application; Russ to check on inclusion of
proposed vehicle auction in WA’s application to DES.
Planning
Board
Jim
gave an update on Planning Board activity in considering minor
subdivision of the Face lot on Main Street.
Other
Business
Jim
will do an article for the next issue of the Town’s newsletter,
summarizing the conservation plan questionnaire results.
The
next meeting is September 2, 2009.
Meeting
adjourned at 9:35 P.M.
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