Warner Conservation Commission

Minutes of Public Hearing and Meeting

October 6, 2010

Attending: Nancy Martin, John Dabuliewicz, Mimi Wiggin, Russ St. Pierre, Doug Allen, and Jim McLaughlin (recording). Also Dennis Sturms, Jean Sturms and Brendan Quigley (Gove Environmental Services).

Minutes of the Meetings of June 16 and September 1, 2010 - The minutes of the special meeting/public hearing of June 16, 2010 were approved as submitted. The minutes of the meeting of September 1, 2010 were approved as submitted.

Conservation Land 

Black Mountain Project - The Forest Society is in the process of raising money for the purchase of 1,025 acres on the southwestern slopes of Mt. Kearsarge, with 200 acres in Warner and the remainder in Sutton. Three hikes are planned for those interested in this property. Doug will email the dates.

Sturms Mitigation Easement - Brendan Quigley explained that in order to receive a wetlands fill permit from DES, Dennis Sturms is required to mitigate this loss. He described the property in Henniker along Rt 202/9 where filling of about 1 acre of wetland is required to allow land development to occur. The wet area is the result of back-up of stormwater due to blockages in several culverts. Their need is to protect a parcel of developable land with certain characteristics, such as upland forest, adjacent to wetlands and existing protected land, on a ratio of 10:1 acres. They have identified a 21 acre parcel and have reached agreement with the landowner to buy this piece and place a conservation easement on it to meet the mitigation requirement. This parcel is located in the willow Brook watershed, near Tory Meadow and abuts the Kearsarge Indian Museum conservation easement.

The Commission discussed this proposal and agreed that this was a very desirable parcel to protect. A motion was made and seconded that the Conservation Commission recommends that the Warner Board of Selectmen accept a conservation easement on Map 14, Lot 55 in order to protect this parcel from future development. This motion was unanimously approved. 

Joint Meeting w/ Planning and Zoning Boards - Jim reported that the Selectmen have not yet followed up on the CC’s letter requesting a meeting with Planning and Zoning to discuss ways to achieve two objectives under Goal 1 of the Conservation Plan, i.e., protecting key natural resources identified for protection in the Plan. This meeting is going to be scheduled to include the Selectmen and their interest in Town policy regarding off-highway recreational vehicles. The Commission discussed specific issues that they would like to bring up and wondered about having a planner from CNHRPC to assist this dialog. Jim will check with the regional planning commission.

Wetlands Issues - Russ reviewed three forestry permits issued recently for landowners in town. 

Planning Board Report - The Board met on Monday, but had no substantive applications to consider. 

Old Business -The Capital Improvements Program for 2011-2016 has been adopted by the Planning Board, including the Conservation Commission’s of $50,000 annually for land protection. The CIP Subcommittee’s recommendation was to not fund the project in 2011 due to the current state of the economy

Mimi mentioned that she has been in conversation with the Town Clerk regarding an apparent problem concerning members’ terms of office. The terms as printed in the 2009 Town Report are accurate.

Jim reported that the Town has paid its 2010  dues of $225 to the NH Association of Conservation Commissions.

New Business - The annual meeting of the NHACC will be held on November 6 at Rundlett Junior High in Concord. The agenda was reviewed.

Jim advised that the Town has been approached by the owner of a second small parcel located in the Warner River flood plain near Tom Pond with an offer to donate it to the Town. The commission welcomed this donation, since all of the small parcels in this generally flooded area would be under Town or State ownership.

Jim reminded members of a scheduled walk around Trumbull Pond on Courser property on October 14 from 3-5 P.M.

The Town’s Conservation fund was increased by a current use penalty payment of $6,175 in August.

Discussed the PSNH grant program for environmental projects. There was agreement on the idea of applying for funding to support a project to stencil storm drains in the village to indicate that storm water entering here goes to the Warner River - don’t dump. The idea would be to involve Simonds Elementary School in the project. nancy agreed to contact the principal.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:10 P.M.

The next regular meeting is November 3, 2010.