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Warner Conservation Commission Minutes of Meeting December 5, 2007
Attending:
Ted Young, Chris Connors, John Dabuliewicz, Sarah Allen, Brian Hotz,
and Jim McLaughlin (recording), and Russ St. Pierre.
Approval
of Minutes of November 7, 2007
The
minutes of the meeting of November 7, 2007 were approved as submitted.
Land
Protection
Brian
reported that the December 3rd Budget Committee was canceled due to
the snow, thus giving him additional time to refine the memo on the
WCC’s land protection activities and justifying the $50,000 request
in 2008 for the Town’s Conservation Fund. Discussed the history of
the Kearsarge Indian Museum’s easement.
Bound
Tree property - Brian reported that he is in discussion with several
interested conservation-minded buyers and plans to contact the owner
soon. This project has interest from both the Town’s and SPNHF’s
perspective.
Gould
Hill property - Brian again knows 2 or 3 parties interested in this
155 acre parcel and will follow up with the landowner.
Kearsarge
Mountain Road property - Brian has been in touch with a landowner
interested in a conservation easement on a large parcel. A legal issue
pertaining to the parcel needs to be addressed before we can go
forward. Brian will keep on it.
Courser
- Ausbon Sargent is in the process of raising funds to complete the
third phase through private donations. They are also pursuing a
foundation grant. Depending on their success, they may or may not come
back to the Town for additional financial help.
Natural
Resources Inventory
Chris
has submitted all of the scenic information except for a few scenic
view points on Mt. Kearsarge. She will identify these on a map as
opposed to finding their locations by GPS. Discussed the session with
SPNHF on December 19th. Agreed to review the memorandum of agreement
with the Forest Society in preparation of this meeting so that we can
be assured all work outlined in the MOA is being done, or if not, come
to an understanding on what will be delivered. Brian will review the
MOA and talk with Dan Sundquist about the scope of work and the
meeting.
Discussed
the important place of the NRI and the subsequent conservation plan in
the upcoming master plan update. Jim will contact Barbara Annis about
the Planning Board’s schedule and coordination with the WCC’s
effort. A presentation in January to the Planning Board was suggested.
Wetlands
Issues
Cunningham
Road property
- Discussed the history of the WCC’s involvement in this logging
operation. Ted made the point that the Conservation Commission needs
to work through the Board of Selectmen if problems are identified.
Kearsarge
Mountain Indian Museum
- Ted reported that he has visited the logging on this property and
spoken to an abutter about concerns about the operation. He said that
two years ago the hemlock and pine were harvested but the oak was left
due to poor markets for this species at the time. Paul Mulcahey, the
forester, has respected the 300 foot offset from Tory Meadow Pond.
Brush and slash were chipped and removed, except where it was placed
on the skidder roads to prevent erosion. The snowmobile trail was left
clear of brush. This logging was carried out with a large “feller-buncher,”
a whole tree harvest machine.
Wagner
commercial subdivision
- Has been postponed until Planning board’s January meeting. Chris
referred to the DES letter to Wagner, a copy of which was sent to the
Conservation Commission, but apparently not to the Planning Board. The
Commission agreed to send a copy of this letter to the Planning Board
for their information. Notification of this transmittal will also be
sent to Mr. Wagner.
Harte
property
- No news.
Melvin
Mills -
Permitting for this retaining wall project on the Warner River is
ongoing at DES.
Comprehensive
Shoreland Protection Act
Chris
advised of the amendment of the CSPA by the Legislature that takes
effect in April 2008. She said that rules are being drafted by DES to
implement the changes. Training of professionals and others interested
to be conducted by DES from January through April.
Easement
Monitoring
Sarah
asked if anyone has done any monitoring. Ted has monitored the Indian
Museum, Bartlett-Stockwell and Nemec easements. Others remain to be
visited. The Commission asked Brian to check into SPNHF’s interest
in taking over the monitoring responsibilities of the Ries and Bear
Pond easements, since these large parcels are difficult for Commission
members to monitor. Brian described the aerial reconnaissance being
employed by the Society on an annual basis. He indicated that the
Society’s assumption of this activity would require amending the
conservation easement agreements and that a payment into its
monitoring fund would be required. The consensus was that making such
a payment would be acceptable. Brian agreed to explore this
possibility.
Other
Business
Chris
reported that Nancy Ladd is willing to make room for Conservation
Comission nb documents of interest to the WCC as well as other boards
and individuals in town, rather than keep these in the Planning Board
office.
Meeting
adjourned at 9:30 P.M.
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