PITTSFIELD CONSERVATION COMMISSION Minutes
April 25 2005
1. Meeting called to order by Donna Keeley 7pm
Members in attendance – Donna Keeley, John M, Mark Wallace, Laural Collier, Susan Willoughby, absent Paul Metcalf, Ron Vien
Presentation and approval of minutes Feb 2005 Minutes, _____Mark__________ motioned________John_____________2nd all in favor _________________
2. Financial Report
(MBIA) – $4278.01
General Fund – $500
Question regarding CC Budget $ – what can we do with this money, can we change a def. of a line item and move money around? Yes, no problem
Considerations of Applications to the NH Wetlands Bureau –
Tilton Hill Road, FHS Subdivision – 2 abutters expressed concerns regarding erosion control, boundary encroachment and wetland flagging. DK and SW walked abutting land with abutters. Abutters contacted DES and filed formal complaint.
**DES issued findings. CC reviewed and discussed. Copy to be provided to abutters who filed complaint.
New Business –
• Willoughby and Collier need to get letters in for reappointment.
• Charlie Watson submitted letter of interest for CC. May not be a seat for him at this time. DK will look into.
• Site Walk on Shaw Rd, Woods Property. ** Discussion about CC members changing time of preplanned site visits with other boards and importance of keeping to these meetings as they are posted public meetings ** For the record, CC members SW and MW contacted PB Chair after they walked the site and explained that if the PB still wanted them to meet at 12:30 that same day, that they would be willing to. PB Chair said he would contact PB members and probably go up anyways.
• Memo to PB regarding DES reviews. Also discussed items the CC would find helpful when reviewing Sub div plans, test pit data, soils descriptions, not just poorly drained, list hydric a, b etc.
• Minimum Impact Wetlands Application – Don Jenkins, Dowboro Rd, delivered to Town Hall 4/8/05. DK signed off on this prior to this meeting. Group agrees, in future the CC should only review these requests once per month so that all CC members have a chance to review. CC sent memo to DES regarding concerns with application and data provided.
• Suncook Valley Sno Riders – request to cross DB Town Forest submitted to SB. SB approved. Will use mostly logging road. SVSR will work with CC and FM Commission if selective cut is occurring during their work period.
• Protocal on CC memos and reports, make sure all CC members see reports and memos before submitted etc.
• Letter from Brown Engineering regarding Dunkin Donuts site and requesting CC to confirm or deny that there are “Historical Properties and Indian Country, on or around site”. Contacted Brown and explained that the CC does not have this info. in our records. Letter sent to follow up.
• Discussed Wetlands setback requirements for future edition of subdivision regulations. Town Admin recommended this and will forward to Planning and Zoning subcommittee
Old Business – (pending issues)
Project – Current Use Change Tax proposal for next years town meeting. Can someone be the owner of this, collect data on other towns, pros, cons etc. Later this year we can work on wording the warrant and providing public education. NH Association of Conservation Commissions has a lot of data on this……http://www.nhacc.org/nhacc.htm
Dustin Barker Town Forest Selective Timber Harvest and Future Forest Management Plan ** DK to send memo to SB with info and proposal for Selective Cut plan and process **
*****DK received a call from Dennis Chagnon asking about a possible Timber Harvest. *****DK to contact Dennis after SB reviews proposal etc.
• Forester Moreno Forest Mgmt Plan Update – received estimate for FM Plan for ALL town owned rural raw parcels of land, $10+k for comprehensive study. Discussion as to whether we need this sort of study or whether we should focus on core parcels and/or parcels that provide possible green corridor.
• The CC does not have the funding necessary to move forward with this project, so two choices exist, Warrant Article at Town Meeting or use the funds from the D Barker town forest selective timber harvest.
• Forester provided estimate for his fee’s on D Barker timber harvest based on harvest and bid amount for timber. He would handle everything to do with this timber harvest, bid spec’s, forester hiring assessment with CC, site overview, marketing, paperwork, site visits, etc.
• CC and FM Commission has to determine if Forest Mgmt Commission has authority to sign this sort of contract or if the Selectboard should be involved. D Keeley to contact town council to determine how to proceed.
• Charlie Watson – interested in revisiting possibilities for his land to remain open. SPNHF? Back burner but CC should remain involved.
• FM Fund, money that showed in town report under Forest Mgmt. Reserve Fund has been transferred to the CRF as deemed in the vote from 1982 when the fund was created. Since we have a FM Commission, we are entitled to a FM Fund therefore we need to research how we can transfer this CRF money into a separate FM fund. **need to keep as is, this is how this fund was voted ** will have to plan expenditures in advance for each years town meeting.
• Paul Metcalf delivered hanging map cabinet, however it does not lock. We can store the maps we have in the Town Admin’s office in the flat cabinets and have duplicate maps hang on this file. All in favor.
• Articles and Education – schedule all set. Mark Wallace, easements, Susan Willoughby Current Use Change Tax etc, D Keeley wetlands, Laural Collier, Open space benefits etc
• Ideas for public education, booths at Old Home Day, Balloon Rally, pens, pencils, balloons, T shirts.
• Members Concerns/Other issues:
Meeting adjourned – 9pm