Pittsfield Conservation Commission (PCC)
June 20, 2011 Meeting Minutes

Call to order: 7:09 PM, by PCC Chairman Mark Wallace

Present: Chairman Mark Wallace (MW), Sec. Nancy Christie (NC), Paul Metcalf (PM), Nancy Bates (NB), Alternate Diana Westgate (DW)

Absent: Vice Chairman Bryan Mika (BM), Alternate Jon Greenwood (JG)

Minutes: PM moved and DW seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the May 16, 2011 meeting
(passed 4-0)
Action: MW will post the draft minutes of the meeting on the Town’s website as required by law

Financial Report: MW reported $84,589.00 in the PCC’s Conservation Fund, and a balance of $395 in PCC’s Annual Budget allocation of $650.

New Agenda Item: “Rails to Trails” will be discussed under “Other New Business”

Public Input: None

Old Business

1. PCC Member Reimbursements
Action: PM and MW reported that they had received their reimbursement checks for PCC business, as approved at the April and May PCC meetings.

2. Amended PCC By-Laws, Policies & Procedures
Action: DW motioned to approve the Amended PCC By-Laws, Policies & Procedures as presented; NC seconded the motion (passed 3-1; NB arrived after the vote was taken).
Action: PM will speak with Town Administrator Paul Skowron as to whether or not every PCC Member and Alternate must sign the amended By-Laws, Policies & Procedures.

3. Obtaining a Surveyor for the Rocky Ridge Forest and the Black Gum Forest
Action: PCC Members will examine written bids received from 3 licensed surveyors to survey and mark the boundaries of the Rocky Ridge Forest and the Black Gum Forest PRIOR TO the next PCC meeting on July 18, and come to the meeting prepared to discuss the issue and vote on selecting one of the bidders.
Action: MW will advise the 3 bidders that they will hear from the PCC after our July 18 meeting.

4. Thompson Forest Site Visit Follow-Up
Action: MW will email photos taken during a site visit to Thompson Forest to all PCC members and alternates.

5. Forest Management Plan: Selective harvesting in Thompson Forest and Dustin Barker Forest
Action: MW will contact consulting forester Charlie Moreno and ask him to contact at least 3 logging operations, and, if interested, have them send sealed bids for the work as specified to the PCC.

6. Greeley Property Project
Action: NB will contact Mrs. Greeley to advise her of the requirement of a public hearing and an affirmative vote at Town Meeting in order to expend funds from the Conservation Fund to purchase the 6.6 acres.
Action: NB will talk with Town Administrator Paul Skowron about this project and the advisability of/procedure for executing a Purchase and Sales Agreement at this time.

7. Review of the Notebook, Good Forestry in the Granite State: Recommended Voluntary Forest Management Practices for NH
Action: TABLED

8. Scenic Roads
Action: PCC will move ahead with 2 separate petitions to make Mountain Road and Berry Pond Road officially designated as “Scenic Roads,” following the procedures as outlined in RSA 231:157 and RSA 231:158.
Action: NC will make changes to the draft petitions and cover letters as suggested by PCC members and then send the letter to property owners along the two roads, inviting them to sign a petition at the PCC table at Old Home Day on July 23.

New Business

1. Old Home Day
Action: PM will organize the PCC’s table at Old Home Day, Sat. July 23, 9AM – 1 PM.
Action: MW will put Old Home Day on the agenda for the July 18 PCC meeting, to finalize details.

Other New Business

1. Rails to Trails Project
Action: DW moved and NB seconded a motion to move forward with investigating becoming involved in this project (motion passed 5-0).
Action: NB will speak with Ed Vien, chair of Pittsfield’s Economic Development Committee (EDC), about attending their meeting on Wed. June 22, to learn more about this project; if affirmative, then NB will email the PCC so that others may attend.

Mail Review
Action: NONE required.

Next Meeting: Monday, July 18, at 7 PM

Adjournment: 8:56 PM (DW motioned; PM seconded; motion carried 5-0).

Submitted by: NC, Secretary