PITTSFIELD CONSERVATION COMMISSION Minutes
March 28, 2005
1. Meeting called to order by Donna Keeley 7pm
Members in attendance – Donna Keeley, John M, Mark Wallace, Laural Collier, Susan Willoughby (alt), Ronald Vien (alt)
Presentation and approval of minutes Feb 2005 Minutes, _____Mark__________ motioned________John_____________2nd all in favor _________________
2. Financial Report
(MBIA) – $4270.01
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? Pending with Cara.
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.
Surveyor was on site and spoke with developer regarding issues and concerns. Developer was supposed to correct problems within one week.
New Business –
Site Walk on Shaw Rd, Woods Property. Requested by the Planning Board for wetland review and CC opinion on area of development, and if wetland professional should be recommended for this project. *** PB would like a date and time that the CC can meet the weekend of 4/2 ——— someone will need to write a short report with recommendations. DK will be out of town until 4/6.
Public Education Issues, Current Use, Conservation Easement, Land Preservation Techniques. Should we host a public education forum? Could obtain data on all CU land and map this to get a better idea of open space and corridor potential etc.
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
Old Business – (pending issues)
Forest Mgmt. Reserve Fund – cannot spend $$ from FM fund or should not sign any contracts without SB approval, unless such authority was given by SB when FM was enacted ** DK checked minutes of FM enactment and nothing specific mentioned. The correct way to handle this is to present info and plan to SB and ask for approval of signing contract for DB selective cut. Then warrant for town meeting for FM plan. Need discussion on this.
*****DK contacted Chairman of CC in Bow, Nancy Reinhart, as they have a FM Commission and have hired a forester and have performed selective timber cuts.
*****DK Will review info. With full SB in Mid April for opinion as to how to proceed.
*****DK received a call from Dennis Chagnon asking about a possible Timber Harvest. *****DK to contact Dennis after SB reviews proposal etc.
Questions to ask: If the CC/FM retains a forester for Selective Cut, does the SB need to sign the contract or can the FM Commission?
Does the SB need to approve the proposal?
If payment to the forester comes from the proceeds of the selective cut, does this fund acquisition require approval?
CC and FM need to decide how to proceed with FM plan and Dustin Barker selective cut. Present to SB, how and when?
• 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. ** Still Pending **
• Map cabinet, pending someone’s time to research. 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 sign in/out sheet with inventory of maps so we know what maps are filed and who signs them out. Discussion?
Articles and Education – would be nice to get some articles in the SS about new members, CE’s, open space, FM plan etc. Need a volunteer for this task!
Members Concerns/Other issues:
Meeting adjourned – 9pm