Pittsfield Conservation Commission (PCC)
May 16, 2011 Meeting Minutes

Call to order: 7:15 PM, by PCC Chairman Mark Wallace

Present: Chairman Mark Wallace (MW); Vice Chairman Bryan Mika (BM); Sec. Nancy Christie (NC); Members Paul Metcalf (PM) and Nancy Bates (NB); Alternate Jon Greenwood (JG)

Absent: Alternate Diana Westgate (DW)

Minutes: NC moved and JG seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the April 18, 2011 (passed 6-0)
Action: MW will post the draft minutes of the meeting on the Town’s website as required by law

Financial Report: None

Public Input: None

Old Business

1. Forest Management Plan: Presentation to the Selectboard
Action: MW presented the Plan to the Selectboard earlier in May; it was well received.

2. Old Home Day
Action: MW will arrange to have a check for $200 sent to PM, to reimburse him for the purchase of PCC pens that will be distributed at Old Home Day.

3. Forest Management Plan: Obtaining a Surveyor
Action: MW and BM will develop the specs for, and then sent out to several land surveyors, a request to bid on surveying and marking the boundaries on three town-owned parcels: Black Gum Forest, Rocky Ridge Tract, and the Dustin-Barker Town Forest (as this action had already been formally approved at the April PCC meeting, no new motion and vote was required).

4. Amended PCC By-Laws, Policies & Procedures
Action: NC will ask Cara Marston to review Section 12 (“Financial Matters”), noting any inaccuracies and/or omissions; NC will finalize the draft, incorporating the latest PCC member input, and bring a clean copy to the June PCC meeting for approval and PCC member signatures.

5. Update re Obtaining a Copy of the Notebook, Good Forestry in the Granite State: Recommended Voluntary Forest Management Practices for NH
Action: BM will bring the book to the next PCC meeting.
Action: NB motioned, seconded by PM, that BM be reimbursed $25 for the book (motion carried 6-0).

New Business
1. Forest Management Plan: Consideration of 2011 Timber Harvests on Town-Owned Lands
Action: MW and BM will lead a site visit to the Thompson Road Forest parcel on Sunday, May 22; those PCC members who can make it are asked to meet at Town Hall at 11 AM to carpool to the site.

Action: MW requested that PCC members come to the June meeting prepared to vote on moving forward with a forest management action on the Thompson Road Forest tract.

2. Troughton Request to Re-Cut an Old Landing Site on Town-Owned Property on Rocky Ridge and then Cross Said Property to his Property for the Purpose of Logging his Land
Action: PCC Members will make a site visit to the landing area on Sun. May 22, and then make a recommendation to the Selectboard.
Action: MW will contact Ted Troughton, indicating that he should talk with the Selectboard, as only they have the authority to grant his request (PCC can only recommend).

3. Scenic Roads
Action: NC will lead the effort to have Berry Pond Road and Mountain Road officially designated as “Scenic Roads,” following the procedures as outlined in RSA 231:157 and RSA 231:158 (NC motioned, JG second; motion passed 6-0).
Action: NC will talk with Paul Skowron about the petitioning process and the appropriate/approved content of such a petition, and then draft a petition and cover letter for PCC member review at the next meeting.

4. Rocky Ridge Forestry Walk
Action: MW will talk with the Selectboard about a date for the walk, since the PCC seeks their
Participation.
Action: MV will check the contract with Charlie Moreno to determine if a walk on the Rocky Ridge tract was
Included in the services that Mr. Moreno was to provide.

5. Toys Farm Mud Run
Action: PCC watched a video of the previous weekend’s “mud run.”

6. Other
Greeley Property on Berry Pond Road
Action: The PCC would like to acquire the 6.6 acres abutting the Berry Pond Reservoir for the Town (NB motioned, seconded by NC; motion carried 6-0)
Action: MW will talk with Town Administrator Paul Skowron about speaking with the Selectboard to get their support, and arranging for a public hearing.
Action: NB will speak with Mrs. Greeley about the PCC’s/Town’s interest in acquiring the land.

7. Mail Review
Action: NONE required.

Next Meeting: Monday, June 20, 2011, at 7 PM

Adjournment: 9:10 PM (PM motioned; JG seconded; motion carried 6-0).

Submitted by: NC, Secretary