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Town of Francestown
Conservation Commission
APPROVED MINUTES
August 11, 2011
A regular meeting of the Conservation Commission was held in the Town Offices on Monday, August 11, 2011 and called to order at 7:31 p.m.
Conservation Commission members in attendance: Carbee, Hardwick, Holmes, Lindgren, and Shuffleton. Secretary Lindgren took the minutes.
Old Business
- The Fat Tire Association has sent notice of their annual bike race and again requested approval from the Commisison to use the Class VI roads through the Crotched Mountain Town Forest. They sent a copy of their certificate of insurance. The Board noted that again they did a very professional job of managing the race last year and did a great job in post-race cleanup. The Board unanimously approved the use of the Town Forest Class VI roads for the race.
- The status of various easement projects and protection opportunities was discussed
New Business
- Jenna McClary was unable to attend the meeting, but is working on a study of local bat populations. She is asking for people in the area to email her about known current bat populations.
- The Zoning Board has received another application for a variance for a septic system on Pleasant Pond from Montgomery, and has asked the Conservation Commission for comments. This is the third septic variance they have received in that area in the past few years; they approved the first two, in spite of the Commission’s recommendations to deny each variance. The Commission discussed the application, and again concluded that a variance would not be an improvement or a benefit to the environment because it would increase the loading of dissolvable chemicals (such as nitrates, phosphates, and pollutants) as well as biohazards (such as viruses) into Pleasant Pond due to the increased intensity of use. The other concerns outlined in the Commission’s letter of June 7, 2005 to the Zoning Board (regarding the
Hackett variance) and its concerns voiced at the previous Montgomery application still hold: surface runoff amd soil disturbances from construction, threats to the pond and nearby wetlands in the event of system failure, and potential precedents that may be set by granting of this variance. The property has for many decades employed an outhouse which is a legal and less-polluting solution in this situation, so there is no hardship involved. Lindgren will convey the Commission’s concerns at the ZBA Hearing on 8/11.
- The Commission received an invoice for $574.50 from Town Forester Ron Klemarczyk for marking the new boundaries on the Chase Easement. Carbee made a motion to pay the invoice from the Conservation Fund. Shuffleton seconded the motion. All in favor.
- The Commission received an invoice for $10,000 from SPNHF for easement stewardship of the old ski area easement (multiple lots) which has been signed and is being sent to the registry. Carbee made a motion to pay the invoice from the Conservation Fund. Shuffleton seconded the motion. All in favor.
- Shuffleton moved to adjourn at 9:20 p.m. Lindgren seconded the motion. All in favor.
Respectfully Submitted,
Bob Lindgren, Secretary
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