Greenfield Conservation Commission
Minutes
December 21st, 2005
Attended: Karen Day, Neal Brown, Roger Lessard, Mirian Lockhart, Janet Romanelli
Absent: Ray Cilley, Karla Allen
Guest: Carol Hall, Russell Foundation
Minutes from 11/16/2005 were not yet available.
New Business
Plan out 2006-2007 to gain visibility preparatory to considering a bond for the 2007 Town Meeting. Ideas to raise awareness: a) Photo Contest (already under way), b) Tom Tyning amphibian program 04/23/2006, c) Roadside Roundup - Earth Day 2006, d) program about non-game and endangered animals, e) Marsh & Mark Wilson owl program - March?, f) Nancy Cohen - falconry (they also do rehab), g) wild animal map - where have people seen them around town?, h) program from Fish & Game, i) program from UNH Cooperative Extension, j) how to live with beavers - ask Duffy when they are most troublesome. Might be too controversial?, k) “Dollars and Sense” again? Yes, but later, not during that weekend (too much else going on), l) turtles in June, m) Trails Association? no per
Neal.
Open Space Committee - who besides us would be on it? What do they do? Carol: they prioritize projects; can be a sub-committee of the Con Com, or separate; they reach out to landowners; lead the bond campaign. Do we really need one? Maybe not - Francestown didn’t. If we do, we need a warrant article by the second week in January. Karen not in favor of warranting the committee.
Current open space issues - land at the junction of Forest, Old Bennington and County Roads - Druckermiller land, about 80 acres left undeveloped. Abutters want a “living room” meeting. Also folks on S. Francestown Rd. Carol said these meetings might be a good idea because they don’t have the regulatory aspect. Put a plug in the Spirit about it? No, let’s do the meetings between now and June and see how they go, and then put it in the Spirit. Potential meeting-holders: Pennoyers, Swains. Carol asked, what would happen at these meetings? Karen answered that we would get a sense of how people feel. Mentioning a bond in print or at the l.r. meetings might be precipitate.
Change Land Use Change tax? Also need a warrant article. Currently, it is 100% with the $5,000 cap. Change it to 50% with no cap? Look at last two years’ annual reports. Karen will send numbers to Carol and talk to Deb. The figures are available from the CLC - Janet will call Dijit about strategy.
Display for Con Com - a moveable display, perhaps on wheels, to show the pictures and the wildlife map. Roger suggested a 3-sided kiosk: 1) wild animal map, 2) photo contest, 3) one of the land maps. Need it by 03/19. Suggested materials: metal picture frames from Dick Blick, hinged together with velcro. Plastic over the map.
Amphibian program - afternoon of 04/23/2006 because the amphibians get active in the early evening. Where? East Rd. & New Boston Rd.; Lilly Pad Pond; Swamp Rd.; Janet to look at Almanac for sunset and moonrise times in April. Wetlands behind the Town Offices? (is that town property?); Becky Reed - Diamond Swamp.
Submitted by Janet Romanelli
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