Conservation Commission Meeting Minutes
January 5, 2015
Present: Larry Siebert, Brian Byrne, Dave Matesky, Margaret Graciano, and Tom Seidel. Pam Smillie joined us partway through the meeting. Hank Benesh filmed the meeting.
Absent: Mike Dufilho
The December meeting minutes were unanimously approved as amended.
November 20, 2014: The DES sent another letter to Don Bilger and John Fichera at Black Mountain allowing them to temporarily put in another cofferdam for the 2014/2015 snow making season. The cofferdam must be removed immediately following the end of the snow making season. The letter will be on file with this meeting's minutes.
SPNHF Conservation Easement Monitoring Reports
Mike and Brian are finishing theirs and will turn them in to Larry ASAP!
Wetlands Permit
A subcommittee of Larry, Brian and Dave went out to a property on Dundee Rd. to investigate an expedited wetlands permit. After walking the property, Larry, as the chairman, signed the permit for the property owners. The approval of the Conservation Commission changes the owner's DES wait time from 75 to 30 days. Even with confusing language in the 2015 DES permits, the Conservation Commission Chairman's signature is still needed for expedited permits.
Annual Report
Larry is working on a draft and the commission will review and revise it via email.
Conservation Commission Budget
Because Jackson doesn't have a Parks and Recreation department, Larry raised the question of what the Conservation Commission's role ought to be in town with regards to recreational opportunities. Particularly in light of a recent poll showing that 70% of residents are interested in increased recreational opportunities. The current Parks and Recreation budget is controlled by the road agent under town maintenance. The Conservation Commission currently spends roughly $1,600 out of our $2,000 budget to mow Prospect Farm. Larry wonders if we could we get the highway department to mow Prospect Farm because it is done for recreational purposes? The Commission discussed asking for more money in our annal budget to be able to attend to more of our responsibilities.
Larry attended a meeting of board chairs. They will meet once or twice a year to touch base and have discussions about overlapping concerns in town. Perhaps the question of overlapping Parks and Recreation duties can be addressed by all chairs at their next meeting.
The commission will begin planning projects for the coming year including building additional trails at Prospect Farm. Individually the members will scope out the area and report back on possible trail locations.
Meeting Adjourned at 6:30pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Margaret Graciano and Tom Seidel
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