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Conservation Commission
June 14, 2011
Approved July 12, 2011
Members Present: Katheryn Holmes, Chair; Eric Unger, Vice-Chair; Chuck Crickman, Suzanne Levine, Members; Bill Annable, Alternates; Dick Wright, Ex-Officio.
Ms. Holmes called the meeting to order at 4:40 p.m.
ADMINISTRATIVE
Minutes
The Commission reviewed the minutes of April 12, 2011 and made no corrections. Mr. Wright made a motion to accept the minutes as presented. Mr. Unger seconded the motion. All in favor.
INTENTS TO CUT
Mr. Unger reported the following Intents to Cut:
- April 15, 2011, from Helmut Schwarzer, 17 Morse Lane, Newbury, NH, Tax Map/Lot # 044-723-511, for 45,000 feet of white pine, by logger/forester Scott B. Hill, Box 13, South Newbury, NH 03272, telephone (603) 496-8046. (Approved by the Board of Selectmen)
- May 4, 2011, from Donald. E. Clifford, president, Northwoodlands, Inc., 29 Alexander Avenue, Newport, NH 03773, for property located on Mountain road, Newbury, NH, Tax Map/Lot # 024-647-336, for 10,000 of spruce & fir, 50,ooo feet of hard maple, 20,000 feet of yellow birch, 5,000 feet of oak, 30,000 feet of ash, 35,000 feet of beech & soft maple, and 35,000 feet of pallet or tie logs, by logger/forester Andrew J. Clifford, 33 Coventry Drive, Newport, NH, telephone (603) 763-3307.
Mr. Wright discussed the approved Intents to Cut for Richard Messer, 84 Forest Brook Road, Newbury, NH as a follow up to Mr. Unger’s comments to the Board of Selectmen (BOS) on March 27, 2011. Mr. Unger’s comments note the application’s obsolete form, lack of required photos, use of obsolete zoning regulations, the severity of the cut, and the cutting of buffer zone trees on the abutting lot (as indicated on the survey). The cut met minimum DES requirements.
Mr. Wright said the BOS is committed to being more diligent in the future when reviewing Intents to Cut, with particular attention paid to the form used, attached photos, and appropriate zoning regulations cited.
Ms. Holmes asked about the follow up procedures to all Intent to Cut. Mr. Wright said the BOS compares the timber tax paid to what the property owner and/or logger/forester has listed on the Intent to Cut. If there is a discrepancy between the two, the logger/forester must file a “supplemental”. He said the system is based on honesty and that the logger/forester and the property owner are accountable for the accuracy of the cuts.
There was further discussion on the follow up procedures for Intents to Cut.
Ms. Holmes suggested that the Commission review any arborist report on trees intended for removal that appears in a ZBA application.
WETLANDS/SHORELANDS
Ms. Holmes noted that the Commission is being kept informed of the Landing Boat Club (Blodgett’s Landing) DES Wetlands and Non-Site Specific Permit application. Mr. Wright said the BOS is also being kept informed.
Ms. Holmes distributed copies of the Senate Bill (SB) 154, the proposed Shoreland Water Quality Protection Act and asked that Commissioners review it for discussion at the next meeting. SB 154 replaces the existing Shoreland Protection Act.
COMMUNICATIONS
Ms. Holmes shared with the Commission the following upcoming events and invited Commissioners to attend:
- Merrimack County Conservation annual meeting and dinner, June 28, 2011, with speaker John E. Carroll, UNH professor of Environmental Conservation.
- Upper Valley lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission (UVLSRPC) annual dinner meeting, June 16, 2011.
- Newbury Center Meeting House dedication, June 18, 2011, at 2:00 p.m.
- Partners Around Lake Sunapee (PALS), Newbury Old Home Day on July 9, 2011 and History of Blodgett’s landing on August 14, 2011.
There was general discussion about the Newbury Veteran’s Hall.
OLD BUSINESS
Trail Maps
There was discussion about the need for more Newbury Trail Maps at the Information Booth. Ms. Levine and Mr. Crickman were appointed to replenish the supply.
CAP and Trail Proposal
Mr. Crickman discussed the status of the potential opening of the pedestrian trail along the old railroad (RR) bed. He said Ralph Littlefield, executive director of the Merrimack-Belknap Community Action Program (CAP), stated at the May 17, 2011 Planning Board meeting that CAP was ready to work with interested parties to make the proposed pedestrian trail a reality. Mr. Crickman presented a map to the Commission detailing the area in question. (See Attachment)
Mr. Crickman noted that Mr. Littlefield met with Gerry Gold to review the concerns and issues surrounding the pedestrian path.
There was general discussion regarding the old RR bed, strategies to limit the path to foot traffic only and the challenges to gaining access to the Newbury Cut from the end of the proposed footpath.
There was discussion concerning the abutting property, Tax Map/Lot # 032-661-340, belonging to Susan Hanamoto. Discussion included the current use law and strategies to ensure access from the end of the proposed pathway to the Newbury Cut.
Conservation Commission Workshop
Ms. Holmes discussed the possibility of sponsoring a forestry workshop in the fall and Mr. Unger said he will review the materials collected from a similar workshop he attended several months ago.
NEW BUSINESS
Old Home Day
Ms. Holmes noted that the Conservation Commission will host an information booth at the Town’s Old Home Day on July 9, 2011. She said she intends to invite Ausbon Sargent Land preservation Trust (ASLPT) to share booth space.
Trail Day 2012
Ms. Holmes made the suggestion that the Commission consider hosting or co-hosting a Trail Day in summer 2012 and tabled further discussion for future meetings.
Mr. Unger made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Wright seconded the motion. All in favor.
The meeting adjourned at 5:54 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Meg Whittemore
Recording Secretary
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