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DRAFT
Nottingham Conservation Commission Minutes for March 14, 2011
Chairman Sam Demeritt opened the meeting at 7:02. Other members in attendance were Celia Abrams, Pete Landry and Susan Mooney.
A motion was made by S. Mooney and seconded by P. Landry to nominate Celia Abrams and Cheryl Smith for full membership on the Conservation Commission (NCC) for another three years each. All votes (4) were in favor. S. Demeritt will forward the results of this motion to the Board of Selectmen (BOS) for their approval on these appointments.
There was a brief discussion re: Warrant Article #15 that was defeated by hand ballot at last Saturday’s town meeting. (This article, if passed, would have reduced the LUCT contribution to the Town’s Conservation Fund to 50% and have put a cap in place of $100,000.) It was determined that it would be appropriate to include a page in the Town Report for next March that details the revenues coming into the Fund and conservation related expenses promised and/or spent each year out of the fund. Then residents can see exact accounting of the Fund in their Town Report.
The minutes of February 14, 2011, taken by C. Abrams were accepted as read. The motion was made by Landry, seconded by Abrams and the vote was three yeas and one abstention.
The minutes of February 17, 2011, taken by S. Mooney were accepted as read. The motion was made by Mooney, seconded by Abrams and all four votes were in favor.
Correspondence:
- Intent to Cut, from Jeffrey Cole, Map 4, Lots 10 &14, 104 Old Turnpike Road, 8.5 and 10.4 acres, respectfully, start date of 03.1.11, mostly white pine (20 MBF) and hemlock (10 MBF).
- Intent to Cut, from Kosma Stamoulis, Map 17, Lot 30, 6.7 acres on Gebig Road, Robert Graves is the logger, start date 06.1.11: 12 MBF white pine, 2 MBF hemlock, etc.
- An advertisement from the UNH Agricultural Station, COLSA, of two books of interest by John E. Carroll on food farming and sustainability in New England and the future of farming and conservation in New England. The topics are appropriate for the NCC’s interest and Dr. Carroll’s reputation as a respected essayist prompted a motion to purchase the books for a total of $30.00. The motion was made by Mooney, seconded by Abrams and all four votes were in favor. Abrams will pick up the books at UNH to save postage and will be reimbursed by the NCC. When NCC members have had a chance to read them it was suggested that they find a place at the Blaisdell Memorial Library for others to read.
DRAFT
- An announcement from UNH Cooperative Extension that there will be an all day Municipal Turf and Grounds Conference at The Oaks in Somersworth on March 23, 2011 from 8am to 3pm. Attendees will receive 5.5 pesticide recertification credits.
- Received was The Source, Winter Edition, the newsletter of NH DES Drinking Water Source Protection Program.
- A bulletin, Saving Special Places Conference is scheduled for April 9 from 8am until 3:45pm. The schedule of workshops was given. Conference fee is $60 per person.
- Field Reports for the USA Springs property from W.C. Cammett Eng., Inc., for February 14, 2011. Photos and reports indicated that there are erosion and silt fence problems.
- Dues to the NH Association of Conservation Commissions are due. The motion was made by Mooney, and seconded by Abrams to pay the NCC dues of $250 to the NHACC. All (4) votes were in favor.
- Dues to Bear-Paw Regional Greenways are also due. A motion was made by Mooney, and seconded by Abrams to pay the NCC dues of $100 to BPRG. All (4) votes were in favor.
Easements: S. Demeritt has contacted Lori Sommer at DES in regard to a recent letter received from her that there are easements in Nottingham that the NCC should be monitoring. The NCC does not know what easements she is means. She has not replied so S. Demeritt will contact her office again.
BPRG: S. Demeritt indicated that there will be a Biothon on the second Saturday in June. There will be a photography workshop also on that date. The Annual Meeting grossed $2000, minus expenses of $600.
Lamprey River Watershed Association (LRWA): S. Demeritt reported that the nomination of the Lamprey River and its tributaries for the state program is in committee at the House of Representatives. He also reported that an amendment has been discussed to exclude all rivers below 4th order streams now covered by the Shoreland Protection Act.
Speaking for Wildlife Presentation: As a part of the Natural Resources Stewardship program, Carol Doering will be presenting a slide show and talk about bats at the Blaisdell Memorial Library on April 12 at 6:30pm. This event is being coordinated by C. Abrams and is sponsored by the library and the NCC. Abrams will contact the library to set up a meeting to plan for press releases, posting fliers around the area, refreshments and other details.
Rocky Hill development proposal on Ledge Farm Road: Plans from Harbor Street LTD were left for the NCC to look at, which we did.
DRAFT
After discussion, it was decided that there did not appear to be a need for a separate wildlife study, particularly as there were no wetland impacts with the Open Space plan. It was suggested that there be a report requested from the Natural Heritage Bureau re: rare and endangered species and exemplary species for this property. We also recalled noticing on the site walk that large trees, many of them hard mast trees such as oak and hickory, dominated the mature forest and there were a few stands of mature hemlock. (This habitat is ideal for many native species including turkey, deer, rodents, bats, owls, woodpeckers, etc.) S. Demeritt will send a letter to the Planning Board to request that large mature trees be retained as much as possible in the developed area and that there be a report from the Natural Heritage
Bureau (as stated above).
Cutting timber: A resident asked a commission member to inquire if a resident had filed an Intent to Cut application for logging work that was being done on a particular lot. Inquiry at the Town Office resulted in the response that the trees felled did not reach the minimum amount of board feet harvested required by this permit. The logging activity was legal and within the owner’s rights. The information was related to the resident who had made the inquiry.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan P. Mooney, Acting Secretary
This is a draft document. These minutes were accepted as read/ corrected at the meeting held on __________________.
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