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Nottingham Conservation Commission Minutes for July 11, 2011
Chairman Sam Demeritt called the meeting to order at 7:02. Other members in attendance were Cheryl Smith, Deb Stevens, Celia Abrams, Pete Landry, Deb Kimball and Susan Mooney.
Mooney reported that the Mission/ Vision statement(s) were not ready yet.
The minutes for June 13, 2011, were accepted as corrected. Smith so moved, seconded by Abrams, six votes in favor, there was one abstention.
Correspondence:
- Dated 6/9/11, to Mr. C. Wayne Ives, DES, from the Board of Selectmen (BOS) re: comments from the BOS on the Draft Lamprey River Water Management Project; a letter of statement re: North River, Pawtuckaway River and the negative impact of a summer drawdown on the tax paying residents of Pawtuckaway Lake. The BOS requests that no changes in management of water levels in Pawtuckaway Lake and no reallocation of water resources be done prior to a completion of an Environmental Impact Study of the Lamprey River Watershed. This letter was also cc-ed to Ted Diers, DES Water Bureau.
- Dated June 21, 2011, to Town of Nottingham, from Public Service of NH, from Mark Vattes, Municipal Relations and External Affairs Transmission Group re: upcoming transmission project to upgrade the transmission line between Deerfield to the Rochester substation, a project update.
- Dated June 17, 2011, to Faye and Patrick Castonguay, 122 Kelsey Road from Vanessa Burnes, DES, re: Wetland Program Permit Application RSA 482:A, DES File # 2011-01426, a notice that the application has been received but there were missing items in the application package. Please return within 60 days and include the Natural Heritage Bureau File number on the application and a USGS map.
- Dated June 22, 2011, to Mr. Plante, Public Service of NH, from Dori Wiggen, East Regional Supervisor, DES Wetlands Bureau re: NHDES Wetlands File # 2001-01346, PSNH – C – 129 Line Nottingham, Tax Map/Lot 11/9, to impact 26, 824 ft2 of temporary impact and 100 ft2 of permanent impact associated with improvements, replacements and installation of one new transmission structure, has been approved including consideration for six species of interest listed by NH Fish and Game as Threatened, Endangered or Species of Concern.
- Received June 13, 2011, from W.C. Cammett Engineering for USA Springs, Field Reports for inspections done on May 10, May 16, May 19, and May 26, including photos and comments. All four reports note that the silt fence near the cistern needs to be repaired since it blew down in the March 15, 2010 storm and slumped soil needs to be removed from the settling area. In addition eroded soil near the cistern needs to be removed.
In addition, the silt fence at the back of the settling area along emergency access needs to be repaired due to winter damage, and slumping of soil on the access drive from storm water spilling out of the building foundation near the door openings.
- Received from Landry Surveying, LLC, a copy of a Minimum Impact Expedited Application for Patrick and Faye Castonguay, June 2011. (See Bullet #3 above).
- Dated July 7, 2011, from Dennis Vachon Realty representing Esther V. Tasker, Trustee of the Tasker Family Trust, a request for more money to purchase the fee interest of the property by the town. They thought that they owned 71 acres including a house lot and had been taxed accordingly. When the WRP survey was completed, the acreage was 47.01 acres and there was no suitable house lot on the property. An increase in purchase price would correct some of the overpayments made by the Trust over the past years. The NCC’s position was that any tax relief should be directed to another town entity; it was also noted that for the original price, the town would be receiving much less acreage. It was moved by Landry and seconded by Stevens to stick to the earlier agreement of $3000 made on December 14, 2009. All votes were in favor.
- Dated July 1, 2011, from Malin Ely Clyde to the NCC, a letter seeking additional applicants for the COVERTS 3 ½ day workshop scheduled September 21-24, 2011. Abrams and Mooney have already applied for the program.
- Dated July 7, 2011, from Dennis Vachon, Realtor, an update on the Merriam-Daggett WRP 46.41 property, Tax Map 19, Lot 1. At present there is about 48 acres in current use and 9 acres will come out of current use to be included with the house that is for sale. On September 22, 2009, it was moved by the NCC to pay $500 or more per acre up to a limit of $30,000 for the acreage. On December 14, 2009, it was moved by the NCC to pay $500 per acre, plus costs for subdivision fees (about $6000) and the survey costs all not to exceed $42,000. In this letter, Mr. Vachon is asking for $38, 886 to cover the fee purchase, subdivision fees and survey cost of the property,
It was moved by Abrams and seconded by Kimball to buy the Merriam-Daggett WRP fee interest of 46.41 acres, Tax Map 19, Lot 1, for $38, 886. All seven votes were in favor.
- The next step is to schedule with the BOS and present these two properties as fee purchases for the town. The next BOS meeting is August 1; Demeritt will contact the Selectmen’s office to be put on the agenda.
Bear-Paw Report: In the recent Biothon held in Raymond two counting teams noted 221 and 325 species respectively. There was $2960 collected in donations. There is a celebration on Evans Mountain for that completed protection project scheduled for Saturday, October 15; maybe a hawk watch in September; a roundtable update on Shoreland Protection/ Land Protection Workshop, one in November and the other in December; The Annual meeting will be held on January 28 so not to conflict with deliberative sessions in the area communities; possibly a snowshoe trek on the Bear-Paw property across Route 152 from the Town Municipal Building.
Lamprey River Watershed Association: Demeritt noted that the next meeting is the following Monday, July 18.
Roadside Cleanup: Is scheduled for July 26 at 8:30 am.
The NCC will conduct a Workshop on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 at 6:30 pm.
It was moved by Mooney, seconded by Stevens to adjourn the meeting. All votes were in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 8:48.
These minutes were accepted as corrected at the meeting held on August 8, 2011. Corrections have been made.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan. P. Mooney
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