Conservation Commission Workshop Meeting: Minutes for October 4, 2011
Chair Sam Demeritt called the meeting to order at 6:35. Other members in attendance were Pete Landry, Celia Abrams and Susan Mooney. Deb Kimball arrived at 6:55. Guest was Anne Melvin of the Barrington Conservation Commission.
Ms. Melvin gave the Commission an overview and history of the walking trails in Barrington. One of the Barrington Commission members using GPS mapped a series of public trails in Barrington’s conservation easement lands (with permission from and involvement with the landowners) and posted the maps on line with trail descriptions that can be downloaded. Melvin brought examples of some of the trail maps to show us. The first trail system was developed in the Tamposi easement with assistance from the Natural Heritage Commission. We were shown a booklet titled The Walking Trails of Barrington 2006 that was self-published by the same commission member mentioned above. The booklet had trails through the Barrington Town Forest as well as four on private easement properties. Barrington now has a separate Trails Committee that
involves community members for the existing trail system.
Melvin stated that leading walks is an excellent learning experience for community members, young and old alike. The Forest Society (SPNHF) offers free workshops on how to lead nature walks. Completion of such program would identify a person as a certified hike leader. Melvin had recently teamed up with a forestry expert to lead a walk on another easement property, Stonehouse Pond. Melvin left at 7:11.
The Commission continued to discuss options and opportunities about developing a similar trail system for the residents in Nottingham. Easement properties, residents, strategies were all discussed in order to determine what might be the best way to approach such a project.
Abrams attended a workshop where she learned the importance of having complete base line documentation in the files for town owned easements on private properties. We will attend to this issue as the Commission conducts fall monitoring of the three properties: Friend, Terninko and Kimball.
Abrams and Mooney will inspect the property on Smoke Street, Map 11, Lot 3, owned by Greg Stratis of Concrete Products of Londonderry, Inc., that might have invasive species. In an email dated 9/22/11, Mr. Stratis granted the Commission access to the property and to remove any invasive upland plants.
The Budget for Fiscal year 2012 was reviewed for potential changes and will be submitted by Demeritt on October 5.
Abrams and Mooney will bring the names of the two maps seen at the COVERTS Program developed by NH Fish and Game that would be valuable resources to have on hand.
A motion to adjourn was made by Abrams, seconded by Kimball. All votes were in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 8:32.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan P. Mooney, Acting Secretary
These minutes were accepted as corrected at the meeting held on 10/25/11. Corrections have been made.
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