Otisfield Conservation Committee Meeting
Minutes – Wednesday, February 23, 2011, 7pm.
(approved )
Present – Pixie Williams, Lee Dassler, Scott Vlaun, Susan Feller, Bob Blake: OCC
Jacinthe Sirois: Friends of OCC
Tanya Taft: Town Secretary; Hal Ferguson, Rick Micklon: Town Selectmen
Pixie opened the meeting at 7:05pm. First item of business was the OCC webpage. Tanya was introduced and Rick explained her duties for maintaining the town website. Tanya attended to receive input for expanding the OCC webpage, and to delete some outdated information. Rick presented some ideas for the webpage, and suggested checking out other town websites for comparison of conservation related design and content. Scott, Pixie, Lee and Bob offered ideas for informational content, including OCC minutes, newsletters, reports, conservation articles, seasonal issues and helpful links. Bob suggested photos for the page, changing them seasonally. Rick said a photo gallery would be an attractive addition to the page.
Scott asked if there is wireless access at Town Hall so information could be sent to Tanya during OCC meetings for the webpage. This would expedite the process. Rick said a code is needed to do that, and Dave Hyer is the person the town uses for computer issues. Scott also asked if Adobe Flash was available for the website. Tanya will check into that. Rick said any information for the webpage needs to be sent electronically to Tanya and him, and he will act on behalf of the Board of Selectmen to review and approve the content prior to placing on the page. Hal said the OCC needs 1 or 2 members to “funnel” information to Tanya. Scott volunteered to provide that service. Webpage business ended at 7:40pm, and Tanya departed.
Pixie reviewed the outcome of the Save Saturday Pond Committee’s attempts to have the Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) restrict h.p. on the pond. The letter dated 2/16/11 from the MDIFW acting commissioner to Barry Vail of Save Saturday Pond concluded that the MDIFW would not impose any h.p. restrictions at this time. Pixie would like to have the letter included on the OCC webpage for informational purpose Rick felt it was not appropriate for inclusion on the page, since the letter was singular to Barry Vail, but would approve an official letter from the MDIFW to the Town of Otisfield regarding the conclusion of the issue. Rick said he will contact the MDIFW about the letter.
Heniger Park – Rick and Hal stayed to discuss concerns/issues about the property. Pixie discussed her contact with Carrie Wallia of Loon Echo Land Trust questioning how they restrict motorized vehicles from using the Mayberry Hill Preserve. Pixie read Carrie’s email, noting there are signs restricting motorized vehicles at the trailhead and also a matter of location and accessibility that keeps the preserve free from vehicles. Rick said the OCC has no “control” of Heniger Park, by nature of the deed. The selectmen will not presently restrict use of ATVs or snowmobiles, but, if in the future problems would arise with their use, they would act on possible restrictions. Rick and Hal stated that at the present there is so little use of the park that restrictions aren’t warranted. There is an old
tote road at the eastern end of the park that has historically been used by vehicles as a crossing point of the land. Lee, Scott and Pixie suggested that other trails be limited to foot use only, having safety concerns about hikers and skiers encountering vehicles. Rick said the IFW stated they can’t restrict use unless it’s done by warrant at Town Meeting. The town has arranged to pay Dan Peaco to maintain certain trails; the Dyer family will continue to maintain the perimeter trail. The selectmen hope maintenance will encourage more use of the park, and more “eyes on the park” can monitor and report any damage or vandalism occurring. Currently, Judy Hall uses the trails for XC skiing, and enlists her neighbor to pack a trail with a snowmobile. Discussion ensued about having trails groomed in the winter for skiing and snowshoeing, and returned to the issue of pedestrian vs. vehicle use for both safety and esthetic reasons.
Bob presented his draft copy of a Heniger Park tri-fold leaflet to Hal and Rick, and his ideas for information to include on the reverse side from the park map. Suggestions were made that trails be marked for “particular” uses, and to have someone with a GPS get accurate trail distances for a map. Rick mentioned that Merle Ring, state forester, might be interested in providing that service. It was also mentioned that an official “opening ceremony” could be held in the spring.
Bob said he’d found little information on Jacob Heniger, and whether he even lived in Otisfield. He was able to obtain a copy of the will/deed, and read the section pertaining to the use of the pocket beach on Pleasant Lake within the park. The deed stated it was not open to the public, only to lease holders of plots along the lake.
Rick mentioned forming a Heniger Park Committee to establish uses and needs for the park, and have a public informational meeting for residents to learn about the park.
Lee said the OCC spends a lot of time at monthly meetings covering the issues about the park, and until a master plan for the property is drawn up three years from now, it is fruitless to continue pursuing a park map and discussions of use not knowing what the future plans will be for the property. It was decided to table any further discussions of the park at 8:35, and Hal and Rick adjourned from the meeting.
Minutes from the January meeting were reviewed and accepted; Susan motioned and Lee seconded.
Vernal Pools – Pixie has graciously provided each OCC member a copy of the book “Maine Amphibians and Reptiles” which includes a Lang Elliott CD of all the frog and toad calls to aid identification of unseen species. Pixie discussed the information from the University of Maine Vernal Pool Website, and why it’s too complex and time consuming for Otisfield to utilize. Pixie wants vernal pool information to be “user friendly” to encourage residents to find, enjoy and maintain vernal pools and learn why they are important. This spring, OCC will focus on having its members/friends check for vernal pools on their own properties, town owned land and other areas that are familiar to them. Pixie will investigate Coon Swamp, Scott the town parcel between Moose and Saturday Ponds, and Susan
will cover the areas along the old tote road to Little Pond. Bob has a vernal pool on his property that has already yielded indicator species. Pixie would also like to re-visit the pool at Camp Arcadia to see if any indicator species are present. Other people to aid identifying locations of vernal pools would be private foresters like Fred Huntress of Poland, Merle Ring with the Maine Forest Service and surveyors who frequent lands with potential vernal pools.
Bulletin Board – Lee will get information on the Crooked River Survey, Bob will get info on vernal pools, Susan will check about getting vernal pool field ID cards of species and egg masses printed from the U of ME. Website.
Other Business – Jugtown Plains. Pixie has been in touch with Gail Everett of the Maine Entomological Society, and read email correspondence regarding the group including Jugtown as part of its Maine butterfly survey this summer. They would perform a “mini blitz” of the sensitive area of concern. Pixie will continue corresponding with Gail to work out the dates and details.
Lee provided information on sec.319 EPA grant for Crooked River Survey, to be conducted this spring and summer. The first training for Stream Crossings (erosion) is set for May 7, 8am, at the Crooked River Adult Ed. Center on rt.11 in Casco. The second series of trainings for the Nature of the Riparian Corridor are May 19 at 3pm and July 14 at 8am, also at the Adult Ed. Center.
Meeting adjourned at 9:10 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Feller, secretary
TAFT 05.26.11
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