Otisfield Conservation Committee Meeting
Wednesday, December 28, 2011 – 7pm.
(approved)
Present – Pixie Williams, Susan Feller, Bob Blake: OCC
Jean Hankins, Marygrace Barber, Jeff Stern: Friends of OCC
Rick Micklon, Hal Ferguson: Otisfield Selectmen
1. Pixie opened the meeting at 7pm. Jeff Stern was introduced as a proposed OCC member and introductions were made. An overview of the OCC’s mission and projects was given for Jeff’s enlightenment.
2. Trail development status on town land between Saturday and Moose Ponds – Bob and Rick used the town map to show the location of town land and the proposed trail for the property. Bob has already walked and done preliminary marking with colored tape; Jean, Rick and Hal have also followed the proposed trail and agreed it’s a good location. Rick informed the group that Richard Bean has cleared a parking area and laid down base gravel at the junction of Hidden Lake Rd. and Fox Run Rd. It will accommodate 10 -12 vehicles. Richard will complete the final layers of gravel in the Spring.
Rick said any potential tree removal by the trail’s end along the shore of Moose Pond will have to meet shore land zoning regulations. Anyone who does any work on the trail will have to be listed on the town’s insurance policy.
Once the trail is completely blazed, Richard St. John, code enforcement officer, will have to walk the trail and enter the information in the code log book. Presentation of the project will have to be made at a Board of Selectmen’s meeting. Rick and Hal will check the trail for final inspection.
There will be a public information meeting about the proposed designation of the land use (i.e. preserved, conserved, managed forest) prior to putting it on the warrant for a town meeting vote in June. Rick and Hal said the town has funds for trail maintenance, so grant funds aren’t needed.
3. OCC elections and length of terms – Decision to table elections for a couple months. Present members terms are; Lee and Scott –expired in June 2011, Pixie – 6/30/12, Susan and Bob – 6/30/13.
4. Vernal Pool Reports – Pixie still needs reports from Bob and Scott for their properties and what was found along the shore of Moose Pond on town land. Pixie reported that two families near her home have requested evaluations of vernal pools on their properties come spring.
5. Lakes Associations meeting review – Discussion whether to continue having an annual combined lakes associations meeting in the Fall due to dwindling attendance. Marygrace said she felt it should continue, hold it during the summer when the seasonal property owners are present, and have a pot luck dinner to make it a social gathering. The Community Hall could be used for the purpose.
6. Bulletin Board – Bob will post updates and maps of the ongoing trail work, Jeff suggested information on non point pollution, and Pixie will post information on climate change in Maine.
7. OCC webpage – Add information on Western Foothills Land Trust (WFLT), how the trust works, and have Lee post updates on their work in Otisfield.
8. New business – Jean reported on the WFLT completing the conservation easements for sections of the Pugleyville Conservation Corridor with lands from the Turner, Watson and Zalinsky families.
The meeting adjourned at 9:10pm. Next meeting scheduled for Jan. 25, 2012
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Feller, Secretary
TAFT 01.31.12
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