Conservation Commission
Minutes, October 10, 2012
Meeting called to order by Chairman, Fred Huntress at 7pm.
Members present: Fred Huntress, John Laskey, John Quinn, Don Stover and Larry Moreau (Selectboard Liason)
Absent: John Crouch and Sue Ellis
Old Business: The easement agreement with New England Forestry Foundation has now been fully completed.
New Business:
PARK AT WATERHOUSE BROOK
Suggestions for developing a park area at the dam on Waterhouse Brook near the fire station were discussed. The Selectboard has referred this matter to Conservation to review town liability and propose development of the area for recreational use.
The area currently receives use for fishing, and a canoe/kayak launch. It has long been experienced as a pleasant scenic area. From here a lovely canoe route runs into Lower Range Pond with access to the town beach area and Range Pond Park. The area below the dam is also suitable for fishing, and the area connects with the old railroad bed which is used for motorized and walking trails. The area connects with the Community School playing fields and with trails on the cemetery side of the school. Plans to be developed would include a footbridge across the dam spillway to give better access to existing trails, a nature trail downstream of the dam, parking for two to four cars, as well as one or two benches and picnic tables. A circle trail could be developed from the cemetery, across the brook, up the railroad bed,
across the spillway, and return downstream past the playing fields to the cemetery.
A legal opinion from the town attorney stated that the town would incur no liability from this sort of park development.
Members agreed to work on a specific proposal, describing vision, use and projected costs. Larry informed the group that there is a DEP water management plan for the to which the park plan would need to adhere. The major problem here might be the parking spaces, but this could perhaps be resolved by permission from Fire Department to use a couple of their spaces. Larry also said that the well and dry hydrant which are near the pond will be removed when the fire station addition is constructed.
TRAIL COMMITTEE
Fred reported that the Trail Committee has been making improvements and developing some new trails in the Bragdon Hill Conservation Area. Trails have been layed out on the two NEFF properties and in the Town Farm East property. The trail committee has been very active all summer under the leadership of Alan Audet.
BRAGDON HILL PROPERTIES
There was discussion of other properties adjacent to the Bragdon Hill Conservation Area. Plans should be made to re-contact some fo these owners to see if they are interested in easements or if we could explore possibilities for further purchases by NEFF.
Meeting adjourned at 9pm.
Next meeting, November 14, 2012, 7pm, Town Office Conference Room
Respectfully submitted,
Donald Stover
Acting secretary
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