February 19, 2008: Webster Conservation Commission Minutes
WCC Members Present: Mary Jo MacGowan (Chair), David Klumb, Betsy Janeway, Sally Embley, Jane Difley, and alternate Nancy Clark.~
Guests: Nancy Van Loan and Tom Vernon from Webster; Beth McGuinn and Deborah Stanley from Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust (ASLPT); Jan McLure and Deborah Callahan from The Nature Conservancy (TNC)'s NH Chapter.
The meeting was called to order at 7:35 P.M.
~~~~ Ms Janeway was appointed Secretary for the meeting.
1. Decided: to move Minutes & Correspondence to end of meeting to accomodate our guests.
2. Discussion: The Schoodac Brook Courser Family Conservation Project.
Ms. Stanley of ASLPT reviewed Phase Four Project costs.~ LCHIP is expected to provide $200,000 of the total cost of the conservation easement around Trumbull Pond.~ Ms. McLure offered assistance from TNC with marketing the project to community.~ Further discussion included fundraising strategies and ways in which the WCC and Town of Webster could help.
~~~~ Ms. McGuinn recommended an Analysis of the Cost to Community Services if the Courser Trumbull Pond lands were to be developed.~ She reminded the CC of benefits to the Town of an easement which will allow public access to snowmobiles, hikers, hunters, nature-students, etc.
~~~~ Further discussion inspired ideas for introducing Trumbull Pond to Webster residents, with events (skating, snowmobiling, nature walks, owl prowl, kayaking, field trips for children, and fall foliage walks; a dinner-dance, and a concert by the Contoocook Blues Society were some of our ideas) to be held in the coming year.
3. Town Meeting on Saturday, March 15: Discussion of ways to speak in support of the warrant article for $5,000 to replenish the Webster Land Trust Fund. The Fund has leveraged LCIP and will help leverage LCHIP funds, landowner gifts and bargain sales.~ Small contributions from the Fund have made landowners feel comfortable giving cons. easements on their land.
~~~~ Decision: March Grapevine articles are to be drafted and shared via email for our collective input.~ Ms Embley and Ms Roman will write an article in favor of the Groundwater Ordinance.~ A flier will be inserted in the March Grapevine (deadline Feb. 25).
4. Minutes from our January meeting were approved as amended with one change.
5. Correspondence:
~~~~ Reviewed letters from Mike Wiltshire and Richard Cummings: no action required.
~~~~ Feb. 28 workshop on Sustainable Landscaping~ will be held from 6:30-8:30 PM at ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ CNHRPC , 28 Commercial St., Concord.~ Postcards on workshop were handed out.
~~~~ Ad for ASLPT art show in New London at The Banks Gallery passed around.
~~~~ April 5: Saving Special Places workshop at Kearsarge Regional High School in Sutton, ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ sponsored by SPNHF (Forestsociety.org) with CLCA (Center for Land ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ Conservation Assistance).
6. Three Candidates for the Webster Conservation Commission will be presented by Ms MacGowan to the Select Board for confirmation:
~~~~ For the Commission: Tom Vernon offers expertise in geology and mapping, and wishes to work outdoors.
~~~~ For Alternates to the Commission: Nancy Van Loan offers expertise as past chairperson of the Webster Planning Board;~ Robert Quinn is an experienced professional naturalist and ornithologist, recently moved to Call Rd. from Canterbury.
7. Town Voting Day, Tuesday, March 11: Discussed the usefulness of having a display of some sort in Town Hall all day, to publicize the many ways the Land Trust Fund has helped preserve Webster open land for its residents.~ Ms MacGowan and Ms Janeway have photos.
8.~ Meeting adjourned at 9:20 PM.
~~~~ Next WCC Meeting will be Tuesday, March 18th, 7:30 PM, Town Offices.~
Minutes Respectfully Submitted by Betsy Janeway
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