Washington Conservation Commission

Minutes – July 20, 2016

 

Assembly time: 7:00 PM

 

Members present: Jed Schwartz, Arin Mills, Doug Cook, Johanna Young and Nan Schwartz.

Visitors: Phil Barker

 

Jed wanted to talk to Phil before we got to our regular agenda. He asked Phil if he was ok with the cemetery mowing being put off until later in the season. He asked Jed why the Cemetery Committee was not consulted and why we asked that it be delayed. Jed said that Arin was concerned about the pollinators and nesting birds being disturbed by early mowing. We all agreed with her concerns and asked around about who was responsible for the mowing. Ed Thayer said that the DPW did the mowing so we asked them to hold off until August to give the pollinators and birds time to use the field and wildflowers. Phil said he would take it up with the Cemetery Committee when they meet.

        Phil brought up the fact that he came to us a while ago about his property and the possibility of a conservation easement. Jed spoke about the lot and the fact that it is landlocked. Phil said there is a right-of-way to the property. Jed asked Phil if he was looking to get paid for an easement. He feels it is difficult to use the conservation value, though it is high the threat for development is low, with no imminent threat. Jed said the Greenway and the snowmobile trails are on the property and we are looking for funds to protect the trails, there are a few possibilities out there. Phil asked about the MacNeil and Farnsworth Hill properties. Jed explained to Phil that these were purchased by the Forest Society, they now own the land. Nan asked Phil how long the trails have been on his property. Phil said the Greenway since the early 1980’s and the snowmobile trail since the 1970’s. He said he is 200’ from Valley Road and close to Faxon Hill for access. He said the land is in current use at present and he uses it for a wood lot. Jed said that the value of an easement is based on development value, you are selling the rights to develop the land. He said that putting an easement on the property is costly, you need surveys, stewardship fees, title matters, involving lawyers, the cost adds up. He said we don’t have a budget and we only receive the Land Use Change Tax, which has been a small amount in the last few years. Jed said he will talk to Brian at SPNHF and also contact NEFF. Nan asked if Phil would be happy to get paid for a trail easement and he said probably not if he can’t protect the whole lot. Arin said the recreational value is probably the lots highest value. Phil explained that the Forest Society abandoned the trail 10 or 15 years ago and the Greenway group took it over. Phil let us know that the snowmobile group is relocating part of the trail on Brighton’s property. We thanked Phil for coming to talk to us and we will keep his issue on the agenda and let him know if anything develops.

 

1.0    Approval of Minutes: June minutes, Arin motioned to approve as written, Doug seconded and all voted in favor.

 

2.0    Permits Committee  - No new permits,

 

3.0   Committee and Board reports:

3.1   Land Protection Committee  - Jed and Carol spoke with someone about a possible project. Nan has researched the abutters of our Karen Bartlett property and written a letter to reach out to them and see if any are interested in acquiring it.

3.2   Energy Committee – Johanna said that the EC meet the week before last. She said Andrew is in discussion with Dunbarton about energy projects and learning more about the use of the camera. They are going back to the DPW Garage to see if more can be done with the solar array. She is getting solar panels installed on Friday on her house. They have someone interested in joining the committee and hope that she will.

3.3   Planning Board – Nan said the Planning Board is working on the Town Buildings project for this year. They are meeting often to get a plan figured out.

3.4   Forestry Committee – No news from Tom, who was not in attendance.

3.5   Legislative update  - Not in session.

 

4.0   Public Presentations and workshops:

4.1   Presentation for the Camp Morgan kids – Arin spoke with Yvonne Bachand about scheduling a day and time to do the presentation with the camp kids but Yvonne said that she has a lot lined up already for the camp schedule. Arin felt that it wasn’t going to fit in the schedule. Yvonne said they do a nature hour but didn’t think the hike to the cemetery would be possible. Arin spoke with Fish and Game, got some information from Emily Preston and bought some nets so she would like to do it. We discussed waiting until next spring and doing the presentation for the school instead.

4.2   Meeting with Lempster CC and Swift Corwin about the trails and connections – Jed went to a meeting with Lempster and Swift about the trails and connections and there was a lot of enthusiasm for the concept. Swift has been out on the land and sees a way to get through to Sand Pond and Silver Hill from Washington. They set up a hike to go out and take a look on Friday, August 26 at 9am. Meet at Brighton’s at 9am, bring a lunch and we will scout the trail possibilities.

4.3   Fall Hike – We discussed a hike for this fall. We discussed Oak Hill or possibly hiking up along Colby’s from Camp Morgan, up around Old Marlow Road, down Farnsworth Hill to Millen Pond Road. We’ll pick a date and hike at our next meeting.

4.4   Johanna’s Swim – We picked a date for Johanna’s memorial swim on Millen Pond for Saturday, August 27^th, at 10am. Jed may join her again this year for part of the swim. Johanna spoke about the possibility of doing a mini triathlon for a fundraiser in 2017 or 2018. She said it would be ¼ mile swim, a 5K bike ride and a 3 to 5K run, taking about 1 ½ hours. She thinks we could use Camp Morgan as a base and will look into the logistics of doing one. We would need lots of volunteers to help and lots of organization to put one on.

 

5.0   New Business:

5.1   Trash pickup – We scheduled a pickup for September 18^th, Sunday at 9AM, meet at the Library parking lot. Nan will send a reminder by email.

5.2   Ashuelot River Monitoring program – Barbara Skuly sent a request for the river monitoring program for $125. Nan made a motion to donate this amount to them for this year’s monitoring program, Arin seconded the motion and all voted in favor. Nan will let Lynda know to send them a check on Thursday.

 

6.0   Other Business:

6.1   Natural Resource Inventory Map updates – Nan has been in touch Chris and provided him with some more data on town roads. She will set a meeting with him soon either in Concord or in Washington. Arin spoke about using the state print shop in Concord to print out copies of the NRI when we finish updating it. She will look into prices for us and said they are very reasonable. She has had things printed there for work.

6.4   Master Plan goals for 2016 – We will talk more about goals in August.

6.5   Barker trail easement – See discussion at top of the minutes.

6.6   Tracking Invasive Plants project – Keep looking for new sites of plants and fill out a sheet when you find one. Nan shared our copy of “Picking Our Battles”, a guide to planning successful Invasive Plant management projects, send by NHACC and Fish and Game with Arin. The reporting sheets and guides are always available here: InvasiveProject.html

 

7.0   What’s Happening in Nature?

Johanna has seen 2 moose, 1 near Hillsboro but she saw a bull moose near her house. She also saw deer, a big snapping turtle and 2 bear cubs, one near her house and one in Hillsboro.

Arin said she saw a young bear near the church on Rte. 31 in Hillsboro. Nan saw a bear near there at someone’s birdfeeder and thinks it could be the same bear.

Doug saw a Brown Heron in East Washington and also had a picture of an American Bittern who showed up near his chicken coop. He thinks it might be hanging out in the beaver bog or across the street in the wetland.

Johanna has seen solitary sand pipers at the beach on Island Pond and flying low over the water.

Jed said his blueberries are producing like crazy and brought some pints to share.

Arin had a rodent eat her one zucchini in the garden. She said there are frogs in the rain barrel at the community garden. She was waiting for them to mature before she puts them out.

Jed said his Bluebirds have fledged and have left their boxes. They appear to be living somewhere else now but he’s not sure where. They still come to the garden and eat bugs.

Arin said it is the full moon (July 19^th) so you can listen for the Whip-poor-wills calling.

To learn more about the Solitary Sand Pipers that Johanna has seen locally, click here: NewinNature.html

 

8.0   Correspondence:

DES – Copy of Shoreland Permit for Carney, 663 Ashuelot Drive, TM 14-6, for garage and open shed

Copy of Supply Lines with the Source

Copy of Minimum Impact Permit for Eversource underwater cable replacement, Island Pond

Flyer from Lionel Chute about a pollinator workshop being held in Goshen on Thursday, July 28^th from 3-6pm.

 

           

9.0   Adjourned at 8:35 PM, our next scheduled meeting is August 17^th, at 7PM at the Town Hall.

 

Respectfully submitted,                       

Nan Schwartz, Secretary