Minutes
Town of Holderness, NH
Conservation Commission Meeting
December 13, 2007
Town Office
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 4:10 p.m. by Chairman Spencer.
PRESENT: Larry Spencer, Barbara Currier, Anne Packard, and Betsy Whitmore.
OTHERS PRESENT: Wendy Werner (park & recreation director), David Lorch (planner, compliance and health officer) and Anne Abear (municipal secretary)
MINUTES: Minutes of the November 15, 2007 meeting were approved as written.
VISITORS:
Park & Recreation Director, Wendy Werner: Ms. Werner met with the Board to discuss the use of the town trails and wanted to assist the Board in promoting the use of the trails. Additionally, Ms. Werner discussed using the trails during the day camp program offered during the summer and placing the information about the trails in the recreation upcoming newsletter. The Board discussed the location of the trails with Ms. Werner and explained that the hope was to get more of the children from the school out on the trails. Mr. Spencer advised that the prior master plan was to encourage walking as an alternate form of transportation throughout the community. Mr. Spencer discussed the program in Plymouth that he sponsors annually. Ms. Packard
advised she would like to see a trail established on Mt. Prospect. The Board discussed disbursing a brochure with maps of the trails at Town Meeting and having them available at the Town Office. Ms. Werner discussed other possibilities that the participants of her programs could assist with to include an inventory of trees and parks in the community. Ms. Packard will be getting together with Ms. Werner and Mrs. Whitmore to tour the trails.
Planner, Health & Compliance Office, David Lorch: Mr. Lorch attended the meeting to introduce himself and advised he will be in the office 2 days per week (Tuesdays & Thursdays) and he looks forward to working with the Commission. Mr. Spencer discussed the role of the commission and expressed a need for open community between all boards. Mr. Lorch discussed the complaint/concern form that can be completed if anyone has an issue and advised it will be responded to appropriately. The Board discussed the wetlands inventory and Mr. Spencer discussed mapping and box of additional information within the Town Office containing this inventory. Mrs. Abear was to check with the Town Clerk.
Ms. Whitmore discussed markings being placed on prime wetlands throughout the community. Mr. Spencer advised this was not a bad idea, but some of the properties that hold the prime wetlands are on private land. The wetlands could be placed on a GPS and could have pictures taken.
Mr. Lorch discussed his experience with the Town of Sanbornton and Mr. Spencer discussed the quick reference guide as to whether a property owner needs to get a permit and from whom it is needed. The guide is supplied by NH DES and will be disbursed to all members at the next meeting. Mr. Lorch discussed the overlay proposal for steep slopes that will be added to the Holderness GIS system.
Mr. Spencer advised the preferred method of communication to all members of the commission should be through the use of email.
Permits and other matters:
Mr. Spencer felt that having Mrs. Whitmore check the mailbox was working out well and she was willing to continue that monitoring. Ms. Packard advised she has been in contact with NH DES and has not received a response regarding the appeal to the Wetland's Council regarding appeal of the Snowy Owl Woods subdivision approval.
OLD BUSINESS
a. Snowy Owl Woods Project - Mr. Spencer advised this subdivision was denied by the planning board. The Board was advised that the property of Mr. & Mrs. Reynolds has been placed up for sale.
b. Budget Request for 2008 - Mr. Spencer advised he met with the Selectboard to discuss the 2008 budget and that it had been cut by $150. The Board discussed the $20,000 request for Conservation Capital Reserve fund and they have not made a decision on this request. Mr. Spencer thanked Ms. Currier for her support in the commission's request to receive that amount of money in 2008.
c. Pilote Forest Trail Work - It was announced that the work scheduled at the Pilote Forest has been postponed.
d. Monitoring Visit - Mr. Spencer and Mrs. Whitmore viewed the Swaney Brook and Butternut Lane easements and were please with the appearance of the easements. A monitoring form with will be completed and mailed to abutting property owners to let them know that the commission had conducted this visit.
e. Energy Committee - Mr. Spencer updated the Board on the 1st meeting of the energy committee and the information that was presented at that meeting. Mr. Johnson will be discussing the information with Department Heads and the Town buildings will have an audit completed by NHEC. Mrs. Whitmore recommended an announcement be made to advise the community that the Town is working on this project. A press release to a local newspaper was recommended.
NEW BUSINESS -
1. 2008 meeting schedule - The Board decided to hold its next meeting on January 10. Since Mr. Spencer will be unavailable for that meeting, Ms. Packard volunteered to chair the meeting.
2. Phonology Workshop and planning for spring vernal pool workshop - This workshop is scheduled for March or April of 2008.
3. June's BioBlitz - Mr. Spencer discussed Holderness Conservation Commission being a co-sponsor of the program. This program will be a 24-hour collection of many items. The Board was in favor of being a co-sponsor.
ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Spencer adjourning the meeting at 5:10 p.m. Vote was unanimous. Motion passed.
Respectfully submitted,
Anne M. Abear
Municipal Secretary
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