October 12, 2016 | Town Admin Sutton Conservation Commission (SCC) Meeting Minutes Wednesday, October 12, 2016 Present: Betsy Forsham, Chair, Don Davis, Henry Howell, Jane Williamson, Chris Ashton, and Bonnie Hill, secretary. Absent: Ben Dobrowski, Wally Baker, Dan Sundquist, and Jean LaChance. Jane sat for Ben and Chris sat for Dan. Call to order: Betsy Forsham called the meeting to order at 6:42 p.m. Previous Meeting’s Minutes: A motion was made by Don and seconded by Betsy to approve the minutes of August 3rd, 2016, and the motion passed. Henry moved that the minutes from the September 14th meeting be accepted, and Don seconded. Although there was not a quorum of members present who had attended the September 14th meeting, the members voted to accept them in the interest of keeping things moving along. Financial Report: There is $1760.98 in the town account, which is 54.49% of the budget. Expenses for the month included $111 for repairs and fuel for the weed-whacker from All & Awl, and $15 for a mailbox for KHR trail maps. Betsy said that if anyone needs to make a purchase, the bills will have to be submitted by December. She would like to use some of the remaining money for mowing and has called Peter Stanley towards that end. Henry needs to purchase some PT lumber to make bog bridges. Chris offered to donate some scrap lumber for that project. Correspondence: Notice for dues of $266 from the This will be paid in March, right after town meeting. NH Lakes Association quarterly publication, Lakeside, Fall 2016 Invitation to ASLPT’s annual meeting, October 23rd at the New London Historical Notice for NHACC’s annual meeting and conference on November DES publication Supply Lines and The Source, Fall 2016 issue of the newsletters of the NHDES Drinking Water and Groundwater Article on protocol for cyanobacterial blooms. Review of Wetland Applications and Issues: none. Review of Intents to Cut and Logging Issues Complete Forestry Notification, File #2016-02826. and K. Kendall, T/L#6/603-411; 648-426 Chalk Pond and Baker Hill Rd. Old Business Update on invasive plant in Smiley Grove stream- Dan, Betsy and Bonnie went to see the DES interns pulling weeds from the stream, while wearing chest waders. DES says the fence can be removed, but Betsy would like Dan to ask who is supposed to remove it. There is a screen in the stream that must not be removed. Betsy said that anyone who wishes to may go and remove seed heads from the plants and discard them in black plastic trash bags. Jane said that birds, turtles and snowmobiles might spread the plant. SCC’s mowing machines update –Henry used the weed-whacker at KHR, with the brush-cutting blade, and said it started easily and worked great. Gerry Putnam said it can continue to be stored in his heated garage if SCC wishes. Morton property update –Betsy went to the BOS and got their approval for the land donation. She sent Mr. Morton the deed and forms, and he sent them back to her signed and notarized. Betsy needs to fill out the remaining documentation, then she and Wally (representing the BOS) will sign it, and then it can be recorded electronically at the MCRD. A voluntary merger will be done at some point to consolidate this land with KHR. Betsy showed the SCC members maps indicating the position of the lot. New Business Management plan for Stevens Lot and name for sign- Don looked for a historic name but couldn’t find one. Jane expressed her approval for the name “Kezar Lake Natural Area”. Since Dan was not present, the discussion of when to hold a public information session was postponed until next month. NHACC Workshops- The annual meeting and conference is November 12th. This Friday at noon is the deadline for getting the discounted rate. Betsy pointed out that all individual members of the SCC are considered members of the NHACC. Betsy said that coordinating school partnership programs is one of the things NHACC does, which could be of interest to Henry. Barbara Richter is their new executive director. SCC Properties King Hill Reservation- Henry did some trail clearing work with the kids from KRHS last week. They loved doing it, but there are many obstacles to getting them out of school and out to the site. The next bridge project will be in the spring, as the bridge is going to be designed by students in the STEM program and submitted to a national competition. Other KRHS projects –The next project is creating a rain garden at the school. They are currently doing contour mapping of the area, and looking at flow. There is a whole rain garden curriculum that includes perc tests, soil analysis, and water testing. All runoff from the school goes into Stevens brook, and they will be looking at the effects of the flow on the brook and the trout stream. Ben Nugent of Fish & Game and George Embley of TU are the instigators. Judy Tomasa sent a whole curriculum on fish. DES representatives have come out and analyzed the whole area to determine the best place for the rain garden. The whole state is feeding into this project, and it’s all up to Henry to make it happen. Chris Connors, the landscape architect, is suggesting that they get engineers involved. She suggested taking field trips to some locations including Henniker, where there are demos. Henry went to SAU 65 to get digitized maps of the high school’s landscaping to see drainages, etc. As a result of his visit, the superintendent and facilities manager are on board with the project. Henry wants the facilities manager to describe how the septic system works. Henry is essentially teaching this class, gratis. Betsy said there is grant money available for a student rain garden project, and if we could get that grant the money could go to compensate Henry. Henry is suggesting that the snow removal at the school be changed over to “green plowing” for less negative effect on the streams. Don commented that a lot of snow gets pushed into the brook by the town because of its proximity to North Road. Henry wants to locate the rain garden on the school’s side of the brook. It will most likely be near the culvert on North Road. Betsy suggested making sure the culvert isn’t on the town’s list of culverts scheduled to be replaced, as that could wreck the rain garden. Bean Quarry – As Dan was not present, we will ask him next month about putting up some kind of barrier at the old well, for public safety. Maple Leaf – There are some metal objects in the caved-in sugar house that Dan is interested in. Betsy asked Andy Deegan of ASLPT if it is all right to take them, and he said that was up to SCC. Don asked about Muster Field Farm, and Betsy replied that anything in the sugar shack is too far gone to be of any interest to them. Jane said there is a beautiful hinge on the shack. Trail work dates – SCC will blaze the trail at Webb/Crowell this Sunday, Oct. 16th at 10:00. Betsy will send out an email to her list of potential volunteers to try to augment the team. Trail map replenisher – Jane has graciously agreed to keep the mailboxes at KHR stocked with maps. There is a box at each entrance now. Quarry Walk – Betsy reminded everyone that the Quarry Walk sign was stolen a couple of years ago and should be replaced. Dan can be consulted next meeting, as he has a router, and it only needs to be a small sign. Miscellaneous – Jane asked whether a dredge permit is required to remove excess road sand from streams. Some local streams, including the one by Rowe’s field, are almost dry and the sand is now easily accessible. Betsy thought it was probably OK in a ditch, but not in a stream. One would need to check the DES rules before doing anything. Adjournment: There being no further business, a Motion was made by Henry and seconded by Jane to adjourn the meeting at 8:13 p.m. The Motion was unanimously approved. Respectfully submitted, Bonnie Hill, Secretary The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 9th, 2016 @ 6:30 p.m.