May 11, 2016 | Town Admin Sutton Conservation Commission (SCC) – APPROVED 6/8/16 Meeting Minutes Wednesday, May 11th, 2016 Present: Betsy Forsham, Chair, Don Davis, Dan Sundquist, Jean LaChance, Chris Ashton, Wally Baker, Jane Williamson, Ben Dobrowski and Bonnie Hill, secretary. Absent: Henry Howell. (Jane to sit in for Henry.) Call to order: Betsy Forsham called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. Previous Meeting’s Minutes: A motion was made by Jean and seconded by Don to approve the minutes of April 13, 2016. There being no discussion, the minutes were accepted as written. Financial Report: There is $2599.17 in the town account, which is 80.42% of the budget. $96 was expended in April. The Conservation Account contains $107,102.19 and the King Hill Reservation account contains $6574.26, for a total of $113,586.45 in the Conservation Fund. Membership dues were paid to the five organizations that SCC supports, which will be reflected in next month’s totals. Correspondence: Email to forester Brooks McCandlish re post-harvest walk, at Bean Quarry lot. Forest Society “Monitor” stewardship newsletter NH Lakes Assn request for dues Email to Ben Nugent regarding possible public program on Brook Trout study Various emails regarding timber tax for Bean Quarry lot cut Various emails to Attorney Mike Chiarella regarding the purchase of the Stevens lots NH Lakes magazine “Lakeside” for Spring 2016 and Lakes Congress information and registration The Lakes Congress will be in Meredith on June 2ndand 3rd. Request from the town clerk to update SCC’s contact info in the MS-123 Review of Wetland Applications and Issues Request For More Information, File #2016-00904, dated 4/25/16, received from DES regarding the Town’s river bank stabilization work by Corporation Hill Rd. & Grist Mill St. Wally said everything is fine there, but new personnel may not have gotten word. It appears the issue has been resolved. Review of Intents to Cut and Logging Issues & S. Sanders, T/L#9-655,158, Shaker Road, 25 of 33.4 acres, Brooks Weathers, forester. No issues. Complete Forestry Notification, File #2016-01114, dated 4/25/16, received for Sanders cut. This was done because there were wetlands crossings. Old Business Update on possible invasive plant in Smiley Grove stream We have received no word yet from either the state or from Chris Connors about the management plan. Update on Stevens lot purchase The papers will be signed on May 16th by Dan, since Betsy will be out of state. The total amount will be $84,296. Closing costs, including attorney’s fees, etc. come to something over $1200. Betsy moved a motion that Dan be designated the acting chair of SCC while she is away, and Jean seconded. It passed unanimously, with one abstention. On a related note, Don said that NSIS is planning to rake up debris from Horse Beach and dump it across the street on the Stevens lot. Betsy said this should be nipped in the bud, as NSIS has land they can use instead for this purpose. New Business Possible SCC role in Roby Rd ASLPT conservation easement Betsy had a discussion with Andy Deegan regarding this 72+- acre property owned by the Stockwells. They want to sell an easement on the land for $150,000. An LCHIP grant should be obtainable, in the next grant-making round. This could cover half of the eligible amount, which would come to about 70,000. ($18,000 of the price is for stewardship costs, and is not eligible.) This has already gone before the lands committee of ASLPT. SCC might be asked to contribute something on the order of $50,000. SCC would probably have an executory interest in the property and be back-up holders of the easement. Dan asked whether the land would be publicly accessible and the answer was “yes”. Dan said that an ARM grant might be possible. Betsy will suggest the ARM grant, and will say that SCC is interested but is not committing to anything. We need more specifics before we can go through our eligibility criteria and commit to a dollar amount. Brook trout presentation date Betsy spoke to Ben Nugent about doing his presentation on fish studies in the Warner and Lane Rivers, with George Embley. The SCC members agreed on a date of Thursday, June 16th, at 7:00 PM, in the Town Hall. Don pointed out that this ties in nicely with the PK Brown parcel, which is an outstanding brook trout venue. Betsy will put an ad in the InterTown Record, and Don will make posters. Jane will put posters up at the fishing places. Dan will get word to the fishing expert at Elkins who is doing a fly- fishing event in New London. Jean will take care of refreshments. Memorial Bench for Charlie Whittemore Don informed us that Betty Whittemore would like to place a memorial bench on the bank of Russell Pond. She has chosen a spot, and she would like to get a couple of ideas for bench styles and present them to the SCC. The board greeted this suggestion with enthusiasm, and Wally suggested sending Betty a letter expressing this. Don will write the letter. We will need to check whether it is OK with the ASLPT. Graphite Mine Don received a call from Dave Kerrigan regarding a graphite mine on the Salisbury side of Mt. Kearsarge. Don notified Dave Anderson about it, since Dave knows where there is a graphite mine on Meetinghouse Hill that was a big supplier of lubricant during WW II. Dave would like to lead a hike to see the mine, co-sponsored with Sutton Historical Society. Betsy suggested late August, when the bugs and undergrowth have started to die back. Don gave Dave Anderson the contact information for Dave Kerrigan. SCC Properties & S-R-K Greenway Reports Bean Quarry Betsy spoke on the phone with forester Brooks McCandlish in April, and he said he and HHP would seed the log landing in the first or second week of May. Don said he saw that this was done, though he doesn’t know if any trees were planted. He went up to the quarry to explore, and he thinks we should put our trailhead, and the sign, just above where Poor Farm Rd comes in. He showed pictures of the area. Maple Leaf Betsy talked with Andy Deegan about the missing monuments Jane noticed at the Maple Leaf area. It is indeed our responsibility to replace the monuments, so Betsy had Bristol/Sweet do the work. The cost would have been $366, but they discounted it to $100. They said the work was made possible because of the excellent photographs taken by Jane. They sent pictures of the finished work. Jane said there is a third missing monument that she noted a couple of years ago. She and Betsy discussed whether SCC might replace this one ourselves, since it is simply a displaced rock. It is close to the Penacook path. Don asked if we need to do something about the old sap house on the Maple Leaf property whose main beams are falling down, and Betsy said no. Enroth Gift A “For Sale” sign was erroneously placed on the Enroth Gift land, on Rt. 114, and several townspeople were understandably upset. The realtor was apprised, the correct boundary markers found, and the sign moved to its proper place. King Hill Reservation Don went exploring and found some areas where the trail needs to be hardened up. This would be a good project for the students, and should be done while the areas are still muddy and visible. They can use rocks, or “turnpiking”. He took some pictures showing the areas. Don also found a spot that would be great for a memorial bridge to former SCC chair, Gene Aubert. He suggested a bridge be incorporated into the stone wall next to a vernal pool. There is another spot that could also use a bridge – maybe a bog bridge. There is a place that always has standing water that needs to be drained and could also use some turnpiking. It would be good to have the students take care of the lower areas first, since the upper area is in better shape. Report from Henry on bridge work with KRHS students at KHR Henry sent word to Betsy that the ribbon-cutting ceremony will be Thursday, June 2nd, with a rain date of June 3rd. More details to follow. Miscellaneous Jane asked about a fence that has been placed on Doug Sweet’s beach. Betsy thinks it is a temporary measure taken to keep dogs out. Chris reported that he attended a game warden event in Concord. He shared some of the literature he picked up, which included information about bioenergy. Adjournment: After a rousing rendition of “happy birthday” to Chris, and there being no further business, a Motion was made by Jean and seconded by Don to adjourn the meeting at 8:21 p.m. The Motion was unanimously approved. Respectfully submitted, Bonnie Hill, Secretary