APPROVED 09/12/2012
Sutton Conservation Commission
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday August 8, 2012 @ 6:30 p.m.

Present: Present: Betsy Forsham; Chair, Ben Dobrowski, Garrett Evans, Don Davis and Jean LaChance. (Gerry Putnam, Rachel Rupple, Ricia McMahon and Ron Murray were absent.)

6:30 p.m. Betsy called the meeting to order and appointed Ben to sit for Ron.

Betsy gave a background report on the Russell Pond conservation land. She said there is a conservation easement with Ausbon Sargent for agriculture, wildlife and forestry. The land is to be used for pasture, hayfield or cropland, or not to be mowed before August first. There was a letter sent to Wayne Wheeler in 2006 regarding fertilizing, liming and clearing brush, but a meeting never materialized.

Betsy walked the property a couple of weeks ago. She thought some manure may have been spread. It was suggested the local Audubon representative could be contacted to identify possible bird habitat.

Previous Meeting Minutes:
A motion was made by Garrett and seconded by Jean to approve the minutes of July 11, 2012 as written. Unanimously approved.

Financial:
The Town account, as of the end of July, was $2,186.03, which is 75.12% of the budget. There were expenditures for secretarial. The Conservation Account was $88,040.94, the KHR Fund $10,206.86, for a total in the Conservation Fund of $98,247.80. There is a LUCT check for $ 8,700 that is not reflected in the numbers.

Correspondence:
– Misc.

Wetlands:
None.

7:00 p.m.: Chris St. Cyr met with the Board regarding haying at the Russell Pond property. She said the haying by her family has been a tradition going back many generations and over 70 years. They currently fertilize with manure every 2-3 years. They don’t lime. The field is approximately four acres. The hay is for their own use for cows and horses. They get about 250 bales from the field. It is a low yielding field and contains a lot of milk weed. It is necessary to mow early to get quality hay. The Board asked about clearing land. Chris said it could be done by cutting trees, pulling stumps and reseeding, but it was expensive to do. The Board asked if it would be possible to mow as well as leave some areas un-mowed for birds. Chris said that would be fine as long as the areas untouched were concentrated in a few areas easy to go around. She said she could come back and mow those areas late in the season. She added the land has grown in significantly in the last 6-8 years, especially with bittersweet towards the pond. The Board thanked Chris for coming in. Betsy will ask Matt when is a good time for the birds.

Intents to Cut:
Robert Miller, Mill Road, 10 of 10.6 the logger is Eric Oxman of Granite State Forestry Service, T/M# 04-501,379. This abuts one of the Wells properties. Betsy and Garrett will visit the site.

Bob Moser and Marstia Hunter, Shaker Street, Nick Rowe is the logger, 20 of 30, T/M# 09-576,086. No issues.

Old Business:
Betsy reported she spoke with Eric Johnson regarding subjects for the upcoming educational program. They discussed matching the best logging tools with the goals and objectives of the woodlot. The Board will work on a title for the poster and notice. Don will make the posters. Jean will prepare refreshments and Betsy will call Eric Johnson. Betsy said she made a list comprised of owner’s of large parcels under current use who are living in town. She has a list of 31 names. She will work with Jean on the invitations. Betsy will email the surrounding town’s conservation commissions.
The event will be September 5th at 7:00 p.m.

New Business:
None

SCC Properties:
Betsy reported she spoke with Seth Benowitz regarding sign making. He can router anything and charges $7-10 per board. The SCC will need to paint the routered portion. Betsy thinks the boards provided will already be varnished but this needs to be checked. Seth prefers to use his own wood but is open to the SCC supplying their own if it will work. His boards are 30-36” long and 7.5” wide. It is not clear whether Seth’s lumber is rough cut or dimensional.
His routered letters come in one of two sizes, 1 ¾ or 2 ¾. The SCC will be using the larger size.

Garrett will view the Sundell property to see if it needs to be mowed.

Betsy and Don will look at the Enroth property.

Maple Leaf will be discussed at the next meeting.

Ben suggested the Board may want to contact Cohen Steel in Concord regarding the bridge for the Web/Crowell property.

Garrett will look at the bittersweet and knotweed in the North Sutton Cemetery.

8:15 p.m. A motion was made by Garrett and seconded by Jean to adjourn the meeting. Unanimously approved.

Respectfully submitted,

Jennifer Swett
Secretary