Conservation Commission
Minutes

The Conservation Commission met in the Town Office Building on Wednesday, May 3, 2000 at 7:42 PM. The meeting had originally been scheduled for April 26, 2000. The following agenda items were discussed:

1. Minutes of Meeting of March 22, 2000

After reviewing the meeting minutes, a motion was made by T. Duston, seconded by S. Fisher to accept the meeting minutes of March 22, 2000 as written. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

• ·Permits - T. Duston explained that there was very little activity in the permit area at this time.
  
• Foster "sand box" - a permit request had been submitted for construction of a "perched beach" 20' back from the water. A permit was not actually needed for this project but Mr. Foster did one.
  
• Letter to DES on Early work in channel - F. Szmit sent a second letter to DES requesting that someone come down and inspect what he is doing , cite him, etc.; something really needs to be done.
  
• Highway Department Blasting on No. Hinsdale road (aka Plain Road) - T. Butterworth gave report regarding the blasting of Pulpit Rock for safety reasons (part of the rock extends too close to the road), by the Highway Department. T. Butterworth advised of the struggle between opening up the road more to allow for more traffic to pass to Hinsdale, while keeping the large trucks off that road as it would not support the loads trucks would be carrying. T. Duston also advised members of the two issues regarding the blasting. One, being that the trail will cross that area and the second issue, is the removal of rocks may cause erosion due to the rocks not being there.

David Mann displayed a map containing the lots and amount of each lot being considered for conservation easements. D. Mann requested if the Conservation Commission preferred three (3) separate maps in case the plans are recorded at three different times. The Daly lot will probably be done first, so a separate plan for him will be done at this time. T. Butterworth will talk to Mr. Daly and inquire if he's willing to give more land. Commissioners also discussed the right-of-way; a plan and description will be done up for the Daly property.

T. Duston is working with Attorney Crocker on doing up a template deed.

Commissioners discussed the placement of the Protected Brook signs (list attached). In discussing where to place the signs on State roads; i.e., Route 9, it was agreed that someone would check with the State and request permission to put the signs up.

Commissioners also discussed installing the signs on both sides of the road on major roads, approaching from different directions.

J. Newcomer advised that the changes made to the website are more pictures to it, it's brighter, and the green is gone. He advised that it would be best to look at it, but at this time the Town is not hooked up to the internet so it was not possible for the Commissioners to view it. Jeff did advise that the Commissioners should go on the net and look at it when they have a chance. The site is listed as www.ChesterfieldOutdoors.com.

• · New Sargent Trail signs - These will be taken down and brought to the school for painting
  
• Trail re-routings in Friedsam to avoid bridge and access wall cross and giant maple - Conservation Commission will do this; T. Duston did not believe that the Commission had to get permission to do this.
  
• Need to work on Wright land - Nothing discussed at this time.
  
• Conversations with Wallace and Czarnicki - Plain Road looking south by Pulpit Rock. Mr. Wallace is very interested in trail easement. Mr. Wallace would like to hold off until next year to do the easement. T. Duston advised that when the time comes for the Wallace deed that they should talk about sharing the easement with the Conservancy. T. Duston will contact the Franklins regarding property off Route 63. The Czarnicki land is located between the Wallace land and Route 63. T. Butterworth has talked with Czarnicki and they are interested in an easement.

T. Duston made a motion, seconded by J. Newcomer to cancel the May and July meetings. The Conservation Commission meetings are usually held the fourth Wednesday of the month. The June and August meetings will be held as usual.

T. Duston advised that K. Thatcher will explain what's being done regarding the "open space" committee, S. Fisher will give a presentation on the trails in town, and J. Newcomer will show the Conservation Commission's website at a meeting at the Chesterfield Library on May 24, 2000 at 7:30 PM.

T. Butterworth had only one item; the Monadnock Millenium if offering miscellaneous trees for planting. There are three packages, the Wildlife package, the Christmas tree package, and the Songbird package. He has the letter giving details and who to contact.

A meeting of the California Brook Committee will be held the first week in June, 2000. A report on this meeting will be given at the Conservation Commission's June, 2000 meeting

Scott Maslansky, a graduate student at Antioch College gave a report on the status of his work with the GIS Mapping project he is currently working on. Some of the items discussed was his mapping out of the California Brook areas, significant habitats of wildlife in the area, and a base map which includes the Colony area.

T. Duston also advised that technical support may be obtained with help from a small grant. L. Mellon of the National Park Service may be of assistance in obtaining grant money. Also being worked on is a regional inventory of natural resources.

The deadline for getting money together to buy easements is April, 2001.

Briefly reviewed that people are interested in purchasing the Brine property.

The "Open Space" Committee will be holding a meeting on Monday, May 8, 2000.

F. Szmit arrived late but did give a brief report on the status of the Route 9 Economic Development Committee's work. They will be reporting to the Planning Board on May 15, 2000.

Respectfully submitted,