CONSERVATION COMMISSION

MINUTES OF april 3, 2008

Present: Chris Giordano (Chairperson), Judy Jervis, Sheila Johannesen, Michele Tingley, Laura Games

The meeting opened at 7:30 and was televised.

Laura was welcomed as the newest member of the board and was designated a voting member.

Minutes:

The minutes of March 6^th were discussed. The date was corrected, the motions and seconding of motions was clarified, and clarification was made of the letter to the editor from Betsy Sanders. Sheila moved and Judy seconded a motion to accept the minutes as amended. The motion passed. Laura abstained.

The non-public minutes from meetings on February 7^th and March 6^th were reviewed. Sheila moved and Judy seconded a motion to accept these minutes as written. The motion passed. Laura abstained.

Easement:

Chris stated that sending the Easement draft for legal review was premature.

The latest draft of the Easement will be sent to everyone.

Joint Meeting regarding the Stewardship Plan:

It was agreed that Ellen Snyder was impressive. The timeline is acceptable to everyone. Michele asked if everyone is coming up with goals for the next work session or joint meeting. Chris stated that goals are listed in the Easement and Stewardship plan.

Land Donation:

Chris spoke with the Selectman who agreed that if the cost is not exorbitant for a title search or survey, the Selectman will reconsider the offer to have land off of rt. 111 donated to the town. Chris spoke with a surveyor who estimated $250-400 to figure out which lot is being considered for donation. It was agreed by the board that this is a reasonable price.

Grant updates:

Judy has been researching grants from PSNH. It seems that the organization must be served by PSNH in order to receive grants. Only the north part of town is serviced by PSNH.

This is about the time of year that RPC starts offering grants and these will be researched.

Judy came across a grant that requires a specific proposed project. The examples given in the information were: protect and preserve the environment, local wildlife habitat improvement and recycling, improve environmental education, plant and tree identification, etc. There is a deadline of October 15^th.

The board listed projects to be considered for the near future. These include:

• Land grant
• Survey the recent purchase from Bob Meaney
• Wetlands inventory
• Designate prime wetland
• Master plan update
• Wildlife corridor mapping
• Trail systems

Commission appointments:

Judy moved and Sheila seconded a motion to reappoint Jason Holder and Chris Giordano to the Conservation Commission.

Other Business:

Sheila will be presenting the Wind over Wings program to the elementary school on April 24^th. This will be funded in part by the Conservation Commission. Sheila is still looking into donations to offset the cost.

The board agreed to meet once per month, on the first Thursday, rather than twice per month.

Correspondence:

• From LGC: workshop on land use clerk works, September 20.
• From TopoLogix GIS Assoc. Advertisement for their mapping company.
• CTAP I93 workshop catalog
• Planning Board minutes
• From UNH CoOp Ext. Community Conservation Workshop: Identify Woody Wetlands in Winter Mode, April 11^th.
• NHDES: Caleb Corner
• Rally 2008: National Land Conservation Conference September 18-21 in Pittsburg, PA.
• CTAP I 93 community meeting on May 22.
• Budget from January 1^st through March 13^th.
• Rabies clinic:

Since the discussion will involve consideration of land purchase which, if discussed in public, might benefit a party whose interests are adverse to those of the general community RSA 91-A: 32d should warrant nonpublic session, at 8:40 Michele moved and Sheila seconded a motion to go into non-public session per RSA 91-A: 32d. The Commission was polled and the decision was unanimous in the affirmative.

At 9:30 Judy moved and Laura seconded a motion to return to public session and seal the non-public minutes of February 7, 2008. The motion passed unanimously.

Judy moved and Laura seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 9:30 pm.

*****Next Meeting: May 1, 2008 at 7:30pm****

Minutes are prepared by Janet S. Denison, clerk