WESTMORELAND CONSERVATION COMMISSION

SEPTEMBER 4, 2009 - - MEETING MINUTES

 

 

The meeting convened at 7:00pm with Marshall Patmos (chair), Bill Fosher, Paula Page, Gary Dermott, and Dick Schmidt in attendance.

 

The minutes from June 4, 2009 were read; the motion to approve the minutes as read was approved with 4 in favor and 1 abstention.

Old Business

 

Planning books and CD from SWRPC were never received and according to our treasurer never paid for.

Bill noted that he gave CDs of the resource maps to the Library.

 

Community Conservation Partnership – at the June 24 meeting, Peter Throop of Monadnock Conservancy provided an overview of our draft “Conservation Plan 2009” for the attendees, which included some Commission members and several residents.  Discussion improved the attendees’ understanding of the Plan and comments will be incorporated.

 

Members are to bring final comments on Conservation Plan 2009 to our next meeting, to enable Commission approval and subsequent transmittal to the Planning Board for their approval.

 

Consistent with the “outreach” goals of the Conservation Plan 2009, Dick noted that a house on 219 acres is for sale on Smith Farm Road, with perhaps 200 acres possible for subdivision and conservation.  A wide-ranging discussion followed, addressing conservation priorities (land along the river is highest priority), easements, purchase, the ethics of land conservation, legalities, funding and the fact that the Plan identifies most of the land in town as having high conservation value.  It was agreed that members should present land conservation opportunities at meetings for discussion, and a list should be kept.  The first property on the list will be the afore-mentioned property on Smith Farm Road.  Regarding the property itself, attendees agreed that the presence of Glebe Brook and its proximity to Partridge Brook indicate value.   As the price is high relative to our resources, we will watch this property.

 

Wetland concern at 823 Route 63 – no update   

 

New Business

 

Town Ordinance Review – to get member’s review, it was agreed to divide up the Zoning Ordinances for review and discussion at our next meeting as follows:

     Bill – Subdivision Regulations

     Paula – Articles I, II, III

     Gary – Article IV (first half)

     Marshall – Article IV (second half)

     Dick - Article V and Building Ordinances

 

Renewable energy property tax exemption – Dick presented this topic for discussion: 1) 32 states have regulations that exempt solar and wind systems in some way, 2) New Hampshire’s law, RSA 72:72, enables towns to adopt tax exemptions; at least 77 NH towns have done so, and 3) the Office of Energy and Planning provides sample warrant articles.  An exemption would encourage environmentally-kind energy and energy conservation.   Dick noted that the economics of these systems is so poor already that a property tax would effectively erase any economic basis.  For instance, under assumed conditions, a solar-electric grid-tied $15,000-cost system would produce electricity worth $352 per year.  Maintenance costs of $50 (could be much higher some years) and an insurance cost of $50 reduces the benefit to $252 per year.  A property tax at $15 per $1000 would be $225 per year, reducing the benefit to $27 per year for a $15000-cost system.  With this negligible benefit, the economic value of the system is miniscule.  The members agreed that they should know more about the current assessment practice; Dick will research.

 

“Where the River Rises” – the Connecticut River Joint Commissions offers this book for $24.50.  Dick will attempt to get one for free for Commission review to see if it would be worth purchasing for the library and perhaps the school.

 

Other Business –

-----The Commission has been invited to attend the Sep 8 Planning Board meeting to discuss

conservation subdivisions and other items. Marshall will attend and encouraged others to.

-----“New Hampshire the Beautiful” will provide the town with daffodils about October 1st in recognition of our successful spring Roadside Cleanup pulled together by Jeff Smith.  Marshall will contact possible groups that may want to plant some of the bulbs around town.

-----A “Municipal Law Lecture Series” is available for members to attend if interested.

-----Dick noted that HB189 has been approved to enable town to establish Energy Commissions; Marshall will relay this information to the Selectboard.

 

The meeting adjourned about 8:58 p.m. 

 

Minutes by Richard Schmidt

UNAPPROVED MINUTES