Unapproved minutes

Westmoreland Conservation Commission meeting minutes May 6, 2010 

Meeting was called to order at 7:15
Present: Marshall Patmos, Chair; Paula Page, John Lukin, Bill Fosher, Ken Wright, Gary Dermott

Bill Fosher moved that the minutes of the Feb. 4, 2010 meeting be accepted as presented. Paula Page seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Bill Fosher moved that the minutes of April 1 be accepted as presented. Paula Page seconded.
John Lukin moved that the minutes be amended by removing the parenthetical comment regarding a generous benefactor be removed from the section on the Cheshire County Farm. Bill Fosher seconded the motion. Motion to amend passed unanimously.The minutes of April 1 as amended were accepted unanimously.

Marshall Patmos reported that Dick Schmidt's health, which has been keeping him from attending meetings of the Conservation Commission, is improving and he hopes to be able to rejoin us soon. The members of the commission wished him a speedy and thorough recovery.

Bill Fosher reported that the efforts to preserve the Cheshire County Farm and associated forest land through some sort of conservation easement are continuing as outlined in April, but no new milestones have been reached.

The commission discussed the draft conservation plan. Ken Wright suggested that a map denoting areas where future growth of commercial, industrial, and residential development would be appropriate should be included.

John Lukin suggested that an outreach plan to educate landowners about options that would permanently conserve land should be implemented as soon as possible.

Paula Page moved to contact the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Selectmen to discuss establishing a working group with representatives from each board as well as from the Conservation Commission. This working group would look how the conservation plan's goals are supported by existing zoning and master plan and vice versa .Ken Wright seconded the motion, and it was passed unanimously. Marshall Patmos will send the draft to other boards.

The commission received and noted a wetlands permit application that was filed by Daniel H. and Alison W. Fissette to install a culvert for a driveway off Route 63 near the South Village. Total wetlands impact is 480 square feet. No action was required on the commission's part, and the application was filed.

The commission received a letter from the New Hampshire Department of Transportation informing us that it intends to resurface and perform bridge maintenance on the section of Route 12 from its intersection with South Village Road to its intersection with Route 63 this summer. The DOT was asking for input regarding sensitive areas, cultural sites, invasive plants, etc., along this section of road. Marshall will contact them to offer any information that seems appropriate.

Next meeting is scheduled for June 3, 2010

Meeting adjourned at 8:51 p.m.   

 

Submitted by Bill Fosher