Conservation Commission Minutes 01.19.10

Bradford Conservation Commission
Meeting Notes

Date: January 19, 2010
Time: 7pm
Location: Brown Memorial Library

Present:  Meg Fearnley, Brooks McCandlish, J.A. Eldridge, Nathanial Bruss

Secretary’s minutes from December15 meeting read and accepted.

Treasurer’s report: [see budget sheet] Surprised to find a balance of $120.07. Apparently this was $ set aside for lumber for the repairs to the Bog boardwalk. Supplies were then donated by Perry Teele. Meg attempted to attend the budget committee meeting, waited several hours in corridor.

January 26, BCC to meet with Planning Board, review of draft NRI (Natural Resource Inventory) maps. Discussion on how to present. Concentrate on purpose of NRI/Conservation Plan and draft maps.

Article to Bridge explaining what a conservation easement is. Will prepare a follow up article on current easements in town. [due now] Also will draft a brief article on status of LCHIP grant. An explanation of SB 381 will be written for the March issue.

Discussion of LCHIP grant application. Nathanial to notify Miranda and BCC of meeting with LCHIP on summer grant round. He will also contact ASLPT about the federal Farm and Ranchland Protection Program grants. The Ericksons may attend next month’s meeting with realtor Tom Howard. Nathanial to check with town office on status of SB381 warrant article.

Discussion of Rural Heritage suggestion of petition warrant article. Difficulties cited.

Natural Resource Inventory: Northern Geomantics to be contacted about possibility of supplying a recent aerial view of town with lot lines and conserved lands to add to the NRI. Granit system maps may be more uniform quality than Google Earth…

Ann and Carol to review examples of NRI to begin to condense what might be included or excluded in Bradford’s NRI.

A strategy for conserving some of the remaining large blocks of land through interested landowners to retain a vibrant forestry/agricultural/recreational industry in town. Plan to  prioritize conservation areas in town based on information gathered to date on unfragmented landscape, rare species, water resources, etc. Potential properties will be identified and landowners consulted along with Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust. Suggestions for a mailing were made. Initial list was created in subcommittee, more data needed, also to be done in subcommittee, meeting date to be set.

Meeting adjourned 8:45   JA Eldridge