Meeting Minutes
July 17, 2012, Brown Memorial Library @ 7:00 p.m.
Present: George Beaton, Seth Benowitz, J. Ann Eldridge, Patty Furness, Brooks McCandlish, Meg Fearnley
Secretary’s Report: Minutes from 6/19/12 accepted as read.
Treasurer’s Report: Meg’s report accepted
NH Coverts Project: George Beaton expressed interest in attending the Coverts workshop in Greenfield on October 3-6, 2012.
Shoreland Impact Permit: Harold Wright desires to remove the existing structure at 10 Oakdale Rd and rebuild on the lot. The new construction will be set further back from the shore of Lake Massasecum, thus lessening impact and improving shoreland protection.
Planning Board/ Zoning Board:
-The Chivers’ site walk of revised plan for auto recycling facility on Breezy Hill Rd. done, and was attended by Seth and Patty. The new proposed storage site for processed metal will be moved further back to a hillside, and excavation will be needed to clear and level the area. Discussion of possible environmental impact followed; Ann expressed importance of complying with setback laws. An alternate plan of presenting a zoning change of a lesser setback from the highway may follow. This would allow them to seek a variance from the State setback of 660’ from Route 103.
-Valley Excavation application for further excavation on Breezy Hill Rd. has been accepted.
-Fournier application for variance to build on a Davis Rd. non-conforming lot has been approved by the ZBA. It was reported that an appeal may be filed by a neighbor who was not notified of the process.
-Dodge’s Hardware site plan application has been accepted by the Planning Board. There is no apparent natural resource impact involved. A public hearing to follow.
Ausbon Sargent quarterly outreach meeting was attended by Seth. An invasive species workshop will be presented Thursday November 1 from 4-6:30 p.m. at KRMS in Sutton. Seth also reported the Kearsarge Klassic bike event will take place September 8, with all proceeds going to ASLPT. There was discussion on the need to refine the conservation focus list presented by Beth McGuinn at last month’s meeting at a future date.
The Scion property has been sold as a hunting cabin.
Bobcat Talk will take place Friday August 24. Possible event sites discussed; Meg will contact the Community Center regarding using the site. Ann confirmed the date with Walt (Fish and Game) but has not heard back from him since then.
Trails and Public Lands map updates are needed – have run out of old maps. Bill Duffy has offered to redesign the map for $200. For an additional $200, he will do an update to the NRI maps to include the 3 Bradford properties conserved in 2011. Motion was made and accepted to approve the expenses.
Battles Trail Hike is Thursday August 2, from 4-6:00 p.m. Ann submitted a Bridge article. We will need to fine tune the trail prior to the hike.
Fairgrounds Rd. asphalt has been ground up in one section. The road will be repaved and 8 culverts replaced next spring. Until then, there is concern that the remaining material may be washed into the nearby West Branch water flow. Ann has made inquiries to 2 State agencies regarding possible environmental harm. Brooks suggested an educational delegation to the selectmen, and a motion was made and accepted to research the situation and notify the selectmen of any concerns.
NRI finalization discussed. Meg will edit. The Hazard Mitigation Report will be included under Climate Change. The Shoreland Protection recommendations were reviewed and approved, as was the draft for Town and State Forests.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Patty Furness, Secretary