Bradford Conservation Commission Meeting Notes
Date: September 2, 2011
Time: 7pm
Location: Brown Memorial Library
Present: Brooks McCandlish, J. Ann Eldridge, Nathanial Bruss, Seth Benowitz, Meg Fearnley. Absent: Andrea LaMoreaux, Amy Blitzer (alternate) Patty Furness. Also in attendance: George Beaton, Michele Halsted, David Halsted, Marcia Keller, Dick Keller, Sam and Marlene Rushia, Ev Kittredge, Nikki Dubaere.
Public Hearing: The Conservation Commission voted in June of 2009 to use the Conservation Fund to assist with purchase of development rights on nearly 150 acres of Battles Farm. The Commission partnered with the Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust and the Rural Heritage Connection of Bradford on this project. The initial proposal was to allocate $125,000 but this amount was reduced to $115,000 due to the success of grant writing and fund raising efforts. A brief overview of the terms of the easement and the reasons that this property has been a focus for conservation efforts was given. Letter of support from the Rural Heritage Connection was read. (see attached). The conservation easement is expected to be finalized in mid October. The town counsel has approved of the easement as written.
Bog Platform Project: Sam Rushia gave a brief presentation on his plans to assist the Commission in reconstruction of the Bog platform. This will hinge on the hierarchy of the Boy Scouts of America (the State Eagle Board) approving his moving ahead before the snow flies.
Pleasant Valley Road erosion issues: Nikki DuBaere, abutter to the Corsair Realty sand and gravel pit spoke of her concerns. Marcia Keller (Planning Board) and Brooks McCandlish (Zoning Board of Appeals) were able to supply further details. Recent logging and apparent unwillingness of the owner to rectify problems already identified has caused massive erosion. The road has been blocked by debris and the adjacent wetland experiencing siltation. Mary Pinkham Langer of Dept of Revenue and Taxation (involving Sand and Gravel extraction) has been notified as has Dept of Environmental Services. A letter from the Conservation Commission will be drafted and sent to the Wetland Bureau. Ms. DuBaere was advised of the existence of a wetlands complaint form and to contact her neighbors as signatories as well. Brooks McCandlish visited the site on 9/7.
Secretary’s Report: Draft minutes from August 16 meeting read and accepted.
Treasurer’s Report: Most recent bank statements have not appeared. A bill for $58.80 from the Concord Monitor is expected for publication of the notice of the public hearing. It is expected that two or three members will attend the NH Association of Conservation Commissions meeting on the first Saturday of November.
Correspondence/workshop announcements:
· Public forum focusing on wildlife and land management will be held in Sutton on September 28. Posters were handed out for posting.
West Branch of Warner River clean up: Seth reported on the river clean up on September 16. Several truckloads of the ‘lighter’ debris was removed. Concerns raised about the amount of appliances and heavy material that are imbedded in this steep embankment. Another effort is planned for low water next year.
Annual Bog Boardwalk Repair Day: date set for October 30, Sunday, 10am. Possibly the folks at NFI will be contacted if the Eagle Scouts are unavailable.
Minimum Impact Wetland Permit: for Sonny Harris’s property at corner of 103/114. Purpose is to direct water flow to allow better hay production. Permit reviewed and signed.
Automotive salvaging permit: ZBA reviewed application for Special Exception and approved with conditions. Owner pledges to follow Greenyards program and follow Best Management Practices. The property will be available for inspection by town boards. Fencing was not required by the ZBA and although required by RSA 236:123, there is a loophole. Hopefully this can be made explicit by the Planning Board when it appears for site plan application. The letter to the Planning Board which is in draft form will be rewritten in the light of ZBA conclusions. Most importantly, a stormwater prevention plan for auto salvage yards should be a required part of this process.
Natural Resource Inventory: latest version to be emailed to members (paper copy to anyone requesting…)
Adjourned: 8:45pm , respectfully, J. A. Eldridge