Bradford Conservation Commission Secretary’s Draft Report
December 21, 2021, 7pm at Brown Memorial Library and Zoom format
Present: George Beaton, J Ann Eldridge, Meg Fearnley, Patty Furness, Brooks McCandlish, and Doug Southard.
Secretary’s Draft Minutes: The draft report of 11/16/21 was reviewed by those present. Brooks made a motion to approve the draft minutes as read, George seconded, followed by unanimous approval.
Treasurer’s Report: A part of the remaining 2021 budget will be spent on a replacement sign for the stolen Bradford Spring site plaque. Meg presented a proposed plan by Roberge Signs of Bradford for a 12×24” sign mounted on pressure treated posts to straddle the site of the former sign at a cost of $450. A motion was made by Brooks to approve the text and spellings, seconded by Doug, and favored by all. Any remaining 2021 budget will go into the Land Protection Fund.
Warrant Article Proposal: A request for an additional $1000 will be presented at the Bradford 2022 annual Town Meeting. It will be requested as needed seed money in the Land Protection Fund for future potential land protection projects. Bradford Town Administrator Karen will draw up this warrant article. Motion made by Brooks, seconded by Doug, and approved by all present.
Save Forest Lake: A Vermont refuse company is seeking permission to dump trash on a site abutting Silver Lake and a NH State Park in Dalton, NH. The 160 acre tract of land is comprised of wetlands and clear cut areas. Out of state trash will be included in the garbage. There is a statewide effort to organize letters of support to protect this land and prevent this proposal from going forward. Ann will draft a letter to the NH DES to be reviewed by members and sent.
Old Mountain Road: Ben Nugent of NH Fish and Game and Tyson Morrill from Merrimack River Watershed Council visited a site on Old Mountain Road at land owner’s request to consider helping to fund a proposal to restore 750 feet of brook trout habitat where the road previously washed out.
Bradford Springs: A grant application for Abenaki Trails at the Bradford Spring site was submitted on behalf of the town to the Select Board. Sherry Gould of the Abanaki Trails Project did the lion’s share of moving this application forward.
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): Discussion is continuing between Ann and Sherry Gould regarding the MOU for the Abenaki Trails Spring site and plant collection list. The MOU must satisfy Ausbon Sargent in proving it is not contrary to the terms of the easement.
Town Report: BCC members reviewed the draft of the 2021 BCC Annual Report. Minor changes were suggested. Photos need to be added, after which it will be circulated for approval.
Land Conservation: A potential conservation project on E Washington Road was discussed.
Appreciation: A card of great thanks was sent to Laurie Farrell for her artistic diorama carving at the Bradford Bog. It has contributed immensely to visitor’s enjoyment of the Bog.
Langley Deed: The Town needs to record the deed with the County.
Blitzer Trails Workday: George, Scott, Seth and Patty cleaned up the trail on the scheduled workday in November. A downed pine across the Eastside trail needs to be addressed with a chainsaw.
With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:45pm. The next meeting will be Tuesday January 18, 2022, 7pm at Brown Memorial Library and on Zoom..
Respectfully submitted,
Patty Furness, Secretary