Bradford Conservation Commission Secretary’s Draft Report
April 16, 2024, 7pm at Brown Memorial Library
Present: George Beaton, Seth Benowitz, J Ann Eldridge, Meg Fearnley, Patty Furness, Becca Herman, Scott MacLean, Brooks McCandlish, and Doug Southard.
Secretary’s Draft Report 3/19/24: The draft minutes were reviewed. Brooks made a motion to accept the report as written, Becca seconded, followed by unanimous approval.
Treasurer’s Report: The 2023 Land Use Change Tax portion has been received from the town and deposited in the Forest Maintenance Fund. Brooks made a motion to transfer this money to the Land Protection Fund, Doug seconded, and all members approved.
12 Massasecum Lake Road, Map23/Lot 16: The owner of this 0.16 acre lakefront property questioned Ann about cutting three pine trees on his land parcel. Ann referred him to Shoreland Protection.
GRANIT Updating: Brooks volunteered to update changes by adding the Bravo and Headwaters easements, as well as the two town lands at Box Corner to the GRANIT database.
UNH Bradford Bog Research: The lead grad student has dropped out of the project, and a replacement is being sought. Research will continue in the meantime.
Surface Water Protection: Brooks, Seth, Doug and Ann met with the Central NH Regional Planning Commission and a Planning Board member on March 27. They are attempting to simplify what was proposed last year for surface water protection in Bradford, such as the variation in buffer requirements related to the order of a stream. The next meeting will take place April 24, 2024 at 2pm.
131 Massasecum Avenue, Map11/Lots 14 and 18, Proposal Seasonal Wellness Camp: The Zoning Board will hold a public hearing Wednesday 5/01/24 at 7pm for Application by Special Exception by Beata Bzura to build a seasonal wellness camp business at this site for upwards of 20 adults. This is a Rural Residential Zone. The proposed project will take place in two phases over a four year period. There will be a site walk on Tuesday 4/30 at 3pm.
Hard Road to Travel Workshop: Information about road laws, public road development and regulation will be presented in this workshop on Thursday 5/07, 9a.m.-1:30pm. Municipal Attorneys will be providing insight on common road-related legal issues facing towns. This zoom meeting can be viewed on TV in the Selectboard meeting room.
Ausbon Sargent: Ann will be attending the round table discussion with representatives from surrounding towns. It was suggested she bring up the subject of Firelanes on Class VI roads, and ask about policy in other towns.
Blaisdell Road: The property owner has planted trees and shrubs in area between the house and stream. It is not known if this is a remedial effort or simple landscape enhancement.
West Road: The driveway in violation of wetlands ordinance has been relocated on the property.
Deer Valley Road Culvert Replacement: Caitlin Banaszak and Rett Weber are looking into possible grants.
Environmental Summer Camp Scholarship: Patty presented information on possible summer camps. It was decided that NH Audubon in Concord is the best fit for next year. Information on student opportunity for a scholarship to this camp on Silk Farm Road will be sent to Bradford schools in late winter next year. A list of possible donors for items to be raffled to seed the scholarship is being assembled.
Adopt A Road: Doug requested that in reporting, photos be descriptively labeled and dated, and any comments be dated as well. Any significant changes in the roads should be noted in the ‘updates’ portion of the report. Roads should be walked in May or June, and the report submitted by 7/01.
Conservation: There is a 120 acre property on Center Road that town took possession of for non-payment of taxes. Is this an easement opportunity?
Aiken Town Forest: There was discussion on restricting logging on this 136 acre property. The Bradford Conservation Commission has authority over this easement, but any changes in restrictions need to be cleared with Ausbon Sargent. Members were in favor of allowing this property to remain unlogged ad
infinitum.
Bradford Bog Boards: George has secured the quantity of hemlock boards needed for repairs from Rick Wright.
Turtle Crossing Signs: Brooks made a motion to spend up to $100 on temporary signage to be placed in known turtle crossing areas during nesting season. Becca seconded the motion, and all approved.
With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:35pm. The next meeting will be held Tuesday, May 23, 2024, 7pm at Brown Memorial Library.
Patty Furness, Secretary