- MINUTES:
The Minutes of the November 9, 1995 meeting were not acted upon due to the fact there were insufficient members present at this meeting who were present at the November 9 meeting.
Upon motion made by Diane Fitzpatrick and seconded by Rodney Dellafelice the Minutes of the December 28, 1995 meeting were accepted as presented.
- NANCY NILSEN/DREDGE AND FILL APPLICATION:
Mrs. Nilsen of North River Road, met with the Commission regarding her desire to dredge out an old pond on her property, known as Map 8 Lot 4, for purposes of irrigation. She explained that she needs additional water for the greenhouses which used to be run by her late father. The current well system on the farm is inadequate with the additional green house, and last summer she ran out of water. She explained that the pond she wishes to dredge out was once an active pond but had filled in over many years and lack of use. She had filed PSSIF #12 -Agricultural Projects with the Wetlands Board. Lorraine advised the members she and Kevin Lynch, Building Inspector, had reviewed the pond recently, and they both felt it would be a beneficial project to the wetlands involved. Lorraine also advised the members that PSSIF #12 does not require the approval of the Commission, but rather that of the Hillsborough County Conservation District, which had been obtained. Mrs. Nilsen plans to have the dredging done as soon as the weather is suitable and the permit is in hand. The members had no objections to the proposed work, and Lorraine will advise the Wetlands Board accordingly. Lorraine advised Mrs. Nilsen that if the proposed work is not done until after Town Meeting in March 1996, she would most likely not have to go before the Board of Adjustment, as amendments to the Wetlands Ordinance were to go before Town Meeting and if approved, would eliminate this need which is in the current ordinance. She indicated that the work was not likely to begin before March.
- HAZEL BURNS LAND/OSGOOD POND/USE OF:
Lorraine advised the members that the Parks and Recreation Commission would not be coming before the Commission as scheduled due to the fact that Bill Parker, Planning Director, wished to be present and he was unable to attend tonight. This meeting has been rescheduled for the February 8 meeting. She reminded the members to give thought to the use of this land for both conservation and recreation purposes.
- MCC OFFICE LOCKABLE CABINET:
Lorraine advised the members that this cabinet is now operational and the trail tools and paint have been stored in it. She advised members where to find the key to the cabinet should they need it.
- SHORELAND PROTECTION WORKSHOP:
Lorraine advised the members that at the last minute, Carol Whitson who was scheduled to attend this workshop at the Extension Service, had had to cancel out. She advised the members that the same workshop is to take place in Concord as follows:
Date: January 25 1996 (Thursday) (not January 18 as previously indicated).
Time: 5.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.
Location: 10 Ferry Street, Concord.
This workshop is without charge and all members are urged to attend. Of those present at the meeting, Rodney, Chris and Diane wished to attend. Lorraine will also attend the Concord workshop as will Bill Parker, the Planning Director.
- TRAIL MAPS:
Lorraine advised the members that because of the original heavy agenda, she had scheduled time for discussion on this subject for the February meeting, but will get together with Diane before that time.
- WETLANDS AND AQUIFER PROTECTION ORDINANCES - AMENDMENTS:
Hub Seward reported that he and Lorraine had attended the Planning Board Public Hearing on January 9 1996 on this subject. The amendments as proposed were well received with no objections from the floor. In further discussion of the proposed amendments at this meeting, Hub put forward the suggestion that some explanation regarding the proposed changes be put on the ballot so that the general public would understand the reasons behind the changes. Lorraine will talk to Bill Parker about this. It was also suggested that an article in the Milford Cabinet might be beneficial.
- BAL BRAE/DEER YARDS:
For the sake of the information, Lorraine advised the members that she had been in touch with Fish and Game Dept. regarding their resolution for the protection of deer wintering areas. She had been told that the Dept. has an individual on staff who would be willing to review the site and talk to the developer with suggestions as to how the land could be developed with the least amount of impact on the deer. She had written a letter to this effect to the engineer with a copy to the Planning Board.
- BUDGET AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT:
Lorraine provided the members with copies of the Budget for the last quarter of 1995 and copies of the Financial Statement as it will appear in the Town Report for Town Meeting.
- TIMBERING OF TOWN FORESTS:
Dennis McKenney of the New England Forestry Foundation was to have attended this meeting to discuss the upcoming timber harvest on the Tucker Brook Town Forest and the Hitchiner Town Forest but for reasons unknown, he did not arrive. Lorraine will be in touch with Dennis again to make arrangements for the February meeting. However, Jon Nute, the County Forester, attended the meeting and briefly reviewed the project. Jon put forward the suggestion that the Commission consider having the Foundation remark the boundaries on the properties, which was something the members planned to have done. Regarding the Tucker Brook Town Forest and the area scheduled for timbering, access was discussed. The area lies on Mason Road with Tucker Brook running across the land, making access difficult for hikers because of the lack of a bridge. Jon advised that for the logging operation, a bridge crossing would have to be built and suggested that the Commission discuss with Dennis the possibility of having a more permanent bridge built so that hikers would have good access to this area of the Town Forest. The Commission thanked Jon for his input, and will advise him of the details of the next meeting with Dennis.
- FRED CONREY LAND/WARRANT ARTICLE:
Lorraine advised the members that there had been confusion in her mind when the selectmen advised they would be taking the Conrey land for tax purposes. She had been under the impression that it was the Savage Road property but instead it was 40 acres he owned jointly with his sister that the Selectmen were discussing. The Savage Road property will not be in the necessary time frame until May 1996. Therefore, she stated, the warrant article to have the Savage Road property transferred to the jurisdiction of the Commission and made into a town forest would have to be withdrawn. Because of this fact, she asked the members what they wished done with the Conservation Land Fund article which requests $10,000 for that Fund and which does not have the support of the Selectmen. After a brief discussion, the members decided to request the warrant article for the Land Fund to remain on the warrant. Lorraine left a note to this effect for Lee Mayhew for tomorrow.
- DAVID LYONS/DREDGE AND FILL APPLICATION PSSIF #16:
Lorraine advised members that this project had come to her attention this week. It involves a driveway crossing on Federal Hill Road on Map 53 Lot 37 with about 600 square feet to be dredged, excluding the buffer zone. She had had discussions with David Ohara, the surveyor working on the project, and had advised him that the project would have to go before the Board of Adjustment unless he waited until after Town Meeting at which time this may not be needed. Mr. Ohara said he would talk to the property owner about this fact, and would advise accordingly. In addition, because of the snow cover, it would be very difficult to do an on site inspection of the area. Added to this is the fact that the wetlands to be disturbed have not been mapped out by a soils scientist, but rather by Mr. Ohara himself. After Lorraine talked to Bill Parker about the mapping of the wetlands, she advised Mr. Ohara that a soils scientist would be required, and he will be making the necessary arrangements, provided that the soils scientist can find the wetlands under the current heavy snow cover. With so many unknowns in this project at this time, the members made no plans for an on-site inspection. Lorraine will be back in touch with Mr. Ohara and should it be possible to do an inspection, will advise the members accordingly by telephone.
- EARTH DAY:
Chris Costantino advised the members that Beaver Brook Association were planning events on the Burns property for Earth Day, and because the Hitchiner Town Forest abuts this property, questioned the members if they wanted to arrange for any activities on the Town Forest land. Earth Day is Saturday, April 20 1996. It was generally agreed that because of the large crowds that are attracted by the Association's events, it might be a good opportunity to arrange for a hike on the Town Forest land as a means of advertising the fact that it is there and that the two properties abut. Chris, Rodney and Diane indicated a desire to work on a project, and the matter will be further discussed at the March 1996 meeting.
There being no further business to come before this meeting, the meeting adjourned at 9.15 p.m.
The next meeting will be at 7.30 p.m. on Thursday, February 8, 1996 in the Selectmen's Meeting Room.
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