LYME CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Minutes - August 2, 2004
PRESENT: Lee Larson, Dick Jones, Paul Klee, Vicki May, Laura McDaniel, Adair Mulligan, CC; Patricia Reynolds, Post Pond resident
1. Housekeeping: Approved July 9 draft of minutes of July 5 meeting, on a motion by Laura seconded by Paul.
2. Old Business
a. Snowmobile trail in Town Forest: have not heard from Wayne Pike about whether work was done. Laura will call him and go out with Paul to see site.
b. Tree City: Laura has received packet, will call Mary Reynolds.
c. Post Pond water level: Lee said level had dropped last week at rate of 1"/day, and stabilized. Pat said it seems to take about a day for rainfall to register as a raise in pond level. Lee reported that the DES Dam Bureau has accepted the petition to measure the mean high water level. Will start soon, and complete by end of December. There is surveying involved. Result is that everything below this water level belongs to the state. Voted unanimously to go into non-public session at the end of the meeting, under RSA 91-A:3 II(e), on a motion by Laura seconded by Dick.
3. Wetlands:
a. DES has approved additional dredging for the Stam pond.
b. DES has issued a permit by notification for a dry hydrant at Albert Pushee’s pond.
4. New Business:
a. Invasive species are bing reported. WHIP project will result in removal from Chaffee. There is purple loosestrife there, and there have been reports of Eurasian milfoil at Post Pond and at Clay Brook near its mouth. Emily Bryant has sent samples to the state for positive ID. Adair and Vicki will serve as a small committee to handle invasives issues. In preparation for a dig, drag, and burn operation at Chaffee in late summer/early fall, Vicki will set up a date with Ben Hudson and enlist helpers (scouts). May not be able to get large glossy buckthorn.
b. Bear feeding on Dorchester Road near the village: a homeowner is persisting in feeding wildlife and there have been reports of near car accidents with young bears as a result. Agreed that feeding of wildlife in general, particularly deer and bear, should be strongly discouraged, and in this case it could lead to the death of the bear as it becomes a nuisance in the village area. Agreed to write article for church news, and to ask Ben Kilham to speak to the homeowner again on behalf of the Conservation Commission.
c. Elizabeth Parkhill Charitable Trust has made a gift of $3000 to the Lyme Conservation Commission’s conservation fund. The funds may be used as the CC deems appropriate, without time limit for expenditure, or match.
d. Trail maintenance: Chaffee Sanctuary trails need some pruning and weed whacking. Lee, Dick, and Paul will do, and will ask Steve Campbell. May install more puncheons there when working on invasives. May also install some more on Grant Brook Trail.
e. Shelby Lands: Lee passed around the appraisal and updated on the possible transfer to the town of the 135 acre piece. Voted to make a gift to the Upper Valley Land Trust in the amount of $500 from the CC conservation fund, drawing on the Parkhill Trust gift, in recognition of UVLT’s assistance in arranging a conservation easement on the Shelby inholding at the Trout Pond Forest, on a motion by Adair seconded by Laura.
f. Trailer: Dick advised that the highway crew had pulled out an abandoned trailer from where it was stuck on the town property. It is temporarily parked at the landing for the Trout Pond Forest.
g. September meeting: Lee will ask Joan about her schedule and notify the rest.
5. Non-public session: Voted unanimously on a roll call vote to go into non-public session at 8:32 pm, under RSA 91-A:3 II(e), on a motion by Dick seconded by Lee. Returned to public session at 9:06 pm on a motion by Dick seconded by Adair.
6. Meeting adjourned 9:07 pm
Respectfully submitted, Adair Mulligan, Secretary pro-tem
| 
