Lyme Conservation Commission
Minutes of the 6 June 2005 Meeting
LCC Members Attending – Paul Klee, Dick Jones, Lee Larson, Laura McDaniel, Matt Stevens.
Members of the Public in Attendance – Ross McIntyre, Paul Barker, Judy Barker, Tom Morrissey.
The Meeting was called to order at 7:40 PM by Lee Larson.
1. Approval of Minutes from the May 2, 2005 Meeting
The minutes of the May 2, 2005 meeting of the LCC were moved (Laura/Paul) and approved.
3. Old Business
a) Possible action on Right of First Refusal (“ROFR”) following Public Hearing input
Dick noted that the funds are available and the public comments are in favor of securing a ROFR for the Day property in Lyme Center. Dick made a motion that the Commission be authorized to withdraw up to One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) plus legal fees towards the purchase of the ROFR for the Day property. The motion carried unanimously.
b) Update on Tree City project
No report this month.
c) Report on Green Up Day, Saturday May 7th
Dick reported that someone in town had said that all the roads were not cleaned up, but did not say where, so there is little we can do with the comment. Lee noted the excessive number of tires that people brought to the dump on Sunday when there was no fee charged. Many of the tires were clearly not related to Green Up Day activities. Paul concurred and discussion followed regarding the abuse of the fee waiver. Dick commented that Selectmen made the determination whether or not to waive the dumping fees for the Sunday after Green Up Day; that they felt the fee waiver should continue as has been done in the past, and some of the increased dumping may have been associated with the upcoming start of Pay-Per-Throw. Dick also reported that North East Waste Recovery, who handles the recycling,
preferred to have no fee holiday. Paul asked that the policy be reconsidered next spring prior to Green Up Day 2006 and those present concurred.
d) Report on Vernal Pool workshop, Saturday May 7th
Approximately 16 people attended this event. The presentation was well received, as was the viewing of the vernal pool, despite the gray, rainy and cold day.
e) Report on Trails Day events, Saturday June 4th
Lee reported a successful event with approximately 18 people participating. Projects in two sections of the Town Forest were completed, as well as trimming in the Chaffee Refuge and the installation of new puncheon sections along the Big Rock Trail. There are still two blow-downs along Big Rock that need the work of a chainsaw, as well as an old blow-down which someone has placed from shore to shore across the Big Rock. Lee and/or Dick will remove these.
f) Natural Resources Inventory
No report at this time.
g) Update on Post Pond water level issues
(i) Gauge resetting:
On Saturday, June 4th Lee and Dick had reset and repositioned the gauge stake which had perhaps been pushed further into the lake bottom over the winter due to ice. The level of the stake is based on a known calibration on the east side of the Lake. Lee noted that the reading on the gauge as of Monday morning, June 6th was 2.4’.
Paul Barker asked if recalibration was possible during the course of the summer. Lee said it was.
(ii) Consideration of request from Loch Lyme Lodge regarding a permanent dam construction in the Post Pond outlet:
Lee read aloud a letter from Judy Barker to the Conservation Commission requesting that we consider writing a letter of support to the DES for the installation of a permanent dam at the outlet of Post Pond. The letter also requested that the Commission contact the Selectmen and other abutting landowners about the issue. The intent of the dam would be to control the every day level of the Pond vs. working with the mean high water level as determined by DES.
Much discussion ensued relating to the as of yet undetermined ownership of the land where the beaver pond is currently located (State, Town or private) and the importance of determining where the Pond ends and the stream begins.
Lee commented that the Pond is a naturally functioning ecosystem vs. a manipulated system. For example, if there were to be a hole in the beaver dam, the Conservation Commission would make no attempt to change the situation or to repair the dam. He further commented that there are provisions in place to deal with a flood state at the Pond (water over the 3’ level) and those will be followed accordingly. The Commission members present concurred with Lee’s comments and decided to take no action at this time.
Judy Barker asked if the Commission’s beaver policy extended to all beaver dams in town. Dick responded that “Water Release Policy” applied to the particular dams in question is within Chaffee wildlife refuge. Judy asked if the policy applied to the dams on Trout Brook feeding into Post Pond. Dick responded that other beaver dams were not included in the Policy, but were subject to the state’s “Protection of Beavers” law and DES regulations. Since the Policy deals with dams controlling flooding due to high water in the Pond, it would not pertain to the Troup Pond, the inlet brook. The town could choose to remove dams in Trout Brook if they were causing the flooding.
(iii) Request by Judy Barker relating to posting of water release announcements.
Judy asked two questions – 1. How were the water release announcements from last summer posted to the public, and 2. Did the Town send out the recent change in the policy regarding the water level.
Dick clarified that the Tow’s policy states that official notifications will be made via the Town of Lyme web site, not via the “List Serve” which is a privately organized list. He will check to see if the change to the water level policy was posted on the Town’s web site.
4. Wetlands
(a) Review of Crossroads Academy site visit, Sunday June 5th
Lee, Adair, Laura, Matt and Paul attended the site visit. Phil Harrison and Jean Behnke were there from Crossroads. Disappointingly, no engineer from Pathways attended, despite the Commission having selected a day/time that Pathways suggested. An additional comment letter will be submitted.
(b) Site Visit requests
(i) Barnum property, River Road
Requesting an expansion of an existing non-conforming structure. Some discussion was held regarding the various FEMA, State and Town rules relating to flood levels and set-backs. A site visit has been set for Monday, June 13th at 5:00 PM.
(ii) Hoover property (409/79) off Issac Perkins and Baker Hill Roads
This site visit relates to a right of way through a wetlands area. The site visit is scheduled for Friday, June 10th at 8:00 AM.
5. Other Business
Paul brought up the issue of the Lyme Hill and Valley Association (“LHVA”) dissolving and needing to decide how to dispose of approximately $20,000. Lee had had a conversation on this topic with Freda Swan, the current LHVA chair. He noted that Freda had indicated that the charter of the organization requires that the funds go to a 501 (c)(3) organization, which precludes giving the money directly to the Conservation Commission. Freda had suggested that perhaps the Upper Valley Land Trust would be willing to hold the funds in escrow for a Lyme project, and that the funds could then be expended in consultation with the Conservation Commission. Discussions will be ongoing and either Paul or Lee will keep the Commission posted.
6. Publicity
A thank you for all involved in the Trails Day projects will appear in the next issue of The Church Newsletter.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:51 PM (Dick/Paul).
Respectfully submitted,
Laura McDaniel
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