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Lyme Conservation Commission
Meeting Minutes
November 2, 2009
PRESENT: Members – Matt Stevens, Dick Jones, Blake Allison, Lee Larson and Russ Hirschler.
Chair Matt Stevens called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
- On a motion by Lee, seconded by Dick, the minutes of the October 5, 2009 meeting were approved unanimously.
- Land Protection and Easements
- NH Dept. of Environmental Services (DES) Hearings – Matt reported on his and Dick’s attendance at two DES hearing Wednesday morning, October 21st in Concord. The first hearing was regarding the Conservation Commission’s after the fact filing for a permit to install beaver pipes in the two Clay Brook beaver dams. Dick noted that the legislature’s passage in June of SB 124 dealing with “conditions for the removal of beaver dams and the use of beaver pipes” renders the permit application moot as it gives local governing agencies the right remove beaver dams and install pipes without a permit.
The second hearing concerned the town Recreation Department’s filing for a permit to disturb wetlands associated with the town beach and Balch ball field while conducting upgrade projects for those two sites. Matt said that Rod Finley of Pathways confirmed during the hearing that no definitive study has been undertaken to determine what the cause and effect relationship is between Post Pond’s water level and the ball field’s condition. DES has not issued a ruling on the permit application
- Trails and Land Management
- Trails Day – Matt reported that five commissioners participated in Trails Day activities. He and Blake repaired a broken plank in one of the Chaffee Sanctuary boardwalks. He noted that nearly a dozen people took part in the Ledge Trail walk.
- Trout Pond – Lee said that during the course of a walk on the Trout Pond Trail he discovered that someone has created an unauthorized trail as a spur off the existing trail. He noted that it appears to be for mountain bike use and that it crosses town and private lands. In addition, he expressed concern about erosion that might result from the unauthorized trail’s use and said that some drainage work done on another section of the trail had been tampered with. After some discussion it was agreed that the Upper Valley Mountain Bike Association should be approached to discuss ways to curtail such activity. Russ said he would reach out to the organization and report back.
- Project and Application Review
- Fund Transfer -- Dick moved that the Commission authorize transfer of $200 in unused easement monitoring funds into the Conservation Fund. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
- 2010 Budget -- Dick observed that the town’s annual budgeting process is underway and that the select board has submitted a department funding request for the Conservation Commission of $1605 – the same as appropriated for the current fiscal year - for the coming fiscal year. After some discussion the commissioners agreed the amount was sensible given current budget constraints the town is facing.
- NH Association of Conservation Commission (NHACC) – Matt reminded commissioners that the NHACC’s annual meeting is scheduled for Saturday, November 7th.
- It was agreed that this month’s submission to the Lyme Community and Church News should address the issue of mountain bike us on town trails.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:17 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Blake Allison, Secretary
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