Meetings of the Con Com shall be on the first Thursday of each month at 7:00pm at the Proctor Library in Ascutney.

Members present: Chris Harris, Tina Wood, MaryBeth Reville, Gary Pelton

Others present: DeForest Bearse, zoning administrator
Members of the Weathersfield Land Preservation Association-Willis Wood, Allison Roth, Julie Levy, Beth Gordon, Richard Waring and Nate McKeen.
Jeanie McIntyre-President of the Upper Valley Land Trust and James Thaxton-Project Manager of UVLT.

The Meeting was called to order at 7:04.

Willis Wood, as a member of the WLPA, gave a presentation explaining the work of the group in preserving land around Mt. Ascutney. Since 1988 several parcels of land have been preserved. Many of the land owners sold at the state appraisal value which was low. There is now a 312 acre property from the estate of Janet Fellows available for purchase. One year ago there was money available through the UVLT but the executor for the Fellows estate was not interested to sell it at the appraised value. Proceeds from the estate are to go to the Edgar May Recreation Center in Springfield. Now the executor is willing to sell the property. However, the previous funding is no longer available. New sources of funding this project are being explored. Possibilities are: 80% from a Scenic Byways grant , 10% from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board and 10% from local fund raising. Since the Scenic Byways Council is a federal agency the appraisal would need to be approved by the federal government. The land would be purchased by the UVLT and given to Weathersfield as a town forest.
Jeanie McIntyre and James Thaxton then presented a slide show of the property which is visible from I-91, many sites in Weathersfield and New Hampshire. They are very interested in preserving this special piece of property. Jeanie gave many suggestions on fund raising for the local portion of the necessary money.

In other business the Con Com approved a letter to be sent to area newspapers in support of keeping the local zoning bylaws in place. The committee recommends a NO vote on articles 24 and 25 on the March ballot.
Tina suggested that we have the brochures about Invasive Species and the Local Farms available on town meeting day.
Gary made note of the Conservation easement that has been given by John and Fran Wright. It preserves a 38 acre wetland on the south side of route131. This was done on Jan.15,2010.
Tina mentioned that we should begin to think about the 250th anniversary of the town of Weathersfield which will be in 2011.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00pm. Submitted by MaryBeth Reville