Meeting minutes

June 4, 2009

Members present: Tina Wood, Treasurer; George Ainley, Secretary; Annmarie Christensen; Chris Harris, acting Chair of the meeting; and Marybeth Reville

Mtg called to order at 7:00 pm.

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

Minutes of the May meeting were approved with the comment that minutes include more details of discussions.

The Commission is grateful for the mapping progress that April Harkness of the Southern Windsor County Regional Development Commission brought to the meeting. She has agreed to help us with improved maps to facilitate the conservation of the Town's resources. Such maps will show parcel boundaries, topography with contour lines, degree of slope and elevations, water resources, including wetlands and floodways; agricultural soils; wildlife protection areas (formerly "deeryards") and corridors connecting them. Discussion of the maps included the suggestions that buildings be shown, and that the work of Elizabeth Thompson, "Biological Natural Areas of Weathersfield, Vermont", showing areas of the town that include rare plants, be digitized. Member Marybeth Reville will contact Ms Harkness with the suggestion that Significant Natural Resources be combined with Water Resources.

Ms Harkness mentioned that prime agricultural soils is a factor in Act 250 evaluations.

Ms Harkness furnished members with sample maps of progress to date, which can be reviewed with Zoning Administrator deForest Guertin.

The suggestion was made to ask Forrest Hammond, District Biologist, to review the Town's wildlife conservation areas and corridors connecting them for more accurate mapping.

Fellows Property update: The executor of the Fellows Estate has thus far declined to accept the bid made by the Upper Valley Land Trust, which cannot offer more than the appraised value of the property.

Subdivision Review: On May 5, Chris Harris performed on site inspection of the proposed subdivision of the Frazer/Powers property at 1214 Little Canada Rd. He found no conservation issues involved with the property.

Next mtg will be July

Mtg adjourned 8:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by George Ainley, Secretary