Town of Fitzwilliam
Minutes of the Conservation Committee
Date: 08/25/03
Time Meeting Opened: 7:30 p.m. Fred Slavic convening the meeting.
Members Present: Barbara Green, Katie Metzger, Jeanne Sable, Fred Slavic, Rosalind Slavic, Carmen Yon.
Others in attendance: Martin Risley, Russ Raitto
Minutes of Previous Meeting dated 7/29/03 moved accepted by Rosalind, seconded by Jeanne. Unan.
Unfinished business:
Video of invasive plants passed to Carmen.
Trails project—No discussion
Ten Year Plan—See New Business, CIP.
Need for new members—Jeanne made a motion to recommend Eleanor Vander Haegen as a member of the Commission. Katie seconded. Unanimous. Jeanne will invite her to the next meeting.
Newcomers’ Bulletin—Katie we suggested we each bring in one or two ideas for what should be included in the handout. The wording should be general, informing property owners what kinds of activities that might impact the environment are regulated and with whom they should check before proceeding. Example: If you want to --------------- you need to check with ---------------- at ------------------.
The bulletins could be include in the package already distributed to new people in town, and could be handed out at Town Meeting. Katie will check with Maryann Chaplin regarding distribution.
New Business: Need for better follow-through—Fred: We need method for better follow-through on previous business. Jeanne will carry old business items forward on the minutes until they are attended to.
Related Discussion: How to follow-up on site reviews to ensure that applicants follow through with conservation-related recommendations. Jeanne will email Bob Boynton for pointers on how his group oversees enforcement.
A motion was made by Katie and seconded by Jeanne that following any site review resulting in recommendations by the Conservation Commission, one of our members will be assigned to follow up on the project.
The motion was approved unanimously.
The procedure for the member assigned to do follow up will be: 1. Check to see what final recommendations were made by Planning Board. 2. Visit the site to ensure the project is proceeding according to recommendations (example: hay bales laid for erosion control, setbacks to wetlands observed, etc.). 3. Report any non compliance to Paula at Town Office for referral to Code Enforcement Officer.
Carmen volunteered to follow up on the LaValley project on Richmond Road.
Request for Guidance--Martin Risley, engineer with Clough, Harbour & Associates in Keene, and Russ Raitto, property owner, approached the Commission for guidance concerning the proposed elderly housing development on Rte. 12 & 119. Risley said a wetlands scientist has delineated wetlands and test pits have been dug. The proposal calls for 8 single family dwellings. Access will be from rte. 119, but the driveway location would not meet the 75 foot buffer to a wetland area at the east end of the property. Map of project seems to indicate there would be more of a concern with proximity of septic to the wetland area at the north east corner of the property. The Commission will have to view the site at a later time.
CIP--Katie: Katie and Barbara will go to Selectmen’s office on Friday morning, 8/29, to talk to Paula about info required to fill out the CIP form, which is due in Margo’s office the following Friday (9/5). A special meeting was scheduled for Monday, Sept 1, at 7:30 to complete the CIP form.
Planning Board Report:—Carmen: The Planning Board has been working on codes concerning quarries. The state regulates mining but the town regulates excavation.
See P.B. minutes of Aug. 12 and Aug. 19.
Draft of minutes posted and/or sent out to members: 09/01/03
Minutes sent to Selectmen’s Office: 9/25/03
Meeting Adjourned at: 9:25. Motion by Katie, seconded by Barbara. Unanimous.
Next Meeting date: Sept 22, 2003. Katie will chair. We will discuss land use tax change article.
Signed: Jeanne Sable,
Secretary
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