Kensington Conservation Commission

Minutes of Meeting Tuesday April 13, 2004

Members in attendance: Harry Bodwell, Rob Garneau, John Skewes (chair), Sydnee Goddard (secretary).

1. Call to order 7:09

2. Began with Town Hearing to discuss proposal to spend money from KCC fund to pay for survey on Sawyer, Smith, Rezendes property. Easements are being put on these properties located on Moulton Ridge Road. Survey estimate of $12, 000. No questions asked. Motion made to pay initial $3,000 to Richard Ladd for survey of these properties was seconded and unanimously approved. Now need to gain approval from selectmen.

End Town Hearing 7:13

3. Minutes approved.

4. Discuss proposed salt shed site walk with Harold Bragg. Walked drainage path, which seemed short. John suggested paving beginning of driveway to smooth the ride and reduce salt bumping out or off trucks, since drive not tied into drainage plan. Appeared that sensitive calcareous seep swamp is getting drainage from Route 107, but not from proposed salt shed. Questioned where other equipment and piles that are at present salt shed site going to be stored.

5. Charles Moreno gave slide presentation on forestry techniques. Presented differences

between High grading, High Production Forestry, and Natural Forestry. Natural forestry is proposed for Hodges Town Land and positive benefits of this form of forestry were explained. While high grading is exploitive logging to make quick money and High Production forestry relies on pesticides and fertilizers to grow trees at maximum rate, Natural forestry removes declining trees and leaves the best trees to create a healthier more productive forest. Leaving the best trees allows for natural regeneration of the forest. They are the seed trees. In Natural forestry a rich forest structure is preserved and created. The trees are diverse in species and age. Usually no drastic actions are taken that would alter the forest environment and the logging is considered low impact. Light cuts are made on a 10 to 20 year cycle. Charlie presented reasons for Forestry Management. Proper management can improve forest growth, improve wildlife habitat diversity, give owners connections to land and monetary reason to own and conserve land, provide recreation , and protect water resources. Wood is a renewable resource if forest managed properly.

6 Charlie Morena presented 2 possible contracts for natural forestry work on Hodges property. One contract had a flat fee of $5,500 and another had the fee determined by a percentage. After discussion of 2 contracts, motion made to approve contract based on paying Charlie on percentage basic with addition that Charlie would get paid for his work if for some reason the logging project was cancelled. Motion seconded and unanimously approved. Charlie indicates that we need to be very selective in picking a logger.

7. Rob reported that Tom Brouillette gave proposal to Rob that outlines all work to be done to survey Meeting House Hill conservation land. Estimate for survey is $4,800 for the 40+/- acre parcel with 25 hours of deed research. Any more hours will be extra. This proposal seems in line with Ladd bid on other property. Tom could start end of April. Motion to accept Tom Brouillette's contract estimate of $4,800 to survey 40 acre Meeting House Hill property made and seconded and unanimously approved, but John needs to check and see if need public hearing to spend KCC funds for this purpose.

8. Discussed failed attempts to meet with Arlene Allen of DES regarding unpermitted wetland filling and culvert creation on Welch property. Three times she has scheduled a meeting with Rob and not shown up. John has called her and not heard back yet.

9. Discussed Land KCC attempting to purchase from SAU 16. Brain Hart for Rockingham Land Trust trying to establish first right of refusal with SAU. Perhaps Exeter River Local Advisory Committee could get involved.

10. Discussed Conservation Round Table that John and Sydnee went to in Hamptead. Learned that Society for Protection of New Hampshire Forests (SPNHF) has identified South Hampton, East Kingston, and Kensington as the towns in the seacoast region with land they are most interested in conserving. SPNHF would like to help these town conserve land and would like to have a reserve in these towns.

11. Adjourn 9:22 pm.