Kensington Conservation Commission Minutes

Meeting of April 12, 2005

Members in attendance: John and Joan Skewes, Rob Garneau, Sydnee Goddard

1. Call to order 7:50

2. Minutes approved

3. Discussed tree regulation proposal. Rob and Joan suggested dropping items VIII and X. Theresa Walker will bring suggestion to Jill Robinson. Joan made motion to amend proposed tree clearing regulation by eliminating VIII and X and discuss it with planning board. Seconded and approved unanimously.

4. John reported that he received statement from Charlie Moreno regarding tree harvest at Hodges Conservation Area and also checks for proceeds from the harvest. Checks for $2551.89 and $14,748.49 will go into Hodge trust called High Fields Trust. KCC hopes to use these funds for construction of Kiosk and parking area and trail improvement. Joan will draft letter to Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (SPNF) to see if we can keep all the money rather than having 50% go to SPNF. SPNF holds the easement on the property.

5. Theresa indicated that she hopes to hear next week about grant application we wrote to New Hampshire Trails Program for work on Hodges Conservation Area.

6. Discussed Barbara Boudreau's recent letter. She proposed to sell the development rights on her property for $262,000, with the stipulation that the town would be allowed to use the property to install a well or septic field for the school if needed in the future. The $262,000 would be KCC's cost to put an easement on the land. KCC discussed desire to make the language in the easement strong enough to ensure no impacts on the land from future owners of the property. John will contact Brian Hart of Rockingham Land Trust, which is willing to hold the easement on this property, to set up a meeting time to discuss possible language for the easement. There was general support for the proposal and a desire to set up a working meeting with Brian and Barbara to discuss language.

7. Theresa asked what work she can do for KCC. Sydnee asked her to look for matching funds for the Boudreau easement. Theresa indicated that funds are very scarce, but she will try.

8. Rob would like help posting signs at Meeting House Hill. Time and date not set, but all willing to help.

9. Adjourn 9:11 pm