Kensington Conservation Commission

Minutes of July 14, 2009

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

1. Call to order 7:55pm

2. Minutes for June to be reviewed in August.

3. Dave Viale of SLT met to discuss possible easement on Sargent property.  Mr. Sargent is looking to sell conservation easement on back area of his property on Amesbury Road.  Restrictions Mr. Sargent is considering include no motor vehicle use except snow mobiles and right to harvest 8-10 cords of wood per year.  Positive characteristics of the property include presence of prime agricultural soils, high quality water resources/wetland habitats, public trails, and proximity to other conservation lands.  Dave will present the property to the SLT board to see if they are interested in pursing this easement.  Commission members are interested in pursing the easement.   Joan asked how best management practices for tree harvest would be enforced.  Dave suggested that the easement could include measurable characteristics that would show improvement to forest over time.  Perhaps an approved forest management plan could be required.  Members shared desire to have debris pile and equipment removed (prior to closing).   Dave will follow up with John to discuss possible value of property and give him some estimates of the cost of an appraisal.  Dave will send a summary of this meeting and will schedule site visit for SLT board.

4. Sydnee reported on DES wetlands work.  Peter Fournier (57 Stumpfield Road) has been granted an extension on his wetland restoration work to August 1.  Property at 2 Hoosac Road has sold and new owner will be completing restoration work.  Reviewed report on DES site visit to Richard Welch property.  

5.  Discussed tick meeting scheduled for July 15.  Sydnee and Joan plan to attend.

6. Adjourn 9:07pm.