Dublin Conservation Commission
Minutes
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Attending: Jack Lewis (chair), Jerry Branch, Karen Bunch, Charlie Champagne, Suzy Macy and Sue Yarger
Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of Wednesday, February 11, 2009 were reviewed and approved.
SB 381: Jack Lewis reviewed a handout explaining the warrant article enabling part of SB381. He expects to speak about the warrant article at the town meeting.
DCC 2009 Budget: There is still no resolution of the difference between the proposed budget figures from the Budget Committee and the Selectmen. Jack Lewis will recommend at town meeting that the budget be what the Conservation Commission proposed.
Cell Tower Proposal for Old Peterborough Road: The Zoning Board of Adjustment has approved the site for a cell tower, and the Planning Board has received the Conservation Commission’s recommendations concerning further logging of the property, proper restoration of the wetlands at the west end of the property and cleanup of the visible slash near scenic Old Peterborough Road.
Tolman Mud Pond Property: The Zoning Board of Adjustment has received our letter on the property, which states that the Commission would prefer to see the property in conservation, and requests that great care be taken to ensure that Mud Pond and the underlying aquifer are not contaminated by any development, and that the Mud Pond Viewshed be protected as much as possible.
Dublin General Store Expansion: The Zoning Board of Adjustment has received our letter stating that the Commission had no objection to the proposed expansion of the store.
Cemetery Expansion: Several residents have requested that the Commission review the expansion of the cemetery to determine if it is having a negative effect on Dublin Lake. Several Commissioners have walked the property, both on their own and accompanied by members of and contractors for the Cemetery Committee. The consensus of those who toured the property was that the expansion work included appropriate steps to protect the lake from silting and to preserve the wetlands which filter and slow the runoff from Beech Hill.
Cool Monadnock Roundtable: Those attending the Cool Monadnock Roundtable found that Dublin had already done much of what was being recommended to evaluate how to minimize energy use and CO2 emissions. The Selectmen have evaluated the insulation of town buildings and have promulgated rules for efficient equipment usage. The only area where there was uncertainty was in how the recycling center handles the recycling of CFL bulbs. Discussion within the Commission brought out the fact that appropriate recycling is being done, but that it may need more publicity.
Lake Host Program: Karen Bunch reported that, because of budgetary constraints at the state level, Dublin will most likely only get a $1,000 grant this year. Last year we got a $1,500 grant and used $1,350 of it. The commission had no objection to continuing the program this year. It will review underwriting additional costs if that becomes necessary later in the year.
Other Business:
- UNH Cooperative Extension is holding an informational workshop on current Use Tax rules at 6:30 PM on March 23 at the Keene Library
- Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has a program to assist landowners who are willing to restore floodplains to their natural condition. The land involved must have been damaged by floods recently. It is unlikely that any Dublin landowner would be affected by this.
- Southwest Regional Planning Commission (SWRPC) is holding its winter dinner meeting on Tuesday, March 24 at 6 PM at Papagallos restaurant in Swansey. Cost is $20 per person.
- SWRPC is also holding a seminar on innovative Land Use Planning on March 28 at the Bentley Commons in Keene.
Meeting Schedule: The Commission will continue to meet at 7 PM on the second Wednesday of each month. The next meeting is scheduled for May 13, 2009.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:44 PM.
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