Horse Hill Nature Preserve Ad-Hoc Committee

Minutes for Monday January 19, 2004

 

Town Hall Courtroom, 7pm

 

 

Members Present:  Nelson Disco, Connie Kreider, Lynne Wenz, Jim Taylor, Denise O’Dwyer, Susan Siena, Ruth Roulx, Janet Cormier, Cathy Provencher, David Rutzke, Newton Coryell, Harold Watson, Shannon Barnes, Debra Huffman, Mike Ruggiero, Andy Powell, Greg Kirby, Tim Tenhave

 

Also Present:  Jay Minkarah, Daniel Cyr, Scott McPhie

 

Call to Order:  Debra Huffman called the meeting to order at approximately 7:10pm.

 

Announcements and Updates: 

 

Debra Huffman announced the following members were still interested in the committee but were not able to attend:  Roger Blais, Chris Christensen, Charles Buker, Bill Keating, Greg Kirby (who arrived later in the meeting), and John Buckley. 

 

Debra Huffman mentioned there was a Boy Scout named Justin interested in working on the property as part of his Eagle Scout project.  She also mentioned that many Conservation Commissions in the area as well as a Professor from Maine have recognized our Master Plan and the process we went through.

 

Tim Tenhave reminded everyone of the name change and new charge of the committee (see above).  Cathy Provencher asked about our new charge and it was mentioned the new charge is in the BOS minutes.

 

Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman:

 

Debra Huffman made a statement to remove herself from consideration for Chairman for the committee and endorsed Tim Tenhave for the position.  Many others in the room seconded this. 

 

Janet Cormier then asked if the committee could delay consideration and voting on this matter until Ruth Roulx was able to attend the meeting.  This motion for delay was accepted by consensus and the matter was addressed later in the meeting.

 

Assisting Staff:

 

Jay Minkarah then addressed the committee to discuss how the committee could assist staff and himself.   He spoke of the following two different tasks:

 

  1. There is a Board of Selectmen (BOS) deadline of June for a definitive plan for the property and Staff was charged with coming up with this plan.

 

  1. The committee was charged with working with Staff on implementation of the plan when we are given authority to do that.

 

*     He wants to take recommendations from the approved Master Plan and put them on paper.  Which trails, location for the Athletic areas, and make decisions on where some aspects of the plan should be implemented.

*     Before physical improvements can be made, we need to a very good assessment for what is really out there in the form of a Forest Management Plan.  It would serve as the basis of any physical improvement plan.

*     Jay then introduced Daniel Cyr, a professional Forester who has worked for the town and Merrimack Conservation Commission in the past.

*     Dan presented his proposal for doing the assessment of the property.  He discussed the following:

*     Has managed many sites in town including Town, Water District, and Corporate properties.

*     Manages approximately 30,000 acres of property today.

*     Charge limited to looking at Natural Resources.

*     Thought the town should look at protecting the land and suggested a Conservation Easement.

*     Work with a Wildlife, Ecologist, Planner that is good at a microanalysis of the woodlands and habitat, named E. Ann Poole.

*     Create a Forest Management and Natural Resources Plan.

*     Deadline of July 31st.  Needs to see the green vegetation.  Pushes the window.

*     Items in Plan:

*     Forest Management Plan including a Stand map, Stand description, harvesting practices, soils, drainage, wildlife, and future access for management activities.  Stand recommendations to improve health and vigor of the Forest including TSI (Tree Stand Improvement).  Include a Wetlands map. 

*     Natural Resource Inventory and Plan.  This includes identifying the natural habitat and wildlife.  Conduct a field survey.  Produce a set of maps depicting the limits of the vegetative communities, ecologically sensitive areas.  Narrative report and recommendation for enhancing the habitat.

*     Identify and locate the existing trails along with what is compatible with the existing trails.

*     Look at the property lines and let us know if they are flagged and discernable. 

*      His firm can also help with trails.

*     The cost of this work would be $15,000.00 and would be complete in late July of this year.

 

*     Jay then endorsed the proposal and spoke of how important it was for a complete assessment.  He said it was important to wait for the assessment to be complete before any plans and implementation starts.

*     Jay wanted to draw on the committee to help with the assessment where appropriate using the skills and knowledge in the committee. 

 

Harold Watson was concerned about finding the 50 acres for ball fields and wanted to understand how the Forest Management plan affected the need and placement of ball fields.  Jay said the Forest Management plan should show us where we may find some or all the acres for athletic fields along with where not to put these fields. 

 

Connie Kreider wanted to understand how the committee could help to make the Forest Management Plan happen. 

 

Janet Cormier was concerned about finding the funding for the plan.   Jay said he was not looking for any additional appropriations. 

 

Sue Siena asked how the plan is physically delivered and what it would look like.  She spoke about making it digital.  Dan answered her questions and showed the committee an example he had.  Dan said making it digital would cost more.

 

Jim Taylor wanted to discuss the proposal and motioned that the committee recommend the BOS accept the proposal as described by Jay and Dan.  Newton Coryell seconded this motion. 

 

Dave Rutzke asked if the Conservation Commission could do this type of plan and Andy Powell responded that they could not and did not have the expertise to do this level of a plan.  He said the Conservation Commission hires Dan and people like him to do this work. 

 

Nelson Disco supported this approach and wanted the trail layout for the easement through Wasserman Heights to be included.   Debra Huffman mentioned that this should happen sooner than later.  Discussion of the easement continued for a while.

 

Cathy Provencher was not clear that the committee could recommend the proposal.

 

Jay Minkarah thought the motion should say, “support staff to pursue this proposal” to the BOS.  Jim Taylor changed the motion and it was re-seconded by Newton.

 

Harold Watson wanted to hear Jay’s backup position.  Could he present it to the BOS with money attached to it.  Debra Huffman changed the discussion back to the motion.

 

It was accepted unanimously, 17-0-0. 

 

Debra Huffman asked if citizens could help with the Forest Management Plan.  Dan asked to what level of help.  Andy Powell mentioned the Conservation Commission would have a training session similar to this open for the public to participate in.

 

Jay continued his discussion and introduced the need for the committee to form sub-committees to assist him with implementation in the following areas:

 

1.    Trails:  The Wasserman Heights easement and trail layout needs to be done very soon before the homes are actually constructed.  It needs to be marked so everyone involved with the development understands where the easement trail will go.  Other existing trails on the property should be looked at long term in the areas of wetlands, problem areas, etc.

 

2.    Parking Areas and Access:  The Department of Public Works (DPW) has requested assistance in laying out the recommended parking areas.  They need specific help to identify the specific locations, etc.  DPW needs people to work with them in the field.  Also look at signage, kiosks, etc.

 

3.    Clean-up and Trash:  There is still trash on the property and the committee could be used to continue the clean-up with DPW as well as recommend education and other means to address the problem.

 

4.    Athletic Fields:  Help is needed in determining the needs related to Athletic fields as recommended in the Master Plan.  As staff puts together its location recommendation for the location(s) of the fields, it would be good for staff to better understand the needs and requirements for the sites.  Considerations related to support facilities (rest rooms, lighting, parking, etc.) need to be included along with the physical aspects of the property.

 

5.    Funding:  Since the budget is tight and most likely will not include funding for projects on the property, a sub-committee to look at other means of funding some of the projects desired is necessary.

 

6.    Historic Issues:  Look at the historic significance of the property and identify the specific historic areas.  The Spaulding foundation, stonewalls, and Old Kings Highway were mentioned but the intention is to not leave any others out.  Considerations in the plan for these and other areas need to be brought to staff.

 

Dan Cyr mentioned the town could decide to make the property a Town Forest and have it fall under a Town Forest Committee.  The method to make this happen was discussed.

 

Cathy Provencher asked about our committee and the sub-committees and if the membership should be opened up.  Debra Huffman felt there might not be people wanting to join our committee, but she felt there are many people who want to help with implementation.  There was a discussion about people staying on the committee as well.

 

Debra Huffman then took the names of those wishing to participate on the sub-committees.  They are as follows:

 

- Trails:    

 

John Buckley, Greg Kirby, Lynne Wenz, Jim Taylor, Denise O'Dwyer, Sue Siena, Harold Watson, Newton Coryell, Shannon Barnes, Debra Huffman. 


- Parking and Access:

 

Andy Powell, Nelson Disco, Connie Kreider, Lynne Wenz, Newton Coryell, Debra Huffman.

- Trash Clean up:

 

Nelson Disco, Denise O'Dwyer, Shannon Barnes, Debra Huffman, Tim Tenhave

- Athletic site:

 

Mike Ruggiero, Connie Kreider, Lynne Wenz, Jim Taylor, Janet Cormier, Greg Kirby

- Funding:

 

Andy Powell, Denise O'Dwyer, Ruth Roulx, Janet Cormier, Shannon Barnes, Tim Tenhave

- Historic:

 

Ruth Roulx, Cathy Provencher, David Rutzke, Sue Siena, Denise O'Dwyer, Connie Kreider, Greg Kirby, Debra Huffman, Shannon Barnes wants to be in the loop but not on the subcommittee.

The committee then thanked Dan Cyr for his time and presentation.

Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman:

Debra Huffman then continued with this agenda item and again motioned that Tim Tenhave be Chairman of the committee.  Newton Coryell and others seconded this motion.  The motion passed with one (Tim Tenhave) abstaining, 17-0-1.

 

Cathy Provencher thanked Debra for her work as Chairman for the committee.  All members agreed and applauded Debra.

 

Tim Tenhave then motioned that Denise O’Dwyer be Vice Chairman of the committee.  This motion was seconded by many and it passed with Denise O’Dwyer abstaining, 17-0-1.

 

Debra Huffman then thanked Mike for his past work as Vice Chairman.

 

Discussions of Warrant Articles and Ordinances:

 

Debra Huffman spoke about how many of the recommendations in the Master Plan that were accepted by the BOS require a Town Ordinance to make them legally enforceable.  Target Shooting also needed a warrant article on the Town Warrant to disallow this activity.  After discussion on the need, Jay Minkarah said he would work with staff to word an article and present it to the BOS. 

 

Cathy Provencher asked if other recommendations like camping and trucks needed to go before the town as a Warrant article.  Debra Huffman spoke of how the BOS can also create a Town Ordinance using the public hearing process.  Target Shooting was a special case requiring a Warrant article. 

 

There was also discussion of placing the property under the Town Park ordinance or Conservation Property ordinance by adding a Warrant Article for the next Town Meeting.  The committee did not recommend either of these.

 

Debra Huffman made a plea to all present and watching the meeting to allow the Master Plan and implementation process to continue for at least one year before any thought is given to changing the designation of the property.

 

Susan Siena discussed the possibility of a Warrant Article to sell the property.  She had heard that one was in the works.  There was opposition to this in the committee.  Andy Powell mentioned that part of the property was purchased with EPA money and with Merrimack Conservation Commission money.  These two together could cause an issue.  Tim Tenhave spoke that a warrant article like this could be considered a recommendation to the BOS if it passed since it did not include any appropriation.  Debra Huffman made a plea to all present and watching the meeting to allow the Master Plan and implementation process to continue for at least one year before any thought is given to selling the property.

 

Debra Huffman spoke about the recommendation to eliminate 4 wheeled drive trucks from the property and wanted the staff and committee to look at how this could be implemented with Old Kings Highway being a class VI road.  She wanted our committee to work with the Heritage Commission on this.  There was a discussion of gates and barriers on the road along with declassifying the OKHW.  Ruth Roulx spoke about her work on OKHW with the Heritage Commission.

 

Lynne Wenz spoke about Coyote trapping and that there are no current permits for this with Fish and Game.  There was a concern in the committee in doing this activity safely.

 

Comments from the committee, press, and public:

 

There were no members of the press or public present.

 

Tim Tenhave said the next meeting would be in one month.  He was hoping the next meeting could be a business meeting to discuss detail on the workings of the sub-committees and the full committee.

 

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:20pm.