Milton Conservation Commission
Tuesday, June
27, 2017
Meeting Minutes
1. Call to
Order
The chair called the meeting to order at
7:03 p.m.
2. Attendance
Members Present: Dan Gaherty,
Chair; Judy Kinner, vice-chair; Laurie DiCesare, Clerk; Bonnie Pease; Nathanial Carner.
Members Absent: None.
Staff Present: None.
Public present: None.
3. Agenda
Review: The following items were added to the Agenda: Eagle Scout update;
Milton Town Forest material update; Wetlands permit update; Regional Energy
Plan comments.
4. Public
Forum: None.
5. Business
A. Bombardier Park Trails:
Map review: Town boundaries delineated.
Barbed wire at the border with private plots #10976 and 11675. The MCC goal is
to move the trails back onto public property, one link at a time. Will divide
the work into smaller projects.
B. July Work Day:
Dan completed the kiosk work at Lamoille
riverwalk on his own. Bonnie bought some additional signs. Will use July 11 (or
July 12 as rain date) to walk the Bombardier Park trails for about 2 hours and
look for property pins which Bonnie’s husband, Brian, may GPS for us. Meet at
10 a.m. at the far end of the Bombardier Park parking lot.
C. Milton Marsh Observation Path:
Laurie described the observation site in
question: starting from the parking lot entry trail, it’s just past the marsh
outlet-stream crossing, about 15 to 20 yards yards past where the “alternate
higher ground trail” branches off, on the left. Last year, it was possible to
walk a few yards from the main Marsh trail toward the Marsh to observe water
fowl and dragonflies from boulders on the shore. Laurie noted on her June 1,
2017 that grasses and small brush had grown up, making access for water
observation difficult. Bonnie said she has visited the site recently and beavers
had moved a log and expanded their dam, so the site is now under water and the marsh
is now adjacent to the main marsh trail...so observing the water is easy.
D. Eagle Scout Update:
Bonnie asks that the Eagle Scout contact
us before doing any work. Dan said he has had no word from the young man but
will ask Jeff for an update. Dan related that Jeff told him the scout will need
to contact the Planning Commission before doing any work. (Jeff is due to
return to Milton on June 28.)
E. Material Costs for Milton Town
Forest Signs and Posts:
Dan said our 2016 – 2017 budget money has
been spent. Our new fiscal year begins July 1, with a new $800 budget, but we
will not have a MCC meeting in July. Dan may buy some of the materials and wait
to be reimbursed. Other items may be purchased through open Purchase Orders.
Judy MOVED that Dan will buy whatever
materials are needed for Milton Town Forest trail signs / posts (per his
estimate of 6.26.2017) and will be reimbursed via a Planning Department
Purchase Order. Second Laurie. Approved (5-0.)
F. Wetlands Permit Update:
Bonnie asked Dan if he had any updated
information on our wetlands permit application. Dan said he had talked with
Jake. The new Town match will be $12,000. (Dan says he has been approved by the
Select Board for 4 more years on the MCC.)
G. Regional Energy Plan Comments:
We received our information on Renewable
Energy Siting, with constraints cited by the State of VT (ex.: avoid siting
near vernal pools and river buffers) and described in the Milton Data Packet (ex.:
avoiding siting on protected land like Eagle Mountain, wildlife corridors and
hydric soils), on June 9. The MCC wants to continue its involvement in the
Regional Energy Planning process.
6. Staff Updates: None.
7. Approval of
Minutes:
Approval of Minutes from April 25, 2017
and May 23, 2017 tabled until next meeting.
8. Adjournment:
Laurie MOVED to adjourn the meeting at
8:27 p.m.; Judy SECONDED; Approved (5-0.)
Respectfully
submitted by Laurie DiCesare, Clerk.
