HORSE HILL NATURE PRESERVE

AD HOC COMMITTEE

Minutes of Monday, March 7, 2005

Courtroom at Town Hall

7:30 p.m.

 

Members Present: Debra Huffman, Ruth Roulx, Janet Cormier, Connie Kreider, Harold Watson, Helynne Wenz, Newton Coryell, Denise O’Dwyer, Shannon Barnes, Mike Ruggiero, Karen Mattor, Andy Powell, Tim Tenhave

 

Call to Order: Tim Tenhave called the meeting to order at 7:34 p.m.

 

Announcements and Updates: Tim Tenhave made the following announcements:

*      At its 2/17/05 meeting, the BOS approved the donation by Brad Knight of work on the Horse Hill parking lot.

*      Kudos to Newton Coryell for taking action to remove more of the metal objects from the property and placing them where they can be easily removed. Tim Tenhave and several members of the SnoBuds also helped with the effort.

*      The committee should be aware that at next Thursday's Deliberative Session there will be discussion of a petitioned article that pertains to Horse Hill.

 

Comments from the Press and Public: Tim introduced Paul Wojciak, who is interested in Horse Hill issues. Janet Cormier added a comment to all those watching at home that all interested parties are welcome at the table, good ideas come from new people, and this is a fairly informal meeting where people are welcome to participate. Official membership is determined by the BOS and they have not determined a method for officially modifying the membership, but all are welcome to join in the discussions.

 

Approval of Minutes: The minutes of 2/7/05 were approved with minor modifications, on a vote of 9-0-4.

 

Recommendation from the Town Manager: Tim Tenhave discussed the recommendation provided by Tim Tieperman, the Town Manager, to the BOS. Mr. Tieperman recommends that the Town hire an open space consultant to work with the Town and the committee on the Definitive Plan, and recommends that after the Definitive Plan is completed the majority of the property be overseen by the Conservation Commission. Selectman McCray wanted to know if the committee had a response to the recommendation so Tim brought it to the committee for consideration.

 

Connie Kreider asked if there was a time schedule for when the BOS would act on this recommendation. Tim said that it takes money and that the Town Manager is looking into it. Debra Huffman asked if the Town had considered getting free help from Concord. Andy Powell stated that he understood that the Town Manager is drawing up a list of requirements of what is needed. Harold Watson stated that we have expertise in town and that he is concerned about hiring someone unfamiliar with the project. Karen Mattor wanted to understand if the recommendation is because we don't have the manpower to handle it in town. Tim Tenhave replied that it appears that we do not have the manpower with time to develop the Definitive Plan.

 

Paul Wojciak wondered about the relationship of the Definitive Plan to the Master Plan, and Tim explained that the Definitive Plan is the details of the implementation of the Master Plan combined with the Forester's Plan. 

 

Shannon Barnes wondered if they were looking primarily for writing skills to help write the Definitive Plan, and asked if Debra Huffman could help since she is a consulting technical writer. Debra stated that she thought they were looking more for open space planning expertise.

 

Tim asked if Andy Powell, as Chairman of the Conservation Commission, had any concerns. Andy said he did not as the management recommendation follows the original recommendation of the Master Plan.

 

Ruth Roulx suggested that the committee respond to the recommendation with one voice through Tim Tenhave and that the recommendation would get things moving.

 

Andy Powell made a motion to authorize Tim to speak for the committee in support of the Town Manager's proposal, with a second by Denise O'Dwyer. Discussion ensued, in which Janet Cormier stated that this was a good plan to get things moving. Harold Watson said he would withdraw his concern and agree to the proposal to get things moving. Andy Powell stated that he is attending a workshop on open space planning and that there will be people there who have the expertise the town can tap into.

 

Connie Kreider noted that the recommendation specifically said that the open space consultant would work with the Horse Hill committee.

 

Mike Ruggiero expressed concern that stewardship and management of fields not fall under the Conservation Commission, but follow the Master Plan's recommendation that it fall under current field management structure. Debra Huffman responded that the Conservation Commission has never expressed an interest or intent to take over control of athletic fields. Tim stated that he reviewed that section of the Master Plan with the Town Manager.

 

The motion was passed unanimously.

 

Trail Walk and Clean-Up Day – Tim Tenhave noted that in previous years the committee has held the clean-up day to coincide with Earth Day near the end of April. He proposed that this year the committee postpone it to coincide with the opening of the new parking lot in May. He stated that no major cleanup was needed, but that people would be given small bags to carry with them on walks.

 

Harold Watson noted that it would be black fly season and Janet Cormier asked if the committee might get a donation of White Mountain Repellent from the gentleman who donated it before.

 

Newton Coryell noted that Ed Chase has told him that the delay in the parking lot is due to the depth of the snow and that it is discussed every Friday at their Foremen's meeting. Walter Warren is working on getting the permit to cross the wetlands so the trail can be completed at the same time as the parking lot.

 

Andy Powell suggested that committee members trim the wild roses and do minor work in advance to improve the experience of hikers on the first few hundred feet of the trail.

 

Tim stated that if the parking lot is delayed into July the committee will hold the clean-up day in June. The date should be clearer by the April or May meeting.

 

Reports from Subcommittees:

 

Parking Subcommittee – Newton Coryell reported that he will be talking to Brad Knight and that he is in contact with Ed Chase and Walter Warren. Tim reported that he received e-mail from Walter addressing liability of volunteers. Tim will review it and discuss it at the next meeting.

 

Trails Subcommittee – Debra Huffman reported that they did not meet and that they can make no progress until they get approval of the Trail Plan from Walter. Tim said he would talk to Tim Tieperman and Walter about it.

 

Athletic Fields Subcommittee – Janet Cormier reported that they did not meet this month.

 

Funding Subcommittee – Shannon Barnes reported that they did not meet this month but they have an outline for a grant grid and hope to have it filled in by the next meeting.

 

Historic Subcommittee – Connie Kreider reported that they have a meeting scheduled for March 23rd in the Finance conference room.

 

Wildlife Subcommittee – Helynne Wenz reported that they met and each member chose a habitat area to focus on. A college student studying to be an ecologist has joined the subcommittee. Helynne has ordered extra copies of "A Landowner's Guide to Inventorying and Monitoring Wildlife in New Hampshire" which some committee members received when they attended a seminar at the Fox Forest. Karen Mattor noted that the subcommittee got a lot done for its first meeting. Andy Powell noted that an organization called "Keeping Track" is in the business of wildlife inventories. Their services cost money but their protocol is published and freely available.

 

Clean-up Subcommittee – Tim Tenhave reported that they won't meet until April or May, but that Newton Coryell has been very active.

 

Questions from Committee Members: Mike Ruggiero asked if there had been any discussion of getting a selectmen's representative more involved with the committee. Tim responded that the selectmen have made a conscious decision to oversee minutes but not attend meetings. Chuck Mower gets all minutes and is updated on the committee's activities.

 

Newton Coryell expressed concern that since PSNH cleared under the power lines that trucks will be more likely to enter the property from Naticook Road.  He stated that he has seen several ATVs out there lately. Andy Powell noted that Walter has several items to discuss with PSNH and that the town will move rapidly to put up a gate under the power lines, with rocks to block trucks from going around the gate.

 

Andy Powell reported that the US Fish and Wildlife Service is presenting a seminar on invasive plant control on large parcels. Tim requested that he forward information on the seminars to Ernie Buck.

 

Andy Powell reported that the Conservation Commission is checking the duck boxes on the HHNP and that there is generally an 80% to 90% use rate of the duck boxes.

 

Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:29 p.m.