HORSE HILL NATURE PRESERVE
AD HOC COMMITTEE
Minutes of Monday, December 5, 2005
Town Hall Courtroom
7:30 p.m.
Members Present: Shannon Barnes, Chris Christensen, Janet Cormier, Newton Coryell, Nelson Disco, Debra Huffman, Peter Kahn, Bill Keating, Connie Kreider, Karen Mattor, Denise O’Dwyer, Andy Powell, Ruth Roulx, Tim Tenhave, Harold Watson, Helynne Wenz
Others Present: Kerrie Diers, Tom Kokx, John Herring, Linda Reid, Lois Amidon, Bob L’Heureux, Tad Stephanak, John Hall, Roger Blais, Harry Watt, Tom Vaillancourt, Rick DiOrio, Andy Sylvia, Pete Hinkle, Terry Bernhardt, Amanda Boerner, Robyn Goinsalvos
Call to Order: Tim Tenhave called the meeting to order at 7:02pm.
Announcements and Updates:
Tim Tenhave mentioned the Heritage Commission is
selling Christmas Cards which are available at many places.
Tim said the PSNH letter was sent to get the
gate installed at the Easement area.
Tim said that hunting with firearms ended
yesterday.
Newton Coryell spoke about the Amherst Rd.
Parking area and mentioned it was mostly done for now until Spring.
Minutes of November 7, 2005: Minutes of 11/7 were motioned and approved as presented by a vote of 8-0-2.
NRPC – Organizational Meeting: Consensus Building Group
Tim Tenhave introduced Kerrie Diers from the Nashua Regional Planning Commission. Kerrie introduced Tom Kokx from Thomas Kokx Associates. Tom spoke about his background and how he will assist on the Definitive Plan.
Kerrie Diers presented a power point presentation that discussed the background and mission for the current project. The Consensus Building Group has two main tasks: to determine what uses will be developed on the site and to recommend a management structure to over see management and maintenance of the site.
Kerrie reviewed the essential principles of consensus building and conducted an overview of the process the group will go through in the next 4 – 5 months. Kerrie distributed a handout that described the background, process, purpose and meeting guidelines for the next 7 meetings.
Questions from
Public, Press, Invited members of the CBG, and the Committee
Bob L’Heureux:
Asked Kerrie to describe the Nashua Regional
Planning Commission (NRPC) and Kerrie described what and who the NRPC is and
what it does.
Asked about who is running the meeting. Kerrie spoke how she and the NRPC will be
facilitating the Meetings. Tim Tenhave
said he was running the meetings while Kerrie facilitates the process for
developing the Definitive Plan.
Asked about the $18,000 cost for the work of the
NRPC. Tim Tenhave explained how the cost
is coming from 3 different department budgets of the Town.
Asked about why
Pete Hinkle:
Asked when people will be able to give public input. Kerrie spoke how the process includes public
education, member education, and a public forum.
Asked how the public will be notified of the
meetings. Tim responded that all the
avenues that are available within the Town would be used. He also asked for suggestions for any other
avenues. Tim then spoke about the makeup
of the Consensus Building Group along with how public input will always be
welcome at every meeting during the process.
Connie Kreider also asked about the CBG and said others would still be
welcome to participate and join the group.
Tim continued to review how the CBG was created using the 14 approved
uses of the property as a guide along with ATV folks and abutters to HHNP who
are not members of the Ad-Hoc Committee.
He reviewed how people associated with the 14 groups and the others were
invited and introduced most of those people who were present at the meeting.
Asked about the Nashua Fish and Game Club being
part of the process. Tim did note them.
Asked about the Master Plan and what document
governs the process. Tim responded the
BOS will decide the final outcome.
Andy Sylvia
Asked if the Department of Environmental
Services (DES) had been asked to join.
Tim Tenhave said they had not.
Other Comments:
Tim Tenhave spoke how he will try to work out the room logistics and seating areas for the upcoming meetings to better accommodate the large size of the group.
Harold Watson mentioned that the Master Plan Committee had other groups come present to the Committee. The members of the Ad-Hoc Committee then spoke about all the organizations that came out during the Master Plan process.
A discussion of the next meeting and the meeting schedule in general was discussed.
A plan was then put in place to ensure everyone who wanted, could obtain a hard or electronic copy of the Master Plan and the Forest Management Plan and Ecological Assessment.
Bob L’Heureux expressed a concern about everyone not being present at all meetings and suggested that people contact Tim to let him know when they may not be able to attend.
Andy Powell asked about bringing in experts on certain aspects of the property. Kerrie did say that there would be time for experts during the mapping sessions.
Tim Tenhave reminded everyone that the process is being done to accommodate the Board of Selectmen approved uses of the property. He spoke how the process was not going to reopen the approval of the uses.
Meetings were decided by general consensus of those who responded to start at 7pm and would not go over 3 hours. Kerrie did say we may need more time during the mapping sessions as discussed in her presentation.
Tom Kokx spoke about the next meeting coming up. He spoke how it was important that we extract the key attributes of the approved uses along with the management and safety attributes. He encouraged everyone to read the two plans before the meeting.
John Herring asked about maps and wetland regulations. It was agreed that maps would be present at future meetings along with maps being produced by the members during the process. Andy Powell spoke about the Town’s wetland regulations along with those of DES. Karen Mattor reiterated the wetland regulations.
Adjournment:
The meeting was adjourned at 8:18pm