MIDDLESEX CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Thursday, April 7, 2005
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Middlesex Town Offices
Middlesex, VT

MINUTES

 
Commissioners Present
John Austin
Barry Goodman
Heather Furman
Judy Keyes
Rick Paradis
Bill Rossmassler
Gary Miller
 

Other Guests
  Jane Dudley (sweetpaths@pshifts.com) Jane came to express her interest in trails. She moved here from Richmond and was on the trails committee there. She looks forward to participating in our work.

  Katie Feldman (see discussion below)

Administrative Operations
Call to Order 7:10

Minutes
  Heather made a motion to approve the March minutes, Barry seconded. Minutes were approved unanimously.

Treasurer’s Report
Rick reported the accounts had the following balances:
Special Projects/ Fund = $2006.99
Includes Keeping Track = ($ 207.60)
Selectboard Operations Appropriation =$697.39
Conservation Fund = $5,025.00

 • Reimbursements were submitted: For the AVCC Annual Meeting. Barry and Bill attended.

 • Bill Rossmassler announced his newly appointed position as the Executive Director of the Association of Vermont Conservation Commissions (AVCC). There was hearty congratulations.

Correspondences
  VLT newsletter, Tree grant information, VINS community mapping, VLCT/ RPC programs, Tree Warden meeting, Living Local mailing from Environmental Law Center at VLS. AVR (recyclers), National Parks Service film at Billings Museum. AVCC writing contest, deadline January 2006.

Annual Meeting
  MCC Annual Meeting was discussed briefly. Bill suggested we come to the May meeting prepared with ideas.

Conservation Fund Committee
  Brochure – Bill is going to get Gary a Publisher file or a pdf. Dave will look into printers.

Village TE Grant
  Heather, Bill, Barry, Steve Gladzcuk, Amy Bell, and June Lakin met on the TE Grant. The Cooperative Agreement has not been executed yet. The Selectboard will need to sign off on the CA once it is sent to us. Steve has agreed to be the project manager.

Guest: Katie Feldman Save the Salamanders.org
  Katie and her family came to talk to us about the upcoming salamander crossing. Generally salamanders cross in one night and start at about 9:00 p.m. She supplied a packet of information that included identification sheets, a history, and list of things to do. The Commission enthusiastically supported Katie’s efforts and looks forward to participating in helping with this year’s crossing.

Trail Committee
  Tom Jackman has volunteered to be the point person to write a $15,000 Municipal Planning Grant to develop a town-wide recreational trails plan. Dave, Barry and Bill met to strategize the scope of work for this plan. The idea is to map the trails and talk about what the issues and uses are, provide guidance and oversight, maintenance, etc. The second phase would be a process for looking at other recreational trail resources that we don’t know about, e.g. “Ancient Roads” Pent roads, etc. and identify a plan or process to deal with each of those. 

Friends of the Worcester Range
  There is a Friends meeting on 4/14. Middlesex is still tracking down interested landowners – there were at least 4 landowners who were identified. Stowe has at least 2 interested land owners and Waterbury has several. We have not heard from other towns yet.

Keeping Track
  John Austin contacted Kimberly Hagan and Kim Martin regarding the Keeping Track money and their efforts. They have given us permission to use the remaining funds for the purchase of a remote sensing camera. John took the liberty to set up an account with Cabellas and can send in a purchase order for the camera. The one he identified costs about $250.00. This camera will be loaned out to the school or other institution and/or landowners interested in tracking wildlife in Middlesex.

Other Community Activities
  Judy left the tree grant application with playground committee with the hope that they will apply next year.
  Mike Kline will be starting monitoring of Great Brook again this summer.
  Dave wants to know if someone is interested in coordinating Green Up Day. Carl Pagel is the former coordinator. Judy volunteered to coordinate groups, dump trucks, etc.
  Neely’s deadline for the Middlesex Monthly is next week if we want to submit anything.

Adjournment 9:04

Respectfully Submitted

 
Heather M. Furman
Secretary