MIDDLESEX CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Thursday October 5, 2006
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Middlesex Town Offices
Middlesex, VT

MINUTES

 
Commissioners Present
Barry Goodman
Duncan Nichols
Rick Paradis
Bill Rossmassler
Dave Shepard


Administrative Operations
Call to Order 7:05
Guest: Jane Dudley

Minutes
Duncan made a motion to approve the September minutes. Rick seconded. Minutes approved without changes.

Treasurer’s Report
 • Operating Budget: $742.59. as of October, 1
2005-2006 operating budget spent down to $106.41
 • Conservation Fund: $10428.62
Awaiting $5000.00 of voted for funds from town meeting
 • Special Projects fund: $1352.84
 • Rick will prepare a new budget for the new fiscal year for approval at Town Meeting for the year beginning July 1

Correspondences
 • Mailing from Housing and community affairs concerning a grant for town official training around land use issues.

Vacancies on the MCC
 • Dave will make a few direct call contacts

Committee Reports

Water Quality Committee:

Village Action Committee
 • Mad River Byway celebration was put off to the spring where there will be time to plan it better.
 • Black River Design proposals for the Morse piece were in the Monthly last month. MCC should continue to review. 

Conservation Program
OTT-Steed Application
Middlesex Conservation Program and Forest Legacy:
 • State met and walked parcel and agreed that this piece is a good prospect. Town agreed that they would support the piece as a Town Forest.

Resource Planning Committee \ Recreation Trials Committee
Zoning
 • Zoning meetings on Oct 11th and Oct 24th put on by the Zoning Committee and the Town Solutions Committee to discuss the new zoning regulations, explain and answer questions prior to the November vote. Dave is hoping MCC members will be at the 11th meeting. Dave plans on attending the 24th meeting.
 • Documents available on pdf and excel sheet on Crane Assoc. web site about the public comments and analysis from the public survey as well as two maps of trails in Middlesex.
 • Dave to contact Montpelier trail committee to set up a meeting to see about potential for current or future trails linkage.
 • Suggest use November MCC meeting to invite town folks to discuss the trail report as put forward in the new draft town plan. Use Middlesex Monthly to invite folks. Informational session – focus on trails. Discuss the info from the focus groups and from the survey and move to next steps from the Draft Town plan to talk about ideas we can prioritize and make next steps.  Dave will write a short piece for the Monthly and send it to Jane for her edit\review.
Municipal Planning Grant \ Ancient Roads
 • Tom Jackman will apply for a Municipal Planning Grant, due Nov 10th for a grant to research ancient roads.
Discussion followed to flesh out what the strategy should be with this new grant application.
 • Look to prioritize what the process will look like
  o Who will head up the entire process (discussion that the MCC is interested in heading up this process and will ask the Select Board if they are interested in the MCC as being responsible for the grant.)
  o Volunteers
  o Training
Other Business
 • Morristown may host “Friends of the Worcester Range” Celebration October 14th Morrisville Water and Light Building.
 • North Branch Nature Center wants to get on the ballots around the region to petition for money in support.
Adjournment 
Duncan made a motion to adjourn, David seconded and the meeting was adjourned at 9.16 pm.

Respectfully Submitted

Barry Goodman
Secretary