MIDDLESEX CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Thursday January 4, 2007
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Middlesex Town Offices
Middlesex, VT

MINUTES

 
Commissioners Present
x Barry Goodman
x Judy Keyes
x Duncan Nichols
x Rick Paradis
x Bill Rossmassler
x Dave Shepard
x Scott Gurley


Administrative Operations
Call to order 7:10

Minutes
Duncan motioned to approve December minutes. Dave seconded. Minutes approved without changes.

Treasurer’s Report
 • Operating Budget: $723.60 as of , January 1
2005-2006 operating budget spent down to $106.41
 • Conservation Fund: $15609.46
 • Special Projects fund: $1233.03
 • Rick noted that we will have dollars to pay Middlesex Occasional, and make a contribution to Romney School library fund

Correspondences
 • Checks were received from town folks for the conservation fund. Rick will put together a letter of thanks, or ask Bill for a form letter to send a note and act as a receipt for those who send in contributions.
 • $1000 contribution was received from the Vermont Community Foundation for the MCC Conservation Fund.
 • Received a correspondence from Mr. and Mrs. Cherubini granting logging right of way across their property to access the Ott-Steed property.

Vacancies on the MCC
 • The Select Board has application and letter of intent from and will act on it at their next meeting.
 • Bill contacted Katie Farber, and she expressed interest in filling the one open vacancy. Dave will follow-up

Committee Reports

Water Quality Committee:

Village Action Committee
The Scenic Byway has gotten permission to use the little schoolhouse near the dam on the Moretown line. Barry will work to disseminate information about the byway to MCC members.
 • Possible meeting Jan 18th.


Conservation Program
 • Checks were received for the MCC Conservation fund
 • OTT-Steed Application: Bill talked about going to the VhCB for possible funding.
 • Bill to reach out to Friends of Worcesters' to see if there are pieces of property to be included for this year’s Forest Legacy Program
 • Discussion about “Warning” the MCC Conservation Fund for this year.

Resource Planning Committee \ Recreation Trials Committee
Zoning
 • The Town Plan is not ready to be presented for Town Meeting in March. It will be put off probably to November.
 • Currently documents are 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 contacted Montpelier trail committee to set up a meeting to see about potential for current or future trails linkage. Dave, Jane, Duncan and Bill expressed interest in the meeting.

Municipal Planning Grant \ Ancient Roads
 • The town of Middlesex was granted $5000. from the Ancient Roads Planning Grant Program.
 • Suggestion that we talk to the Selectboard and get ok that at town meeting the MCC let the town know that volunteers are needed and wanted.
 • Paul Hannan sent a note suggesting how he might contract with the town to help educate those who are interested in researching the ancient road research and planning effort.
 • Issues: Unbiased way to propose what the process will look like to deal with Ancient roads that become part of the study
 • 3 ways to find ancient roads
  o Anecdotally
  o On the ground
  o In the records, tax maps and minutes
 • 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

Community Forestry Update
 • Review of Tree Resources Plan
 • Morse Town Property potential
 • Judy to look at potential for new plantings along our roadways.

Wildlife Monitoring Committee

MCC Display Space at Town Hall
 • Looking for space from the windows to the corner. Judy to see about getting a permanent board on the wall.

Other Business
 • AVCC has gone from staff to volunteer position.
 • Mike Klein will be invited to a February meeting for water resource issues.

Adjournment 
Judy made a motion to adjourn, Duncan seconded and the meeting was adjourned at 9.05 pm.

Respectfully Submitted

Barry Goodman
Secretary