MIDDLESEX CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Thursday May 3, 2007
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Middlesex Town Offices
Middlesex, VT

MINUTES


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


Administrative Operations
Call to order 7:05
Rich moved to approve the March and April minutes, Scott seconded. Approval of the minutes passed

Minutes
Guests: Bill Rossmassler, Katy Chabot, Jane Dudley

Treasurer’s Report
Rick was unable to attend the meeting but reported that the fund balances are unchanged
• Operating Budget: $723.60 as of , January 1
2005-2006 operating budget spent down to $106.41
• Conservation Fund: $17451.27
• Special Projects fund: $1287.98
• An Invoice was received from the Middlesex Monthly
• Judy presented an invoice for Vermont Dept of Forest & Parks, Tree Workshop

Correspondence
• Riparian Planting on the Winooski May 6
• Select board is looking for anyone who wants to be the town rep to the Central Vermont Solid Waste District
• League of Cities and Towns passed out a workbook “Essentials of Local Land Use Planning and Regulation”

Annual Meeting Preparation
• Need a meeting place: possible at Wrightsville…theme, Wrightsville Trail possibilities.
• Possible at Shady Rill picnic area. 
• Plan to change the meeting date for the annual meeting to June 14th. Dave will post the changing date and location
• Vacancies on the MCC
• Officers
• Bylaws: any changes or proposals?
• Outstanding Middlesex Conservationist. Scott made a motion to nominate Sandy Levine, Rick seconded and all voted in favor.

Green up Day
• Jeff Koombs, scoutmaster, will be involved with coordinating.
• Green- up day is scheduled for May 5
• Conservation Commission has been asked to staff at the Town Garage and we have volunteers.

Committee Reports
Water Quality Committee: North Branch meeting scheduled for April

Village Action Committee

Conservation Program:
Conservation Fund: New Fund contribution voted down at Town Meeting.
• Need informational \ educational effort about the fund and land conservation for 2007
• Possible education program for the town. Value of Conservation for the Town. Value of Recreation Land. Establishment of Town Forest.
• Fund Raising Ideas – Calendar….Note Cards
• Possible dinner and education program.
o Articles for the Middlesex Monthly
o I.e. zoning vs. land protection. Cost to the town. Tax implications.

Friends of the Worcester Range: Meeting May 21st. Education and Outreach Committee.
North Branch Nature Center: How the Nature Center can provide education for the communities of the Worcester Range.

Resource Planning Committee \ Recreation Trials Committee
Zoning
• Scott reported that he is interested in scouting out a “link” trail along the reservoir to hook into the Montpelier town trail system
• Dave to check with “Forest and Parks”, and the agency that manages Wrightsville to see about interest in creating a new trail.

 Ancient Roads Research Project
o Public information meeting on May 15th 7pm at Town Hall with Paul Gilles
o Need two working groups. 1) Research committee 2) Formation of subcommittee to oversee process and interaction with select board with recommendations.

Recreational Trails: Now named the Central Vermont Regional Trails Coalition
o Regional trails meeting April 26th.
o Support to pursue Wrightsville Reservoir Trail as part of a larger vision of connectivity.
o Possible walk through in Wrightsville May 19th to review possibilities.

Mad River Byway: Byway celebration scheduled for May 20th

Community Forestry Update

Wildlife Monitoring Committee

Other Business

Adjournment 
Barry moved to close the meeting, David seconded at 9:25

Respectfully Submitted
Barry Goodman
Secretary