New Town Forest Planning Committee

MINUTES of April 2, 2008

Opening

The first meeting of the New Town Forest Planning Committee was called to order at 7:30 pm on April 2, 2008 in the Town Hall by Paul Wieczoreck and Susan Mead.

Present

Paul Wieczoreck and Susan Mead of Hinesburg Land Trust; Stewart Pierson and Lenore Budd of Hinesburg Trails Committee; Kristen Sharpless and Matthew Probasco of Hinesburg Conservation Commission

Charge of Group

It was noted that the charge of this group only relates to the town land that is part of the Bissonette conservation project. The Town is charged with fulfilling its obligations set forth in the conservation easement especially as they relate to protecting and enhancing habitat for Indiana Bats and the plan for improving water quality, from which we were able to receive “Clean and Clear” funding.

It was noted that our main task will be to identify the concerns and/or conflicts within the community relating to the management and use of the Town Forest, making this process public enough so that no group feels disenfranchised, and then revising the Interim Management Plan (IMP) to reflect these endeavors. A final Management Plan must be submitted to and approved by Select Board and conservation partners by the end of 2009.

Tasks to be Completed

The group began with a discussion of what tasks need to be accomplished:

Follow up with the Planning Commission to ensure that they are aware of this effort and see if a volunteer is able to attend. (Jean Isham may be out of town.) (Susan; 4/17)

Ask Andrea Morgante which agencies/parties have signed off on the Interim Management Plan and its appendices. (Paul; 4/17)

Contact state agencies if their further review required. (Matt; tbd)

We agreed that everyone should review the documents thoroughly and get Susan their list of potential conflict/discussion areas. (All; 4/17)

There was general agreement that the Management Plan (MP) should state the goals (i.e. conservation values) for the land.

It was agreed that we need to create a single map with all of the hydrologic, bat, etc. data on it.

There was discussion regarding the concept that each of the 3 major parcels of conserved Town Land, the existing Town Forest, Geprag’s Park and the new Town Forest, should have management plans that are coordinated with each other. For example, we should make conscious decisions about which parcels will be used for timber production, which ones will be used for specific forms of recreation, etc. There was general feeling that this was beyond the charge of this group, but by setting forth the goals for the new Town Forest, we could then make suggestions to the Select Board about goals and committee structure for the management of the other two.

We need a process for selecting the name for the new Town Forest. (Stewart; 4/17)

Paul passed out a list of other key issues to be addressed. Susan will incorporate this and the others sent to me in a spread sheet.

Next Meeting

Thursday, April 17 – 7:30. Room tbd

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 PM.

Respectfully submitted by Susan Mead