New Town Forest Planning Committee

MINUTES of July 22, 2008

Opening

The meeting of the New Town Forest Planning Committee was called to order at 7:30 pm on July 22, 2008 in the Town Hall by Kristen Sharpless.

Present

Kristen Sharpless, Jean Isham, Matthew Probasco, Andrea Morgante, Susan Mead

Absent

Lenore Budd, Stewart Pierson, Paul Wieczoreck

Guest

Mike Snyder

Official Documents

Kristin will request the various referenced documents from the Easement from Bob Link at the VLT to ensure that we are aware of everything that might be incorporated by reference.

Town Forest Designation

The letter from the SB to Mike Snyder does include a request for Town Forest designation. Lenore will follow up with Mike to get the process rolling. Mike noted that getting the TF designation used to mean some funding might be available for maintenance. Even though this is no longer the case, it appears worth the effort to codify our intention with the State.

Bat Walk

The Bat walk is tentatively scheduled for 8/21. Mike Snyder will write up bullet points on what he and Scott Darling will cover for Susan by 8/8 for publicity purposes.

Wetland Walk

Andrea indicated that April Moulart is open in September. She will try to line up April and Gretchen Alexander for 9/14.

Public Forum

The Public Forum as tentatively scheduled for Oct 29.

Publicity

Susan will do a new draft of the Record article with new dates. Since we will miss the Record publication date for the Bat walk, we will try to get a piece in the Free Press, Sentinel and Shelburne News.

The group noted possible points of interest on the bats: it is the largest and northernmost colony, and is the only federally endangered mammal in Vermont.

We agreed that publicity should encourage use of the BTF and introduce the vision statement.

Vision Statement

The group refined the vision as shown below. Members were asked to review this and make any comments via email over the next two weeks.

The BTF is a special place where we come to enjoy, to learn from, and care for the land. (and its streams, meadows, animals, and plants.) We will observe natural processes at work, restore and mimic these processes through active management, and monitor the results of our efforts. All of us – young and old – will have opportunities to explore and learn from its unique nature and diverse natural systems and our place within them.

Next Meetings

8/7, 8/26, 9/4, 9/18 at 7:30

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00PM.

Respectfully submitted by Susan Mead