LA PLATTE HEADWATERS TOWN FOREST PLANNING COMMITTEE

MINUTES of July 16, 2009

Opening

The meeting of the New Town Forest Planning Committee was called to order at 7:30 pm on July 16, 2009 in the Town Hall by Kristen Sharpless. The meeting’s minutes for March 19, April 2, April 16, April 30, and June 11 were put to motion and passed. The meeting’s minutes for May 21 were amended, then put to motion and passed.

Present

Kristen Sharpless (chair), Andrea Morgante, Michael Snyder, Lenore Budd, and Jean Isham.

Absent

Stewart Pierson, Lisa Godfrey, Kathleen Tarkington, Tim Clancy.

Maps For The Management Plan

The following list of maps were brainstormed as a “wish list” for the final management plan:

LaPlatte River watershed locator map

Main map showing property boundary, streams/river, trails/access, and STAs on:

Orthophoto

Topo

Main map with survey information?

Soils

Hydrology

Geology

Bedrock

Surficial

Forest Stands

need to add in stands for northern parcel

Natural Communities

KRS needs to modify layer to match STAs and to add in info for northern parcel

Wildlife Use and Habitat Features

mark wildlife sightings/signs/habitat features with points and identify with icons so map can easily be added to and used for monitoring

Historic Maps (georeferenced, if possible)

Beers

NRCS maps

Aerial Photos (1942 and 1966 at least)

Task→KRS will contact Alex with the list of maps and ask what would be reasonable to complete by September 30 in preparation for Oct 8 public forum.

We would like at least one large print-out of a main map to use as a reference at the forum. The other maps would just need to be completed before we submit the final plan to the SB for approval in December.

Task→AM will email Kate Wanner at TPL to ask her to send any GIS layers/files that she has for the LHTF property to Alex so he can make use of these.

Task→AMwill email Lexie to ask if she would be willing to help with making some of these maps – at least georeferencing the historic maps, which would overlap with helping a couple CVU teachers get ready for a class they will be teaching this fall.

Education Section

Those present reviewed a draft of the objectives, guidelines, and recommended actions related to education and community uses.

Task→KRS will type up the revisions and submit to the committee for review.

Trails and Adjacent Land

LB asked if there is a plan to connect trails on the LHTF with the village center. Those present confirmed that there is a long-term plan to do so.

Task→LBwill revise the Recreation section of the plan to acknowledge that this plan to connect the TF and the Village exists.

The committee looked at a map showing Adam Burrit’s land. Adam had made a proposal to sell this piece that would connect the LHTF to the Village to the Town.

Task→AMwill talk to Adam about options for purchasing the land or an easement for wetlands restoration/public access on the land through her work talking with landowners along the LaPlatte River.

Meeting Facilitation

AM told the committee that she is participating in a training on how to use a group decision-making process with groups that makes sure that all voices are heard and facilitated decisions being made in a way in which everyone understands the process and is comfortable with the outcome. She asked if the group would be interested in trying out the method or if anyone from the committee would be interested in sitting in on one of the training sessions. The group indicated that we would be open to both ideas.

Next Meetings

The next meetings will be on August 20, 2009.

The meeting adjourned at 9:30PM.

Respectfully submitted by Kristen Sharpless