Minutes: Minutes of October 12, 2011 were approved.

Treasurer's Report:
Scott Luther-Houghton delivered a preliminary report. To date, the costs of the Desbiens purchase have reached $131,293. We are still awaiting a bill from the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, and a final bill from the town’s attorneys. Debby Hinman will remind one donor who pledged $100 to send in his check.

Communications:
Sue Paton and Helen Frink received thank-you letters and gifts from Dick and Jane Desbiens.

Unity sent a bill for $242.54 for water testing at Crescent Lake. Debby Hinman moved that it be paid, Helen Frink seconded; motion passed. We received a bill for $200 for annual dues to the New Hampshire Association of Conservation Commissions. Helen Frink moved that the dues be paid in 2012; Debby Hinman seconded; motion passed .

Todd Callum sent a copy of the Crescent Lake Snow-Riders’ completed wetland permit to improve a trail through Fred Ernst’s property.

Kathi Bradt passed along a timeline for dates when town commissions need to complete certain tasks in advance of town meeting.

The UNH Cooperative Extension Service invites us to an all-day workshop on Forest Law for Municipal Officials, to be held December 8th at the Newbury town hall. Sue Paton and Helen Frink are interested in attending.

Intents to Cut:
Received from:
Cold Pond Community Land Trust on Road; 66 acre lot, cut 28 acres.
Robert Ingoldsby on Milliken Brook Road; 178.5 acre lot, 15 acre cut.

Forests:
Matt Apgar from the New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands reviewed the Kenneth Moore logging site near the Unity town line, due to neighbors’ complaints about noise and run-off. We affirmed the need to notify Forester Peter Rhoades formally of any Intents to Cut which we suspect may jeopardize the environment. We were uncertain of the role or responsibility of the New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands, but may contact them for future forestry management issues.

Forester Peter Rhoades attended our meeting to report on work in the Gove and Desbiens lots. He has blazed some of the boundaries of the Desbiens piece, but is waiting to hear that surveyor Bill Lawrence has set one additional boundary marker pin. It appears that part of that lot was encroached upon by the Allen Britton logging operation of several years back. He will create a forest management plan for the Desbiens lot, as required by the terms of our agreements with LCHIP and SPNHF.

Peter Rhoades advises no further cutting on the Gove lot for the immediate future. Most of the accessible timber has been harvested lightly, and he recommends waiting for the market for white pine to improve before cutting any more. As yet there is no progress on the town’s acquiring the strip of land running through the town forest which presently belongs to the LeBlancs. They plan to turn it over to the town after completing the building permit process.

We noted that work done on the intersection of the Gove Road with the Cold Pond Road makes it impossible for logging trucks to exit the Gove Road turning right, a serious impediment to logging on both the Gove and Desbiens lots. The Allen Britton logging operation has left the road into the Gove Road very muddy, and Peter Rhoades has reminded the loggers that they are responsible for returning it to its original condition. When the cut is complete, Sue Paton will ask Highway Agent David Lacasse to check the condition of the road.

In spring, the Conservation Commission should explore the Jennison Lot (South Acworth Town Forest) and determine our goals for management of that lot. It may be wise to have Peter Rhoades arrange a harvest of pulp and firewood from that lot to take place in the winter of 2012-2013.

We also discussed removal of saplings threatening the stability of the Gove Foundation in the town forest. James Garvin at the New Hampshire Division of Historic Resources may be a source of advice, or might recommend someone in our area.

Land Protection:

Sue Paton reported that the purchase of the Desbiens property was officially completed on October 24th when conservation easement documents with the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, represented by Brian Hotz were signed by the Select Board. She has submitted all the required documentation for the Mooseplate Grant, and we are awaiting reimbursement of $4999 from that fund for expenses associated with the purchase.

Sue Paton has obtained signs prohibiting ATVs on Class VI roads and will post them on Crescent Lake Road at the Class VI road leading into the Desbiens lot.

Debby Hinman gave Helen Frink signs to mark the boundaries of SPNHF easements. These will be posted at the East Acworth gravel pit area. Helen Frink reported that an old apple tree has fallen across the Keyes Hollow Road, blocking vehicle access to the East Acworth gravel pit.

Steve Walker, who receives easement monitoring documents for old LCIP properties (the Clark and Roy easements) recommends that we send an annual letter to easement landowners asking them to report any changes to their property. These can then serve as documentation of our monitoring.

New Business:
Debby Hinman moved that we request the usual $700 town appropriation for our operating expenses in 2012. Helen Frink seconded; motion passed.

The meeting adjourned at 9:20 PM.