Conservation Commission Minutes, 10.19.2023

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Conservation Commission Minutes 10.19.2023

Attending: Linda Hecker, Linda Lembke, Steve Soszynski, Anne Montgomery, Susan Bonthron, Bill Jewell, Karen Murphy
Not attending: Bevan Quinn

Meeting called to order at 5:30 at the town office.
No changes to agenda

The August 17 meeting minutes were accepted by unanimous vote.

Linda Hecker gave a brief report on the joint conservation commission meeting in September.  The Windham Natural Resource Conservation District (NRCD) reported on their programs and assistance to farmers and local residents. Of note is their annual plant sale. 
The board voted unanimously to pay our annual dues of $50 to AVCC (Association of Vermont Conservation Commissions).  

Linda Lembke researched the cost to print copies of the Natural Resource Inventory final report. We approved by unanimous vote to have five copies printed for $190. 

We agreed on the Wildlife Crossing signs images to be place on the Guilford Center Road. Dan Zumbruski will be involved with the actual placement. 

The NRI committee reported that the final report is almost done and will be posted on the town website very soon. We are planning a presentation to the community on November 16th at the BBCC. 

New member recruitment:
We had a thoughtful discussion on recruiting new commissioners. We hope to fill the current vacancy as soon as possible. We are also thinking ahead to replace members who will be retiring from the commission in the next few years. 

Sweet Pond Funds:
Linda Hecker reported that the local funds raised to support the replacement of the Sweet Pond dam were never used by the Forest, Parks & Recreation Department. We are thinking that the funds be used as a reserve conservation fund to be used for conservation easements that may arise. 
Bill made a motion to ask the selectboard to establish a conservation fund using the Sweet Pond available funds. It was seconded by Susan Bonthron. The vote was unanimous in favor of the motion. 

Request from the Friends of the Library re Lecture Series:
The Friends of the Library reached out to the GCC and the Historical Society to collaborate in having a series of lectures and field trips. A meeting to plan this new community venture will be held in the near future.

The meeting was adjourned by unanimous vote at 7 PM.

Respectfully submitted,
Karen Murphy, Clerk  
Guilford Conservation Commission