Treasurer's Report: Conservation Fund: $19,141, which includes $4185 recently added, due from 2001. This amount still includes the $10,000 we appropriated for the Desbiens property purchase. Our operating expenses for the past year amounted to $700. Forest Maintenance Fund: $8129.93; we agreed to hold this amount in our account for possible expenses associated with the Desbiens project, rather than transferring money to the town’s general fund as has been our practice. The Desbiens Land Fund: $5593.58 received from private donations. Debby Hinman moved, Peter Maynard seconded, and we voted to approve these financial reports.

Communications: Kathleen Gonzalez on Crescent Lake Road has received a Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act permit to rebuild and expand a non-conforming structure.

A bill for $200 for our membership in the NH Association of Conservation Commissions was received and will be paid.

Intents to Cut: Intents to Cut were received from Peter Rhoades, Gordon and Tim Gowen, David Bascom (Duncan Rd. and Ryan Rd.), and from William Murphy (Tucker Rd.).

We discussed road and land damage connected with the completed logging operation on the Ingoldsby property on Milliken Brook Road. Selectmen did not secure a bond against damage to the town road, but the logger has given a verbal commitment to repair the damage he caused when spring comes.

Water Quality: no report.

Forestry: Rob DeValk will contact Peter Rhoades to discuss whether it is advisable to plan more cutting in the Gove Forest. Given the poor timber market, it seems advisable to postpone further timbering for the near future.

Conservation Easement Monitoring: No report.

Town Lands Committee: No report.

Land Protection: We did not receive LCHIP funding for the purchase and conservation of the Desbiens property, and discussed at length what further steps to take. We can meet with LCHIP reviewers in February or March to learn why our application was not successful. We did receive the $4,999 Moosplate Grant to fund ancillary costs, but that must be returned if we are unable to purchase the property.

While the Gove Forest Management Plan sets expansion of the town forest as a goal, New Hampshire’s RSA 31:113 states that the only permissible uses of the Forest Maintenance Fund are to transfer it to the town, or let it accumulate (NH Conservation Commission Handbook page 13.1.) Debby Hinman will contact Carol Andrews, Executive Director of the NH Association of Conservation Commissions, after the March town meeting to ask whether these funds could be used for the ancillary costs of forest expansion.

We discussed wording of an article for the town meeting warrant seeking an appropriation from the town to purchase the Desbiens land. Since the landowners approached the Select Board, we are obligated to bring the proposal before the town for discussion and vote. Rob De Valk moved and Debby Hinman seconded that we support the Board of Selectmen placing an article in the warrant to appropriate funds for the purchase of the Desbiens property. The motion passed. Sue Paton will speak with the landowners about these next steps. She will also inform the Conservation Commission of budget hearings or public hearings on this topic where our support will be needed.

We affirmed our support for a warrant article changing the Conservation Commission’s share of the Land use Change Tax (LUCT) from the present $2,000 per year to 50% of proceeds. We also voted to support the adoption of RSA 41:14a; Peter Maynard moved and Debby Hinman seconded this motion.

New Business: On Wednesday January 27 ^th the Planning Board will hold a public hearing concerning housing and the conservation protection program.

The town meeting warrant will include an article to see whether the town will adopt a pay as you throw program for solid waste, with the revenues to be used solely for waste disposal (RSA 31:95c).

The meeting adjourned at 9:10 PM.

Respectfully Submitted, Helen Frink