04-04-2019 Forest Board Meeting
4 April 2019 (moved from 7 March)
Prior to the meting being called to order, Tad Nunez, Fairlee Town Administrator) inquired about the maintenance of the logging roads and primary skid trails. David mentioned that the state has mandated Acceptable Management Practices (aka AMP’s) which must be followed on any and all logging operations in the state. These guidelines may be accessed on the state web site of Forests, Parks and Recreation. In addition, the logger (Bruce Limlaw) has posted a $1,000.00 cash bond held in escrow by Redstart Forestry.
Present:
- Jim O’Donnell – Forest Board Member
- Reg Cramer – Forest Board Member
- David Matthews – Forest Board Member/Chair
Meeting was called to order at 4:04 PM
Approval of the minutes from the 6 September meeting, unanimous
The three panel sign which was donated by The Vermont/New Hampshire Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation is currently in storage at Redstart Forestry’s office. David will be pre-fabricating most of the components of a kiosk to display the panels on Chestnut Landing at a date TBA.
Logging of portions of Stands 13 and 15 was suspended last fall because of poor ground conditions. Bruce Limlaw et al will be returning, most likely in early (dry) July to complete the harvest. In the interim, Markus Bradley will request an updated certificate of insurance.
The Forest Board’s $300.00 donation to TACF resulted in the delivery of four of the most recent hybrid nuts. These were delivered to Rachel Sanders (science instructor at Rivendell Academy). Her science students will pot them and pamper them from germination until they are ready to be transplanted in the town forest. We expect this to be an ongoing annual donation and receipt of seeds which will be established in a yet determined location in the town forest.
Ackerman parcel (within the town forest) is in the hands of the select board. Jim O’Donnell made an excellent point; that being if the land ended up in the hands of a private owner, we may not be able to cross it for timber management.
David, from Georgette, brought up that May 2nd is the 2019 Arbor Day Conference at the Vermont College of Fine Arts in Montpelier. Attendance requires a nominal fee and registration. For more information visit www.vtcommunityforestry.org.
Next meeting is Thursday, June 6th, at 4:00 PM in the Grange Room.
Motion to adjourn at 4:58 PM passed unanimously