09-06-2018 Forest Board Meeting
David Matthews -Chair of Fairlee Forest Board
Peter Lange – Fairlee Forest Board
Terry Lewis- Fairlee Forest Board
Jim O’Donnell- Fairlee Forest Board
Mitch Phelps- Fairlee Forest Board – absent
Visitors: Tad Nunez – Town Administrator
Meeting called to order at 4:05 PM
APPROVAL OF MINUTES from the 6/7/18 meeting is unanimous.
Tad Nunez presented a Draft of the Town of Fairlee Emerald Ash Borer Preparedness Plan version 1.1, dated August 2018. Peter Guest wrote this draft plan.
Tad mentioned that an inventory of the ash trees in town should eventually be done.
David mentioned that currently in the Town Forest Plan ash trees over 12 inches would be cut in all harvests.
Tad also reported that Barbara Blake reported that logging operations had damaged a culvert on her town road, Mill Pond Road that turns off of Brushwood Road towards Bradford. The Forest Board decided that this was an issue for the Selectboard to handle because there have been no logging operations conducted by the Forest Board that used this access route. The board suggested this damage could have been from an operation by a logger working for a private landowner, but has no way of knowing what caused the damage, if there is any.
David opened the discussion about the educational signs being donated by the American Chestnut Foundation. There are three panels that will be mounted between two 4×4 treated posts with a shed roof covering. The signage would be place off to the uphill side of Chestnut Landing near the sitting rock where it is out of the way of future landing traffic and clearly visible to visitors without being an attractive target for hunters.
MOTION- Terry made the motion that; Timber Trust funds are to be used to install the educational signs that are provided to the town by the American Chestnut Foundation, not to exceed the sum of $400.00. Seconded by Peter. The board was unanimous in support.
David passed out spreadsheets that show the accumulated funds available, as per vote by the town residents in the Timber Trust and the Gravel Pit accounts. Tad will take the information to the Selectboard and the information is subject to audit.
David reported that there would be a fall workday at Chestnut Landing sometime in September.
Peter passed on to the board that Max Haehnel was successful in achieving his Eagle Scout award with the Apple Tree Landing Project work.
David reported that Markus would be conducting a site visit on Knox Road with Limlaw Logging 9/7/2018 for possible interest in a harvest this fall.
David encouraged the board to increase our donation to the American Chestnut Foundation from $250.00 to $300.00 with an additional amount of $100.00 to the State chapter.
MOTION – Jim made the motion that, the Board increase the American Chestnut Foundation donation to $300.00 and also donate $100.00 to the Vermont chapter. Terry seconded this motion and the vote in favor was unanimous. All board members signed the form.
Under new business David would like the board to work on the job description for board members to include that they have access to an ATV, chainsaw skills and the necessary tools to be effective as a board member.
Peter gave notice to the board of his intention to resign at the end of the meeting so that the board could search for a new board member over the winter months before the next meeting in March. He intends to inform the board and the Selectboard in writing after this meeting.
Next meeting will be March 7 2019 at 4:00 at Fairlee Town Hall meeting room.
MOTION to adjourn at 5:26 PM passed unanimously.