Minutes 2009

Royalston Open Space Committee

Minutes

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Meeting Date: April 9, 2009
Members Present:
Aaron Ellison, Jack Morse, Pattie Carrier, Glenn Freden, Christine Beckert Long
Chair: Aaron Ellison
Clerk: Christine Beckert Long
Others present : Kate Collins, resident; Paul Daniello, of Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust; Deanna Deacon and Al Deacon; a student and her father

The meeting convened at 7:30 p.m. at town hall.

Minutes: The minutes of March 12, 2009, were accepted unanimously.


Open Space and Recreation Plan Update:

The committee continued work on updating the Open Space and Recreation Plan:

Pattie compiled information about tax rates and bills in the 23 towns served by Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust; this information will be included in the new plan.

Aaron reported that of the six maps in the plan, only two need updating, the protected lands map and the priority habitat map.

The committee analyzed the results of the new survey and then brainstormed about items to include in the revised Section 9, Five-Year Action Plan.

Pattie will draft the revised Section 3 and Chris the new Section 9. The committee will review the draft at its next meeting (which will also serve as a public hearing on the revision) and then post it on the web for a month for further public comment. When the committee is satisfied with the results, the revised plan will be forwarded to the Select Board for a formal vote.


Open Spaces:
Glenn reported that the state is almost ready with a plan to pay carbon credits ($10 per acre per year) to forest owners who have Green Certification and a Stewardship Plan in place; the state will also pay for landowners to have these plans drawn. Glen will keep the committee posted about these programs.


Regional Cooperation:
Paul Daniello reported that Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust wants to take its member towns' goals into account when that organization updates its own goals.

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.

 

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