Bradford Conversation Commission
Draft Minutes of Meeting
May 21, 2024 — 7 pm
Brown Memorial Library
Present: Ann Eldridge – Chair, Meg Fearnley – Treasurer, George Beaton, Doug Southard, Brooks McCandlish
Alternates Scott MacLean, Seth Benowitz and Rett Weber
Absent: Patty Furness, Nate Bruss, Alternates Rebecca Herman and Caitlin Banaszak
Alternates Seth Benowittz and Scott MacLean were seated.
Ben Nugent of NH Fish & Game and Greg Swick of Trout Unlimited were present to report on their efforts to obtain culvert replacement grants through the BRIC (Building Resilient Infrastructure for Communities) program. Four culverts in Bradford have been identified as in serious need of replacement: on Deer Valley Rd., Davis Rd., West Rd. and West Main St. Ben is trying to put together a package that would include other towns including Newbury. He is looking for other partners to support the grant request – Bradford Highway Department is already on board; Bradford Fire & Rescue may also want to chime in. Rett offered to help with the grant writing.
Minutes of the April 16 meeting were reviewed and approved as written.
Treasurer Meg reported that $200 has been received towards the Conservation Commission’s Summer Conservation Camp Scholarship program. CDs are coming due. Brooks moved and Scott seconded that Meg ask the Town Treasurer to open a bank account for the Conservation Commission’s Summer
Camp Scholarship Fund, and that the CDs be rolled into a “9 month Special CD”, or whichever term will provide the highest interest. Motion unanimously approved.
Planning Board subcommittee working on surface water protection is planning to meet again Wednesday May 29 at 2pm at the Town Hall.
Chairperson Ann attended the round table meeting of CC Chairs held by Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust, and asked whether other towns in the ASPLT region had considered using the “Emergency Fire Lane” law for protecting Class VI roads. None had, Washington, though not in the ASPLT region, has classified all or most of their Class VI roads as fire lanes, allowing the Road Agent to better regulate access onto Class VI roads for logging and other purposes.
The Hoyt Brook and VRAP monitoring seasons are starting.
Doug reported on the Adopt a Road program for monitoring Class VI roads. It was noted that although the Selectboard and Road Agent have been kept abreast of the program, it is not widely known about in town. It was proposed to reach out to Fire Chief (and others?), and to GIS map road conditions and
problem areas.
Big Tree presentation at the Library was very well attended and informative.
Turtle crossing signage was procured and is in place. The total cost for signs was $108 – Ann will submit invoice to Meg.
Summer Camp Scholarship program:
o Over 30 items have been donated for an auction or raffle fundraiser.
o Becca has been looking into options for creating a website to manage sales/bids.
o Should it be done as raffle for each item, or as a silent auction, or a mix of both, depending on the item? A silent auction might be a more effective fundraiser.
o Publicity: Send pictures of donated items to Ann/Seth/Becca. Ann will write a notice for the June Bridge. Seth will post on Facebook.
o Plans were made to have a booth at the “4 th of July celebration” on June 29, displaying items, publicizing the scholarship program, as well as taking bids and/or taking bids/selling tickets. A rota of volunteers to man the both will need to be developed.
o It was proposed to reach out to Audubon for camp info and for their publicity.
Meeting adjourned at 8:21 pm
Submitted by Brooks McCandlish