Town of Auburn

Conservation Commission

January 3, 2012

Members present: Alan Villeneuve, Jeff Porter, Ed Fherenbach, Anne Gagnon, Stephanie Hanson

Others present:  Peg Donovan

Meeting opens at 7:08pm

Approval of minutes from the December 12, 2011 meeting

Motion to approve minutes as written – A. Villeneuve          Second – A. Gagnon

All in favor, motion carries

Grants/Easements

D. Smiley noted that the Con Com had received the water supply land protection grant from the department of environmental services for the Mason property.  However other than the e-mail she had received and forwarded to the Conservation members she had no word from the appraiser.  She will keep after him to get the work done so the grant can be finalized.

Audubon Earth Day Celebration – Saturday, April 14 2012

S. Hanson said she had materials left from the last time the Conservation Commission attended the event and she would help prepare for them to attend again, however she herself probably would not be able to be there.

P. Donavan mentioned she would be interested in being there and helping out

Old/New Business

2012-S-2823-L title: relative to property held for water supply or flood control

Sponsors:(Prime)Tom De Blois , Lou D'Allesandro, James Forsythe, John Gallus, Fenton Groen, Gary Lambert, Andy Sanborn, Raymond White, William Infantine, Mark Warden, John Reagan

J. Porter brought up the topic of the proposed bill which looks to make the land owned by municipalities’ tax exempt.  This bill would give the roughly 4,000 acres of land in Auburn owned by the Manchester Water Works a current use classification.  This would greatly reduce the amount of tax dollars the town currently collects from this property.  The Water Works has fought this battle with the town before and lost, so now they are attempting to change the law.

There was discussion about how the citizens and members of the Conservation Commission could participate or help with the situation.  A. Villeneuve said he would put an article in the Crier about the issue.

Dusty’s Transport

J. Porter mentioned the meeting with the zoning board concerning this issue has been postponed until the end of January.  He plans on attending.  J. Porter noted that he felt the area was not grandfathered as the lots have been altered over time.  E. Fherenbach mentioned he did not think there was any specific wording of a grandfathered use in the zoning regulations.  J. Porter noted that the land owner feels she is grandfathered, however the zoning board does not agree.  In addition, J. Porter was able to present a photograph at the last zoning meeting showing that the land owner has altered the use of the area.  The picture showed a nice buffer around the wet land which contradicted the time period during which the land owner claimed to have been mowing/clearing the area (thus negating the grandfather claim).

The was a general discussion about this issue and what the appropriate outcome for resolution should be

Motion to adjourn – A. Villeneuve      Second -  A. Gagnon

Meeting closes at 7:46pm