Westport Island Conservation
Commission
Minutes of September
17, 2009 Meeting
Members present: Bill Hopkins, Sandy Hopkins, Dennis Dunbar, Marianne
Williams, John Nelson and Carol
Way
Secretary’s
Report: Draft Minutes of August 20, 2009 meeting
were approved.
New Members:
- Ann Springhorn and Stanley Lane are unable to attend
Commission meetings until November.
- Dana
will continue to help with trails, as an Associate Member.
Treasurer’s Report: Approved.
Riverbank Hydro
Storage Project and Similar Projects:
- Bill
stated he has not received a response to the letter he sent to FERC on
September 2nd, regarding studies to be conducted.
- Tidal
project at Ferry Landing - Bill
stated that there might be a possibility of such a project, financed by a
grant from the State for municipal purposes, or some other type of
municipal project for energy savings.
He discussed this with Mary Ellen Barnes (CEI), and will follow-up.
Clough Point: Discussed the need for a directional sign directing
visitors to Clough Point. Dennis will
get a quote for the sign before the October meeting.
Non-Profit Exemption
for Land Trusts on Westport
Island: Discussion of draft requirements. Dennis said recent talks with land trusts
indicates that they believe they are already entitled for tax exempt status,
and that local rules may be unhelpful. Westport Island should hold back on this draft at
this time and defer to development of open-space plan.
Development of Open
Space Plan: Suggest we use the Bremen plan for our basis. Kyle is working on this.
Web Page: Discussion on having our own Conservation Commission
Website. Commission felt someone should
be hired, if need be, to maintain such a website.
Election of
Officers:
- Chairman,
Bill Hopkins
- Co-Chairman,
Kyle DePietro
- Secretary,
Sandy Hopkins
- Treasurer,
Dennis Dunbar
MEACC
Membership/Events:
- Voted
to continue with membership and pay $125 annual dues.
- Common
Ground Fair – Sept. 25 – 27 – looking for volunteers to hand out
brochures.
- Conservation
Commission 101 – Sept. 23 – Augusta – Bill hopes to attend
- Community Forest Workshop – Oct. 23 – Bath.
Other Business:
- Discussion
about the use of pressure treated wood for bridge at the Bonyun Preserve.
- North/South
Trail update: Bill spoke with Ken
Colby who said okay to opening up the trail on the Colby property. Bill will write him a letter re. this.
- Window
making project will be funded by Human Resource Committee. Bill spoke with Newt Blakesley
and will plan to get this activity restarted in November.
- Commission
meeting dates will continue to be the third Thursday of each month.
The next meeting will be held on October 15, 2009 at 7 p.m.