Conservation Commission March Meeting

JOHNSON CONSERVATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES MARCH 13, 2025 Present: Lois Frey, Sue Lovering, Noel Dodge, Adrian Schmidt, Peter Hammond, Dean Locke Absent: Jared Jasinski, Jackie Stanton, Johna Keefe Guest: Adrienne Parker Added to the agenda: discussion of joint meeting with the Beautification Committee The February minutes were gleefully approved. TREASURER’S REPORT There wasn’t one. NEW BROCHURE This is Dean’s project. He promised to send the finished product to us next week, by March 20. A motion was made and passed to print 200-250 of them, not to exceed $250 for 250 pieces. INFORMATIONAL RELEASES Adrian will post on Front Porch Forum this week and Noel will follow up in two weeks. COMMUNITY VALUES MEETS TALC MILL LAND We agreed that we need to be proactive about the town and village’s future plans for this property. When they make a move, one of us should act as a point person to represent the CC’s interest and ability to help. That person has yet to step up. In general, we agree that point people ought to take our individual projects. Noel will take Gomo, working with the forester there. Adrian stewards Journey’s End. Who will do the Talc? POLLINATOR GARDEN Lois heard that Bee the Change’s signs were left at the gardens last fall and that the seeding had been done. The signs apparently disappeared. We’ll look for them again and make a plan for the summer when the snow melts. We decided to mow paths and a strip around the gardens’ edges a couple of times during the summer. We can use Sue’s lawnmower but will need to rent or borrow a trailer to haul it. GOMO Peter has been researching surveyors for the Gomo boundaries. Mark Day has given a $9000 quote that covers research, marking the corners, doing a plat, and answering questions about the boundaries.  Noel suggested bringing in the abuttors to perhaps help pay for surveying, since it would be to their advantage to have it done. We’ll look into having it conserved as well. As for the potential management plan, Lois explained to Mike Green what we need and he proposed a cost of 20 hours at $45 per hour, with the report to be done between March 31 and May 6. Noel raised questions about the details that Mike would cover; for example, how many points does he consider necessary to reach conclusions vis a vis the state of the woods? Noel will speak to Mike about his plan. Adrian offered to accompany Mike on his trips into the woods and act as an assistant. He does need a week’s notice. We have $900 to pay the bill in our budget. SPRING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM Noel’s bird talk is set for Saturday, April 26 at 10:00, at the library. There will probably be a crowd, so Lois will check into the availability of the municipal building. AUDUBON PRINTS At long last, the prints are headed out of a guest room and into a sale. Lois, Sue, Eben and Noel will load up prints and props, along with a few other things to sell and a load of chocolate, and set up at the WOKO flea market on Sunday. All proceeds will go to the CC’s reserve fund. ADRIENNE PARKER Adrienne, our newest selectboard member, sees opportunity for the CC to collaborate with the Beautification Committee, and suggested that we have a joint meeting to discuss such things as rain gardens and pollinator gardens. It was proposed that they join our next meeting 30 minutes before our usual blastoff time, at 6:00. They normally meet on the first Tuesday of the month. MISC • NVU’s Wildlife Management class students presented to the public last week. Lois attended and reports that it was very well done. • Noel was the featured speaker at the annual Vermont Botanical and Bird Club. He spotlighted the incredibly rare Eastern Spider Spitter, who frequents northern New England flower beds when they frequent anywhere at all. • Have you noticed how often Noel got mentioned? He rocks. Adjourned at 8:55. Submitted by Sue Lovering, Secretary. Next meeting is on Thursday, April 10, at the library at 6:00.