CONSERVATION COMMISSION of the TOWN OF HALIFAX
Regular Meeting, Thursday, May 29, 2025, at 6:30 PM
Remote Only: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7814490827?pwd=VWV4NEpIQm9yakd6WmU4ZGwvT1BmQT09&omn=85330551474
Meeting ID: 781 449 0827 Passcode: 234
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DRAFT MINUTES
Attendees: Stephan Chait (Chair; SC), Dov Towler (Member; DT), Lesley Pollitt (Treasurer; LP), Laurel Copeland (Secretary; LC), Mary Horne (Member; MH), Nancy McCrae (NM; guest), Diana Conway (DC; guest), Linda Huebner (guest, LH), Marilyn Allen (guest, MA), Bonnie Brown (guest, BB)
CALL TO ORDER at 6:30 pm
HEARING OF VISITORS – None.
CHANGES AND/OR ADDITIONS TO AGENDA – None.
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES – April 24, 2025, Regular Meeting Minutes were approved unanimously by the members present.
NEW BUSINESS
Potential Town Parks – LH described the proposal she had sent around to ask the Select Board to allow a group of volunteers to explore converting the former town garage site on Brook Road to a town park. LH will present the idea this coming Tuesday. LC proposed the Conservation Commission voice our support for this proposal, to explore the idea of a town park at the old town garage site on Brook Road. The members voted in favor. [LC left the meeting. MH joined the meeting.]
Use of Town Trails – MH noted that wheeled vehicles like ATV’s damage town trails especially in wet weather and that regulation of wheeled vehicles use on town trails could protect them and keep them safer for other users. SC mentioned a failed bill and the Tunbridge lawsuit. The town is not required to maintain town trails. LP suggested the signage could co-occur with the mud season restriction signs. SC asked whether the Conservation Commission should get on the Select Board agenda to present this idea. LH commented that jeeps and pickups are also driven up the upper Whitneyville Road trail, not just ATV’s. LP said we should take pictures of the damage to show the Select Board.
OLD BUSINESS
Summary of the Recycling Workshop/Forum May 3, 2025, at Community Hall – the cogent presentation highlighted the status of Vermont recycling, described how what is recyclable is changing all the time, and reminded us that Alex Lacy of WSWMD is available as a resource for us.
Town Right of Way
Snow Plowing and Things in the Right of Way – Title 19 Highways, Repairs Maintenance & Improvement: removal of roadside growth is allowed only with landowner consent or after obtaining consent from the Select Board.
Invasive Plants in the Right of Way – If we wanted to remove Japanese knotweed from a specific location, we could ask for consent from the landowner and from the Select Board if necessary. DT suggested we start on Deer Park Road. LH noted that she manages land on Route 112 which has had knotweed since Storm Irene [2011], but it is hard to access. MA suggested we have a plan in mind before talking with the landowner, e.g., cut it three years in a row. DT will identify a spot.
Joining the Association of Vermont Conservation Commissions – Membership year runs October 1-September 30; membership ($50) is required by a town commission to apply for the small grants that are of interest to LH and CC members to fund preparation of a town park, and also of interest to leverage support for issues the CC puts to the State legislature. The Conservation Commission has already voted in favor of joining. SC will plan to apply for membership in October.
Advocating for prohibiting bait hunting, hound hunting and trapping
Connecting with other Conservation Commissions – after joining AVCC we will connect with other towns on this topic. LH talked with our Rep. Carris-Duncan on May 3rd about this issue. Rep. Carris-Duncan suggested trying to pivot and work on another issue with the proponents of these hunting restrictions because the political climate is unsupportive of prohibiting bait hunting, hound hunting, and trapping. We could also meet with Conservation Commissions of other nearby towns and try to work together with Emily Carris-Duncan, Nader Hashim, and Wendy Harrison. SC suggested inviting them to one of our meetings or to the Café for a discussion with them about priorities and environmental sensitivity. MA commented that hunting coyotes pressures them to have more pups so is counterproductive so that message might be helpful. LH agreed and will be giving a talk on coyotes for Protect Our Wildlife in Bennington but noted that some people kill them for other reasons than population control; she noted that non-confrontational approach to our representatives is needed. MA suggested adding landowners’ rights to prevent hounding on their own property to educational materials. LP agreed that leash regulations on dogs can dampen hounding. Members discussed how to phrase such a regulation and how to approach legislators. BB suggested developing a local Halifax regulation on hounding.
OTHER BUSINESS – None.
ADJOURNMENT at 7:13 pm.
Link to video recording – https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/hdj9VaWJn5kn7UTyJQsnu_AHleYRoM2m5llA2mhAO105vJDLXa0H78eSD8BTZx2D.ktAYnltGGnnl58fs
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