CONSERVATION COMMISSION of the TOWN OF HALIFAX
Regular Meeting, Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 6:30 PM
Hybrid Meeting – In-Person and Remote
Community Hall, 20 Brook Road, West Halifax VT
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7814490827?pwd=VWV4NEpIQm9yakd6WmU4ZGwvT1BmQT09&omn=89594089503
Meeting ID: 781 449 0827, Passcode: 234
One tap mobile +13052241968,,7814490827#,,,,*234# US
DRAFT MINUTES
Attendees: Stephan Chait (Chair; SC), Laurel Copeland (Secretary; LC), Tom Fox (TF; guest), Marilyn Allen (MA; guest), Nancy McCrae (NM; guest), Diana Conway (DC; guest), Linda Huebner (guest, LH), Dov Towler (Member; DT), Karin joined remotely but did not provide a last name.
Unable to attend: Mary Horne (Member; MH), Lesley Pollitt (Treasurer; LP)
CALL TO ORDER at 6:31 pm
CHANGES AND/OR ADDITIONS TO AGENDA – None.
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES
October 24, 2024, Regular Meeting Minutes – approved unanimously
January 14, 2025, Joint Meeting with Planning Commission / Zoning Board of Adjustment – approved unanimously
NEW BUSINESS
Conservation Commission Report for Town of Halifax Annual Report for FY24 – submitted in a timely manner for inclusion in the Annual Report of the Town of Halifax, the report summarizes the Conservation Commission’s mission and FY2024 activities. LH commented that Ben Goldfarb (author of “Eager” and “Crossings”) spoke to a legislative committee yesterday, advocating for the protection of beavers.
Advocating for prohibiting hound hunting and trapping
Discussion with our State Representative and Review of the Legislative Process – last year’s 2 bills that we supported did not pass. How can we more assertively advocate for these bills? TF wondered if people are still trapping in this area. SC said he knew beavers had been killed but not how they were killed. LH commented that trappers come up from Massachusetts because the Vermont laws are more lenient. NM heard that some neighbors went to the state to complain that beavers were a nuisance on their property, so the state hired someone to take the beavers out in lower Harrisville Brook. SC relayed interactions with Tyler Brown, the Vermont beaver expert. The Conservation Commission could work with our reps during the next session to argue against trapping and hounding. LH had a conversation with Emily Carris-Duncan and will follow up with her. Nader Hashim has been responsive in the past. LH will reach out again. Hounding is used for many mammals—racoons, coyotes, etc. Hounding was recently banned in Massachusetts. NM & DC reported rabbits on their hill.
Discussion of how to deal with invasive plants – DT is concerned about controlling them by cutting them down, wherever he sees them. A patch on town property is poorly controlled and needs more frequent cutting. Around town, there are Japanese Knotweed, Asiatic Bittersweet, Euonymus, and Phragmites that are spreading. Landowner permission is often needed; can we find a way to approach them? Would approaching the school be possible? We have developed 6 flyers on invasive plants (https://czresearch.com/conservation/). A flyer on euonymus might be warranted.
OLD BUSINESS
Follow-up to the Joint Meeting of the Planning Commission/Zoning Board of Adjustment and the Conservation Commission on January 14, 2025
Review of Town Forms – Permit for New Parcels, Zoning Permit Application Form, Zoning Permit Renewal Application, Conditional Use Application Form, Halifax Driveway Permit – TF reported that the revised forms are almost done. When they are finalized, with all the points incorporated from the meetings, TF will email links to them to us for re-review.
Update on Discussion of Class 4 Roads and Town Trails – the questions are (a) does a town trail provide road frontage and (b) can the landowner control how the trail is maintained. Vermont says a town trail does not provide road frontage. The second question is being litigated. TF noted that Atty Fisher said some state regs have changed in response to the housing shortage. Should there be trails? If a road falls into disuse, perhaps it would be better to let it go entirely. If a trail supports housing (provides frontage), then does workload increase for the road crew? Housing crunch has partly resulted from the proliferation of short-term rentals which take housing off the market. This is part of ongoing work being done by zoning & planning.
OTHER BUSINESS – None.
HEARING OF VISITORS – No additional.
ADJOURNMENT at 7:35 pm.
Link to video recording: