CONSERVATION COMMISSION of the TOWN OF HALIFAX
Regular Meeting, Thursday, August 28, 2025, at 6:30 PM
Hybrid meeting at Town Office, 246 Branch Rd, West Halifax, and online: Zoom Location
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83140976854?pwd=dFFkWE1tdk84VjFGc1RZODJvM2NjUT09
Meeting ID: 831 4097 6854, Passcode: 793307
You can dial in using your phone: +1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
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)
CALL TO ORDER at 6:30 pm
HEARING OF VISITORS – None.
CHANGES AND/OR ADDITIONS TO AGENDA – None.
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES – May 29, 2025, Regular Meeting Minutes were approved unanimously by the members present.
NEW BUSINESS
Old Town Garage on Brook Road – Selectboard discussion
Abutter is interested in buying the property. The Selectboard feels that would be preferable to turning it into a park. The Conservation Commission noted that it may be contaminated from its previous use by the town garage.
Town Trails
Court ruling in Tunbridge VT case – the town can determine how the trail is used but is not obligated to maintain the trail. Because the landowner/plaintiff does not want the trail used the way the town wants it used, they are appealing to the Vermont Supreme Court. NM asked the Conservation Commission’s stance on town trails.
New legislation on Town Trails – Senate Bill 4 regarding town trails was introduced and passed.
Beaver Deceivers
Hatch School Road – The new 4×4 culvert appears to have obviated the need for the Beaver Deceiver there. The landowner asked LC to offer the device to Marlboro Conservation Commission.
Behind Halifax Elementary School – live beavers have been videoed there recently. The site is not suited to a Beaver Deceiver. Flooding occurs in people’s yards rather than over the road.
Presentation to Selectboard on the Structure and Activities of the Conservation Commission – The Selectboard asked about our finances, given that we have a treasurer. SC told the Chair that we cost the town $0 and use donations to fund any costs we incur in our activities. SC proposed that we report to them regarding our activities.
OLD BUSINESS
Update on triangle pollinator garden at Brook and Whitneyville – DT reported that there are pollinators there although fewer than he would like to see. SC described a potential change to the triangle created by Whitneyville, Brook Road, and the cut-through across the property owner’s land, to take more land at the “nose” of the intersection and close the cut-through. Commission members and meeting guests were in favor of proposing this after mapping how it would be done.
Discussion of Japanese Knotweed on Deer Park Road – DT looked at the many patches and proposed the stretch near the Berland property.
OTHER BUSINESS – DC brought up MH’s jumping worms. Should the Conservation Commission advise on how to deal with jumping worms? Discussion of the flyer we produced last year. The flyer is online on webpage https://czresearch.com/conservation/ at https://czresearch.com/conservation/JumpingWormsFlyer.pdf
ADJOURNMENT at 7:25 pm.
Link to video recording – https://youtu.be/SMT2ol26Ido