CONSERVATION COMMISSION of the TOWN OF HALIFAX
Regular Meeting, Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 6:30 PM
Hybrid meeting at Town Office, 246 Branch Road, West Halifax and online: Zoom Location
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83140976854?pwd=dFFkWE1tdk84VjFGc1RZODJvM2NjUT09
Meeting ID: 831 4097 6854
Passcode: 793307
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DRAFT MINUTES
Attendees: Stephan Chait (Chair; SC), Lesley Pollitt (Treasurer; LP), Laurel Copeland (Secretary; LC), Mary Horne (Member; MH), Dov Towler (Member; DT), Bonnie Brown (BB; guest), Diana Conway (DC; guest), Nancy McCrae (NM; guest), Matt Gancz (MG; guest), Linda Huebner (LH; guest)
CALL TO ORDER at 6:30 pm
HEARING OF VISITORS – no additions
CHANGES AND/OR ADDITIONS TO AGENDA – no additions
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES – January 22, 2026, Regular Meeting Minutes were approved unanimously by the members present.
NEW BUSINESS
Updating the Halifax Town Plan – current version was approved March 5, 2019, and is valid for 8 eight years. MG and NM are on the Planning Commission updating the plan. The Commission updates the plan, there is public input, changes are made, then the plan goes to the Select Board which can change it, take public input, and approve it or send it to Town Meeting. Everyone is urged to read and comment on the plan.
Costs and Benefits of Paving or Maintaining Dirt Roads – at a SB meeting, a paving grant was discussed. Paving over dirt roads has costs and other impacts. The analysis appears to be solely financial without valuating esthetic and environmental issues. The Conservation Commission should present a balanced picture to the SB. Asphalt is treated with salt in snowy and icy conditions. Dirt roads have dust and runoff issues especially with the new deeper drainage trenches. The town is currently looking at Jacksonville Stage Road from the asphalt/dirt boundary to Tucker Road, a stretch that is used by heavy trucks. NM commented on the impact of salt on local soils and waters as well as the impact our use of salt may have on other countries. More research on dirt road vs paved roads is needed.
Vermont Conservation Plan – Vermont Legislature has directed Vermont Housing & Conservation Board in consultation with Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation) to lead in developing this plan. – About 27% of Vermont land is currently conserved, primarily through conservation easements.
Act Relating to Posting of Land – House Bill No. 723 (the Purple Paint Bill) – the bill would simplify posting land to limit trespassing, hunting, etc. Maine has a law like this in effect. Another bill is House 758, Rodenticide Ban. Banning rat poison would help save nontargeted species like birds of prey that eat dead rodents.
OLD BUSINESS
Beech Leaf Disease – Discussion of a joint event with the Community Hall – BB commented that the event will be an evening event later in the spring rather than during the cold weather, or possibly on a Saturday afternoon during/immediately after the Café.
Association of Vermont Conservation Commissions – Tiny Grants Program (up to $800)
Provides funds for specific projects in the broad categories of land conservation, education and outreach, stewardship and management, and planning. Applications due Saturday, April 11, 2026 – https://vtconservation.com/tiny-grants/. Now that the Halifax Conservation Commission is a member, we are eligible to apply for these grants (deadline April 11, 2026). LP commented on equipment for control of invasives, for example, a leverage-based weed wrench that pulls out buckthorn (or multiflora) – Extractigator, Pullerbear, Buckthorn Puller. LC mentioned the idea of a tool lending “library” among nearby conservation commissions. MH offered to look further into this application of the Tiny Grants program.
OTHER BUSINESS – MH circulated an article about the Tunbridge town trails case which was settled in favor of the town having the authority to maintain their trails but no obligation to do so.
ADJOURNMENT at 7:31 pm.
Link to video recording – xxxx
