CONSERVATION COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING

January 16, 2009

Walpole Town Hall

Present: Marcia Galloway-Chair, Lew Shelly, Melvyn Schupack, Bradley Fletcher, Peter Graves, and Tom Beaudry.

Chair Galloway opened the Public Hearing at 7:30 PM with approximately 50 people present.

Chair Galloway explained the Public Hearing was being held, as the Walpole Conservation Commission would like to purchase 21.45 acres of land off Route 12 in Walpole. Map 007-007-000. The asking price is $270,000, and the money would come from the Town trust funds. This land is adjacent to the Fanny Mason Forest. It is required by law for the Conservation Commission to hold a public hearing if the Commission wishes to purchase land.

Chair Galloway informed the public if purchased, the land would become part of the Fanny Mason Forest. She explained the Commission would like to do a timber cut in the Fanny Mason Forest, and the income from that cut would be turned back into the Conservation Fund. At this time there is not way to know what the amount would be.

Sheldon Sawyer- Selectman-Chair explained the funds for the proposed purchase comes from a $10,000 gift from Fanny Mason in 1949. This gift was put in trust and now exceeds $600,000. Mr. Sawyer state this would be used to purchase the land, and no town money would be used for the purchase.

Mrs. Lynn Cooke indicated the asking price is much to high for the town to pay when two years ago the land was purchased for around $185,000 and the asking price is now $270,000. Mrs. Cooke questions whether the town can afford to take any further prime land off the tax rolls.

Robert Kimball stated the proposed purchase would not be a benefit to the town. Any improvements the owners have done to the land will not be beneficial to the town, as the only, if purchased by the town, will be for recreation and logging.

There were several questions and concerns regarding expending money at this time when the county is in a recession. Many felt the land should not be taken off the tax rolls, while others believe if the land is developed into house lots that could cost the town for services, road plowing, schools, fire, emergency, etc. Mrs. Jacalyn Fletcher had concerns regarding town liability if the town purchased the land. Mr. Sawyer explained if the town purchased the land, the land would then be covered under the town insurance liability policy.

Bob Anderson read a letter from David Howell, and abutter of the property in question. The letter was in unconditional support for the sale of the property, as it would be an asset to Fanny Mason Forest. Mr. Anderson also concurred with Mr. Howells statement.

Joe Dion, Trustee of Public Trusts, explained he has spoken with Terry Knowles of New Hampshire Attorney Generals Office and Attorney Knowles outlined the conditions under which the trustees could disperse the funds for this sale. The land needs an up-to-date title search, a land survey, a fair market appraisal and an environmental hazards review. Mr. Dion stated that until the above conditions were met the trustees would not release the funds.

At that point Chair Galloway recessed the hearing as the Commission have more work to do before moving forward with the proposed sale.

Public Hearing closed at 9:00 PM

Respectfully submitted,

Secretary Pro-Tem

Elaine Moore