Present: Mary Anne Broshek, chair; Larry Chase, Tina Cotton, Jerry Hersey, Nan Kaplan, guest Sandra Graves. Excused absent: Derek Mansell

Correspondence: A letter from the Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust (ASLPT) inviting ACC to become a member. Members voted to accept the invitation and to contribute $100 to become a member at the “Protector” level.

ASLPT update (from Nan): ASLPT continues work on a marketing study, which will lead to a new strategic plan in 2015. ASLPT received a Land and Community Heritage Investment Program grant of $70,000 for the purchase of property in Sunapee identified as Wendell Marsh South. The property will be transferred to the Town of Sunapee.

ASLPT land protection specialist Andy Deegan will confer with Nan on following up with attendees at the ACC-sponsored August workshop on conservation easements presented by ASLPT in Andover. Tina noted that video recordings of the August workshop and of a November presentation in Wilmot on wildlife and climate change by Emily Preston of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department have been shown on the Town Web site.

Budget Matters

Mary Anne reported on a Town budget hearing earlier in the month at which a warrant article was approved to see if Town Meeting will permit donations from the Conservation Fund in support of conservation easements without requiring the Town to become a backup easement holder.

The amount of $1,000 for the ACC appropriation was also approved for inclusion in the 2015 Town budget. The amount is unchanged from 2014.

Mary Anne and Town Administrator Marj Roy will attempt to develop a process for communicating to ACC when additional conservation funds are received, and for identifying responsibility for ACC operating funds.

Re: the chart of conserved Andover lands prepared by Derek, members agreed to submit suggestions for corrections and clarifications to Mary Anne.

Re: using ACC funds for conservation-camp scholarships, members voted to allocate up to $500 to allow an Andover child to spend a week at the Barry Conservation 4-H Camp in Milan, New Hampshire, operated by the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension Service.

Re: the beaver deceivers on Mountain Brook as it passes beneath Elbow Pond Road, Mary Anne reported that $1,500 had been included in the Road Agent’s 2015 budget to pay for continuing maintenance.

Also Noted

Mary Anne has asked for ASLPT guidance on whether or under what conditions solar arrays are permitted on conserved lands.

Proposed amendments to existing conservation easements must be approved by the New Hampshire Attorney General’s office.