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Waitsfield
Conservation Commission

Photo: David Garten |
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Duties
The Waitsfield
Conservation Commission was formed in 2003 by an affirmative vote
on Article
9 at the 2003 Annual Meeting. Originally comprised of
five members, an affirmative vote on Article
11 at the 2007 Annual Meeting increased the number to nine.
According to 24
V.S.A. Section 4505, the Waitsfield Conservation Commission
is authorized to undertake the following:
(1) make
an inventory and conduct continuing studies of the natural resources
of the municipality including but not limited to:
(A) air, surface and ground waters, and pollution thereof;
(B) soils and their capabilities;
(C) mineral and other earth resources;
(D) streams, lakes, ponds, wetlands, and floodplains;
(E) unique or fragile biologic sites;
(F) scenic and recreational resources;
(G) plant and animal life, especially the rare and endangered
species;
(H) prime agricultural and forest land, and other open lands;
(2) make and maintain an inventory of lands within the municipality
which have historic, educational, cultural, scientific, architectural,
or archaeological values in which the public has an interest;
(3) recommend to the legislative body of the municipality the
purchase or the receipt of gifts of land or rights thereto, or
other property, for the purposes of this chapter;
(4) receive appropriations for operating expenses including clerical
help by appropriation through the budget of the legislative body;
(5) receive money, grants or private gifts from any source, for
the purposes of this chapter. Grants and gifts received by the
trustee of public funds shall be carried in a conservation fund
from year to year to be expended only for purposes of this chapter;
(6) receive gifts of land or other property for the purposes of
this chapter, by consent of the legislative body or by the affirmative
vote of the municipality;
(7) administer the lands, properties and other rights which have
been acquired by the municipality for the purposes of this chapter;
(8) assist the local planning commission or zoning board of adjustment
or the district environmental commission, by providing advisory
environmental evaluations where pertinent to applications made
to those bodies, for permits for development;
(9) cooperate with the local legislative body, planning commission,
zoning board of adjustment, road committee or other municipal
or private organizations on matters affecting the local environment
or the natural resources of the municipality;
(10) prepare, collect, publish, advertise and distribute relevant
books, maps and other documents and maintain communication with
similar organizations; and encourage through educational activities
the public understanding of local natural resources and conservation
needs;
(11) make a brief annual report to the municipality of its finances
and transactions for the year just passed, and its plans and prospects
for the ensuing year.
In addition,
the Town outlined the following specific duties:
To work closely with the Mad River Valley Planning District, the
Mad River Watershed Conservation Partnership, and the Vermont
Land Trust and other organizations with land conservation goals
and objectives consistent with those of the Conservation Commission
and the Waitsfield Town Plan;
To be guided first by the goals and objectives in the Waitsfield
Town Plan in the course of making recommendations on land conservation
projects;
To use the Mad River Valley Rural Resource Protection Plan and
analytical models where appropriate;
To be responsible for stewarding land owned by the Town for conservation
or preservation purposes; and
To oversee conservation easements that have been granted to the
Town.
Members
and Terms
Conservation
Commission members are appointed by the Selectboard for two-year
terms. In 2007, the number of members was increased
from five to nine. The terms of the four new members were
staggered between one and two years so not to have more than
five terms expring in any one year.
In appointing new members, the Selectboard will be interested
in idividuals with experience in areas such as forestry, real
estate, agriculture, planning and land conservation, and others
with a strong working knowledge of Waitsfield's land and history.
Meetings
The Conservation
Commission meets on the 4th Thursdays of each month, 7:00
PM, at the Waitsfield Town Office.
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Members |
Appointed |
Expires |
| Ted
Joslin |
Mar.
2008 |
Mar.
2010
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| Leo
Leferriere |
Mar.
2008 |
Mar.
2010
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| Spencer
Potter |
Mar.
2008 |
Mar.
2010
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| Elizabeth
Cadwell |
Mar.
2008 |
Mar.
2010
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| VACANT
(Gardner) |
Mar.
2009 |
Mar.
2011
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| Phil
Huffman |
Mar.
2009 |
Mar.
2011
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| Paul
Hartshorn |
Mar.
2009 |
Mar.
2011
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| Christopher
Loomis |
Mar.
2009 |
Mar.
2011
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| VACANT |
July
2007 |
Mar.
2011
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Links
(off-site links
will open in a separate window)
Contact
Waitsfield Conservation Commission
Waitsfield Town Office
9 Bridge Street
Waitsfield, VT 05673
Phone: (802) 496-2218
Updated
October 7, 2009
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Waitsfield's
Official Web Site
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send comments to: webmeister@waitsfieldvt.us
Copyright © 2007-2009 Town of Waitsfield, Vermont.
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