Conservation Commission 4/14/26

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RCC Minutes 04-14-26 90 KB

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RCC Meeting Minutes 4/14/2026
a. Committee business
- Start recording Zoom and unmute, speakers on.
- Roll call and confirm Quorum; Welcome and identify public in attendance.
Present:
Sam Pratt, Chair
Trevor Brooks, RCC Member
Kit Emery, RCC Member
Jeanette Malone, RCC Member
Trevien Stanger, RCC Member
Susannah Zeveloff, RCC Member
Bob Lowe, RCC Member
Applicant Melissa Wolaver
Public:
Chelsye Brooks
Jon Kart
- Appoint timekeeper and minutes taker
Sam Pratt: timekeeper
Susannah Zeveloff: minutes taker
- Additions/Changes to Agenda: Farmers Market
b. Review RCC Applications
Packet Items:
- RCC Jeanette Malone 03-24-26.pdf
Kit made motion to approve Jeanette’s application, Trevor seconded.
Unanimously approved.
- RCC Kit Emery 02-12-26.pdf
Jeanette made motion to approve Kit’s application, Susannah seconded.
Unanimously approved.
- RCC Melissa Wolaver 03-15-26.pdf
Recently finished a term with ACFC. Leading Green Up Day.
Susannah made motion, Kit seconded.
Unanimously approved.
Selectboard will make appointments May 18th.
c. Updates
- Save our Salamanders
Currently on sixth night. Honing in on highest volume crossing spots.
Saved about 450 amphibians. 60% of amphibians are live.
Jeanette voiced concerns about burning volunteers out. Kit expressed that rotating locations is enjoyable. Sam expressed agreement in being mindful of burnout. Trevien noted concerns about safety, lighting, and reflective vests. Sam noted that having retractable cords for spatulas would be helpful. Trevien noted that making kits for each volunteer would be helpful.
AVCC membership / RCC banner
AVCC membership approved by Selectboard, not coming out of CRF fees.
RCC banner approved - working to get high quality image assets. It might make more sense to have a Richmond Town banner, and a smaller RCC banner. Josh seemed to be more in favor of a bigger banner/smaller banner; and then a smaller banner that would stand on its own or attach to the bigger banner.
Vermont Wetland Rule Filing
Received a response on the wetland rule filing - there are some updates that are being made because of all the feedback they received. Trevor noted that there has been discussion about suing the state over the rule change.
ACFC
Sam believes there will be a movement to approve the updated version of the management plan at the next meeting. As soon as that version is approved, the version will go to RCC, RTC, and the town manager Josh Arneson; after which it will go to the Selectboard. We can approve a set of comments as RCC.
Upcoming:
Green-Up Day: Sat 5/2
Green-Up Day is a little over 2 weeks away. Sign-ups are in the town hall entrance way and online through a Green-Up Vermont app. There is a Kentucky Derby party at Stone Corral that is also a Green-Up Day after-party. Hats can be made out of recycled materials and there is a contest for best hat. It is possible that bags will run out. The town is asking that volunteers bring bags to the town garage. Volunteers can estimate how many bags they think they will need.
Volunteers can come back by the town offices and note their number of bags, which will be calculated by the state.
ReWild early detection projects
This is the time to start looking for early-detected invasives so we can find out who lives closest to them and enlist them to be leaders.
These projects are smaller rather than the type we would enlist professional help with.
Rodenticide Event
Sat 4/18 12-1pm @ Richmond Free Library
Farmers Market
Applications are on a rolling basis. We can get approved with no fee for 2 times.
We need to discuss when we would want to go and what we want to present.
Members think about what they would like to present at the farmers’ market and present at the next meeting.
Sam expressed interest in presenting about invasives. Jeanette expressed interest in tabling one date. Trevien expressed interest in providing cuttings for native shrubs/plants to replace invasives and supporting people in identifying what shrubs they would need. Sam going to ask Trevien if we can accept money as RCC if we were doing a plant sale.
(May be worth asking Josh if we can have social media accounts.)
d. VMN Project Update; CRF Application
Susannah presented on VMN project; discussed CRF application for Phragmites on Route 2, detailing the research on treatment methods and the potential for spading as an alternative to herbicides. Discussion about the feasibility of spading and the need for further research and collaboration with other organizations.
Kit suggested contacting VYCC to rent or buy spades, as they might have better equipment than what is available locally.
Trevor raised concerns about volunteer safety on steep slopes and the effectiveness of different types of spades.
Sam proposed postponing a vote on the application to address pending questions and refine the project plan. Susannah agreed to update the application with new information, such as the use of tarps and the need to explore VYCC equipment.
Packet Item: VMN Phragmites CRF Application.pdd
e. Invasives RFP Review
Packet Item: DRAFT Introduced Plants RFP.pdf:
Deferred discussion until next meeting.
g. Closure (5 minutes)
- Business for Upcoming meetings
Postpone Phragmites CRF Application until next month
RFP Review
Scheduling: Sam unavailable 5/12 - reschedule to 5/13
- Act 181 / Act 250: deferred until next meeting
- Motion to adjourn: Kit made motion, Trevien seconded, unanimous