HARDWICK – The Buffalo Mountain Steering Committee met for the first time on June 1, with Town Manager David Upson opening the meeting and asking for nominations for chair. Paul Cillo was nominated, seconded by Brendan Buckley. Cillo suggested delaying electing a chair until the next meeting for a quorum.
Attendees and members then introduced themselves: Rachel Kane of the Conservation Commission was present, a potential member; James Kelley, resident and hiker; Leif Goldberg, community member and parent; Lucien Avery, resident and hiker; Joe Nudell of the conservation commission; Julie Sullivan, forest advocate and outdoor sportswoman; Marie LaPre Grabon, potential member and former trustee of Northern Rivers Land Trust (NRLT); Renaud Demers, resident; Paul Cillo, potential member and NRLT board member; Hannah Redmon, project manager of the Trust for Public Land, non-member; Jack Travelstead, NRLT board member, non-member; and Brendan Buckley, resident.
The history of the project and the timeline of upcoming tasks was discussed, before Travelstead explained the duties and responsibilities of the steering committee, which includes collecting public input, consulting experts and drafting the management plan.
Buckley inquired about the timeline for public input.
Travelstead suggested a table at the local farmers market, with Buckley adding the library and post office.
Upson shared the town has a good survey response rate, as well as an established system to spread the word via email and text.
Grabon asked who is in charge of the online survey.
Upson said the online responses are auto compiled and the steering committee would be responsible for interpreting them. Town staff can create a Google Drive for file sharing and a Google form for the survey.
There was a discussion about the potential for swimming holes. The Lamoille River was identified as the only possible location on Buffalo Mountain for swimming.
Upson also shared that Wright Farm Road was recently upgraded by VASA through a grant.
Redmon described the potential for an Ecological Protection Zone over the Northern Hardwood Talus Woodland areas, which would make the primary goal in those cliff areas ecological management.
Rachel Kane asked about the legality of camping. Upson said camping brings more management problems.
Demers felt private lodging options would bring more revenue
into town than camping.
Redmon said the conservation easement allows camping, so the management plan would need to address it.
Kelley shared that there is a demand for camping on private land now.
Redmon and Upson reminded the group that the management plan is updated every decade or so and activities can change, so the first management plan does not have to allow for every use that might happen in the future.
Travelstead raised the Caledonia County Natural Resources Conservation District as a possible expert group to consult.
Concluding the meeting, the group decided to meet twice a month on the second and fourth Tuesdays at 6 p.m., with Upson finding a future space for the meetings.
Raymonda Parchment is a Hardwick Gazette reporter. She recently graduated from Vermont State University - Castleton with a Bachelor’s Degree in English. She is a strong supporter of freedom of speech, and the right to publish information, opinions, and ideas without censorship or restraint. She is a lifelong lover of the written word, and is excited to join the team as a staff member.
