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Surry Select Board approves warrants, hears conservation updates and discusses mooring ordinance and access easement
Summary
The board received conservation and committee reports, discussed a mooring ordinance and Gold Stream access for the fire department, accepted an audit showing a roughly $120,000 surplus, and approved payroll and accounts‑payable warrants as recorded in the minutes.
At the March 19 meeting the Select Board heard several committee updates and administrative items. The Conservation Commission reported planned coordination among conservation groups, pond associations and the Climate Action Workgroup with a May 1 meeting and scheduled a May 29 presentation and site tour of Emerton Brook Marsh, including drone imagery and a field visit with a state scientist.
On mooring regulation, Sue Sokol said a mooring ordinance for Surry is on the Planning Board agenda; board members noted the ordinance will need town‑attorney review and a vote at a special town meeting, likely timed for a summer meeting when seasonal residents return.
The board discussed a Gold Stream project intended to provide the fire department with water access at the eastern end of town. Tom Welgoss said the town attorney recommended pursuing a public easement rather than eminent domain; Tom Matthews described a verbal arrangement with Blue Hill Heritage Trust but the town will send a formal letter seeking an easement.
Finance: the town received its audit; Tom Welgoss said the town had an approximate $120,000 surplus for the year and expenditures were favorable by about $50,000 compared with budgeted amounts. The Select Board approved Payroll Warrant #58 ($10,484.94), Accounts Payable Warrant #59 ($57,450.86) and Electronic Payment Warrant #60 ($356,188.28), which included School Warrant #19 totals, by motion (Tom Welgoss moved, Chris Stark seconded) and the motions passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
Why it matters: the conservation outreach, mooring ordinance and land‑access negotiations affect local stewardship and public‑safety planning; the audit and warrant approvals reflect the town’s near‑term fiscal status.
Next steps: the town will pursue an easement letter to BHHT, schedule legal review and special‑meeting steps for the mooring ordinance, and follow up on Conservation Commission outreach and audit items that may require future town action.
