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Lyme Conservation Commission backs warrant to conserve Town Forest on March ballot
Summary
The LCC reported Feb. 9 that it will submit a warrant article naming the Town Forest by map and lot for the March Town Meeting to seek formal conservation; the LCC expressed unanimous support and will speak at the Little Town Meeting and Business Meeting.
The Lyme Conservation Commission reported Feb. 9 that it will place a warrant article before the March Town Meeting to seek formal conservation of the Town Forest, with the warrant language revised to refer to the forest by map and lot to avoid ambiguity.
Chair Blake Allison told members there has been no progress finalizing draft management plans for the Town Forest and for the Trout Pond Forest, but that the commission had unanimously agreed to move the conservation warrant forward. The Select Board provided majority (2–1) support; a dissenting Select Board member expressed that future town officials should retain authority to decide on management, including timber cutting.
Blake said he will attend the Little Town Meeting on March 3 and the Business Meeting to present the warrant; Meg Sheehan offered to attend to provide support and explain the LCC’s rationale that the community values preserving the forest in perpetuity. Commissioners also discussed a proposal to change the Office of Overseer from an elected post to one appointed annually by the Select Board; members expressed general support for retaining the office as an elected position to preserve continuity and institutional knowledge.
The commission’s next steps include presenting the warrant at scheduled town meetings and continuing work on draft management plans for both the Town Forest and Trout Pond Forest.
