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Farmington Conservation Commission seeks $30,000 for Cartwright parcel, $20,000 for other stewardship needs
Summary
The Conservation Commission reached consensus to recommend setting aside $30,000 for the Cartwright property and $20,000 for other town conservation needs while moving remaining balances into short-term higher-yield investments; the plan will be presented to the Trustees of Trust Funds and Selectmen for action.
The Farmington Conservation Commission on April 9 agreed in principle to recommend that $30,000 be held for stewardship of the town's Cartwright property and $20,000 be reserved for other town conservation needs, while moving remaining conservation balances into a short-term, higher-yield investment. The proposal was presented by Commission Chairman Jim Pollard and received general agreement from members, though no formal vote was taken because there was not a quorum.
"I'd like to set aside $30,000 for the Cartwright property and $20,000 for the rest of the town," Pollard said, explaining the funds would pay for immediate tasks such as boundary marking, signage, trailhead/kiosk work and targeted forestry or survey needs. Pollard said the commission currently manages one fund under the Treasurer (about $173,000) and another held by the Trustees of Trust Funds for the Cartwright parcel, and that the group wanted to preserve short-term reserves for near-term expenses and place excess funds in a six-month, higher-yield certificate.
Members discussed how to mark and manage the Cartwright parcel, including posting "no hunting/no overnight camping" notices, using mapping tools such as the OnX app to locate boundaries and employing a metal detector to find existing survey pins. Pollard said parking and visibility along Bay Road are a public-safety concern and that a kiosk and trailhead improvements are priorities for the parcel.
Selectmen's representative Doug Staples clarified the limits of the commission's control over invested funds: funds held by the Trustees of Trust Funds are under the Trustees' oversight and any change would require coordination with that body and with the Selectmen. "The Trustees have the money and they have it invested however they have it invested," Staples said, noting the commission can request adjustments but does not unilaterally control Trustee-held investments.
Although members voiced consensus on the recommendation, Pollard noted the lack of a formal quorum and said the commission will present the proposed allocations to the Trustees and Selectmen for approval. The commission also discussed engaging a forester under a scope of work for stewardship tasks and agreed to pursue posting and boundary marking as near-term actions.
Next steps: commission staff will prepare a meeting report and forward the recommendation and supporting numbers to the Trustees of Trust Funds and the Board of Selectmen; the commission will seek quotes or a scope of work for a forester and will follow up on signage and kiosk planning at future meetings. The commission's next scheduled meeting is May 14, 2026.
