Commission debates soil testing for Vernon Family Farm site plan

The Newfields Conservation Commission resumed review of the Vernon Family Farm Resource Protection site plan on June 15 and several members urged baseline soil testing before approving conservation-related uses. Commissioner C. Shanelaris said short, inexpensive tests could establish a baseline and help the commission determine whether remediation might be required down the road. "If a 2-minute test will verify that 20 years down the road the land isn't damaged and we've done our job, I find it hard to understand why we would resist that," C. Shanelaris said.

Commissioner C. Fields questioned the plan’s reliance on visual observation and said installers had not provided the testing the commission requested in earlier meetings; Fields also stated that Rockingham County requires soil testing for certain activities in town. Member A. Watts recused herself from deliberations on this item but later spoke during the public-comment portion, saying from her own experience that "I've done a lot of soil testing, and it's never as quick as they say." The commission discussed costs, testing locations and whether consulting assistance would be required to interpret results; Commissioner C. McDade said the commission should default to town or state requirements where those exist.

The commission did not take a vote on the site plan at this meeting due to the notice issue; members agreed the matter will be on the agenda at the next meeting when formal action can be considered. The minutes record a mix of views: some members urged routine testing and baseline sampling, while others emphasized existing observational methods and phased monitoring. The transcript records questions to town liaison M. Kasper about remedies if compaction is found; the plan states remediation would be performed but specifics were not settled during this session.