Grantham
The harvest of 340 acres is scheduled to take place this summer for a few months, resume January through March and conclude next summer, Ted Tichy with North Country Forest Management told the residents and Selectboard.
Residents asked a number of questions about the work and looked to the board for action to control and monitor the project. Some wanted to see a detailed management plan for the cut, but Tichy said that is not required.
Erin Zagadailov, who lives on Meadow Brook Road, which is not far from the property, said the noise and traffic she will “experience” is something she is not used to.
Others said they were concerned about damage to roads and asked the board if it could require a bond up front. The access point to the property will be at the corner of Olde Farms and Old Dunbar roads.
In response to the suggestion for a bond and others concerns, Selectboard Chairman Warren Kimball said the town had no regulations on noise or land use that govern a timber cut on private property.
“We have no control,” he said.
Town Administrator Melissa White pointed out that the “intent to cut” filed by Tichy is a tax document, not an application that requires town approval.
Tichy is a forester whose company is owned by Dillon Investments of Anson, Maine. He said they will subcontract the harvest to Garland Timber of Center Conway, N.H.
Tichy explained in detail the plans for the harvest, which will include improvements to a culvert on a portion of a Class 6 road that will be used to bring logs out and also bring in equipment. He agreed during the meeting to meet with the public works department to discuss impact on the roads.
“We have a general management plan to protect regeneration (new growth) and small stock and remove mature trees,” Tichy said. “This is not a clear cut.”
Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.
