The meeting was called to order by Bob Leone, Chairman, at 7:05 p.m. Committee members present were Andy Abello, Jo Cameron, Bob Leone, Dick Oulton, Deborah Sondergaard and David Tonry. Also present was Betty Twarog. There was no public input at this time.

1. Chairman’s Report - Bob Leone
   1. Review of Meeting Minutes. In Paragraph 5a the words “on his tractor” were added at the end of the first sentence. In Paragraph 5c, the spelling of Barbara Brusila’s name was corrected.
   2. Next meeting: February 18, 2004
   3. RiverLink, LFMF:

      Bob Leone reported that Andy Noyes had made an updated appraisal of the Haselton property which will be paid for by the Damariscotta River Association and will be reimbursed by LFMF. The appraisal has been submitted to the Appraisal Committee of LFMF for approval. A Level 1 Hazardous Waste Assessment will be needed for the property and Chris Fichtel will help with an internet search to see if the property is on any of the DEP’s hazardous waste sites. Committee members will walk the property with coverage every 100 feet to document the fact that there is nothing to indicate that there were any hazardous waste sites. A draft project agreement with the agency partner, the Department of Conservation, is being drafted by Maureen Hoffman. Bob Leone asked Mark DesMeules to keep in touch with the owners who are not in phase 2 in case someone who is not being considered in that phase is interested in selling his property. A decision on the $800,000 request will be made next week and then the owners in phase 2 will be contacted. Bob also said that the governor had asked for a $100,000,000 bond for Land for Maine’s Future.

      A cooperative agreement among all the groups in RiverLink was discussed briefly as well as possible responsibilities of the committee outside the preserve.

2. Selectman’s Report - Jo Cameron

   Jo Cameron was given information about the lands under consideration for the RiverLink project to pass on to Bob Zak. She will bring the status of the budget to next month’s meeting.

3. Land Acquisition, Boundaries and Roads - David Tonry
   1. Haselton walk-through: Tentatively scheduled for January 31st. Bob Leone will advise members.
   2. Snow plowing of the Bob Brown Parking Lot: According to Selectman Rodd Hopper, Bathgate and Sons, the firm which now plows the old school parking lot, will plow the Bob Brown parking lot as part of their contract in place of plowing the school parking lot after transfer of ownership of the school takes place in January.
4. Public Relations and Stewardship - Andy Abello and Deb Sondergaard
   1. Mowing status: Bob Leone will contact Mary Thompson, USDA, head conservationist for Knox and Lincoln County, to determine how she wants to handle the federal funds due to Edgecomb for mowing. Only one field was mowed last summer and the amount of the grant for both fields was $338.
5. Trails - Jim Beam and Dick Oulton
   1. Winter trail pruning on snowshoes: Bob Leone said the Link trail needs cutting and this will be scheduled when weather permits, i.e. when there is enough snow for snowshoeing. The trail also needs more white blazes.
6. Other Business

   Jo Cameron asked whether there was any inventory of conservation easements on the lands which are in phase 2 of the RiverLink project. Bob Leone said he did not think there were any conservation easements at the present time, but owners in phase 2 will be asked whether they would be willing to sell their property or just an easement.

7. Public Input and Comment

   None