Town of Phippsburg 2012 Annual Report

2012 ANNUAL REPORT
Town Lands Management Committee Report
The Town Lands Management Committee (TLMC) manages parcels of Town owned
property, and makes recommendations to the Board of Selectmen regarding use, protection, and
enhancement of properties for Town benefit and recreation. The Town of Phippsburg owns
nearly 400 acres of well utilized land that is open to all Townspeople to enjoy through varied
low impact activities. Town owned property is listed elsewhere in this annual report.
The Nature Conservancy owns nearly 2000 acres of recreational land in Phippsburg. In
2007, the Conservancy offered the Town 60 acres, per direction of previous land owner/donor
Richard L. Hatch. The TLMC analyzed ten sites of various acreage and potential. The
Committee submitted its formal recommendation and land transfer requests to the Selectmen.
At the 2012 annual Town meeting, Phippsburg Townspeople voted acceptance of recommended
parcels: 20 acres located behind Phippsburg Elementary School, and 40+ acres at the Mill Dam
area of the Basin, including Hatch Road. The Nature Conservancy and Phippsburg Selectmen
signed land transfer deeds in early January, 2013.
Hatch Point at Center Pond was honorably dedicated in memory of donor Richard L. Hatch,
on Memorial Day, 2012. The grand undertaking was an Eagle Scout project by Phippsburg
resident Kevin McAloney. His fundraising efforts were rewarded with many financial and
physical donations. Bath VFW Post 7738, represented by Phippsburg resident Fred Libby,
donated the solar flagpole and flag. Master Stone Mason Scott Thayer provided skill and artful
lay-up of the monument garden. Curtis Doughty provided seemingly endless site work and used
only Town owned materials. Julie Varian and many volunteers worked diligently to keep Hatch
Point’s memorial gardens beautiful all season.
The Town Lands Management Committee appreciates the Phippsburg Sportsman’s
Association continuing to steward Hatch Point at Center Pond. The Committee appreciates and
welcomes any and all volunteer participation, and thanks the many volunteers for their obvious
and invisible acts of help, and kindness that aid in managing our Town lands for all to enjoy.
The Committee encourages persons using any public property to carry out all waste materials,
control pets per State law, obey posted signs and speed limits, respect the rights of all users, and
as always, respect the land itself.
The Town Lands Management Committee meets at Town Hall as necessary, and all
meetings are open to the public. The Committee welcomes comments, questions and
suggestions as to how valuable Town properties can be best used.
Respectfully submitted,
Anna M. Varian, Chair
Totman Preserve
(L) Monique
Quigley Photo
(R) Clare Mohs Photo
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