The Commission was established on March 11, 1972, at the annual Town Meeting. Its
activities are reported on monthly in The Dresden Communicator and in the Dresden
Annual Town Report.
The DCC consists of seven voting members chosen by the Selectmen to serve on a
voluntary basis. Associate members (non-voting) are appointed by the Selectmen to
assist the Commission and may be appointed to full membership in the event of
vacancies.
The Commission’s responsibilities: Build awareness of environmental issues through
information gathering; advocate for conservation issues; support environmental
education in the school system; consider requests from town officers regarding
environmental impact issues. (Mission statement, adopted Feb. 28, 2001)
Anyone interested in the environment or in any aspect of Dresden’s natural resources
is welcome to attend our regular meetings. The dates are listed in the monthly
Dresden Communicator. We welcome your participation!
For more information, please write to us in care of the Dresden Town Office (PO Box
30, Dresden ME 04342) or contact one of our members.
Commission members correspond regularly via e-mail. If you would like to share ideas
and information with us on a regular basis, please contact the Chair.
Current Members (as of July 1, 2005)
David Kallin
91 Calls Hiill Rd. (737-2823)
david.kallin@maine.edu
Kathleen Kenny (Treasurer)
30 Dogleg Road (737-2511)
dhunt@clinic.net
Tim Nason (Chair)
183 Alexander Rd. (737-8278)
timnason@gwi.net
Dave Probert (Vice Chair)
103 Perry Drive (737-4959)
djprobert@verizon.net
Kaddee Vitelli
29 Clancy Rd. (737-5701)
vitellik@indiana.edu
1 Year Alternate Members
Dave Boyer
53 Bog Rd. (737-8361)
daboyer@wiscasset.net
Louise Gephart
670 Calls Hill Rd. (737-2993)
gepnitz@gwi.net
We welcome volunteer participation in our projects.
What We Do
The Conservation Commission uses the following methods to fulfill its mission:
Education, Events, Advice, Recommendations, Research, Mapping, Testing, Monitoring.
If necessary, we can also help with town ordinances and recommend enforcement.
Programs
Groundwater Monitoring
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Annually monitor Dresden groundwater by testing 20 wells per year, chosen for
geographical spread on a rotating schedule.
Field Revitalization Program
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Encourage field owners and hay contractors to increase the fertility and
productivity of open fields through soil tests, application of safe, appropriate
materials, timely harvesting, and MOFGA certification of hay for sale to organic
dairy farms. This program is supported by a Harvest Fund grant from Maine
Initiatives [http://www.maineinitiatives.org] and is assisted by the Tide & Tide
Resource Conservation & Development Council.
A Field Revitalization was held on July 1, 2004. The workshop was well attended and offered
a wealth of information covering everything from soil testing to composting. Click here for
a comprehensive list of field revitalization resources that were provided at the workshop.
Annual Nature in Dresden Photo Contest
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Host an annual photography contest in November for Dresden residents. Pictures are
displayed at the Bridge Academy Public Library and at public events in Dresden, and
may be printed in Dresden publications.
Seen in Dresden
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Every month, residents and visitors report wildlife sightings and other natural
phenomena to our coordinator, Kaddee Vitelli (vitellik@indiana.edu) for publication in the
town’s newsletter, The Dresden Communicator.
Recycling and Solid Waste
Continuing Activities
Natural Resources
-
Regularly update Dresden’s Natural Resource maps. One recent map shows open
spaces, which may help identify locations for recreation areas and scenic views. We
also have the Beginning with Habitat maps and materials for Dresden and Merrymeeting
Bay, published by the Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife. We were recently
given a Dresden soils map showing areas of prime farmland and soils of agricultural
importance, published by the Kennebec County Soil & Water Conservation District.
Land Use
- We attend Planning Board meetings (by representative); also help with
environmental issues when needed.
- We attend and speak at Selectmen’s meetings, public hearings, and town meetings
regarding conservation matters.
- We review town ordinances, state laws and state regulations concerning
environmental issues. During the past several years we have studied state
regulations pertaining to auto junkyards and the application of sludge and other
wastes to farmland. We also looked into ordinances and regulations pertaining to
natural buffer zones around gravel pits.
Education
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We attend conferences and workshops to learn about conservation issues and
techniques to protect open space.
- We invite speakers to our meetings for education and training purposes.
- Speakers are invited to present information to the public.
- We maintain a nature trail and outdoor classroom at the Dresden Elementary School.
In 2003, we facilitated an in-depth presentation for Dresden Elementary School
teachers by Maine Project Learning Tree [http://www.mainetreefoundation.org], part
of a national program that promotes outdoor education.
Cooperation with Other Groups
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We work with Dresden organizations and other committees or boards to co-sponsor
progams and events.
- We work with committees of other towns, with regional groups, and with county and
state agencies, to become educated about — and develop solutions to — environmental
issues of a regional nature. Examples include tree cutting, preserving open space,
sprawl, water supplies, clean water, pollution, energy sources, land spreading of
municipal and industrial wastes, recycling and solid waste disposal.
- Three Commission members serve as trustees of the Kenneth and Helen Woodward
Memorial Fund. The Fund supports environmental and conservation projects in Dresden
that educate and inform residents on natural resources and related issues.
Applications for grants must be received by March 1st.
We need your help!
The Dresden Conservation Commission welcomes the help of anyone who is interested in
the town’s natural resources — its water, air, soils, wetlands, fields and forests.
Can you help us with education programs and events?
Are you skilled in graphics, photography or public relations?
Are you knowledgeable about a particular aspect of the environment?
Do you like outdoor work, such as trail maintenance or annual clean-ups?
Would your group or committee like to work with us?
Could you contribute your technical expertise as we learn about conservation issues
and provide others with advice and offer recommendations?
Do you have special research or mapping skills?
Are you interested in testing and monitoring?
Please let us know!
Maine Law Authorizing Conservation Commissions
Conservation Commissions in Maine operate under the auspices of Maine state law,
Title 30-A, Section 3261.
Duties
In accordance with this law, Conservation Commissions shall:
- Keep records of its meetings and activities and make an annual report to the
muncipality;
- Conduct research, in conjunction with the Planning Board, into local land areas;
- Seek to coordinate the activities of conservation bodies organized for similar
purposes;
- Keep an index of all open areas within the municipality, whether publicly or
privately owned, including open marshlands, swamps and other wetlands, for the
purpose of obtaining information relating to the proper protection, development or
use of those open areas. The commission may recommend to the municipal officers or
any municipal body or board, or any body politic or public agency of the State, a
program for the better protection, development or use of those areas, which may
include the acquisition of conservation easements.
(1) Any body politic or public agency of the State conducting planning operations
with respect to open areas within a municipality having a conservation commission
shall notify the conservation commission of all plans and planning operations at
least 30 days before implementing any action under that plan.
Powers
Conservation commissions may:
- Advertise, prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts, plans and pamphlets
which it considers necessary;
- Have the care and superintendence of the public parks and, subject to the
approval of the municipal officers, direct the expenditure of all money appropriated
for the improvement of those parks;
- Acquire land in the municipality’s name for any purposes set forth in this
section with the approval of the municipal legislative body;
- Receive gifts in the municipality’s name for any of the commission’s purposes and
shall administer the gift for those purposes subject to the terms of the gift.
Source: Title 30-A Section 3261 in
http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/30-a/title30-asec3261.html (Jan. 31, 2003)
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