The Monadnock Conservancy

“Organization review process of Form 990 after initial draft preparation by the CPA of the organization, the executive director conducts an initial review of the 990, asking questions and making edits as necessary. The document is then provided electronically to the full board of trustees for review, comment, and edits as necessary prior to filing.”

“Enforcement of conflicts policy all officers, trustees, and key employees are required to complete and /or update disclosures of potential conflicts of interest annually following the election of new trustees and officers in July and August. All new officers, trustees, and key employees are briefed on the conflict of interest policy when joining the organization, and compliance is monitored and enforced thereafter by using the disclosures to ensure appropriate recusals from board votes and actions. If/when an actual or potential conflict is discovered, appropriate public disclosures are made consistent with state law.”

“Compensation process for top official no trustees or officers of the organization are compensated. Paid employees include the executive director and other subordinate managers and associates. The salary of the executive director is determined by the board using comparability data from the Land Trust Alliance survey of salaries and benefits for land trust staff. All other staff salaries are determined by the executive director, in consultation with the finance committee of the board, using comparability data from the aforementioned Land Trust Alliance survey.”

“Governing documents, disclosure explanation governing documents, conflict of interest policy and financial statements are available for public inspection in the office of the organization, upon request.”

“Program Service Expenses 178,139, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 0 LAND MANAGEMENT AND RECREATION The Organization monitored 20 properties owned in fee simple for a total of 1,802 acres. Staff members and volunteers continued scientific studies of restoration of the American chestnut tree and control of American beech trees, which included maintaining deer exclusion fencing in five areas previously planted with 150 hybrid American chestnut seedlings. Staff members maintained or enhanced 20 miles of public hiking trails and continued to co-lead the Wantastiquet to Monadnock Trail Coalition in governing management issues through the entire 48-mile trail route. A new public trail and trailhead parking area were constructed on the Chamberlain Conservation Area in Fitzwilliam. This included staff members working with contractors to install signage, a kiosk, 2 gates, and an accessible trail on the property. Additionally, they removed brush from the adjacent multi-use Cheshire Rail Trail, which abuts the property, and worked with contractors to replace a bridge on the trail. A second trailhead parking area was developed and opened at the Continued”

“Program Service Expenses 57,688, Grants and allocations 15,793, Revenue 0 COMMUNITY CONSERVATION The Organization continued foundational work via a pilot program to assess capacity and integrate the philosophies of community conservation into all of the work of the Organization. In 2020, the board ran a campaign to connect with and interview people who are not historically aligned with land conservation 43 interviews were conducted. The board added a standing committee to specifically address and strengthen the focus of the Organization on community conservation, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Other in-person programs delivered in prior years were canceled due to the covid pandemic.”

“LAND PROTECTION Continued frontage along the pond and route 101. The Organization was an active member of the Quabbin-to-Cardigan Initiative, which is a collaborative landscape-scale effort to conserve the Monadnock highlands of North-Central Massachusetts and Western New Hampshire. A staff member served on the board of the New Hampshire Land Trust Coalition NHLTC, an organization that advances land conservation in the state through professional development, policy advocacy, and education and co-authored the Conserving Your Land book, which is a guide for landowners interested in learning about land conservation options and techniques released in the fall of 2019. Another staff member served as an associate supervisor for the Cheshire County Conservation District and as vice chair of the New Hampshire State Conservation Committee.”

“LAND MANAGEMENT AND RECREATION Continued Cunningham Pond Conservation Area in Peterborough, providing new trail access to this property. A parking area at the Calhoun Family Forest was improved through brush management and resurfacing. On the Devan Preserve in Marlborough, a remotely triggered wildlife camera was installed to monitor wildlife, and winter mammal tracking was continued by staff members and a local ecologist. Finally, staff members began to learn about historic resources on the land of the Organization and methods for their protection and preservation.”