Conservation Committee Meeting Minutes – 6/1/15

Uncategorized 06/03/2015 Leave a comment

Minutes

For the regular meeting of the

Walpole Conservation Commission

Monday, June 1, 2015

 

Present:  Tom Beaudry, Gary Speed, John Peska, Duncan Watson,  Myra Mansouri (alt.), Seth Andrews (alt.), Peter Palmiotto (alt.), Whit Aldrich (SelectBoard representative)

Not Present:  Alicia Flammia, Lewis Shelley

Guests: Stacy Gambrel, Kelli Wilson & Sharyn Tullar

Mr. Beaudry, chair, called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM.

Non-Public session: 

Ms. Mansouri was seated for Ms. Flammia.

Minutes

Mr. Speed moved to accept the minutes for the April 6th and May 4, 2015 meetings as presented. Mr. Peska seconded, and the motion passed with all in favor. Many thanks to Ms. Flammia for taking the May minutes.

Treasury/Budget Report

Mr. Beaudry only has available account statements through 3/31/15 as presented at the last meeting.  The total amount in the Forestry account was $13,828.62, and in Conservation account was $53,148.42.

Mr. Beaudry introduced Ms. Wilson and Ms. Tullar as residents interested in membership.

New Business

  1. Stacy Gambrel, Monadnock Conservancy is present to ask for support in an attempt to get a Conservation Easement on 21.9 acres of the Vose property. Mansouri moved to express support from the WCC for a Conservation Easement on the Vose property. Mr. Peska seconded, and the motion passed with all in favor.
  2. The Cold River Advisory Committee met 4/30/15 and had concerns about the property across from Aubuchon as trees were being removed. As this is the Lund property that the Monadnock Conservancy is interested in, Ms. Gambrel was asked about the status of the Conservation Easement. She confirmed that the Easement is mostly funded except for some transaction costs and expects to close before the end of the year.
  3. Andrews has elected to not continue as an alternate on the Commission.
  4. The SWRPC will hold their annual meeting at Keene State, 6/16/15. Interested Commission members should RSVP before June 5 (cost is covered by WCC).
  5. A letter was received from the Rockingham Conservation Commission regarding a project to make official names for all 5 larger waterfalls and 23 brooks in Rockingham. Since NH owns the CT River, Walpole owns the waterfall under the Vilas bridge near property at Map 26 lot 10. It has been called both Great Falls and Bellows Falls. After discussion, Peska moved that “Great Falls” be recommended as the preferred name for this waterfall.  Ms. Mansouri seconded, and the motion passed with all in favor. This information will be forwarded to Peter Bergstrom of Rockingham Conservation Commission for their Public Hearing on June 2, 2015.
  6. Benjamin Hefner has come before the Commission for ideas for an Eagle Scout project. A suggestion of a kiosk and trail work in the Fanny Mason Forest was well received.  Hefner was given contact information for Mr. Shelley to coordinate this effort. Mr. Hefner will return for the July meeting for an update.

Correspondence

  1. DES letter of concerns regarding the TransCanada dredging of The Harbor
  2. DES Supply Lines newsletter
  3. Town & City 

Two guests are present and would like to be considered for membership.  Kelli Wilson lives on Maplewood Circle abutting the Mill Pond, and would like to protect and maintain it and all the conservation areas in Walpole.  Sharyn Tullar lives on Prospect Hill near Hooper and has done stewardship work with Monadnock Conservancy in the past.

Old Business

  1. Barry Conservation Camp – Mauve Perron is the camper as reported last month.
  2. Palmiotto reports that the Conservation Land Map is mostly completed with minor details to be discussed. Mr. Speed approves up to $150 for printing and laminating of the two maps. Mr. Peska seconded, and the motion passed with all in favor.
  3. The Class 6 Subcommittee has a time frame of 6/21 – 7/3 for a meeting. Peska will update next month.
  4. Speed will speak with Brian Fletcher regarding maintenance at the Dam and Cranberry Meadow.
  5. The Maplewood Circle homeowner complaining about a tree on Town property went to the Selectboard as suggested by the Commission. Aldrich states that according to the Town lawyer it is the responsibility of the Town when the overhanging branches are affecting buildings.  The Highway Department will take care of the situation.
  6. Mansouri reports that DES will be expanding the gravel pits. More stone/gravel will be taken from Cold River and more sand from Whipple Hill. The ZBA is keeping an eye on this through their inspections.
  7. Peska asked if the mileage stipend had been sent to Mr. Loos. Mr. Beaudry will follow up to be sure.

Ms. Wilson and Ms. Tullar were asked to leave so the Commission could discuss their applications for membership. Mr. Speed moved to recommend that Kelli Wilson be offered the 3 year full membership, and Ms. Tullar be offered the 2 year alternate membership.  Ms. Mansouri seconded, and the motion passed with all in favor.

Mr. Peska moved that the meeting be adjourned at 8:46pm.  Mr. Speed seconded, and the motion passed with all in favor.

The next meeting will be Monday, July 6, 2015.

Respectfully submitted,

Elaine Heleen, Recording Secretary

NOTE:  These are unapproved minutes with corrections to be found in the minutes of the next meeting.

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