Members Present: Alicia Flammia, Wendy Grossman, Peter Palmiotto, John Peska (Presiding), Lewis Shelley

Members Absent:  France Menk

Alternates Present:  Nicole Adams, Tom Beaudry

Visitors Present:  Alex Barrett, Town Forester

Call to Order: John called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm in the Town Hall. This meeting was audio recorded for the purpose of taking accurate minutes. 

Seating of Alternatives:  There were five members so there was a quorum.

Review and Approval of Minutes

Corrections to the April 1, 2024 minutes:  Holly & Christian Goudy own and operate Brookfield Farm, the Ballam Farm is part of the Gowdy’s farmland in Walpole (i.e. they own the land called Ballam Farm).Tom Beaudry owns and operates Elm Island Farm; the Conservation Commission cannot support or endorse the Monadnock Climbers’ Association’s plan for Fall Mountain until they develop a draftmanagement plan and coordinate with North Walpole.

Peter moved to accept the April 1, 2024 minutes as amended. Alicia seconded and all voted in favor. The motion carried. 

Public Business

Report from co-Chair:  no report

Financial Report: Conservation:  $223,411.78 and Forestry:  $25,176.40

Correspondence:  We received an announcement about the Lakes Conference.  The Commission will cover the registration fee if anyone on the Commission wishes to attend.

New Business

Forest Management – Fanny Mason update/next project:  Alex Barrett, Town Forester, reported that the project about three years ago at Hooper was very successful.  The project at Fanny Mason forests has been on the back burner but now has his attention.  Some work was done a couple years ago by Peter Rhoades (former town of Walpole Forester), who did a good job and left even more buffer than required by law.  The next step is to focus on the east side of Route 12.  There is a small grove of large hemlock trees that should be conserved, and also what may be old growth white oak east of the north bound rest area.  According to DOT, we own up to 100 feet from the center line.  Alex will contact DOT about access from Route 12 for the harvest which will likely be next winter and summer unless this is an extremely dry summer.  Specifically, he will inquire about using the rest areas as access points for hauling out logs.  Alex will have a planning map for the June 3^rd meeting.

Alex also suggested some proactive items for consideration:

• There is a stand of red pine on the west side of Route 12.  There is a lot of red pine scale in the area which blows in and kills the trees.  It would be worth considering proactively taking the red pine before they get hit with scale.

• A couple of years ago invasives were treated at the Gateway and Hooper.  It might be time to treat those areas again in August or September, and some treatment will likely be needed in the Fanny Mason harvest area.

• Suggestion:  create a “Friends of the Town Forest” – a nonprofit for fundraising.  There is a lot of money available now for nonprofits, but it is not available to the Town.  The Friends might not be formed in time for the current funding, but it will be ready next time.

Commissioner Seat Available – Advertise: Steve Dumont resigned so that seat needs to be filled.  The vacancy will be posted on the Walpolean.  

Old Business

Dam Updates:  Reservoir Dam – Fuss and O’Neill were to select an access route for the drilling rig to the dam and select locations for three bore holes.

Walpole Gateway: The gate has been unlocked and the area is accessible to the public.  A carabiner is being used to hold the chain up.  It is unlocked.  Persons are expected to put the chain back up after dropping off boats.

Master Plan – Conservation Lands Map/Table:  Peter and Wendy have been identifying issues with the maps and table.  The previous map although only six years old carried information forward about from twenty years ago and, in that time, we have added a lot of land with easements, etc. The map includes the cemetery and school which are public, but don’t have easements.  The consensus is that we need two maps – one for the public showing public lands with and without public access which should include NH access rules, and a second map for the Conservation Commission showing all useful data on all conserved land including details of easements, etc.  There probably also needs to be education for the public, for example in Maine and New Hampshire trees marked with two purple rings means the land is open to hiking but not hunting.  Current use property with the 10% recreational allowance is open to the public. Peter feels the Conservation Commission’s maps need to include historical information such as that High Blue used to be Warner Forest for the owner who put the land into conservation, or that Harold Putnam put the Town Forest into easement, which was one of the first easements on town owned land in the State.

Property Monitoring:   Monadnock Conservancy monitors all land with easements including Town forests. Wendy will walk three lots with them on June 8^th.  The remaining five lots will be walked later.John, Peter and Wendy are the current contacts for Monadnock Conservancy, and they will forward notices to the rest of the Commission so others can join the walks if interested and available.

Rail Trail – Bureau of trails visit, use permit:  Wendy reported “permitted uses” signs would be helpful if available.  We need a bond or memorandum of agreement.  The permit to bush hogging is still in process.  There is now $2,000,000 available – there is a good chance to get funding if apply.  We need people to work on grants. In the fall we will need a group to apply for funds for next year. DOT finished the work at Great Brook.

Trail Committee – HOT Day Reflection:  Wendy reported that Saturday was a great day.   Twenty-four people participated.  Leaders from the Trail Committee and volunteers did a number of projects, including painting out all the graffiti at the pole barn.   Paint and other supplies totaled $170.90.  Lew moved Wendy be reimbursed $170.90 from the Conservation account.  Alicia seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Lew reported that the RFP’s for repairs (roof replacements) to the Fanny Mason shelters are ready and will  be sent to several vendors.

Other Business

Hooper Institute Board Update: To date no scholarship applications have been received, but one is expected.  Encourage others to apply – see the Clarion for qualifying requirements.

Distant Hills: Distant Hills is sponsoring a Liberty Utilities biodiversity study.  They will be available on May 8^th from 9:00 – 12:00 on March Hill Road.  

Cold River Materials:  Cold River Materials has made a hazardous materials list available.

Next Meeting:  June 3, 2024 at 7:00 in the Town Hall

Sarah Dumont and Westminster Fit Body: Sarah Dumont owner of Westminster Fit Body created a garbage collection challenge with a goal of 50 bags to be collected wherever participants were.  A total of 179 bags were collected including 22 bags collected by Kara Dexter.  As the beneficiary, the Conservation Commission will receive $500.

Adjournment: Lew moved the meeting adjourn. Seconded by Wendy.  John declared the meeting adjourned at 8:47 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

(Note:  These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the minutes of the June 3, 2024Conservation Commission meeting.)

Walpole, NH  Conservation Commission