Members Present: Wendy Grossman, France Menk, John Peska (Presiding), Lewis Shelley

Alternates Present:  Nicole Adams

Selectboard Present:  Steve Dalessio

Members Absent:  Alicia Flammia, Peter Palmiotto, Tom Beaudry (Alternate)

Visitors Present:  Sarah Downing, Paul Happ

Call to Order: John Peska called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall. 

Seating of Alternatives:  Nicole was seated and there was a quorum.

Review and Approval of Minutes

Lew moved to accept the July 1, 2024 minutes as written. Wendy seconded and all voted in favor. The motion carried.

Current Use

Sarah Downing lead a discussion on Current Use.  Current Use puts a lien on 10 or more acres of property with a promise not to develop it in order to lower the tax burden.  When a property is developed there is a tax equivalent to 10% of the value of the property.  Current Use property cannot be maintained/manicured(i.e. mowed like a lawn), but it can be hayed or brush hogged to keep it open. There is an additional tax savings if property is designated for recreational use, but recreational property cannot be posted. Current Use forests can be managed, and if forests are professionally managed the owner can save an extra 10% on taxes.  If forests are designated for recreation the owner can prevent vehicle use on the property.  

The regulations that govern Current Use start with RSA 79-A and Current Use Board rules100-300.  Current Use is governed by the State but implemented by the Town.  The Conservation Commission gets 25% of the tax when Current Use property is developed to further conservation in the Town.  The rules for posting Current Use property are found in RSA 635:4.  A special case when less than 10 acres of property can be designated Current Use is if there is a plant product, often corn.  More than 75% of Walpole is in Current Use.   There was discussion of what conditions are necessary for NH law to protect landowners from liability associated with recreational use of their property.  For landowner liability regulations, see RSA 212:34 and 508:34.

Public Business

Report from co-Chair:  no report

Financial Report: Rich Kreissle is on vacation this week, so the information is not available.

Correspondence:   Presentation on the project “Restoring the Fish Habitat of Great Brook in Walpole, NH” August 14, 2024 at 4:00 pm at Distant Hill Gardens at 507 March Hill Road, Walpole, NH.

New Business

No New Business.

Old Business

Fanny Mason Harvesting – Update:  Alex Barrett, the Town Forester, will be at the meeting September 9^th with an update on the red pine and planned harvests near Route 12, and invasives treatments.

Rest Area Mowing and Shelter Update:  The Town is not available to mow.  We need to get the rest areas mowed.  France will ask landscape companies in Town to mow one month each year.  Each company could put up a sign for their month.  Lew will be sending the shelter roofing RFP again in September – no one was able to do the work before.  Since we are working on the shelters, we probably need to paint the tables and stain exposed wood structure of the shelters.

Property Monitoring – Follow-up:  John and Wendy will both follow up on concerns as discussed at the last meeting.

Other Business

Dam Updates: Nothing to report – we are awaiting test results from the boring.

Hooper Institute Board Update:  Nicole reported that the board needs a secretary and a couple of members. They are working with the architect on building upgrades to make it year-round.  The Hooper Board does not meet in August.

Trail Committee:  Wendy reported they had a Fanny Mason workday and blazed the trail both ways from the parking area to the pole barn.   Lew has removed several big trees from trails recently.   The Rail Trail will be brush hogged August 13^th.  The gate on the north side of the boat launch was severed due to a bike accident rescue and it will be repaired.  The Committee is planning more work at the Mill Pond.  Steve reminded the Trail Committee that they are a public committee, so meetings need to be publicized with the Zoom link.  Minutes need to be published in 5 days with the disclaimer that they are unapproved, and corrections will be found in the minutes of the next meeting.

Trees for the Common:   Lew reported that Maple Hill Nursery would be glad to supply and plant sugar maples on the Common.  Sugar maples are available in two sizes:  about 8’ tall with about 1¾ inch trunks in pots or 20’ with roots in burlap.  The larger size needs equipment to dig the holes and will cost about $4-5,000 including the planting.   A decision will be made at the next meeting.  Timber taxes are supposed to go to the Forestry account, but the account doesn’t seem to be changing and that is probably the account that will be used for the Common Trees.  John will check with Rich when he is back from vacation.

Adjournment:   France moved the meeting adjourn and Lew seconded. John declared the meeting adjourned at 8:19 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

(Note:  These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the September 9, 2024Conservation Commission meeting.)