TOWN OF WALPOLE, NEW HAMPSHIRE

CONSERVATION COMMISSION

JANUARY 6, 2025

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

Alternates Present:  Tom Beaudry, Paul Happ

Members Absent:  Nicole Adams, France Menk

Visitors Present:  Whit Aldrich, Eileen Spiltoir, Becky Brown

CALL TO ORDER: Peter called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall. 

SEATING OF ALTERNATES:  Since five Commissioners were present, no Alternates were seated.

REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Peter moved to accept the December 2, 2024minutes as written. John seconded and all voted in favor. The motion carried. 

PUBLIC BUSINESS

Financial Report:  Conservation $242,288.58

Forestry $51,617.09

Mason Forest Expendable $525,402.62

Mason Forest Nonexpendable $23,371.73

Correspondence:   A letter was received from the Town stating that Nicole Adams is officially a Commissioner.  A report was received informing the Town of a project to prevent Cold River from washing out a lot containing a home.

NEW BUSINESS

Town Report input due on 1/21/2025:  John will do a first draft and circulate it.

Overnight Parking at the Route 12 Rest Areas:  Becky Brown and Eileen Spoltoir attended the meeting to discuss the issue of dog poop and tires at the eastside rest area – it was difficult to access the trail due to the numerous poop piles, so they cleaned up the poop.  It was noted that two Great Danes are living in the RV that frequently is seen parked at the rest stop and others frequent the site with dogs.  There is a no overnight parking sign that has been up two days.  The Police Department is working on the issue, but the first step was to put up the no overnight parking sign.   

Eileen and Becky left the meeting.

It was discussed that Tim Smith will be starting any time to roof the shelters.  They will put up tape to designate the work area.  A barricade to keep vehicles out of the lots would be better for roofing and the harvest later this year.  Further discussion of the continued rest area problems that have occurred over the years was a suggestion to eliminate the U-shaped drive and make it a trail head parking lot with one entrance.  The trail is popular, so parking for local walkers is needed. 

OLD BUSINESS

Dam Updates:  Tomorrow there will be a Zoom meeting with the State, Walpole, and Fuss and O’Neill on the dams to determine what needs to be done.  Alicia, John and Steve plan to participate.

Barry Conservation Camps: The Hooper Institute has not yet nominated a student for the conservation scholarship to attend the camp, but they are working on it.   

Timber Harvest this Summer:  The harvest on the east side of Route 12 is planned for this summer.  The commission will review the contract once it is received in late spring when more updated timber prices can be included closer to the planned harvest time.  The commission is considering adding the red pine on the west side of Route 12 to the contract.  The Mason Fund would be requested to pay for the costs during the harvest (estimated at $1,500 for overseeing the harvest).  Income from the harvest will go into the Mason Fund.  

OTHER BUSINESS

Trail Committee Report:  The Happy Trails party had about thirty people, including several new people.  The evening included a picture presentation, talks, food and entertainment.  It was a successful evening.  Wendy distributed a list of 2024 trail repairs.  The Trail Committee meets every second Wednesday of the month at 7:00 PM.  The next meeting is Wednesday, January 8^th, in the Town Hall.

The Monadnock Rail Trail Coalition is creating a map which shows parking.

Property Monitoring:  The snowmobile bridge that washed downstream into conservation property has been removed from the Town Forest.  The snowmobile trail in Great Brook has been closed due to the washout.  Rob Westover will GPS the snowmobile trails in town if there is snow, and he can take out his snowmobile.  This will allow the trails to be superimposed on maps of Town property.   In December Wendy monitored Mill Pond, Graves, Ballam Farm, March Town Forest, and Nelson Town Forest.

ADJOURNMENT:  Peter declared the meeting adjourned at 7:50 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

(Note:  These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the February 3, 2025 Conservation Commission meeting.)

Tagged: CONSERVATION COMMISSION, Meeting Minutes