Town of Walpole, New Hampshire

Conservation Commission

AUGUST 4, 2025

(Note:  These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the September 8, 2025 Conservation Commission meeting.)

Members Present: Nicole Adams, Wendy Grossman, Paul Happ, France Menk, Peter Palmiotto (Cochair & Presiding), John Peska (Cochair), Lewis Shelley, Carolyn Vose (Selectboard Rep)

Alternates Present: Tom Beaudry, Hale Morrell

Members Absent:  

Visitors Present:  Lesley Johnson, NHACC Board President

CALL TO ORDER: Peter called the meeting to order at 7:06 pm in the Town Hall. 

SEATING OF ALTERNATES:  All members were present, so no Alternates were seated.

Review and Approval of Minutes

There were a few amendments:

• Under Rail Trail Brush Hog, “They were very accommodating, and they did a great job” should read, “Mike Hubbard of Connecticut Valley Yard Works was very accommodating and did a great job.”
• The second paragraph in that same heading should read, “If the Town goes forward with the State’s new Trail Maintenance Agreement and Annual Work Plan, it will replace the annual Special Use Permit for brush hogging and other work on the Rail Trail.
• Under Old Home Days Summary:  The raffle tickets were not counted, so it should read, “The winner of the snowshoes was thrilled to get them.”

Lew moved to accept the July 7, 2025 minutes as amended. John seconded and all voted in favor. The minutes were approved. 

Public Business

Financial Report: 

• Conservation $283,725.69
• Forestry $52,740.23

We also received a consolidated expenses report for year-to-date.  It looks like the cost of roofing the shelters at the Route 12 rest areas was recorded to the Conservation Commission budget when it should have been a Fanny Mason expense.  John to follow up with Rich Kreissle.

Correspondence: There is a letter to Tree Committee from Jennifer Burr.  The Marcia Galloway Fund for Conservation Commission was established by Marcia’s will.  The funds will be paid every December.  Expected amounts are not yet known.

New Business

Lesley Johnson, NHACC Board, President 2023 – 2025: NHACC is looking to engage and involve all conservation members.  They send a monthly newsletter and updates, and they have a listserv for discussions.  Sue is to send the roster to Lesley so everyone on the Commission will receive the communications.

This September they are starting a wetlands program and a new mapping program using better technology.  All interested members are encouraged to register for the Zoom sessions and the program in Concord.  There are also seven YouTube videos from a previous wetlands course (see their website for a link).  There will be a class on trail maintenance with AMC.  There will also be a program in Concord on Advocacy.

There is a grant for a large land management program to encourage collaboration across political boundaries – perhaps Walpole, Surry and Alstead could join and do the shared conserved property.  They had a grant for interns in 2025.  The interns will be presenting a summary in December. 

NHACC started a strategic plan in 2020.  There is a survey that will go out to determine what the local Conservation Commissions need from NHACC.  Currently they have 1.3 people, but they hope to support local conservation with collaboration, outreach, and increased capacity. They hope to have the new strategic plan complete by year-end. 

The annual potluck dinner will be October 16th at Whitcomb Hall in Swanzey.  The topic will be Road Agents and Conservation.

Tree Committee Update: The next tree planting will be October 19th.  This year they are planting:  (4) ornamental cherries around the memorial, a maple on the northwest corner of the Common, and (2) poplar in gaps on the west side of the Common to minimize the trimming needed for the power lines.  They will call Dig Safe before the planting.  Pete is currently talking to nurseries.  The next step is to look at what is needed in Drewsville & North Walpole. 

Old Business

Gateway Management – Invasives Control: They will post trails ahead of time with the treatment dates.

Route 12 Rest Areas: The state brush hogged the rest areas last week.  John will determine if the mowing and brush hogging contract for Mike Hubbard needs to be adjusted.

Trail Committee

Updates: A lot of overgrowth was removed at Fanny Mason, the west side of Mill Pond (thanks to the Walpole Walkers), and the east side of Mill Pond.  Some paving with stones was also done on the east side of Mill Pond.  They will be working on ditches on the Rail Trail south of Halls Crossing to make it drier.  The second Rail Trail brush hogging is expected to be later this month.  A crew will pick up all the sticks in preparation for the brush hogging.  There is now a new bench on the River Ramble trail at the Gateway with river views.

Other Business and Updates

Dam: Paul made a motion that the Conservation Commission advise the Selectboard to reconsider work on Reservoir Dam and instead consider removing the dam.  The decision will need to be based on fiscal analysis.  France seconded.  With all members in favor the motion passed unanimously. 

Hooper Institute Board: The Board meets tomorrow.

Website:  France moved the Commission reimburse Kelli Wilson $235.70 for the costs of hosting the Conservation website.  It will be billed to the consulting line.  John seconded.  The motion carried.

Agenda: Paul moved that the agenda be sent to the Walpolean when it is sent to the Commission each month.  France seconded.  The motion passed.

Agenda for the Next Meeting – September 8, 2025

• Lew and Nicole will not be at the September meeting.

ADJOURNMENT: Peter declared the meeting adjourned at 8:26 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

Tagged: CONSERVATION COMMISSION, Meeting Minutes