Town of Walpole, New Hampshire

Conservation Commission

September 8, 2025

(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the October 6, 2025 Conservation Commission meeting.)

Members Present: Wendy Grossman, Paul Happ, France Menk, Peter Palmiotto (Cochair), John Peska (Cochair & Presiding)

Alternates Present: Hale Morrell

Members Absent: Nicole Adams, Lewis Shelley, Carolyn Vose (Selectboard Rep), Tom Beaudry

Visitors Present: Rob Traver (Acworth Conservation Commission)

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

SEATING OF ALTERNATES:  There was a quorum of members – no Alternates were seated.

Review and Approval of Minutes

Peter moved to accept the August 4, 2025 minutes as written. France seconded and all voted in favor. The motion carried.

Public Business

Financial Report: No financial report available.

Correspondence: No new correspondence.

New Business

Hooper New Leadership Introduction: Postponed to next month due to illness.

Old Business

Acworth Conservation Commission: Rob Traver described their project to restore the Keyes Hollow Wetland.  An inlet stream to the wetland moved which is causing about 14 acres of the wetland to dry up.  The Davis Foundation from Yarmouth, Maine is willing to consider a grant application for the preliminary work that needs to be completed for wetland restoration.  The restoration is especially important for flood control on the Cold River and for restoring the brook trout that used to be plentiful in the dehydrated area.  The Acworth Conservation Commission requested a letter of recommendation from the Walpole Conservation Commission.  Once the preliminary work is complete the Connecticut River Conservancy will apply for grants for the restoration and take the project to DES.  Paul moved that Peter and John prepare a letter of support to be emailed to Rob Traver this week.  Seconded by France.  With all in favor, the motion passed. 

Reservoir Dam: We received an invoice from Houghton for clearing & brush hogging the dam for a cost of $2,544.55.  It was done only once this year.  Paul moved to accept the invoice and pay it from the Forestry Account.  France seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

We just received notification that the Wetlands application was rejected because the fee is now $8,000, which is more than we paid (the rule changed in mid-July).  There have been emails between the Selectboard, the State, and Fuss and O’Neill.  The concern is that all ARPA invoices must be submitted by September 15, 2026 and there is a lot to do before then.

Gateway Management – Invasives Control: Only the Gateway was treated for invasives, and since it is not part of Fanny Mason, it must be paid from the Conservation Fund, not from the Fanny Mason accounts.  

Fanny Mason Forest Management: Chris Ricci is planning to harvest the area near the Route 12 rest areas this winter.  Alex Barrett, the Town Forester, recommends clear cutting the red pine on the west side which will leave the mature hardwood trees.  Peter moved that we waive the timber tax for the Fanny Mason harvest.  France seconded.  The motion passed.

Tree Planting: The next Tree Planting will be Oct 19th.  Five trees will be interspersed with existing trees on the Common.  There were no cherry trees available, so two will be ordered and planted in the spring.  This is a change from the four cherry trees previously discussed and will avoid over-crowding around the Veterans Memorial.

Planning & Land Use Manuals: It was decided to order one paper/eBook copy at $17.75.

Trail Committee

Updates: All the trail work this month was on the Rail Trail:  

• Dirt that had been dumped in the ditch just south of Halls Crossing was cleared so the ditches are now functional.  More ditch work will be needed in the future, but that will require an excavator.  
• The Malnati bridge, which is no longer passable for tractors or bikes, and the bridge just north of the wildlife management area (where a biker fell and broke bones last year) are on the list to be repaired by the NH Bureau of Trails.  The Malnati bridge has been measured for materials and a sign posted to walk bikes across the bridge, so that one should be repaired this fall.  They will probably work on the other one too.
• The second brush hogging was done August 19th, and it was well done again. The Trail Committee cleaned away branches and logs before the brush hogging.  The invoice for the June brush hogging just arrived and will be given to Rich Kreissle.

Other Business and Updates

Hooper Institute Board Update: Paul hopes to be on the Hooper Board (taking Nicoles seat since she resigned) and is just awaiting approval of the Selectboard.  France moved that once approved by the Selectboard, Paul will also be the Conservation Committee Liaison to the Hooper Board.  Wendy seconded.  The motion carried unanimously.

Peter will send the Longview invasives contact to Paul to pass on to the appropriate person at Hooper Institute.

Next Meeting – October 6, 2025

Adjournment: Peter moved to adjourn the meeting.  France seconded.  All were in favor.  John declared the meeting adjourned at 8:32 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

Tagged: CONSERVATION COMMISSION, Meeting Minutes