The Walpolean

Town of Walpole, New Hampshire

Conservation Commission

October 6, 2025

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

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

Alternates Present: Tom Beaudry

Members Absent: John Peska (Cochair), Lewis Shelley, Carolyn Vose (Selectboard Rep), Hale Morrell

Visitors Present:  Steve Dalessio, Andrew Dey, Greta Drager

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

Seating of Alternates: A quorum was present, so no Alternates were needed.

Review and Approval of Minutes

Paul moved to accept the September 8, 2025 minutes as written. Nicole seconded and all voted in favor. The motion carried.

Public Business

Financial Report:  Conservation $281,421.08

Forestry $53,321.98

Correspondence: Wetland permit and maps; Conservation District Meeting invitation

The following item was moved to the top of the agenda to accommodate a guest who wished to speak to this item.

Reservoir Dam

Steve Dalessio reported that because of the change to the dam rating from low to high priority and rule changes, we now need to prepare for a thousand-year flood, but we are running out of time to do the work before the ARPA money disappears.  DES recommends changing the work scope for the ARPA grant to permitting only.  The remaining funds would be returned to ARPA. Then Walpole gets a new grant for the implementation.  DES assures us here are grants available.  Walpole should have information tomorrow from the meeting last Friday.  Then we will request a meeting with only DES and Walpole to determine where we really stand.  If we keep the dam, the first step would be a new spillway and to line the existing culvert that is rotted out.  That would keep the Town safe.  Walpole is very disappointed with Fuss & O’Neill, but the permits we are getting with the ARPA grants are good for five years.  The good news is that no Town money was lost on the project and now we have more time and options to decide what we should do.

New Business

Hooper Institute Leadership Introductions: Peter introduced Greta Drager, the Executive Director.  She would like the Conservation Commission’s thoughts and perspectives on Hooper Forest as Hooper Institute looks for new ways to utilize the Hooper Forest for classes, walking trails, etc. It was suggested she talk to the Trail Committee and Lew Shelley.  George Gowdy was not available tonight but the classes in the school are varied and going very well.  The Hooper Institute grand reopening will be October 18th at 12-2:00.  Now that the building can be used year-round, they are considering classes for upstairs and in the kitchen, February vacation camp, adult programming, …  Greta is open to suggestions.

There was a discussion about the dam.  Water was pumped to irrigate the golf course this summer, but they can only take water down to a certain level for irrigation.  We need an update on the Cranberry dam permit and cleanup project that was discussed earlier this year.

Easement Monitoring: We need to monitor four Town easements – Wendy has done three and will do them again.   Wendy cannot do 4th one because she lives there.  There are eight properties which Monadnock Conservancy monitors and a new person monitored a couple easements recently.  It was suggested that with a new manager in place at Monadnock Conservancy, it might be a good time to request more feedback when properties are monitored, and a week’s notice prior to monitoring so someone from the Conservation Commission can go along and learn.  We need a plan for monitoring all the properties we are responsible for.  Peter will call a meeting to develop a monitoring plan.

Derry Hill Road – Class VI Road Status: It was observed that work is being done on Derry Hill Road, the Class VI portion.  The work was not sanctioned by Walpole.  The road is being flattened, and saplings are being pushed back to widen the road.  The work continues from the beginning of the Class VI section past the field.

Old Business

Gateway Management – Invasive Control: Zack at Longview recommends doing more treatment in the future.  The Conservation Commission will check in the spring to determine what is needed.

Fanny Mason Forest Management: Peter is planning to meet with Alex Barrett from Longview this fall to discuss the Fanny Mason Forest project.

Tree Planting – October 19, 2025, 1:00 – 3:00 pm: There will be five trees planted on the west side of the Common.  In the spring an additional five trees will be planted.   

Trail Committee

Updates: The Trail Committee will remove fallen trees across trails until winter, and during the workday on November 8th they will be doing the Rail Trail ditches.  During the winter, the Hooper Hill Hoppers maintain the trails.  The NH Bureau of Trails repaired two bridges on the northern end of the Rail Trail at their expense and with their own labor.  We appreciate the help and having safe bridges once again.

The Rail Trail Maintenance agreement was reviewed by the Town Attorney and approved by the Selectboard.  This is not a replacement for the annual request to brush hog the Rail Trail – it is a long-term commitment and an opportunity for the Town.  Now we need to submit a work plan by the end of the year.  We have requested guidance on creating a work plan since this will be our first one.  Wendy is leading the development of the work plan and will seek input from Lew and the Trail Committee.

Other Business and Updates

Hooper Institute Board: No update, but the Hooper Board meets tomorrow night.

Next Meeting – November 3, 2025

Adjournment: Paul moved the meeting be adjourned.  France seconded. Peter declared the meeting adjourned at 8:10 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

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

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

Town of Walpole, New Hampshire

Conservation Commission

July 7, 2025

(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the August 4, 2025 Conservation Commission meeting.)

Members Present: Nicole Adams, Wendy Grossman, France Menk, John Peska (Cochair & Presiding), Lewis Shelley

Alternates Present: Hale Morrell

Members Absent: Paul Happ, Peter Palmiotto (Cochair), Carolyn Vose (Selectboard), Tom Beaudry

Call to Order: John called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm in the Gazebo on the Common. 

Seating of Alternates: There was a quorum of members, so no alternates were seated.

Review and Approval of Minutes

Wendy moved to accept the June 2, 2025 minutes as written. Nicole seconded and all voted in favor. The motion carried. 

Public Business

Financial Report:

• Conservation $282,690.37
• Forestry $52,747.05

Correspondence:  We received Hale’s appointment letter – she is now officially an Alternate.  Thanks, Hale, for joining the Conservation Commission.  We also received the Conservation Commission Newsletter.

New Business

NH Association of Conservation Commissions: Lesley Johnson would like to talk to the Walpole Conservation Commission at the August meeting.  The NHACC is developing a strategic plan, and they would like to see what the local Conservation Commissions would like them to do for us.  

Route 12 Rest Areas:  France moved to accept the quote from Connecticut Valley Yard Works for mowing at the rest areas. Lew seconded. With all in favor, the motion carried.

Several things that need to be done at the rest area will be rescheduled to fall.  There was so much rain this spring and early summer that the work couldn’t be done as previously planned.

Old Business

Old Home Days Summary: Both the Conservation Commission and Trail Committee tables were busy the whole time.  People seemed to be picking up the materials that were available.  Only 20 raffle tickets were entered for the snowshoes, but the winner was thrilled to get them. There are some tree survey results.  It was suggested that Conservation have a float at the next Old Home Days. Thank you to all who helped with the tables and events.

Forest for the Birds: Chris Liazos did not get any takers for a bird walk before the Old Home Days parade, but he did have some very engaging conversations.

Gateway Management (Invasive Control): The invasive control work will be started after June30th and completed by the end of September.  There was a discussion of warning signs that will be posted when the invasives are treated to warn people to stay away for 24 hours. 

Trail Committee 

Updates: Tom Murray created the new trail at the Gateway.  It is the first new trail created by the Trail Committee.  Thank you, Tom.  There was a small attendance at the Trail Committee events Sunday morning of Old Home Days at the Gateway.

Rail Trail Brush Hog: The permit was received June 19th and the brush hogging was done late the following week.  All sticks need to be removed from the trail before brush hogging.  They were very accommodating, and they did a great job.  The Malnati bridge is no longer adequate for a tractor. The Hooper Hill Hoppers are awaiting information and materials from the Bureau of Trails so they can replace the bridge.

The new draft memorandum of understanding has been received from the State.  It will replace the annual Special Use Permit for brush hogging and other projects.  In addition to the memorandum of understanding, an annual work plan will need to be submitted.

Other Business

Dam Updates: A lot of attention is currently being devoted to the changes in the planned dam repairs.

Hooper Institute Board Update:  Greta Drager, the new Executive Director, started last week.  George Gowdy, the new Educator, will start in August. Renovations are paused for the camps, then the contractors will be back and finish the work.  There was a question about Invasives Control at Hooper – a copy of the paperwork is needed

Adjournment:  France moved to adjourn the meeting.  Nicole seconded.  John declared the meeting adjourned at 7:50 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary