TOWN OF WALPOLE, NEW HAMPSHIRE

CONSERVATION COMMISSION

APRIL 7, 2024

Members Present: Nicole Adams, Wendy Grossman, France Menk, Peter Palmiotto (Co-Chair), John Peska (Co-Chair, Presiding), Lewis Shelley

Alternates Present: Tom Beaudry, Paul Happ

Members Absent: Carolyn Vose (Selectboard)

Visitors Present: Chris Liazos, Hale Morrell, Alex Barrett

CALL TO ORDER: John called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm in the Town Hall. 

SEATING OF ALTERNATES:  All members present – no alternates needed

REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES

France moved to accept the March 3, 2025 minutes as written. Wendy seconded and all voted in favor. The motion carried. 

PUBLIC BUSINESS

Financial Report: No account balances were available.  We received the annual income from the Hubbard Endowment in the amount of $9,731.25 for this year. 

Correspondence:

• Reservoir Dam Wetland Application has been submitted.  The application and maps were available.
• National Grid will be using herbicide from Bellows Falls to the Surry town line starting in June.  The landowners have been notified. 
• Monadnock Conservancy’s 2025 fundraising goal is $2,000,000.  Amanda Littleton has been appointed the new Executive Director.
• A deed was shared that indicated William S. Fletcher granted the Town an easement for Cranberry Meadow Bog Dam back in the 1990s.
• We received the new NH Planning and Land Use Laws book. 

NEW BUSINESS

Forest for the Birds – Chris Liazos, Antioch: Chris’ thesis is to create a standardized process and report for developing a Conservation Value Index which looks at birds (the varieties and number) in treated and untreated forests.  This project works with NRCS, towns and landowners.  For his thesis, he can do 10 study points in an area.  Each point would be monitored 10 minutes five times a year.  Treated property can impact birds in the surrounding land also. eBird tracks hotspots and the monitored land would be added to eBird.  After a discussion of possible forests, it appears that the Hooper Forest has the best ages and species of trees, some small clearcuts (1-3 acres) and some wetlands.  Alex will send Chris a map of Hooper Forest.  Chris will put together a proposal that will be shared with the Hooper Board to see if they are interested.

Forest Management Update – Alex Barret, Longview Forestry:  Fanny Mason will probably be harvested next winter unless this summer is super dry because the landing is very wet.  Chris Ricci will do the timber pricing closer to the harvest – lumber sales are even more in flux now (pine and ash are no longer purchased by China). 

There is a lot of red pine scale in Swanzy.  We should probably harvest the red pine at the west rest area on Route 12 soon.  There are white oaks among the pine.  If we decide to thin the red pine, there is a chance there will be blowdown, but the surviving trees will get stronger in a few years.  Could clearcut to get a view to the west, but the removal of all trees may be shocking.  Alex will check with the State, but he thinks we may be able to use the rest area for the landing since it is Walpole’s property and provides two paved drives to Route 12.  There is already some root rot, but new stumps can be treated to prevent further infection.  There are invasives on fence but not in woods yet and they need to be treated this summer. Peter made a motion to contract Longview to prepare a recommendation for the red pine harvest and invasives treatment.  France seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

Beaver Deceivers – Mill and East Street Ponds:  The Beaver Deceiver at Mill Pond is working – the brook is not rising.  The one at East Street Pond is not working and the Highway Department had to clear the culvert.  There is one beaver still active.  Mike Symonds has a trapping license and hopes to remove the beaver.  A larger deceiver is needed for that culvert, so it blocks beaver access to the culvert.

Old Business

Gateway and Hooper Invasives: The plans for the Hooper treatment are in place, but the Commission is awaiting a revised plan for the Gateway.  Alex will remind them to send it.  Treatments at Hooper need to be avoided the week of July 21st and just before that because there will be an Adventure Camp in the Forest.  The Trail Committee is planning an event for June 29th at the Gateway for Old Home Days.  Usually treatment is done July – September so treatment will not interfere with either event.

Commission and Property Monitoring Files – Record Keeping (RSA 33-A:4-a): A file hanger is needed for the property management files. The keys to all the file cabinets have been found and the Town is making copies.  There was a discussion of missing information and how to fill the gaps.  We will talk about the record-keeping goals for the conservation property at some time.  Perhaps some of the information should be electronic and available to the public.

Old Home Days Planning (6/25-29): Gary Speed was mentioned, but he is no longer trapping. One suggestion was a bird walk around the Common.  The Fish and Game Warden in Walpole might be part of our booth, not necessarily with his working dog (black lab).  The Trail Committee will have a table next to the Conservation Committee.

MCA Mount Kilborn – Letter of Support:  Peter recommended a list of tasks that MCA needs to do, including preparing a management plan that can shared with the towns involved before the Conservation Commission can write a letter of support.  France will contact them for an update.

Common Tree Planting – Committee Meeting:  Peter will reach out to the Committee members to plan a meeting.

TRAIL COMMITTEE

Updates: The Trail Committee is planning  Help Our Trails (HOT) Day for May 3rd.  Everyone will meet at the Town Hall.  The Committee is also planning an Old Home Days event on Sunday, June 29th, hopefully at the Gateway.  There will be an inspection of the Mill Pond trail so a plan for needed maintenance can be prepared. 

Rail Trail Brush Hogging: The Town now has the 2024 Bond back.  Nicole has insurance and is working with Rich Kreissle so he is ready to do a check for the 2025 bond as soon as the Selectboard gives approval to the application and bond.  We would like to have permission by mid-May so brush hogging can be scheduled for early June.

OTHER BUSINESS

Hooper Institute Board Update:  Nicole will share the Forest for the Birds proposal with the Hooper Board as soon as it arrives.

New Commission Member:  France moved to add Paul as a Commissioner.  Lew seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.  Paul will send a letter to Sarah Downing stating that he wishes to join the Commission.

Town Website:  France reported the town website update is complete.

Hazard Mitigation Plan: John is working on the team updating the Town’s Hazard Mitigation Plan. 

AGENDA – NEXT MEETING MAY 5, 2025

• Old Home Days Plan
• Forest for the Birds Proposal

ADJOURNMENT: John declared the meeting adjourned at 8:42PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

(Note:  These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the May 5, 2025 Conservation Commission meeting.)

TOWN OF WALPOLE, NEW HAMPSHIRE

CONSERVATION COMMISSION

MARCH 3, 2025

Members Present: Nicole Adams, Wendy Grossman, France Menk, John Peska, Co-Chair (Presiding), Lewis Shelley

Alternates Present: Tom Beaudry, Paul Happ

Members Absent: Peter Palmiotto, Co-Chair

CALL TO ORDER: John called the meeting to order at 7:03 PM in the Town Hall. 

REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES

France moved to accept the February 3, 2025 minutes as written. Wendy seconded and all voted in favor. The motion carried.

PUBLIC BUSINESS

Financial Report: 

• Conservation $ 244,033.71
• Forestry $ 51,988.87
• The Hubbard Fund donated $9,731.25 that will be added to Conservation.

Correspondence:  Cheshire County Conservation’s Meet and Greet will be March 6.

NEW BUSINESS

Member Renewals: Alicia Flammia is not renewing, and she will be missed.  Peter and France have submitted letters to the Selectboard Office expressing interest in another three-year term.  Wendy moved the Commission approve Peter and France as continuing members on the Commission.  Nicole seconded.  With all present in favor, Peter and France were unanimously approved for another term.  Next month a new member will be selected to succeed Alicia.  Everyone on the Commission is asked to recruit possible Alternates. 

Commission and Property Monitoring Files: The Commission’s left cabinet is not full.  The bottom drawer of the right cabinet could be cleared to the other cabinet to make room for property monitoring records.  At some point, John and Peter need to look at historical files to determine what can be purged.  By consensus the bottom drawer will be cleared and used for property monitoring.  In the future the old files can be sorted and purged.  NHACC may be able to provide guidance on what to save and the Selectboard Office may also have guidelines.

John moved that the Commission thank Alicia Flammia and recognize her for her twelve years on the Commission, including several as Chair.  Seconded by France.  The motion passed unanimously, and the Conservation Commission thanked Alicia for her service.

Annual Goals: 

• Old Home Days: it was agreed that the Commission wants to have a booth on the Common on Saturday.  We will have a map of the conservation land in Town, and perhaps experts on the local wildlife.  The Trail Committee will also have a table next to Conservation with maps of trails.
• The tree planting will continue this year.  The Tree Committee will develop a plan for the Common and some of the streets in the village.
• There is interest in determining if some Class VI roads should be designated as Class A trails so they can be improved and maintained.  A Class A trail is a temporary status, and abutting landowners may continue to use vehicles on the trail.  The Selectboard can designate Class A trails and can also change them back to Class VI roads.

OLD BUSINESS

All agenda items will be discussed next month when the appropriate experts are available.

OTHER BUSINESS

Dam: John just received the minutes of the January meeting to determine how to proceed with the Reservoir Dam.  The project will be broken into two parts: first the culvert replacement and drainage which is critical to prevent property damage, and later the slope of the dam.

Hooper Institute Board Update: The Board meets Wednesday.  They are focusing on finding Helen Dalbeck’s successor and filling the part-time educator position.

Trail Committee:  The Rail Trail brush Hogging will need another special use permit this year as the long-term permission form is being revised and not currently available.  Walpole did not get the 2024 bond back, so it needs to be rolled over to 2025.  Brush hogging will be $450 each time for the third year, but the price may have to increase in 2026.

Help Our Trails, a town-wide trail work event, will be held on May 3rd.  This year the Trail Committee plans to focus its trail maintenance work on the Rail Trail and the Mill Pond Trail.

Conservation Commission on the Town Website: Access has been granted, and training is available so the Conservation Microsite can be updated as discussed last month.

Rest Area Work: Due to the weather this winter the April workday will have to be postponed to June.

AGENDA FOR APRIL 7, 2025

• New Commission member
• Gateway and Hooper Invasives – Alex Barrett
• Fanny Mason Logging – Alex Barrett
• Bird Study – Antioch graduate student

ADJOURNMENT: John declared the meeting adjourned at 8:17 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

(Note:  These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the April 7, 2025 Conservation Commission meeting.)

TOWN OF WALPOLE, NEW HAMPSHIRE

CONSERVATION COMMISSION

FEBRUARY 3, 2025

Members Present:  Nicole Adams, Wendy Grossman, France Menk, Peter Palmiotto (Co-Chair), John Peska (Co-Chair, Presiding), Lewis Shelley

Alternates Present:  Tom Beaudry, Paul Happ

Members Absent:  Alicia Flammia,

Visitors Present:  John McCollister 

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

REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Peter moved to accept the January 6, 2025 minutes as written. Lew seconded and all voted in favor. The motion carried. 

PUBLIC BUSINESS

Financial Report: 

• Conservation $242,206.76
• Forestry $51,812.70
• Mason Forest Expendable $516,984.35
• Mason Forest Nonexpendable $22,962.00

Correspondence:

• Notification was received from the state that they plan to replace a culvert at the top of Prospect Hill.  The work is planned for this spring or summer.
• An Antioch grad student is available to do a bird study/count in an area that was last managed two to ten years ago, and he would work with the Town Forester.  Peter will invite the Antioch student and Alex Barrett, Town Forester, to the March meeting.

NEW BUSINESS

Webpage: Currently the town website goes directly to the Conservation website when Conservation Commission is clicked.  Other organizations and departments have a page with useful details.  Each group was given the opportunity to create a page when the site was being set up.  It was decided that France will work with Sarah Downing to get trained and create a Conservation Commission webpage for the Town website that will link to the Conservation Commission’s website.

OLD BUSINESS

Route 12 Rest Areas – Shelters, Cleanup:  Both shelters have new roofs that look great.  Although not in the initial quote, some of the pine boards needed to be replaced.  A deposit was made so the remaining amount due is $7,728.60. Lew moved that we accept the invoice and pay it.  France seconded and all voted in favor.  The motion carried.

 Additional cleanup is needed, e.g. any timber that needs replacing, painting, power washing, etc.  The work will be planned at the March meeting and the work session will be in April.

Fanny Mason Harvesting – Update: The contract will be presented to the Commission in the spring.  Peter will ask Alex for an update at the March meeting.

Gateway & Hooper Invasives: An update is needed in March.  Nicole will check with the Hooper Board to see if they have concerns.

Property Monitoring: In December all the sites that needed monitoring were visited and the reports were filed.  

There was a discussion of where records are kept, the issue being very full files.  Wendy and Peter will sort out the files and have it done by the end of the month.  Monitoring reports need to also be filed in the property folders and there is some information in the property folders that Conservation needs.  Wendy will work with Sarah on new processes after Town Meeting.

OTHER BUSINESS

Reservoir Dam: Steve and John attended an online meeting with DES, the Army Corp of Engineering, and Fuss and O’Neill. The goal is to avoid mitigation while fixing the dam – Steve will work with Fuss & O’Neill.  Walpole also needs to split the project into two parts.  The first will be the culvert and spillway to protect the Town, and the second will be the slope of the dam.

The ARPA funds will be used to put generators on the pump houses.  The generator from the cistern on Prospect Hill will be moved to Town Hall.

Hooper Institute Board Update: The renovation is ongoing, and they are looking for Helen’s successor.  There will be a pause in the construction for summer camps and renovations should be finished in the fall. 

Trail Committee:  It was a good meeting on January 9th with three new people.  The focus was planning for this year.  There was a discussion about whether trails should be publicized online.  It was suggested that this should be a decision of more than just the Trail Committee because of the impact on the whole area.

 Nicole said she has a lighter load this time of year and offered to work on the permit for the Rail Trail maintenance.  She would work on getting a permit for more than just this year.

AGENDA FOR MEETING ON MARCH 3, 2025

• Alex – Updates on harvest, invasives
• Peter – Antioch student
• Annual  Goals – including tree planting
• Old Home Days – what does the Conservation Commission want to do?  In the past we had the game warden once; Gary Speed another time

MEMBER RENEWALS:  Alicia, France and Peter need to renew their membership on the Commission.  Send a brief letter to Sarah Downing to start the process.

ADJOURNMENT: John declared the meeting adjourned at 8:14 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

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

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.)

TOWN OF WALPOLE, NEW HAMPSHIRE

CONSERVATION COMMISSION

DECEMBER 2, 2024

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

Alternates Present:  Tom Beaudry, Paul Happ

Selectboard Present:  Steve Dalessio, Cheryl Mayberry

Members Absent:  

Visitors Present:  John McCollister

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

Seating of Alternates:  No Alternates were needed as everyone was there.

REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Peter moved to accept the November 4, 2024 minutes as written. Lew seconded and all voted in favor. The minutes were approved. 

The Conservation Committee needs to go back to the old way of doing minutes to ensure public transparency as required by RSA 91A.1a.  The Recording Secretary will create the minutes and email them to all members.  Anyone can send proposed changes to John and Peter, the co-chairs.  They will determine what changes are necessary and let the Recording Secretary know what needs to be changed before the draft is sent to the Selectboard Office and the Walpolean.  If they are unsure, it will be discussed at the next meeting prior to approving the minutes.  Minutes should include general discussion, decisions, context if something is postponed, and tasks.  Names will be used only as necessary.  Minutes will be general but contain enough facts to be informative.

The Conservation Commission’s Google Drive ownership will be transferred to John, Peter, and the Recording Secretary.  The Trail Committee Google Drive will also be transferred to the trail committee chair Wendy.  Also to be compliant with RSA 91A the Trail Committee will need to have a quorum of in person attendees at meetings.

PUBLIC BUSINESS

Report from Co-Chair:  no report

Financial Report: 

• Conservation $241,335.69
• Forestry $51,414.09
• Mason Forest Expendable (9/30/2024) $518,622.12
• Mason Forest Nonexpendable (9/30/2024) $22,824.53 

Correspondence:  Monadnock Conservancy newsletter

NEW BUSINESS

2025 Budget:  Budget requests are due immediately as the Selectboard will be working on the 2025 budget next week.  The budget needs to include brush hogging the rail trail and the website domain and hosting.  John and Peter will take care of this.

Barry Conservation Camp:  A financially needy student is being selected.  The schedule is now months earlier than in the past.

OLD BUSINESS

Rest Areas – Shelters, Cleanup:  At the workday, the crumbling steps were taken up and the slope smoothed.  The Highway Department will be asked to dispose of the timbers.  Both rest areas on Route 12 are now ready for roofing the shelters and for the timber harvest.  The roofing will be done this winter.

Fanny Mason Harvesting – Update:  We have an agreement for the timber harvest on the east side of Route 12 and are working on a contract.  After a discussion, it was decided to see if the contract could be extended to include the red pine on the west side of Route 12.  The harvest will be in 2025.

Gateway and Hooper Invasives:  Peter checked the Gateway for invasives – there is still plenty of Japanese barberry and other invasives. The company that did the initial treatment also confirmed the presence of the invasive and have provided an estimate to conduct  another treatment next summer expanding the strip around the fields at the $2,500 quoted price or they will do work on a time and materials basis.  Peter will try to get a maximum cost for the time and materials option.

Property Monitoring:  Monadnock Conservancy approached Wendy about two issues identified during the June monitoring:  the washed-out snowmobile trail near Halls Crossing in Great Brook Town Forest, and the snowmobile bridge that collapsed and is now in Bertin Town Forest in the stream.  The concern is that for Town Forests where the Monadnock Conservancy holds easements, the Conservation Commission is responsible for complying with easement terms and must notify the Monadnock Conservancy at least thirty days in advance of certain work. .  Lew and Tom will do a site visit to Great Brook Town Forest.  A GPS map of the snowmobile trails needs to be made so it can be overlaid with a map of conservation land to make it clear where snowmobile trails are on town-owned conservation lands.

OTHER BUSINESS

Dam:  The hydraulics and hydrology report on the Reservoir Dam is available in the Selectboard Office and that project is coming along.  Mark Houghton and John will try to get a wetlands permit for Knapp Cranberry Bog Dam for the work needed.  The Mill Pond Dam will be next.

Hooper Institute Board Update:  They have worked the invasives treatment into their 2025 budget but would like advice from the Conservation Commission as they go forward on this project.  The Hooper Institute will work directly with those doing the invasives treatment.  Helen Dalbeck is retiring next September.  The renovations are about to start.

Trail Committee:  The Fall rail trail maintenance day had thirteen people and focused on the culverts and ditches to ensure good drainage in the winter and spring ahead.  The Happy Trails Party  will be December 11th at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall.  It will have a short presentation, food and fun including a raffle of outdoor gear.  All are invited.

Guest Introduction:  John McCollister moved here from Nebraska in May.  He attended to learn about the Conservation Commission and the work it does.  Town meetings are open to the public.

Adjournment:  Peter moved to adjourn, and Alicia seconded. John declared the meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM. 

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

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

TOWN OF WALPOLE, NEW HAMPSHIRE

CONSERVATION COMMISSION

NOVEMBER 4, 2024

Members Present:  Wendy Grossman, France Menk, Peter Palmiotto (Presiding), Lewis Shelley

Alternates Present:  Nicole Adams, Paul Happ

Selectboard Present:  Steve Dalessio

Members Absent:  Alicia Flammia, John Peska, Tom Beaudry

Visitors Present:  Members of the Monadnock Climbers Association: JC Woodward, Rob Koning, and Jeff Archibald; Katherine Kopij and Rose Bolio

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

Seating of Alternatives:  Because only four members were present, Nicole Adams was seated.

REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES

No changes were requested.  France moved to accept the September 9, 2024 and the October 7, 2024 minutes as written. Lew seconded and all voted in favor. The minutes were accepted. 

PUBLIC BUSINESS

Report from co-Chair:  John could not attend.

Financial Report:  Conservation N/A

Forestry N/A

Mason Forest Expendable (9/30/2024) $527,162.08

Mason Forest Nonexpendable (9/30/2024) $23,151.85 

Correspondence:  NHACC membership invoice for $250; invoice to reimburse Kelli Wilson for the website domain and hosting for $220.90.

NEW BUSINESS

OLD BUSINESS

Climbing Group – North Walpole Property: The Monadnock Climbers Association, who first came to the commission in May, returned to share more information on their ideas for Fall Mountain climbing areas.  The discussion furthered the understanding of their ideas as they shared a draft management plan.  Peter will provide suggestions and questions on areas that need attention based on questions and comments made during the discussion.  Katherine also will confer with the N. Walpole commissioners.  

Rest Area Shelter – Roof Bid, Pressure Washing, Paint/Stain:  Two bids were received.  After discussing both bids, Lew moved that we go with Long’s Roofing for a new metal roof as described in the quote for a price not to exceed $7,500.  France seconded.  Lew will generate a purchase order with funds to come from the Fanny Mason Fund account and get it to Rich.  A $200 deposit is required, half will be due when work starts, and the remaining balance due when the work is complete.  The work will be done in cold weather and will be completed on each shelter once it is started. 

The pressure washing and painting or staining will have to wait until next year – it is getting too cold now.

Workday at the shelters, November 16^th at 9:30 AM, will focus on cleaning up around the buildings to provide access for the roofers.  Lew and Peter will do some preliminary work the day before.

Fanny Mason Harvesting – Update:  Alex Barrett (Longview Forest) is working on a contract with Chris Ricci.  It should be harvested either this winter or next summer. France moved approval to pay an invoice for $4425 for marking trees for harvest.  The money will come from the Fanny Mason Fund because that is where the harvest income will go.  Wendy seconded.  The motion was accepted unanimously.

Invasives Treatments:  We have a quote for the second treatment of invasives at the Gateway: the treatment area is 3.66 acres, and it would be treated during the 2025 growing season at a cost of $2520. Nicole and Lew know other companies who also treat invasives who could be asked for a bid on the Gateway invasives.  There was a discussion of the value of treating invasives, and whether once you start with one company it is critical to continue treatment with them. Questions on the effectiveness of the first treatment arose and a few commission members will assess and Peter will follow up with Longview

We also received an estimate for treating invasives in the Hooper Forest.  Nicole will take it to the Hooper Board which meets November 6^th. 

Property Monitoring – Follow Up:   From the recent NHACC conference, Wendy learned we should be monitoring all the property we own and all property with town-held conservation easements.  It is important to follow up on all violations.  This year, Wendy will monitor the Ballam farm, Beatrice Graves easement, and a portion of Mill Pond.  For next year we need to plan and carry out more complete monitoring.

OTHER BUSINESS

Dam Updates:  Steve got the drawings for Reservoir Dam just before the meeting.  He will get a copy to John.  We will now be getting biweekly updates from Fuss and O’Neill.  The project is on schedule to be complete during 2025.  The requirements changed during the project so rather than preparing for twice the 100-year flood, we now need to prepare for the 1,000-year flood.

John is still trying to find someone to mow around the Knapp Cranberry Bog dam.  

Hooper Institute Board Update:  The Board meets November 6^th.

Trail Committee:  The Committee is doing routine maintenance.  Lew put up new signs at River Road Rail Trail parking area. The Mill Pond inspection walk was canceled due to rain.  Rail Trail maintenance on November 23^rd will focus on ditches, culverts, and getting ready for winter.  There will be a Happy Trails Party open to the public at the Town Hall on December 11^th at 7:00 pm.  It will be informative and fun with the goals of publicizing Walpole trails, attracting new members and trail workers, and soliciting public input.  France is working on a lending library for winter gear: It must be easy, centrally located and it must operate with no staff. 

New Commissioner:  Peter nominated Nicole Adams to be a Conservation Commissioner.  Nicole accepted the nomination. All were in favor.  Nicole will get a letter to Sarah Downing by noon tomorrow so it can be voted on at the next Selectboard meeting on November 6^th.

North Walpole Request:   There is an area between the North Walpole Park and the railroad tracks that the North Walpole Commissioners are asking for advice on how to maintain.  The Park belongs to Walpole, but research is needed to determine whether this area belongs to Walpole or the railroad.

New Alternate:  Katherine Kopij would like to be an Alternate.  Steve asked if she is permitted to be a North Walpole Commissioner and on the Conservation Committee.  That needs to be determined before proceeding with a new member.

Adjournment:  Wendy moved to adjourn.  Lew seconded.  Peter declared the meeting adjourned at 8:47 PM. 

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

(Note:  These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the December 2, 2024 Conservation Commission meeting.)