The Walpolean

Members Present:  John Peska, Alicia Flammia, Lewis Shelley, Wendy Grossman, Steven Dumont , Steve Dalessio (Selectboard Liaison) 

Members Absent:  Peter Palmiotto, France Menk

Seating of Alternates:  Nicole Adams

Alternates Present:  Nicole Adams, Kara Dexter

Visitors Present:  Ryan Owens ( Monadnock Conservancy),  Kate Buckman (CT River Conservancy), Jean Kobeski (Recording Secretary)

Call to Order:  John Peska called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.  This meeting was recorded.

Review and Approval of Minutes: In the November 6 minutes Kara asked that, under Old Business, Gateway Update, the first sentence be changed to read:  Kara proposed that the gate be locked on November 15, not closed, as written.  With that correction, Lew moved to accept the November 6 minutes.  Wendy seconded, and all voted in favor.  Motion carried.

Public Business

Financial Report:​​Conservation:​$218,447.22

​​​​        Forestry:     24,616.93

​​​​ Walker Road:​         709.49

Correspondences:  DES Forest Statuary Permit by Notification, dated October 27, 2023 Monadnock Conservancy Newsletter

New Business

Ryan Owens, Monadnock Conservancy:   Ryan attended the meeting at WCC request to discuss the Nerrie easement and the money the Commission pledged for the project in 2017.  He explained that the money could be used for surveying, lawyers, site research, the Monadnock Conservancy staff, recording fees, and future monitoring. Because the easement is not complete, no money is due at this time from the Commission. Though estimated costs have increased significantly, the Commission will not be asked for any more money than was approved in 2017. In order for the town to receive something tangible for the money they give, and to meet state statutes, they will be named in the deed.  Wendy asked if that means the town will have an executory interest and Ryan answered, “Yes.”  She then asked if the Conservancy will be responsible for the monitoring and Ryan said they would be and stated the town should ask to see the Conservancy’s monitoring reports. 

Steve Dalessio asked if all the Nerrie land in the easement would be in Walpole. Ryan explained that, of the (current) 147.5 acres, 106.2 acres are in Walpole. 

Lew asked if this easement would be different because Distant Hill is a non-profit.  Ryan answered no, that every landowner is treated equally.

Wendy asked what steps should be done and when.  Ryan recommended the following steps:

​1.  Consider and understand what Executory Interest means and involves.

​2.  Ensure that the Selectboard is willing to sign it.

​3.  Consult the NHACC guidelines for how to take money out of conservation funds for the easement.

​4.  When the Nerries have completed the easement, schedule a required public hearing about the property easement:  money involved and Executory Interest.

Alicia offered to put these steps on the Commisssion’s drive for reference.

Kate Buckman, Connecticut River Conservancy:  Kate reviewed the relicensing process currently underway for dams in Bellows Falls, Vernon, Wilder, Turners Falls, and the Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage. She stated the process normally takes 3-5 years, but this relicensing started in 2012 and still has two years to go. She said shutting down Vermont Yankee and two government shut-downs have caused the delay, and Great River Hydro was conducting a variety of studies from 2013 – 2019.

In 2020 Great River Hydro submitted an amended final license application.  They not only had to address power generation, but they also had to give equal consideration to endangered species, water quality, recreation, and historical and cultural resources. In other words, they need to address how they will enhance the communities and provide protection, mitigation, and enhancement.

Kate stated she came to the Commission now because FERC has the Ready for the Environmental Assessment and this will be the last time for public comments. She said this would be the time for our community to comment on erosion along the river, recreation, and poor maintenance or lack of public access.  She asked if the Commission has a conservation plan and if the plans in the license are in line with it. Do the the proposals in the application address where this community wants to be in 40 years (the length of this license)?

Kate stated that the CRC strongly believes that the application should require monitoring within the first 10-20 years, not wait till the end of the 40, to determine if the provisions are adequate. 

Kate said FERC’s Ready for Environmental Assessment will begin somewhere between February and March and will be open for 60 days.

Steve Dalessio feels that loss of land is the primary concern in Walpole. 

Alicia asked if the application can be reviewed before the public comment period begins.  Kate said it is available now on the FERC docket.  She will also send a hard copy to John.  She said it is quite lengthy and overwhelming and recommends looking at Exhibit E – Environmental Review, which has a good Table of Contents.  She also referred to Exhibit G, maps of project boundaries. Kate offered to come back and evaluate comments before they are submitted to FERC. 

Alicia stated the Commission should try to link the relicensing to their updated conservation plan. 

Old Business

Topics for Annual Report:  Kara asked Commissioners what they would like to include in the annual report, due in mid-January. They would like Kara to highlight accomplishments for the year (trail work, forester, Rail Trail, Gateway work, property stewardship).  Focus areas for next year include property stewardship, trail plans, and dam relicensing.

Barry Scholarship:  John reported that Justin Cassarino and Amy Treat will identify a scholarship recipient by January 15.

Fanny Mason Clean-up:    John said the individual who has been cleaning the area will continue to do so.  She reports that it is in the worst condition it has ever been. There is evidence of undesirable activity. It it generally cleaned once a week. 

It was reported that the stone steps on the east side and the structures need to be repaired. Lew gave a brief history of the construction of the structures. He also said there had been plans to remove the steps but it hasn’t been done yet. He said that since they aren’t functional, they should be torn out and also suggested cutting down or pruning trees on both sides for greater visibility. Lew reminded the group that there is a trail head here, and the more activity the trail gets, the less undesirable activity that occurs. He said that making the area more pleasant and inviting will boost use. John stated plans for repair etc. should be made in the spring.  Kara said she spoke with David Konesko of DOT about the state-owned property. She reminded the Commissioners that any mowing or upkeep of the area would be of state-owned property but Kara seemed to think this would not be an issue.

Kara asked if trees can be taken down on state-owned property.  Lew said they will need to talk to the state before any tree removal is done.

NHACC Dues:  Lew stated that annual dues are $250, due in October. Lew moved to pay the $250 NHACC dues. Alicia seconded and all voted in favor.  Motion carried.

Cranberry Meadow Update:  John said he spoke with Mike Hubbard about the clean-up. Mike is not interested in cleaning the area for the state inspection. John spoke to Mark Houghton about it and will follow up with Mark next week about the state requirements. He has a DES contact who would issue the permit if work is to be done with machinery.

Wendy reported that, while looking at the files on Cranberry Meadow, she discovered a 1994 letter from Harold Putnam to Leslie Hubbard. They had a legal search done of the land. Since the search showed that since no taxes were paid on the land  and no member of the Knapp family claimed the land, the land belongs to the Town of Walpole by adverse possession. 

Gateway Update:  Kara asked if anyone had locked the gate on November 15;  no one had.  Lew said he would lock it.

Other Business

Walpole Trails Subcommittee:  Wendy reported that the Fanny Mason Bridge is fixed. Steven Dumont talked about the repair.  

Kara planned a trash clean-up near Dexpart on November 12 and collected 210 pounds of litter. 

5 trees are down on the Fanny Mason Trail.

Commission Website:  Steven stated there have been some changes to the website that have not been approved by the commissioners.  Wendy stated there is some incorrect information on the website.  Alicia said she would talk to France about the website.

Rail Trail:  Wendy reported that the RTP Grant work officially ended November 7.  A trail walk took place on the 19th;  15 people participated. The walk was from Route 123 to Black Jack Crossing with shuttles returning the walkers.  Wendy said they had a number of positive comments from participants.

Wendy also stated:

​1.  They paid the contractor.

​2.  Rich found the $5,000 Fanny Mason money.

​3.  The final report was sent to the RTP people.

​4.  The bond money was returned to Lew.

​5.  The $20,000 grant money should be on the way.

​6.  A visit will take place but has not yet been scheduled.

Property Monitoring:  Alicia gets reminders about property monitoring. Wendy will do the Graves Easement and Ballam Farm.  Someone needs to fill out the forms for Wendy and Will’s property.

John had a call from Phil Warren, who said he will be walking the Nelson Town Forest on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m.

Adjournment:  Wendy made a motion to adjourn the meeting.  Steven seconded and all voted in favor. John adjourned the meeting at 8:47 p.m.

The next meeting will be on Monday, January 8, 2024.

Respectfully Submitted,

Jean Kobeski, Recording Secretary

** These minutes are in draft form until approved at the January 8, 2024 meeting.

The meeting is not being held on Zoom. It will be at the Town Hall.

Members Present:  John Peska, Peter Palmiotto, Alicia Flammia, France Menk, Wendy Grossman   

Members Absent:  Lewis Shelley, Steven Dumont

Alternates Present:  Kara Dexter, Nicole Adams

Visitors Present:  Steve Dalessio (Selectboard Liaison), Jean Kobeski (Recording Secretary), 

​​       Don Sellarole

Call to Order:  John called the meeting to order at 7:05 in Town Hall.  The meeting was recorded.

Review and Approval of Minutes: Wendy made a motion to approve the September 11, 2023 minutes.  John seconded and all voted in favor. Motion carried.

Public Business

Correspondence:  John said the Commission received a letter from the Connecticut River Conservancy expressing interest in attending a meeting of the WCC to talk about the dam relicensing.  John will invite Kate Buchman to the December meeting.

Financial Report:  John sent around the financial spreadsheet he received from Rich Kreissle.

New Business:  John welcomed Nicole Adams to the Conservation Commission as the newest alternate.  Nicole will serve as the Commission’s liaison to the Hooper Board.   

Old Business

2024 Budget:   Peter submitted the  proposed budget for next year to the Selectboard.  He added $1500 for Rail Trail Maintenance and $1,000 for an intern.  He said there was $2650 for dams fees and $2,000 for dam maintenance in the 2023 budget and asked if that money can be moved to the Commission’s General Fund since it was not needed for those purposes. Wendy also asked if more money for trail repairs could be added to the budget .  Steve Dalessio said the select board members took a first look at budgets last week.  They will meet with Peter in December to discuss the WCC budget.

Fanny Mason Clean-Up:  Alicia stated that the person who previously cleaned the rest area for a flat fee did so once/year and gave the Commission a list of work that needed to be done. John said garbage there has increased and commissioners agreed that it should be cleaned more frequently. Kara stated she could do a weekly 10-15-minute clean-up for the same amount of compensation.

Peter made a motion to hire someone to pick up trash at the rest area for the rate that was paid in the past and request it from the Fanny Mason Fund.  Alicia seconded the motion. All voted in favor. Motion carried.  Kara said she would go to Town Hall to make necessary arrangements to start the work.

Cranberry Meadow Bog:  John stated that there is still a question of ownership.  A discussion ensued about where commissioners might find more information about it.  Steve Dalessio said they can check the tax parcel.  If no one is paying tax on the property, the Town of Walpole  owns it. Wendy said she would do some research.

John stated that in May, 2019, the DES sent a Notice of Concerns and recommendations for remediation to Mark Houghton, Fire Chief.  

John sent a copy of the DES letter to Mark Hubbard. Mark told John he would need a permit to clear cattails if done with machinery.

Reservoir Dam:  John stated the dam is cleaned up and ready for inspection.

Nerrie Easement: The WCC agreed to pay the Monadnock Conservancy $7500 for the Nerrie Easement in 2016.  It was explained that the money is used for legal costs for monitoring the property. It pays for legal defense of the conserved acreage. The money has not yet been paid because the Nerries added property after that agreement and the easement wasn’t in place. The Conservancy is now requesting the money but the commissioners are unsure of the status of the easement.  Steve Dalessio stated that if the easement isn’t in place, the Commission should wait to pay it. It is not paid to pay for the easement; it is earmarked for protecting the easement. The Nerries have delayed the easement and McBride said it may not be until 2025/26.

Alicia said she would invite Ann McBride of the Conservancy to the December meeting to explain this process further and the Commission’s optional powers that she noted in an email to Peter and Alicia.

Gateway Update:  1. France will reach out to Steven Dumont about the sign for the kiosk.

​​        2. The gate is unlocked.

​​        3. There is less than $1,000 left in the budget.

​​        4. Kara said the signs are on the gate.

Other Business

Walpole Trails Subcommittee:  

​1.  Rob Westover attended the meeting and confirmed that the Hooper Institute board is setting up a committee to discuss (new) bike trails in the Hooper Forest.

​2.  Sharon Tuller will keep the map box stocked.

​3.  October 21 – bridge repair at Fanny Mason Forest

​4.  Mill Pond work delayed until next year. 

​5.  Sharon Tuller expressed concern that the spillway would affect Reservoir Woods. Steve Dalessio said Sidney Craven has been involved in the discussion since this is​​​ his property.

Rail Trail:  Wendy said she will verify expenses for next year.  

Peter sent a letter to the Trustees of the Trust Fund requesting the $5,000 for the RTP Grant.  Rich Kreissle will take care of it. Wendy said the work should begin this week and Lew projects it will be finished at the end of October. Commissioners thanked Wendy and her husband, Will, for all the work they did on this grant project.

Other:

Planning Board Workshop Update:  Peter and Wendy attended the workshop to discuss the natural resources chapter of the Town’s Master Plan.  They said the last time this was written was in 1998 and this section of the plan addressed conservation lands, the Rail Trail, and lands that should be targeted for conservation.  Peter and Wendy will continue to work with the Planning Board to update the information.

Gateway Budget:  It was decided to fold the remaining money into the General Fund and closeout the Gateway account.

Announcements:

​1.  Kara announced that there will be a PFAS meeting at the Walpole Congregational church October 11 at 6:00. France stated she would attend.

​2.  Wendy announced the NHACC annual meeting Nov. 4 at Pembroke Academy.

WCC Website:  Wendy said the website needs to be updated. France offered to do it. She will be meeting with Kelly on Wednesday.

With no further business to discuss, John adjourned the meeting at 8:20 p.m.

​

The next meeting will be on Monday, November 6, 2023.

Respectfully Submitted,

Jean Kobeski, Recording Secretary

** These minutes are in draft form until approved at the November 6, 2023 meeting.

Members Present:  John Peska, Peter Palmiotto, Lewis Shelley, Wendy Grossman, Steven Dumont  

Members Absent:  Alicia Flammia, France Menk

Seating of Alternates:  Kara Dexter

Visitors Present:  Nicole Adams, Peggy Pschirrer, Select Board Liaison, Jean Kobeski, Recording Secretary

Call to Order:  Peter Palmiotto called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m.

Review and Approval of Minutes:  Jean Kobeski said she would correct the August minutes to state that Ray Boas attended the August 7, 2023 meeting. With that correction Steven moved to accept the August minutes;  Wendy seconded and all voted in favor.  Motion carried.

Public Business

Financial Report:​​ Mason​     $20,280.57

​​​​ Gateway.    $2,054.07

The $7500 fee requested by Ann McBride of the Monadnock Conservancy for the Nerrie Easement will be discussed at the October meeting.

Correspondence:  John reported that NE Power Co. has asked the DES for permission to paint power transmission towers from Bellows Falls to Surry.

New Business

Budget Items:  Wendy asked that brush hogging and trail materials be put into next year’s budget. $1500 should be enough but she will double check.  Steven asked for money for maps.

Peggy explained that all departments are asked to level fund for the coming year.  The first draft is due now to Rich Kreissle.  Between now and December, Select Board members will meet with all department heads to discuss their budgets. John stated that current numbers can be rearranged, not to exceed the level funded budget.

Steven stated the commissioners need to take a deeper dive into some of those numbers. Peter said he would ask Alicia for a copy of this year’s budget. Peggy said she would have Rich Kreissle send a copy of the budget to Peter and John.  John and Peter will submit the budget by September 22 after first sharing it with the commissioners on Google Drive. Steven suggested that, before the next meeting, commissioners look at the budget and think about where monies can be moved around to better suit their expenditures.

Condition of Route 12 Rest Areas:  John and Peter reported that there is trash and high grass at the rest areas. John and Peggy said the state is responsible for mowing.  The WCC used to hire someone to clean the Fanny Mason rest area, using money from the Fanny Mason Fund. This individual is no longer available.  Peter said he would find out how frequently this was done and what the compensation was so the commissioners can make a motion and vote at the October meeting for a replacement.

John reported that Nicole Adams has written a letter of interest to the Select Board in becoming an alternate to the Walpole Conservation Commission.  Kara made a motion to recommend supporting the nomination Nicole Adams as an alternate to the WCC.  John seconded the motion and all voted in favor.  John will write the letter of recommendation to the Select Board.

Old Business

Tree Replacement:  Jean has sent the names and email addresses of four individuals who have volunteered to serve on the committee to Ray Boas.  He will contact them to set up a meeting.  Peter has offered to be the WCC liaison to this committee.

Liaison to the Hooper Board:  Nicole Adams volunteered to be the Conservation Commission’s liaison to the Hooper Institute Board.  Peggy thanked Nicole, noting how important it is to have WCC representation on that board.

Gateway Update: Lew stated that Peter purchased the materials and he and Peter installed the fence at the Gateway turnaround. Peggy reported that the Select Board received a complaint from some community members hoping to take their kayaks down to the river that the gate is still locked.  Peter explained the lock is still locked but people can gain access by simply moving the wire and replacing it when finished. Steven suggested replacing the lock with a carabiner;  Lew supported that idea and has one to donate. Steven prepared an instruction sheet for gaining access to the Walpole Gateway, which will be laminated and posted on the kiosk and on the post.  Steven also offered to write an article about the gate opening for the Walpole Clarion and WCC website.

Other Business

Reservoir Dam:  John reported the gate has been repaired and Houghton has brush hogged and cleaned up the area, as requested by the state inspector.

Peggy left the meeting at 8:00.

Cranberry Meadow Bog:  John asked that the Letter of Deficiency for Cranberry Meadow Bog be put on the October agenda.

Walpole Trails Subcommittee:  Steven reported that the maps have been paid for and he has been reimbursed.  He also said some equipment will be needed for Mill Pond repair. Steven said he would take measurements for pressure-treated lumber for the Fanny Mason Bridge replacement and get a price quote from LaValley. 

Lew stated the High Blue culvert washed out and was repaired by Larry Britton. He also said Rob Westover is asking permission to begin some new mountain biking trails in the Hooper Forest.  He is meeting with Helen Dalbeck to discuss this.

Rail Trail:  Wendy reported that the Rail Trail and Gateway field were brush hogged on Aug 25-26. Wendy and Will did some further cleaning. There are some trees down on the trail and the Grossman’s cleaned up some of the branches. 

Lew has the Special Use Permit and has paid the $1,000 bond for the RTP Grant work.  He will start the work in early October.  Wendy and Will will mark areas for him to avoid. It is time to write the letter to the Trustees of the Trust Fund to request the $5,000. Peter said he would contact Alicia to learn the scope of what’s necessary to secure that money.

Property Monitoring:  Wendy has been going through commission files and will start doing some of the monitoring. Peter said he would contact Lauren to make sure she has returned all files that she was using. 

Peter will call a meeting of the Property Monitoring Committee for Tuesday, October 3, 6:00, in the commission’s office in the basement of Town Hall.

Adjournment:  Steven made a motion to adjourn the meeting and John seconded.  Peter adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m.

The next meeting will be on Monday, October 2, 2023 in Town Hall.

Respectfully Submitted,

Jean Kobeski, Recording Secretary

** These minutes are in draft form until approved at the October 2, 2023 meeting.

Members Present:  Alicia Flammia, John Peska, Peter Palmiotto, Lewis Shelley, Wendy Grossman, Steven Dumont 

Members Absent:  France Menk

Alternate Present:  Kara Dexter

Visitors Present:  Peggy Pschirrer (Select Board liaison), Steve Dalessio (Select Board), Nicole Adams, Jean Kobeski (Recording Secretary)

Call to Order:  Alicia called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

Review and Approval of Minutes:  Kara noted the misspelling of a name. Under Visitors the ​​​​name should be spelled Nicole.  John moved to accept the July, 2023 minutes.  

​​Lew seconded and all voted in favor. Minutes accepted.

Public Business:  Kara asked for the procedure needed to become either a commissioner or alternate.  Alicia explained the candidate needs to write a letter of interest to the Select Board.  With a letter of recommendation from the Conservation Commission to the Select Board, the candidate would be approved.

Report from the Chair:  Alicia announced that, as of this evening, she can no longer serve as chair of the WCC. She will serve out the remainder of her term, but not in that capacity.

Correspondences:  Alicia shared the newsletters from the Monadnock Conservancy and NH Charitable Foundation.

Treasury:   (As of June 30)    Mason Non Expendable Fund:  $19,881.04

​​​​​     Mason Expendable:  $469,723.74

New Business

Selection of New Chair:   A discussion ensued from Alicia’s announcement that she would no longer chair the Commission.  Peggy and Steve Dalessio suggested that the reluctance to assume this role might be the result of the Commission’s taking on too many projects.  Steve asked how much is mandated by statute. He suggested focusing on 1-2 projects/year.  They also discussed the possibility of shortening meetings by conducting some business via email.  Wendy offered to take the lead on property monitoring.  Kara said she would read through the statute book again and create a list of projects to prioritize.  

Peter and John agreed to serve as co-chairs. Wendy moved to elect Peter and John as co-chairs of the Commission.  Steven Dumont seconded and all voted in favor. Motion carried.  Kara led the commissioners in thanking Alicia for her leadership.

Ray Boas:  Tree Replacement on the Common – Ray attended the meeting to discuss his interest in the trees in town, not just on the common. He presented the idea of assembling a citizens group under the purview of the Conservation Commission, which will study the trees in town and do some fundraising to purchase new trees and maintain them.  The volunteers  would report to a liaison from the Commission. Peter Palmiotto stated his support for this project and offered to serve as liaison.  

Ray stated he would begin the process by writing an article for the next issue of The Clarion describing the project and soliciting volunteers for a tree committee and donations. 

Old Business

Adopting Meeting Norms:  The Commission reviewed the draft of the Meeting Norms that Peter posted in Google Docs. They postponed formally adopting these norms until the full membership is present to vote on them.

Walpole Gateway Update:  Lew reported that the road down to the river washed out but has been repaired. The group discussed where the fence should be installed so rescue vehicles can access the river. They agreed that Peter could go ahead and install the fence.  John moved to approve the purchase of 3 sections of split rail fence for the turnaround area of the Gateway from the Gateway account. Steven seconded and all voted in favor. Motion carried.  Peter will take care of this.

Kara reported that France had not created signs for the fence because she did not have the wording from the Commission for the sign. Commissioners discussed what they want to see on the signs.  Kara thought she might be able to find pre-made signs at Home Depot or online and Commissioners were fine with that.  Lew suggested buying two signs to have an extra on hand.  

Steven moved to spend money on two signs for the fenced area.  Lew seconded and all voted in favor.  The group also decided to put a handmade sign with additional directions on the kiosk.  Steven offered to draft language for the kiosk sign.

Wendy reported that Mike Hubbard would be willing to brush hog the Gateway area but he needs more information about the scope of the job. Wendy will have him contact John to discuss this.

Commission Liaison to the Hooper:  It was explained that the workload is not heavy but regular monthly attendance is important.  Meetings are held at the Hooper Institute but in the winter they are online because there is no heat in the institute building.  Members were asked once again to think about this and they would revisit the topic in September.

Other Business

Walpole Trails Subcommittee:  Steven said the maps have been printed but he does not yet have the invoice. Once he does, he will send it to Rich to be paid from the maps and charts budget.

Mountain Biking:  Lew met 2-3 weeks ago with Rob Westover and some other mountain bikers at Hooper Forest. The bikers would like to create some hand-built trails, with supervision from the Trails Committee.  There would also be a machine-built trail.  Lew said he would scope it out and do some marking. There was also discussion about parking.  Lew located a small area to start.  It may need to be expanded later if more bikers learn of these trails. Lew was asked if the Hooper Board and Monadnock Conservancy know about this.  He said he would notify them. John also suggested notifying the Fire Department so they could scope out trails to see how emergencies could be handled.

Rail Trail Update: Wendy reported that Lew will be the contractor on the RTP grant project.  He plans to get started on a trail site in early October. He’s working on getting a Special Use Permit now.

Mike Hubbard plans to do the next brush hogging August 24.   Wendy received the invoices and will forward them to Rich. The $450 will come from trail budget and $200 from the Gateway budget.

Property Monitoring:  Lauren will send an email to commissioners later this week to let them know what her status on the property monitoring is.  Wendy asked if Lauren still has any Commission files.  Alicia will email her to find out the answer.  

Peter will call a meeting of the monitoring subcommittee at the end of September.  Kara expressed interest in attending the meeting.  

Reservoir and Cranberry Meadow Dam:  On the 25th of July John met with members of the Dam Safety and Inspection Division in order to photograph deficiencies at Reservoir Dam and Cranberry Meadow Dam. At the Reservoir Dam the post that holds the gate closed is rotting and needs to be repaired.  John stated the cost of repair is $40.68.  Steven moved to approve $40.68 from the Dam Repair budget to repair the post.  Lew seconded and all voted in favor.

At Cranberry Meadow Dam they could not take photos or do their inspection because the area needs to be brush hogged.  In the past the Conservation Commission has been responsible for keeping the area clear.  It has not been brush hogged for some years, and John said he feels the Commission will need to do this.  As far as repairs to the dam, John does not know what needs to be done.  The dam is actually on private property so the Letter of Deficiency will most likely be sent to the landowner.  It is unclear at this time who will be responsible for doing whatever repairs are needed. Steve Dalessio said he would have Sarah look into this. John said Bryan Fletcher, who has done brush hogging there in the past, is planning to go down and look at it this week.

John reported that Reservoir Dam repair will start in September, 2024, with an end date of December, 2026.  Steve said they are in the engineering phase right now.  Core sample will need to be taken and in a few months the work will be put out to bid.

With no further business, Steven Dumont moved to adjourn and Lew seconded.  Alicia adjourned the meeting at 9:05 p.m. 

The next meeting will be on Monday, September 11, 2023.

Respectfully Submitted,

Jean Kobeski, Recording Secretary

** These minutes are in draft form until approved at the September 11, 2023 meeting.

Agenda

Walpole Conservation Commission Meeting

Monday, August 7, 2023

Location and Time:  Walpole Town Hall, 7:00 p.m.

1. Call to Order

2. Seating of Alternates

3. Review and Approval of July Minutes

4. Public Business 

​ Report from Chair

​ Treasury Report

​ Correspondence

5.   New Business

6.   Old Business

​ Ray Boas:  Tree Replacement on the Common

​ Adapting Meeting Norms

​ Walpole Gateway Update

​ Commission Liaison to the Hooper

7.   Other Business

​ Becoming a Commissioner or Alternate

​ Trail Committee Report

​ Property Monitoring

8.   Adjournment

​

Members Absent:  Alicia Flammia, Steven Dumont, France Menk

Seating of Alternates:  Kara Dexter

Visitors Present: Peggy Pschirrer, Nichole Adams, Jean Kobeski (Recording Secretary)

Call to Order:  John Peska called the meeting to order at 7:15 p.m. in Walpole Town Hall.

Review and Approval of Minutes:  Kara noted that on page 2 of the 6/5/23 minutes, under Cheshire Rail Trail, the name Mark should read Mike.  Wendy asked that her report on the Great Brook culvert repair included under the RTP Grant heading on page 2 be recorded under its own heading since it is unrelated to the RTP Grant. Lew moved to approve the 6/5/23 minutes as amended.  Peter seconded and all voted in favor. Motion passed.

Public Business:  There were no Treasurer’s Report or correspondences tonight.

New Business

Adopting Meeting Norms:  Peter led the group in brainstorming a simple set of norms which, when regularly followed, will lead to efficient, productive and respectful Commission meetings. He added that norms help create a secure, safe space where members feel comfortable participating in a discussion and asking questions.  He stated that new groups often take this step when they first form. 

First, Peter set up the tables and chairs in a square to improve communication and asked to do this at all future meetings. He then shared a list of norms he brainstormed and the commissioners discussed each and tweaked them as they found necessary. Peter stressed that, to be successful in their intent, norms should be proposed by the group, agreed to by the group, and revisited yearly. Peter said the draft document listing the proposed norms discussed tonight is in the Google Drive in the Meeting Agenda section.

Peter made a motion that the Walpole Conservation Commission commit to developing a set of meeting norms during the next two meetings.  Kara seconded and all voted in favor.  Motion carried.

John asked Jean to include group or individual reminders of things to prepare for the next meeting when she sends out the minutes. These are action items that summarize who said they would do what for the next meeting.

Replacement of Trees on the Common:   Peggy Pschirrer reported that people living on the common are distressed that the five trees taken down on the common (three by the town and two by Liberty Utilities) have not been replaced.  Peggy stated there is no money in the budget to replace them. At a recent select board meeting Ray Boas suggested that the board approach the Walpole Conservation Commission about forming a subcommittee to look after trees in town or help find creative ways to raise money to replace the downed trees.  

She asked the commissioners if they would be interested in forming such a subcommittee or helping raise money to purchase replacement trees.

Lew suggested possibly offering some seed money from the Forest Fund. Peter said they should start with a small urban tree planting plan, which would include a time-consuming inventory of trees. He also said that planned road work on Washington Street should be completed before any planting takes place. That would put this project a year out during which landscape architects can be consulted and an inventory completed.

Wendy asked who is responsible for maintaining the common.  Peggy said our highway department cuts the grass.  We do not have a public works department, which would have the personnel to devote to landscape maintenance.

A discussion followed about what types of trees could successfully be planted on the common, fundraising, and who should be responsible for the project.  The Commission hopes that Mr. Boas will attend the next meeting to present his ideas and commissioners who were absent for this meeting can participate in the discussion and decision-making. 

For the August meeting Lew and John offered to talk to Fran Macri about tree selection and Peggy said she would send the commission the name of the arborist with whom the select board has worked. 

Pickleball Court on Walker Road:  Mr.Hayes attended a June select board meeting to ask if the land on Walker Road would be suitable for Pickleball.  Commissioners agreed that this would not meet the intended use of the Gateway property.  

Old Business

Commission Liaison to the Hooper:  A decision will be made at the August meeting.

Walpole Gateway Update:  John reported that he walked the property with Mark Houghton and the excavator operator and said they will try to get the work done this week, weather permitting.   He said Mark requested that the Commission brush hog from the upper parking lot down to the river to create a 16’ wide space for rescue vehicles. There was a question about whether rescue vehicles could easily access the river if the fence is constructed.  Lew suggested finishing the turnaround area before making plans for the fence. John said he would talk to Mark about his spacing needs and decisions about the fencing will be made at the August meeting. Lew also asked if fabric would be put under the SurePack. John will ask Mark about that, as well.

Other Business

Walpole Trails Subcommittee:  Wendy reported:

​​• More trail maps have been printed.

​​• Lew led a trail walk at High Blue.

​​• Will and Wendy will lead a trail walk on Rail Trail after RTP work done.

​​• Sharon had small, but good turnouts for her birding walks.

​​• They talked about repairing the bridge at Fanny Mason.

​​• They will assess trail maintenance at Mill Pond.

​​• Brush hogging of Rail Trail complete. Will proceed on RTP grant.

​​• Lew, Rob Westover, Jeff Harrington, Will and Wendy Grossman met at Hooper Forest to discuss mountain bike trails and possible new hiking/biking trails.

John asked if there will be a need for another brush hogging. Wendy said it would probably be needed in August.  Kara made a motion to approve $450 to brush hog the Rail Trail and $200 for the upper field. Lew seconded and all voted to approve.  Wendy said she could ask Mike Hubbard if he could brush hog the Gateway for rescue vehicles once they have more information about what is needed.

Property Monitoring:  Wendy reported that she did some research on GRANITview to get its recently updated information on conservation properties. She pulled all the data for Walpole and annotated all of its conservation properties. She distributed a spreadsheet of conservation lands for which the town of Walpole has a protecting role. She also distributed a terminology sheet, which she briefly described. Wendy noted on the spreadsheet that, for the majority of properties, the Town of Walpole is the owner and does not hold a conservation easement on them. Therefore, she feels the term “easement monitoring” should not be used for their project. Perhaps they could call it something like “conservation land monitoring project.”

Wendy concluded her presentation by asking what the commissioners want to do next. Which properties do they want to monitor and how do they keep the momentum from Lauren Halaquist’s work going? Peter said he would put Wendy’s data sheets on Google Drive. Then he will call a meeting of the monitoring subcommittee to discuss the data and plan next steps, which they will present at the next Commission meeting.  Kara asked to be included in the meeting with Peter, Alicia, John, and Wendy.  

Wendy asked that they establish check-out and return procedures for Commission files.

General Information:  John reported that the USGS is doing subsurface water quality monitoring off Route 12.

With no further business to discuss, Lew moved to adjourn the meeting. Kara seconded and John adjourned the meeting at 9:25 p.m.

​​  

The next meeting will be on Monday, August 7, 2023.

Respectfully Submitted,

Jean Kobeski, Recording Secretary

** These minutes are in draft form until approved at the August 7, 2023 meeting.

“Not New – Just Improved”

For the past few months Marcus Flynn has been working on The Walpolean, updating pages and helping out. Marcus is a Walpole native and student at The George Washington University where he studies International affairs. He has previously been involved in the community through volunteering at the recycling center and a former student representative with the Fall Mountain School Board.

He reached out to me in April when he discovered that the Government page still had Donald Trump as President. Instead of simply criticizing, he volunteered to help with the site. Such a nice offer since I have not been successful in keeping those pages up-to-date. Glad to have him aboard and trust you will see even more improvements than the ones he has already made.

April 3, 2023

Members Present: Alicia Flammia, John Peska, France Menk, Peter Palmiotto, Lewis Shelley, Steven Dumont, Lauren Halaquist (Intern)   

Members Absent:  None

Seating of Alternates: Kara Dexter, Wendy Grossman

Visitors Present:  Peggy Pschirrer, Cheryl Mayberry (Selectboard liaisons), Alison  Chickering, Joe and Sonja Sawyer, Sally Chickering, Marcus Lovell-Smith, 

Jean Kobeski (Recording Secretary)

Call to Order:  Alicia called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. in Walpole Town Hall. This meeting was recorded.

New Busines

Biosolids in Walpole: Alison Chickering came to the meeting to make the Commission aware of a situation involving biosolids on her family farm in Walpole.  She wanted to discuss the hazards of biosolids and enlist the help of the Conservation Commission in halting further delivery and spreading of this material at Chickering Farm and preventing it from being used on farms elsewhere in Walpole. Also in attendance were Sally Chickering, Joe and Sonja Sawyer, and Marcus Lovell-Smith to address this issue.

From March 20 – 22 of this year, RMI out of Holderness, NH, delivered 15 – 18 loads of biosolids, with 30 tons/load, to the Chickering Farm on River Road South, to be used as fertilizer. Ms. Chickering, an heir to her mother and late father’s estate, tried to stop the delivery, stating the truckers were passing on posted roads.  She was told they had secured permission from the road agent.  

Ms. Chickering explained the dangers of the biosolids.  Though the PFAS level in it is presently within legal range, this material is composed of treated medical waste, metals, viruses and bacteria, and waste water.  Sonja Sawyer, whose property abuts the Chickering farm, said it has an obnoxious odor, like dead fish.  Joe Sawyer stated that, in his whole life, he has not smelled anything as disgusting. He also stated that biosolids are forever chemicals.  Alison Chickering said that, though the biosolids were tested before delivery, no testing has been done to see what it does once it hits the soil.  She said the farm now has 18” of rich topsoil. NH DES is planning to rule on the legality of biosolids in New Hampshire in November; that will affect farms going forward but will not help the Chickerings, who have it on their land now.

Ms. Chickering is also concerned about the effect on birds, particularly the bald eagles who nest in that area. Her family provides riding lessons for many children, and she has read warnings that these materials should not touch the skin.  She said many people enjoy walking, running, and biking on River Road South and may be deterred from doing that due to the smell and possible danger of inhaling contaminants. She and Commissioners expressed concern about contaminants  leaching into brooks and the Connecticut River.  Sally Chickering said the biosolids leach to a 6 mile radius and the farm is located less than 1/4 mile from the river. Peter pointed out that Chickering land sits over an aquifer, making it a problem for the town. It was stated that, if the town needs extra water, they look to the aquifer, which would be polluted from the biosolids. 

Mr. Lovell-Smith stated that, even though he is not an abutter to the Chickering Farm, he attended the meeting to learn more about biosolids for his own farm, Boggy Meadow, and to support the Chickerings in their effort to halt the use of biosolids in Walpole. 

Alison Chickering asked if there is anything the Conservation Commission can do to stop this process. Alicia answered they can advocate for better practices but there really isn’t much they can do. They are stewards of town-owned, rather than private properties.  It was suggested Ms. Chickering write an article for the Clarion and other local newspapers to make people aware of the problem.  Write letters to the editors. Jean suggested calling the Keene Sentinel, explaining the problem and inviting them to the farm for an interview. Sally Chickering suggested getting townspeople to sign a petition to give to the Chickerings.  Steven said the only thing that can stop the use of biosolids is tor the town to pass an ordinance banning them.  Peggy explained the process of getting an ordinance passed and stated the earliest this could be done would be Town Meeting, 2024.

At this point the visitors thanked the Commissioners for their time and exited the meeting.

Approval of Minutes: Peter made a motion to accept the March minutes as written.  Steven seconded, and all voted in favor.  Motion carried.

Appointment of New Walpole Conservation Commission Chair: After consulting with Barbara Richter of the NHACC, Alicia suggested dividing the chair’s responsibilities among the commissioners. Following a discussion of these responsibilities, the following duties were divided in this way:

​Check mail and chair meetings:  Alicia

​Create meeting agendas:  Kara

​Communicate as needed with other town boards:  Wendy

​Check Commission email and serve as public contact:  Steven

Cheryle reminded the commissioners they will need to determine who will take Laura’s place as liaison to the Hooper Board. 

Public Business

Treasury:​​Conservation:  $202,057.17

​​​         Forestry:    $23,876.50

​       Walker Road/Gateway:     $2,019.73

​​ Mason Expendable:  $461,075.16​

​    Mason Non-Expendable:     $19,501.61

Correspondences:   The Commission received the following:

​​Municipal Conservation Commission Handbook

​​NH Planning and Land Use Handbook

​​Highlights from the Monadnock Conservancy

Commission Vacancies:  Laura has not renewed her membership in the Commission, leaving one full-time position available.  Wendy, currently an alternate, expressed interest in the position.  She will write a letter to the Selectboard.  This then creates two unfilled positions as alternates.

Old Business

Cheshire Rail Trail:  Wendy stated she would like to do the first mowing in June, so she will start the application for the Special Use Permit.  She asked the Commission for the $100 fee and $1,000 (refundable) bond, though she will try to have the bond waived.  Kara moved to approve the $100 application fee and $1,000 bond (if necessary).  John seconded the motion and all voted in favor. Motion carried.  The $100 will come from Trail Expenses. Wendy will talk to Rich about taking the $1,000 from the Conservation or Forestry Fund. Alicia said these and brush-hogging expenses ($1500) were supposed to be a Trail Maintenance line item in the budget but do not appear as such.  Alicia will talk to Rich bout this. 

Recreational Trail Program Grant:  Wendy reported that they will get the $20,000 grant from the state, and they expect to receive the contract to sign in early May. Alicia will write the letter to the Trustees of the Trust Fund to get the previously approved money from the Fanny Mason Funds to meet the 20% matching requirement by the state for this project.

NH State Parks LWCF Grant Program Update:  tabled until next month’s meeting

Planning Board Workshop to Update Section on Natural Resources the Master Plan:  Wendy and Peter will attend the workshop on April 25 at 7:00 p.m.

Prioritizing Future Projects:  tabled until next month’s meeting; Kara is presently compiling the list from the town report, meeting minutes, and Alex Barrett’s assessment of town forests.

Other Business

Property Monitoring: Lauren reported that she is 85% finished with the summaries and glossary, which are in the easement monitoring folder in Google Drive. She has been working on the Aldrich property; boundaries are in question.  Wendy said she would help Lauren and would give Lauren an opportunity to monitor the property with Will and her as the landowners.  Lauren said she would email Wendy next week to set a time to do this.

Lauren also wants to start the Cabot/Boggy Meadow property.  Alicia reminded her to take pictures.

Lauren’s goal is to have all 15 property summaries finished by the end of summer.  She is also working with Peter on writing monitoring protocols for a master document.

Walpole Trails Subcommittee: Lew, Steven, and Caryn Marshall  cleaned and organized the tool storage shed. Lew emailed pictures of the shed to the Commissioners.

Upcoming events include:

1.  France Menk’s Fanny Mason Trail Walk – Sunday, April 16 (iam@france-menk.com)

2.  Walpole Clean Up Day – Saturday, April 22, 8:00 a.m. Walpole RecyclingCenter

3.  HOT  (Help Our Trails) Day – Saturday, April 29, 9-12

Other: Lew presented an invoice for $27.73 for keys. John moved; Steven seconded, and all voted to approve payment.

With no further business to discuss, Steven moved to adjourn the meeting.  France seconded, and all voted in favor.  Alicia adjourned the meeting at 9:00 p.m.

The next meeting will be Monday, May 1, 2023.

Respectfully Submitted,

Jean Kobeski, Recording Secretary

** These minutes are in draft form until approved at the May 1, 2023 meeting.