The Walpolean

Selectboard Present:​Peggy Pschirrer (Chair); Cheryl Mayberry; Steven Dalessio

CALL TO ORDER:  Mrs. Pschirrer, Chair of the Walpole Selectboard, called this meeting via Zoom to order at 6:30 PM.  She announced that Ms. Cheryl Mayberry and Mr. Steven Dalessio, the other two Selectboard members are present.  The Selectboard members are in three separate locations.  Mrs. Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration, is in the Walpole Town Hall, and Mrs. Regina Borden, Recording Secretary, is by telephone at a separate location.  This meeting is being live-streamed on FACT-TV and is being recorded by the Town.

Public comments are to be emailed to Mrs. Downing at the Walpole Town Hall or by calling 603-756-3671.  She will display the agenda.  That will be followed by documents as they are being discussed.

Mrs. Pschirrer called for a voice roll call of the Selectboard present: Cheryl Mayberry was present; Steven Dalessio was present; and Peggy Pschirrer was present. This meeting will be in accordance with Virtual Meetings, Emergency Order #12, which has been effective since March 2020.

Mrs. Pschirrer advised that two residents have checked in and are attending this meeting:  Mr. Jody Spivey and Mr. Shane O’Keefe.  

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:

Mr. Dalessio moved to accept the Accounts Payable Check Register in the total amount of $666,738.81 for checks issued February 19, 2021.  This includes a monthly payment of $607,559.42 to the Fall Mountain Regional School District.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

PAYROLL:

Mr. Dalessio moved to accept the Payroll Check Register for the week ending February 13, 2021, in the amount of $32,863.42 for checks dated February 19, 2021, and for the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer in the amount of $6,623.78.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES:

SELECTBOARD MINUTES – February 11, 2021:  Mr. Dalessio moved to accept the Minutes of the Selectboardmeeting of February 11, 2021, as submitted.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the Minutes were approved.

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION – February 11, 2021: Mr. Dalessio moved to accept the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard session of February 11, 2021, as submitted. These Minutes will remain sealed. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments. There were none. On a voice roll call vote with Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the Minutes were approved.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of the following Committee reports:• Planning Board Meeting – February 9, 2021;• Library Trustees Meeting – February 9, 2021.

PROPERTY TAX REFUNDS:

Mr. Dalessio moved to grant the following Property Tax Refunds:• MAP and LOT #UTIL-UTIL-01B in the amount of $9.07;• MAP and LOT #012-039-000 in the amount of $27.36.

These two refunds are for overpayments.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

TIMBER TAX WARRANT:

MAP and LOT #007-018-000:  Mr. Dalessio moved to approve the Timber Tax Warrant and Certification of Yield Taxes Assessed in the amount of $64.61 for the owner(s) of Map and Lot #007-018-000.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  Mrs. Pschirrerasked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

BUILDING PERMIT:

Permit #2021-06 for MAP and LOT #010-006-000:  Mr. Dalessio moved to grant Building Permit No. 2021-06 for the owner(s) of Map and Lot #010-006-000 to construct a “387’ x 50’ Commercial Chicken House”.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  Mr. Dalessio mentioned this was approved by the Planning Board in July 2020.  On a voice roll call vote with Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

OLD BUSINESS:

Class VI Portion of Whipple Hill Road and Snowmobiles: The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of a letter from Aquilla and Shirley Gorton regarding last week’s meeting and discussion.  They were having difficulty attempting to speak last week. Therefore, they sent this letter:

“We have been accessing the snowmobile trail for more than 10 years using the class 6 road Whipple Hill.  We originally went through the field known as Faulkner Forrest.  At that time we approached the Spivey’s asking permission to cross into their field.  They stated they were concerned about liability.  We provided them with the state NHSA insurance information stating that there was no liability to land owners.  However we never received permission so we have never used their fields.

We ride down the Pelsue Road also a class 6 road.  At the end of the Pelsue Road the Spivey’s have created a very large ditch which we have to avoid.  We did try to chip away at some of the ledge to make it safe to ride.  At the very end of the road they have created a large shale berm making it impossible for any vehicle to cross.  We went with shovels and opened a small section of this berm to be able to access Whipple Hill Road.  We then travel down the side of the road to the end of Whipple Hill Road, by trying to stay to the side it has disturbed the snowbanks he is referring to.  At the end of the road the snow is plowed into a snowbank in the middle of the road.  He has placed driveway markers close to the road, thus making it impossible to go around the snowbank.  At times he has placed a large garbage barrel in the middle of the road which we ride around.  We carry a shovel and dig out the snowbank in order to be able to pass onto the trail.  Thank you.”

Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any comments. There were none.

Vachon Clukay 2019 Audit Representations Letter:  Mrs. Pschirrer reported that last week the Selectboard signed the letter that gave Vachon Clukay permission to do the audit.  This is the letter that states they did the audit.  

Ms. Mayberry moved to authorize the Chair of the Selectboard, Peggy L. Pschirrer, to sign this letter to Vachon Clukay.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Ms. Mayberry, Mr. Dalessio and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.  

2021 Road Paving List:  Mrs. Pschirrer advised they received the 2021 Road Paving list from Mr. Rau, Road Agent/Highway Department.  This is subject to change except for the Elm Street project.  Ms. Mayberry pointed out that Mr. Rau was hoping to have the time and funds to do more than Kilburn Street in North Walpole. Kilburn Street has to be done this year. Therefore, he might have to delay some of the other roads until next year.  Mr. Rau tries to go back-and-forth every-other-year with paving roads between North Walpole and Walpole.

Plow Route Area:  The Selectboard acknowledged the list for the Plow Route areas and drivers.  Mr. Dalessio wanted to remind Mr. Rau that Mr. Merv Stevens dry well needs to be done.  Ms. Mayberry will be sure it is on their schedule.

Pending Further Actions:

Tax Deeded Property Sale, Reservoir Dam Repairs, Emergency Generators, Town Employees and COVID-19 Leave:  These items will remain on the “Pending Further Actions” list pending additional information.  

NEW BUSINESS:      

242 North Road Political Signage:  An anonymous letter was received regarding political signage.  Mrs. Pschirrer realizes there is a concern about signs that are on a private property on North Road.  The Police had a discussion this week with the gentleman who lives there.  He had not thought about the fact that children might be looking at and reading the signs.  From hearsay; he feels he has been harassed by some neighbors who have been calling him names; there is displeasure in the neighborhood.        

Thank You from the US Census 2020: The Selectboard acknowledged the Thank You from the US Census 2020 who appreciated using the Town Hall, before it was closed due to COVID-19, for training classes.

FACT-TV:  FACT-TV ceased filming as the regular Selectboardmeeting ended.  The Selectboard will enter into a Hooper Trustees meeting.    

RECESS SELECTBOARD MEETING:

Mr. Dalessio moved to recess this Selectboard meeting.  The Selectboard will enter into a meeting as the Hooper Trustees.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved at 6:50 PM.

The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 6:57 PM.

NON-PUBLIC SELECTBOARD SESSION:

Ms. Mayberry moved to enter into a Non-Public SelectboardSession pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss (a) Personnel and (c) Reputations.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  Mrs. Pschirrerasked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Ms. Mayberry, Mr. Dalessio and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved at 6:58 PM.

The regular Selectboard meeting resumed at 7:32 PM.

Ms. Mayberry moved that the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard Session of February 18, 2021, will be sealed.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Ms. Mayberry, Mr. Dalessio and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the motion was approved.

ADJOURNMENT:

Mr. Dalessio moved to adjourn this Selectboard meeting.  Seconded by Ms. Mayberry.  Mrs. Pschirrer asked if there were any questions or comments.  There were none.  On a voice roll call vote with Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Mayberry and Mrs. Pschirrer in favor, the meeting was adjourned at 7:36 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Are you interested in working at the polls? Cindy Westover says that if you are interested, you should be at the Town Hall at 6:00 PM on Monday the 8th for a training session.

Polls will be open from 7:00 AM until 7:00 PM on the 9th. If you would like more information before that you call her at 603-313-8808. – Lil

COVID by the Numbers—February 28 Edition

From a low of 5 active cases of COVID at the beginning of the week, Walpole rocketed back up to 10 active cases on the 27^th, before backing down to 8 active cases as of this writing.  Last week we had 4 new cases of COVID in town; this week we are up to 9 new cases for the week.

In Cheshire County, our seven day average of reported cases per 100,000 is also going in the wrong direction.  The county went from an average of 20.5 cases per 100,000 last week back up to an average of 23.1 this week.  This makes our county rate the 4^th highest in the state.  More worrying, the infection rate for the county which was 0.67 towards the beginning of the month, has gone up to 1.00 or just above.  The infection rate reflects the average number of other people that each infected person passes the virus on to.  If it stay around 1.00, the numbers or new cases are likely to remain the same.  When the infection rate goes above 1.00, the numbers are likely to rise.  

Active cases in Cheshire County went from 135 up to 149.  Two more COVID cases were hospitalized this week, and we have lost one more citizen to the pandemic this week.

Statewide, the numbers are significantly better.  The seven-day average of reported cases has gone down from 27.9 to 21.1.  Active cases have gone from 2,940 down to 2, 532.  Hospitalizations have gone from 109 down to 89, a real milestone.  We lost 23 citizens statewide last week; this week the number was 16.  We did, however, cross the 75,000 mark in total numbers of cases.  As of this writing, 75,424 cases of COVID have been confirmed in the state.

Still, the numbers in NH are significantly higher than those in California in general and Los Angeles County in particular, which is not a good place to be.

Please keep on taking good care of yourselves, and each other.  Don’t let down your guard.  Be careful out there.  There is still work to do.

Wear your mask, keep your distance-even when wearing a mask, wash your hands, and keep well.  

~Representative Lucy Weber

603-499-0282

Lwmcv@comcast.net

TOWN OF WALPOLE

SELECTBOARD MEETING AGENDA

February 25, 2021

Starting at 6:30 PM via Zoom and may be live-streamed on FACT-TV

SELECTBOARD MEETING

NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS: RSA 91-A:3 II (a) (c)

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE• Accounts Payable Check Register in the total amount of $65,697.93 for checks issued 2/26/21

PAYROLL• Payroll Register totaling $36,792.22 dated 2/26/21 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $7,703.58

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES• Selectboard Minutes – February 18, 2021• Non-Public Selectboard Session Minutes – February 18, 2021• Staff Meeting Minutes – February 18, 2021

COMMITTEE REPORTS• Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting – February 17, 2021• North Walpole Village District Commissioners Meeting – January 26, 2021• North Walpole Village District Commissioners Meeting – February 2, 2021• North Walpole Village District Commissioners Meeting – February 9, 2021• North Walpole Village District Commissioners Meeting – February 16, 2021

BUILDING PERMITS• 2021-07 for Map and Lot# 012-014-000• 2021-08 for Map and Lot# 005-004-001

OLD BUSINESS• North Walpole Village District Board of Commissioners Letter re: Library Lease• Nerrie Adequate Notice for DADU• Streetlight LED Conversion re: Blue Light• Q4 Water and Sewer Receipts to Date• Town Meeting Room Schematic and Warrant Article Assignments

Pending Further Actions• Tax Deeded Property Sale, Reservoir Dam Repairs, Emergency Generators, Town Employees and COVID-19 Leave

NEW BUSINESS• Junkyard Permits

NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS – Session II: RSA 91-A:3 II (a) (c)

**Any recording, audio or visual, and/or other devices must be declared at the beginning of the meeting**

If you are a Follower and read the Zoning Board Minutes, you know that they have started the process to look into, if and what, the Town should do about Short Term Rental properties. They are looking for public input and this is how you can do it. – Lil

What do you think about short-term rentals?

Short-term rentals are becoming more and more popular, and because they have caused problems for some NH towns, Walpole’s attorney has recommended that we address short-term rentals in our Zoning Ordinance. The Zoning Board of Adjustment is beginning to work on this, and we need input from Walpole residents.

Short-term rentals (think AirBnB and the like) are rentals to overnight guests, usually for 1-30 days. A short-term rental may be one or more rooms rented out by someone in their own residence. It may be a brief rental of a house while the owners vacation elsewhere.

However, many short-term rentals are in houses that are rented out year-round to tourists and other visitors, but the owner does not live there, and may not even live in the same state.

Please tell us how you feel about short-term rentals.

How much oversight do you think there should be? Why?

Do you have any particular concerns: for the town, the neighbors, or the renters? For the short-term rental operators?

Should short-term rentals be allowed in all zoning districts? In some zoning districts?

Do you think owner occupied short-term rentals should be treated differently than non-owner occupied ones?

Would you like to have a chance to voice your concerns before a short-term rental opened next door to you?

Please email the ZBA chair, Jan Galloway-Leclerc jan.leclerc@gmail.com with your thoughts and concerns regarding short-term rentals and Walpole’s role in regulating them.

For anyone who wants to speak to the ZBA, the board meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. The Zoom information can be found on the agenda, which is posted publicly about a week before each meeting.

Roll Call: Zoom meetings require that votes be taken by an individual board member voice response.  Chair Jan Leclerc called the names of each Board member and he/she responded “here.” Board members saying “here” were Clerk Tom Murray, Zoom Host Pauline Barnes and alternate Don Sellarole. Ms. Jan Leclerc introduced herself as chair of the Zoning Board of Adjustment in Walpole and Marilou Blaine as recording secretary. Absent: Vice-chair Myra Mansouri, Ernie Vose, Alternates David Edkins and Judy Trow. Ms. Leclerc asked Mr. Sellarole to fill in for absent board member Ernie Vose. The meeting was being recorded. Ms. Leclerc said each person was in a separate location. 

Meeting Opened: Ms. Leclerc called the meeting to order at 7:06 pm. Ms. Mansouri joined the meeting at 7:28 pm.

Minutes: Mr. Murray said he would like to amend something he said at the January meeting. On page 3, first paragraph, he asked to change the word “verbiage” to “define” and delete the next sentence completely. Ms. Leclerc said he didn’t need to delete that sentence as it was “true,” but Mr. Murray said he preferred to do that. He made a motion to accept the minutes as amended. Mr. Sellarole seconded the motion and the motion carried.

Old Business: Signage at Shaw’s in North Meadow Plaza: No one from Bailey Signs in Westbrook, ME, the company making the signs, has contacted the secretary about an update.

Discussion about short-term rentals:

Since there were no other items on the agenda, the Board discussed writing an ordinance for short-term rentals. They did so because there is a concern about the popularity of these establishments and on the advice of the town’s counsel that the Zoning Board should do this “sooner than later.”

Mr. Hockensmith said in a letter to Chair Leclerc that the Bed & Breakfast ordinance does not cover short-term rentals because that is not a home occupation and that short-term rentals are more of a commercial rental even though it may seem a small business. 

Ms. Leclerc said this meeting was a “brainstorming” session about what might be pertinent language for a separate ordinance on short-term rentals. No vote was taken. It was a lively discussion with everyone participating. Prior to the meeting, the Board had received lots of material from Ms. Barnes about this phenomenon including samples of at least six New Hampshire town’s ordinances on short-term rentals. These ordinances have included definitions, purposes, standards for specific uses, zoning districts where short-term rentals are permitted or not permitted, the application process, safety measures, restrictions, owner’s obligations and signage.

The secretary has divided the minutes into what most members seemed to agree on and other ideas of what may or may not be included in the ordinance, but were brought up at the meeting. It’s a work in progress. 

Things generally agreed upon:

The Bed and Breakfast ordinance would remain as is and a new ordinance pertaining to short-term rentals would be written.  (See Article IV L in the Town of Walpole’s B&B Zoning Ordinance). 

The ordinance would begin with either a definition of a short-term rental or a statement of purpose of a short-term rentals.

The term “short-term rental” would be the term used throughout the ordinance.

The current ordinance defining tourist homes, which is an antiquated term for rooms rented overnight, would be used for short-term rentals and the term tourist homes would be swapped. The definition of tourist homes currently says “means any place consisting of a room or groups of rooms located in a residence where transient accommodations for sleeping or living purposes are provided for a price.”

Short-term rentals would be divided into two types: 

​a. primary residence owners (owners of property who must spend a minimum of 180 days a ​year living on that property) 

​b. investor-owned (owners do live on the property).  Owners of investor-owner short-term ​rentals must also get a Special Exception from the Zoning Board of Adjustment before going to ​the Planning Board.

Owners of either type of short-term rental must go to the Planning Board and present a Site Plan for the Board’s approval. The reason for this is that since owners of Bed and Breakfasts are required to get Site Plan approval, owners of short-term rental units should get also Site Plan approval. Also, Site Plans include consideration of of parking, lighting and safety regulations by Walpole’s Fire Chief.

A room or group of rooms could be rented for up to 30 consecutive days.

Other items to be considered:

In what districts should short-term rentals be permitted?

Should owners of short-term rentals need a permit or have to fill out an application for permission from the Town Offices?

Should owners of short-term rentals have to register with the town?

Noise and partying are major concerns for neighbors of residences used for short-term rentals. Should there be penalties for renters who abuse these concerns?

Could a DADU, Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit, be used as a short-term rental?

Should there be any restrictions on short-term rentals? If so, what kind of restrictions?

Contact number for people when person who has short-term rental for a person having primary residence. 

What is already being done?

Input from town residents

After about an hour of discussion, Ms. Barnes asked if perhaps the Board should get some input from townspeople. It was decided that Ms. Leclerc would write a letter and ask the publisher of the Clarion and editor of the Walpolean whether they would print a letter. Also, post on bulletin board.

The discussion on short-term rentals will continue.

Respectfully submitted, Marilou Blaine, secretary

cc: ZBA, WPB, Town Offices

Posted: Inside and outside the Town Offices, http://www.walpole, nh.us, Walpolean

COVID by the Numbers—February 21 Edition

Last week, Walpole had 7 active cases.  We are down to 5 now.  New cases are down marginally—4 this week, down from 5 last week.  However, we are still getting new cases regularly, so we have more work to do.

In Cheshire County, our seven day average of reported cases per 100,000 went from 19.2 last week up to 20.5.  This makes Cheshire County just slightly higher than Los Angeles County, and significantly higher than the state of California, which makes me think there is room for improvement.  Some of our county rate is driven by an outbreak over at Franklin Pierce in Rindge, but new cases are still popping up all over the county.  There were 8 new cases in Keene yesterday.  Active cases in the county went from 127 back up to 135.  Sadly, we have lost another citizen to the pandemic, but that is down from 3 deaths last week.

Statewide, the seven-day average of reported cases has gone up from 25.7 to27.9.  Active cases have gone from 3,365 down to 2,940.  Hospitalizations have gone from 126 down to 109.  We lost 29 citizens statewide last week; this week the number was down to 23.

It worries me that although our numbers are coming down, sloooowly, as of February 21^st, NH still has COVID rates of reported cases higher than every other state in the country except New York, Rhode Island, New Jersey, North Carolina, and South Carolina.  We can and should be doing better than this.

I am off to two days of House Sessions, meeting in person at the Bedford Sportsplex, where we are told that we can be seated 10-12 feet apart rather than just 6 feet.  As always we are told that those members who refuse masks (there were 80 or so last time we counted) are going to be kept away from those who follow CDC guidelines.  We have been told this every time the House has met since last March.  Hope springs eternal that this time it will actually be true.

Please keep on taking good care of yourselves, and each other.  Don’t let down your guard.  Be careful out there.  There is still work to do.

Keep well.

~Representative Lucy Weber

603-499-0282

Lwmcv@comcast.net

When I did the os about Candidates NightI was asked, “How do we know who is running?” Good question I was unable to answer then,but I can now. – Lil

For the Town:

Town of Walpole

1​Selectman​​ 3-yr term​ Peggy L. Pschirrer

1​Town Clerk/Tax Collector​ 3-yr term​ Meghan Hansson

1​Trustee of Trust Funds​ 3-yr term​ Carol E. Malnati

2​ Zoning Board of Adjustment ​ 3-yr term. Pauline Barnes​

​ Thomas Murray

2​ Planning Board. ​3-yr term​ Joanna Andros

​ Jeffrey Miller

1​ Planning Board. ​2-yr term​ Bill Carmody

​ Trevor MacLachlan

1​ Cemetery Trustee​ 3-yr term​ Linda F. Edkins

3​ Library Trustee​ 3-yr term​ Amy Howard

​ Jeanne Ramey

​ Bill Ranauro

1​ Library Trustee​ 1-yr term​ Timothy Lester

For the School Board:

1 At Large 3-yr Term. Michael Herrington

Timothy Fitzpatrick

1Walpole 3-yr Term. Wiliam Stahl

Craig Vickers

Members Present: Alicia Flammia, Lewis Shelley, , Steven Dumont, Laura Hayes, France Menk, Jackie Kensen, Cheryl Mayberry (Selectboard Liason), Peggy Pschirrer (Selectboard Member), Jean Kobeski (Secretary)
Members Absent: John Peska
Alternate Present: Peter Palmiotto
Visitors: Alex Barrett

Call to Order: Alicia called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
Review and Approval of Minutes: Steven moved, Laura seconded, and all voted by roll call to
accept the December 7, 2020, minutes.

Public Business

Treasury: ForestryAccount – $30,820.44 Conservation – $142,753.04
Walker Road – $3,363.90
– Mason (non-expendable) $19,029
– Mason (expendable) $454,015.22

Report from the Chair: Alicia stated that numerous volunteers responded to the WCC email set up by Steven. He has a list of the volunteers and will post it on the WCC Google Drive.

Correspondence: Alicia reported she received covid information from the NH Charitable Foundation and newsletters from the Monadnock Conservancy and NHDES Supply Lines.
Alicia also received an email from Marilou Blaine regarding the downed oak on the Mill Pond trail along with a suggestion to host walking adventures for seniors. Alicia forwarded this idea to Helen Dalbeck of the Hooper Institute and Michael Nerrie of Distant Hill Gardens. Both expressed interest; Laura is on the board of both organizations and will encourage collaboration between them.

New Business

Update on Town Forests: Alex Barrett made reference to material he sent to the WCC on 11/3/2020. Included was a summary of rapid assessments along with a recommendation to start thinking about foresting in Fanny Mason. Alex talked about harvesting in Watershed Forest, thinking about the health of the pine trees. He recently went out and took core samples of 6 trees. He took diameters and counted the rings and reported that they haven’t been growing for 30 years. He sent pictures of the samples to Alicia. He stated that the pine trees are not improving; they are not dying but also not growing. Moving forward he said the Watershed hardwoods are coming on strong and invasives (especially in the Hooper Forest) should be monitored.

In regard to Fanny Mason, Alex said he would resend his 11/3 report and proposal to the membership. Peter stated he was reading the report but wanted to know where a map of the full property can be found. He recommended looking at the full property so they carve out areas they don’t want to harvest. He also stated that trail expansion should be considered in any harvesting plan. Alex stated he would graph out the area and work with the WCC to map it out. Lew said he would share trail maps he’s been working on and Peter said student maps and data can be included.

Steven stated it is time to move on this. Plan the management of these forests and do it carefully. Fanny Mason is a good start. Lew and Peter will share data and can work with Alex. Alex said he would get together with Lew and Peter then send around a plan.
Laura asked Alex when they would need to get started, if this work takes a few months to do. He said if they give the go-ahead by April, and certainly no later than the fall of 2021, contractors can be approached for work in the winter of 2022.

Land Use Change Tax – Map 21 Lots 25 and 26: Alicia referred to the letter from Avitar, which she forwarded to the membership, then stated that the WCC will be receiving the full $25,000 from LUCT this year for land preservation.

Mill Pond Trail: Lew reported that the Mill Pond Trail is back! He and Peter took care of the downed tree in two hours and purchased new saw chains to do it. Cheryl reminded Lew to submit receipts for the chains.

Dam Relicensing: Alicia stated there is a YouTube video from the CRC on the relicensing of the Wilder, Bellows Falls, and Vernon dams. She also said she would invite Kathy Urffer to attend the WCC April meeting to make a presentation on this topic.

Old Business

Public Forum: The public forum has been tabled for the time being. Alicia will email Maureen when the group is ready to proceed with it. Alicia said she would collect the comment box from the library.

Trail Maps: The membership agreed to ask Rick Brackett of the Monadnock Conservancy to create the maps. Lew has beeen gathering the GPS data and has already given him data from the Mill Pond. A sample can be made then a template created.
A town-wide map accompanied by blow-up maps (8 1/2 x 11) of key trails was discussed. Steven suggested labeling maps with length of trail, difficulty, allowed uses, permission for dogs, and Leave No Trace. France suggested printing the maps on waterproof paper and charging $5, perhaps as a fundraiser.

Lew showed the members a trail sign he made and said that he has several others. After they are painted, they can be put up.

Other Business:

Trail Maintenance Subcommittee Report: Steven said last month’s meeting was well attended. The group narrowed down trails they would like to map. The committee discussed having two maintenance days each year, one in the spring and one in the fall. They felt training sessions on trail cleaning and trail maintenance would be beneficial. They also suggested having an Adopt-A-Trail program. Steven said some families have already volunteered.
The committee suggested walking each trail a few times per month and cleaning up, if necessary. Reports of trees down or washouts could be emailed to the committee and a group could go out and take care of the problem.
Steven said he got tools for boundary marking from Lew and they are being kept in a backpack donated by Lew and Kris Shelley. The tools cost $65.78.

Reservoir Dam: Peggy reported that modeling was done and the dam was designated high risk. The selectboard is now looking at next step. Peggy said they now need to do modeling for the Mill Pond.

Soil Samples: Cheryl reported the USGS is coming to do soil samples near Fanny Mason, checking for contaminants. Peggy signed the approval.

Invasive Species Seminar: France asked if there is course reimbursement for the NH Extension Service invasive species seminar. Reimbursement was approved by a roll call vote of the membership.

Other Topics: France offered to help with any artwork needed for maps, etc. Lew stated the commision should create a logo. It would be good to have for any print materials, especially maps, linking them to Walpole.
Steven stated that conservation maps need to be edited and additions sent to Antioch. Laura wondered if there was any software that would enable her to do the editing, butone was named. Steven said he saw some changes that need to be made, so he will put them in an email to Laura and Peter by next meeting.

Steven reported there would be another blazing trip in the next few months.

Steven feels the commission needs to discuss wetland buffers in the conservation plan.

In reference to the WCC website, Alicia was in contact with Kelli, who is trying to work with Ryan.

There was a brief disscussion about the conservation land spreadsheet and what properties need to be monitored. Jackie stated there are four properties to be walked, and this has been done by Jackie. Lew stated he feels this should be done by a subcommittee so the work doesn’t fall to one person. He also stated that meetings could be streamlined by brief reports by subcommittes, such a the Walpole Gateway, Wetlands buffer, and Easement. This will be discussed further at the next meeting.

Adjourment: France moved, Jackie seconded, and all voted by roll call to adjourn the meeting
at 8:21 p.m.
The next Zoom meeting is Monday, March 1, 2021, at 7:00 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jean Kobeski, Recording Secretary
*** These minutes are in draft form until approved by the Commission on March 1, 2021.