Text Box: draftCONSERVATION COMMISSION

 

MINUTES OF September 20, 2007

 

Present: Chris Giordano (Chairperson), Judy Jervis, Michele Tingley, Sheila Johannesen, Jason Holder.

 

Also present: David Phillips-potential eagle scout, Bob Gosling of PSNH.

 

The meeting opened at 7:40.

 

Mr. Gosling had met with the Board of Selectmen regarding work to be done on the powerlines off of Sandown Rd.  He was asked to meet with the CC for a wetland setback encroachment review.  He explained the switches which will be put in near existing poles.  This will increase reliability and allow the power company to fix an outage from a remote station within minutes rather than requiring hours to solve the problem.  He presented to the board written plans, including maps showing existing wetland, construction specs, foundation plans, safety features, etc.  Mr. Gosling explained that the proposed plans are totally within the buffer.  He also said a silt fence and hay bales had already been put in place around the site.  There was a discussion about removing the hay which often brings in invasive species.  Mr. Gosling said he’d have them removed right away.

 

Chris agreed to write a letter to the selectmen voicing his approval of the project.  Chris’s only concerns were:

1. a silt fence be used (which Mr. Gosling had already addressed);

2. the silt fence be removed after it’s stabilized;

3. an oil spill containment be made under the transformer.

 

Mr. Phillips spoke about his hopes of earning the rank of Eagle Scout by next year and his need for a project.  Several ideas were presented to him, including cleaning areas of the town forest, making a new trail system, fundraising for an Earth Day program, and making a trail map.  He obtained several ideas and thanked the board for their help.

 

The minutes of August 16th were discussed.  Sheila made a motion to accept the minutes as written.  Judy seconded and the motion passed.

 

Pond levelers were discussed.  Mike Callahan from Beaver Solutions had visited for an annual inspection.  He found the levelers were working fine.  Chris explained that the water level on the road has been dropping, with it currently having no water on the road.  The water level is down about 19” from what the pond leveler is set at.  There is a culvert about 200 yards past where the water crosses over the road, on the right, there is a 10” cast iron pipe that is clogged.  No one knows exactly where the water is coming from.  When the road was flooded about 6-8”, they found that the water was about 12” below the invert of the culvert.  The grade of the road has been washed away.  The heron nests appear to be still surrounded by water.  There was a discussion of raising the grade of the road rather than lowering the culverts.

 

Judy pointed out that no one has inspected further up the property to see if there is a beaver dam that no longer is holding back any water.  She also explained that development, namely Colby Pond, changes water in an area.  There are many factors to consider before changing the grade of a road.  She pointed out that it needs to be seen if those water bodies are even connected, if there is beaver activity further up, or if there are other factors affecting the water level.

 

Maps were reviewed.  The topography was studied.  Another site plan is being planned for October.  Chris will coordinate this with an expert from the state and let the rest of the board know the exact date. 

 

Grants were discussed.  Judy will look into these.  It was agreed that in the spring the survey will be done and by then there should be a grant of some sort available. 

 

The easement was discussed.  It was agreed that the easement will be ideally finished before another large project is undertaken.  There was a discussion of whether or not to put the easement in escrow until the Stewardship plan is done.  Judy will see about contacting Audubon about the time frame for a penalty if it’s finished and signed, the amount of the penalty, and wording regarding zoning that was questioned at the combined meeting. 

 

There was a discussion of the ATV club.  Judy explained damage done by ATV’s by the powerlines. 

 

Michele had contacted the webmaster about updating the town website.  The opinion was given, which was seconded by Mr. Phillips, that the website was a little difficult to navigate.  Michele will pursue the items she had reviewed at a previous meeting, and a review can be made afterwards if any

 

The budget for next year was reviewed.  There was a discussion of how much to budget for laminating maps and matching grants. 

 

Correspondence:

 

  • from Roxanne Rines: Conservation Commission workshop in the Fremont Town Hall on September 24, at 7 pm, “Develop an Open Space Plan”
  • Global Warming and Energy Solutions, October 12 and 13 in Manchester
  • from UNH: Landscaping at Waters Edge, October 4 and 11 in Meredith, 7:45 am to 3:30 pm.
  • from CTAP, September 24, How to Develop Open Space Plan for Your Community
  • NROC Assistance for communities in NH coastal watershed application deadline: November 16, for the 2008 Natural Resources Outreach Coalition community assistance program.
  • from DES Wetlands Bureau, a culvert is being replaced on Colby Brook
  • from UNH: a thanks for previous support for senior projects.  Information on their environmental outreach program.
  • from Eben Lewis of the DES regarding Carston Springer and wetlands complaint file # 2007-01982.
  • from DES: accepting projects for restoration of targeted impaired waters
  • 2008 budget schedule
  • the selectmen’s 2008 budget schedule
  • a letter from Mitzi Skinner, a junior girl scout leader regarding volunteer opportunities. 
  • a bill for nuts and bolts to repair the sign at the town forest.
  • Source 2007 summer newsletter
  • dues from NH Association of Conservation Commissions
  • email from Mike Callahan regarding a site walk to review beaver dams
  • from NRCS regarding Francis Boksanke’s project of converting an area back to wetlands.  NH cultural resources review form.

 

Sheila made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Jason seconded.  The motion passed and the meeting adjourned at 10:19 pm.

 

 

 

*****Next Meeting: October 4, 2007 at 7:30pm****

 

 

THESE MINUTES ARE NOT PERMANENT RECORD AND ARE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL AT THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED CONSERVATION COMMISSION MEETING, AT WHICH TIME, THE ABOVE MINUTES, AS CORRECTED, BECOME PERMANENT.

 

 

Minutes are prepared by Janet S. Denison, clerk