Washington Conservation Commission

Minutes – January 20, 2021

 

Assembly time: 7:00 PM, Meeting conducted online using ZOOM.

 

Members present: Arin Mills, Johanna Young, Jed Schwartz and Nan Schwartz.

Visitors: None

 

1.0    Approval of Minutes: the December minutes were approved as written.

 

2.0   Permits Committee  -

New: No new permits

Previous: Johnson/Kimball – Notice of complaint, dredging in Highland Lake, TM 25-93

Bologna – Notice of complaint, dredging in Highland Lake, TM 24-91

Barkie/Colette - Complaint of violations, TM 12-69, over clearing of waterfront zone

Demore – Shoreland Permit approved, TM 24-72

Steiner – PBN Wetlands permit, boathouse pier replacement, beach replenishment – permit approved

Prentiss – Shoreland permit approved, Ashuelot Drive, TM 10-21

Pellegrino – Shoreland permit, 2191 Valley Road, TM 25-45

Neubert – Shoreland permit approved, 216 Cove Road, TM 24-116

Mensch – follow up letter on notice of violation from DES, 38 Lookout Point Road, TM 24-59, expanding a deck without a permit.

Cordeiro – Notice of complaint from DES concerning excavation violations (no permit or erosion control), no follow up notice.

Calabro – The driveway is in.

Mill Pond dredging – Jed will check in with Aaron Weschler again.

Longval wetland issue – no news.

           

3.0   Committee and Board reports:

3.1   Land Protection Committee –No news.

3.2   Energy Committee – No news, havenÕt met. Andrew continues to advise the BoS on energy and heating/cooling projects for town buildings.

3.3   Planning Board – Nan said the will have LUO items on a ballot at Town Meeting in March.

3.4   Forestry Committee – Jed will speak with Town forester Anita Blakman and Forestry Committee members about a possible cut.

3.5   Legislative update  - No news.

 

4.0   Public Presentations and workshops: None planned at this point.

 

5.0   New Business:

5.1   Arin had a draft of the CCÕs annual report for the Town report that she ran by us. She will send out the draft so we can mark it up if needed. We all thought it was well written.

 

6.0   Other Business:

6.1   Trails and Recreation Guide Booklet – Arin and Nan are still working on the booklet. Arin is working on maps and Nan is working on writing and formatting. Arin has posted the latest version to her Google account. Nan will work with that version and add the new writing to it.

6.2   Facebook Page – Arin said she is continuing to post items when she can. To check out the CCÕs Facebook page go here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2173271309586226/  

6.3   Master Plan goals for 2020 – This is a placeholder.

6.4   Tracking Invasive Plants project – The reporting sheets and guides are always available here: InvasiveProject.html

6.5   We went over the ATV/UTV usage road map (version 4). Jed had feedback on latest version from the Dirt Donkeys, Ed Thayer and the BoS. It was decided to remove the map inset of the Dirt Donkey trails because they are not locked yet. We will still indicate where the trails are on the town map. Arin will make the change and send another version, which should be the final. The BoS has budgeted for printing the map. We will look at a sticker for the cover instead of printing 2 sided.

 

7.0   WhatÕs Happening in Nature?

Jed said he was working in the woods and had a Pileated Woodpecker following him around. He saw and heard it several times. He also saw a young moose standing on the ice in Mill Pond one day. He went to take a picture and it took off before he could.

Nan said they had a Red Poll at their birdfeeder recently, usually seen in flocks, but this one was alone. They have a good variety of birds at the feeder.

Johanna has 16 Wild Turkeys that come daily and look for seed left under her bird feeder. She has had them roosting in a tall White Pine tree nearby. She has seen a Bobcat recently.

Arin saw a juvenile Bobcat walking down the road near PooleÕs. She also saw a huge healthy looking coyote in the middle of town. She said it has also been seen by several people in the same vicinity. She saw a flock of Evening Grosbeaks recently. The moose on Faxon Hill is still being spotted where there is a wildlife corridor between Oak Hill and Farnsworth Hill. Arin said she went on a hike up Huntley Mountain and there was a lot of spruce at the top along with good views.

To learn more about Evening Grosbeaks, click here: NewinNature.html

 

8.0   Correspondence:  

DES- notice of inspection and requests, Mensch

            Copy of Forest Notes

 

9.0   Adjourned at 8:02PM, the next meeting is Wednesday, February 17th at 7PM, location to be announced.

 

Respectfully submitted,           

Nan Schwartz, Secretary