Washington Conservation Commission

Minutes – March 16, 2022

Assembly time: 7:00 PM, Meeting at Town Hall.

Members present: Arin Mills, Jed Schwartz, Nan Schwartz

Visitors: None

1.0 Approval of Minutes: February minutes, approved as written.

2.0 Permits Committee –

New: We found one Expedited Wetlands Permit application in the mailbox for Chris & Sue Stubbs, TM 20-182, Beaver Brook Road, Arin will speak to the new Town Clerk about getting all the copies.

Previous:

LaPlume, 23 Harrison Road, Wetland PBN, incomplete application

DeMarco, TM 25-117, 1669 Valley Road, Documented violation, no permit for primary structure.

Barkie, TM25-116, 1681 Valley Road, reported violation, construction of 2 garages and altered an existing structure in protected shoreline.

Cote, TM 24-58, 46 Lookout Point Road, installation of dock without a permit.

Town of Washington, Camp Morgan Beach, Millen Pond Road, Standard Dredge and Fill permit application, beach sand replenishment project, permit approved.

Mensh, 38 Lookout Point Rd., TM 24-59, Shoreland PBN, Impact 1392 square feet of protected shoreland in order to raze existing 1016 square foot cottage and build a new 1016 square foot cottage on existing footprint.

Mensch, 38 Lookout Point Rd., TM 24-59, Wetlands PBN permit application, DES approved to fix existing retaining wall.

*Johnson/Kimball – Notice of complaint, dredging in Highland Lake, TM 25-93, letter of deficiency and steps to mitigate, dredging will be addressed separately by DES. No new news.

*Colette - Complaint of violations, TM 12-69, over clearing of waterfront zone, no follow up yet

Longval – no news.

* these are complaints with no follow up by DES, we are waiting for more information.

3.0 Committee and Board reports:

3.1 Land Protection Committee – The warrant article to protect Camp Morgan Town Forest with a conservation easement passed at Town Meeting. They only amendment was to bring the finished easement agreement back to TM next March for final approval by the town. Jed called Brian Hotz (Forest Society) but hasn’t heard back from him yet. He will visit the BoS to discuss on Thursday.

3.2 Energy Committee – They have not been meeting but Andrew is doing some work with the BoS and getting an audit done on Camp Morgan Lodge.

3.3 Planning Board – Nan mentioned that the Planning Board’s LUO changes all passed at Town Meeting.

3.4 Forestry Committee – No word from Forestry Committee members.

3.5 Legislative update – No news.

4.0 Public Presentations and workshops:

4.1 Cottrell-Baldwin Lecture Series, in person this year, you must register at signnup@forestsociety.org, March 15, March 22, March 29 and April 5

4.2 Saving Special Places conference, online this year, April 1^st & 2^nd , sign up at savingspecialplaces.org, $40 per person

4.3 Nature hike with WES kids – Arin mentioned she talked to Kelly about making up the day we missed because of the snowstorm. We discussed still doing a hike. Arin will ask Kelly if April 22^nd (Earth Day) will work.

5.0 New Business:

5.1 Arin said we should schedule a trash pickup for late April or early May before the black flies hatch out. We will set a date at our next meeting.

5.2 Arin asked about tax hold properties and whether we can continue to advise the BoS on them. Jed will speak with the BoS about this.

6.0 Other Business:

6.1 Trails and Recreation Guide Booklet – Arin and Nan continue their work on the booklet. We will continue working on it with a goal to publish the booklet this spring/summer. Nan said that Sandy called her and said they sold out of our existing Trail Maps at Town Hall. We discussed reprinting them once more since the booklet is not finished. Arin thought we should print them again and made a motion to spend up to $300 for this, Jed seconded the motion and all voted in favor. Jed will speak to the printer.

6.2 East Washington Town Forest – Arin asked that we keep this on the agenda. There was money raised at Town Meeting to do an up-to-date engineering study on the lot to find out how much gravel is on the lot. We reiterated at TM that a reclamation plan will need to be done.

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

6.4 Master Plan goals for 2022 – This is a placeholder.

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

6.6 ATV/UTV road usage map - Jed will speak with the BoS to make sure they have money in the budget to print these and talk to printers if the money is earmarked for this.

7.0 What’s Happening in Nature?

Jed said the Maple trees are tapped and the sap is running. He worries that the predicted warm weather might end the season quickly. Arin said she and Phil are boiling this year with a new rig and about 40 taps. Jed has a couple of taps out and has made a half gallon so far.

Arin saw a Porcupine wandering around.

We all have had a lot of birds at the bird feeders and some red and grey squirrels. Arin said there are so many woodpeckers this year of all different kinds. She also saw a mourning dove and juncos. Jed has had starlings at his feeder, also purple and gold finches.

Jed commented that the lakes are opening up. To find out more about “Ice Out”, click here: NewinNature.html

8.0 Correspondence:

8.1 DES Notice of outstanding items still needed for Johnson/Kimball, TM 25-93, 1901 Valley Road

8.2 DES Notice of complete seasonal dock notification for Stephen Zucker, TM 14-1, 731 Ashuelot Drive

8.3 Copy of Forest Notes

9.0 Adjourned at 8:45PM, the next meeting is Wednesday, April 20^th at 7PM, at Town Hall.

Respectfully submitted,

Nan Schwartz, Secretary