WASHINGTON  CONSERVATION COMMISSION

 

 

Minutes of May 2, 2002

 

 

 

1.0  Assembly:  Time  7:05 p.m.

1.1  Present:  Michael Andrews, Carol Andrews, Marv Jager, Jed Schwartz, Nan Schwartz, Don Richard, Lionel Chute.

 

2.0  Approval of Minutes: Marv Jager moved that we approve the minutes as printed.  Second by Jed Schwartz.  Motion passed.

 

3.0  Old Business: 

3.1  Website:  Mike spoke with Steve Marshall about setting up an e-mail address for the Commission.  Jed has spoken with John Hofstetter about our website.  John has worked with the website for the Washington Elementary School. They both feel it is important to keep continuity with other Town websites.  A discussion ensued about what we would want on the website.  It was decided that we would have a links page, a place to post the minutes, and a frequently asked questions page.  Perhaps we could even have a way for visitors to the sight to give us information. Perhaps we could invite people to report wildlife sightings, or we might want to have a contest for the largest of each species of tree in town. 

3.2   DES Wetlands class: Sandy Crystall at DES has suggested the 13th of June to come to Washington.  Mike will try for a later date so Rich Cook can be here.  Don suggested that we notify the Sullivan County Conservation District when we have a firm date for this presentation.  Marv suggested that when DES comes out for the class we have copies of permits to refer to.

3.3   Mike has done some work on the bylaws.  He has written drafts for Seasonal Dock Notification and Dredge and Fill by using documents from nine other towns.  Don Richard brought up that we might want to verify that each person requesting a dock permit has received a copy of the Shoreland Protection Act.  Mike will e-mail the bylaws document to the rest of the committee.

3.4   The work day out at the Camp Morgan Town Forest was a great success.  Several members of the Conservation Commission came out to help.  The trail to Indian Point has been cut and marked.

 

4.0  Natural Resource Inventory:

4.1  Don brought in a notebook as the start of our NRI.  He has suggested headings for the NRI, including Conservation and Public Lands, Forest Resources, Wildlife, Cultural Resources, etc.  Mike volunteered to work on the Conservation and Public Lands; Lionel volunteered to work on the Forest Resources.  It was suggested that we meet with the Assessors to find out what information is available for us to include in the NRI.

4.2   Don brought in a page from Fish and Game stating the wildlife harvest summary for 2001.  16 deer, 3 bear and 13 turkeys were taken in Washington last year.  It will be interesting to contact Fish and Game to get the historical record of harvests.

4.3   Lionel suggested that we look for the Dwarf Wedge Mussel in the Ashuelot River.  This could open up some funding opportunities for the town. 

4.4   Lionel suggested that we have a summary of what you will find in the NRI at the beginning of the document (Executive Summary).

4.5   Lionel volunteered the use of his digital camera and scanner if anyone should need for the NRI.  For example, if someone were to work on the Cultural Resources section they may want a picture of cellar holes, tipping rock, etc.  Just let Lionel know what you want a picture of. 

 

 

 

 

 

5.0 New Business:

5.1   Natalie Jurson has suggested that we research the appropriate amount of road salt to be used on our roads.  It was felt that we should ask Ed Thayer what kind of research the Highway Department has done.  Jed will speak with Ed Thayer.  Don will look into the Best Management Practices for road salt at the Natural Resource Conservation Service.

5.2   A concerned citizen came to talk with the group about a neighbor who has placed a garage on what he believes could be a wetland.  This citizen wondered what role the commission could play in filing a complaint with the NH Department of Environmental Services.  The complaint should be filed by the individual.

Marcellus Liotta stopped by to ask about replenishing his beach with sand.  Dredge and Fill permits are available from the Town Clerk, or download the application from the DES website: http://www.des.state.nh.us/wetlands/wetapps.htm.

 

 

6.0 Correspondence: E-mail about road salt (N. Jurson)

 

 

7.0   Adjournment:  8:50 p.m.                   

 

7.1  Next Meeting Date:  June 6th at 7:00 p.m. at the Town Hall

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Carol K. Andrews

Secretary

 

cc:  Board of Selectmen

       Planning Board