Washington Conservation Commission
Minutes – May 21, 2019
Assembly time: 7:00 PM, Town Hall
Members present: Arin Mills, Jed Schwartz and Nan Schwartz.
Visitors: None
1.0 Approval of Minutes: April minutes – Nan forgot to bring a printed copy of the April minutes so we will approve them next month.
2.0 Permits Committee - New: Arin received a wetland permit application from Meridian for a driveway project for TM 16-94, on East Washington Road, Peter Offman. We reviewed the application. Arin felt it wasnÕt necessary to make a site visit, as we were familiar with the site and lot. Arin had a few comments and signed the permit application. She will leave the signed application with Deb, to be picked up and submitted by Meridian.
Previous: Highland Lake dredging – Arin we havenÕt received a letter from DES about the fines or penalties yet.
Mill Pond dredging – Jed said that the wetlands were mapped and the survey is being done.
Longval wetland issue - Jed said Longval submitted a building permit application but was not meeting the wetland setbacks. He will need to go to the ZBA for a variance. Longval has a site plan done by Meridian. We decided we would attend the meeting and hearing. Nan will write to Andrew Hatch to let him know we are interested in attending and commenting.
Ayers Pond Bridge – Jed said that the bridge has been built off-site and the project will happen later this summer (during low flow).
3.0 Committee and Board reports:
3.1 Land Protection Committee – Jed said Whit was contacting his appraiser to schedule a time for him to come out. Jed spoke with Phil and let him know what was happening.
3.2 Energy Committee –Arin said that Andrew met with the School board and has arranged for Shakes to Shingles roofing company to work with them on the roof issues. She said the board is positive about working with the EC and the Auditor on the larger project. Je said that Andrew is got the town a grant from Eversource to help pay for the new LED lighting in Camp Morgan Lodge. The BoS are planning to replace the ceiling tiles with new acoustic tiles at the same time.
3.3 Planning Board – Nan said the TCV committee is continuing to meet on issues.
3.4 Forestry Committee – Jed said that Al pulled a meeting together and they still plan to do the logging on Farnsworth Hill.
3.5 Legislative update - Arin said the wetland laws/rules were amended and they kept the commenting by CCs in the law. She was not sure of the status in the legislature.
4.0 Public Presentations and workshops:
4.1 Washington Elementary School nature journaling project – Arin said she spoke with Kelly at the school and she has a schedule for Friday, June 7th. She has arranged with Dawn from SCCD to let us borrow equipment to do some kick sampling for water quality and she may be able to come work with us. Arin spoke with Erika and we will work with the K-1 on a sensory walk (and journaling) from 9:30 to 10:15. We will combine the 2, 3, 4 and 5Õs from 10:30 to Noon and buddy them up for the kick sampling in the stream. We will have 2 teachers, an aide, the 3 of us, and Nan will ask Cody if she wants to help out. We will bring some containers and any ID sheets we have. We will meet at the school to check out the streams on May 31st at 4:15pm
4.2 Trail Day –National Trail Day is Saturday, June 1st. We know we canÕt attend for the whole day but we will attend for the morning. Nan has about 20 trail maps that we can sell and she could make up a sampling of what we have done for the Recreation Booklet to give out. Nan put information about the event on the town website and sent a news blast, to help get the word out.
5.0 New Business:
5.1 Compost Pail promotion and sale – The pails are are in and Nan had an invoice from Deb for $150 for reimbursement. Jed made a motion to pay for the pails, Nan seconded the motion and all voted in favor. Nan had the promotional posters ready and will coordinate with Ed to roll out the sale. Arin signed the request for payment and Nan will give it to Cynthia for payment.
5.2 Trash Pickup – We scheduled June 8th for the first Adopt-a-highway pickup. We will meet at the parking lot by the Library at 8am. Arin shared a Ōmeth lab wasteĶ informational flyer from DOT on what to look out for when picking up roadside trash.
6.0 Other Business:
6.1 Natural Resource Inventory Map updates - Nan will post the new maps on the website. She said she received n inventory of timber cuts for the last five years from Kristine Chidester in the AssessorÕs office. She will add the information to the NRI.
6.2 Facebook Page – Arin said she is continuing to post things when she can. We now have 75 members. Arin is planning to post something on Turtle nesting and asked Jed if he has a picture. To check out the CCÕs Facebook page go here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2173271309586226/
6.3 Trails and Recreation Guide Booklet – We will keep working on this through the spring/summer.
6.4 Master Plan goals for 2019 – This is a placeholder.
6.5 Barker easement – see 3.1
6.6 Tracking Invasive Plants project – The reporting sheets and guides are always available here: InvasiveProject.html
6.7 JohannaÕs swim – Scheduled for August 31st will now take place the prior weekend, August 24th (August 25th rain date).
7.0 WhatÕs Happening in Nature?
Jed saw a bittern crossing the road (on foot!) near the bog on East Washington Road. He also saw a Fischer run across the road near his house, it then sat on a log and looked at him.
Arin said the Hobblebush is blooming.
She noticed that the leaves arenÕt quite out yet in Washington but they are fully out in Hillsboro. She figures it is elevation driven. Nan said the mountainÕs leaves are even less unfurled.
Nan said the black flies are out and biting.
Jed said it was a long cold spring, but it was in the 80Õs yesterday and today it is cold and windy. He said he is way behind in gardening but has lettuce, arugula and spinach in the greenhouse.
Arin said there are some new people that have joined the community garden and it is now full for the year. Jed said he has extra plants for them, if needed.
To find out more about the pretty spring bloomer called the Hobblebush click here: NewinNature.html
8.0 Correspondence:
Invoice for $150. from Town for Compost pails
Brochure on 2019 LAKES congress from NH LAKES
Letter from NH Div of Forest and Lands, They are doing a timber cut at Pillsbury this year
Newsletter from Fox State Forest
9.0 Adjourned at 8:15PM, our next meeting will be Wednesday, June 19th at 7PM at TH. We may have to reschedule this due to a conflict.
Respectfully submitted,
Nan Schwartz, Secretary