Washington Conservation Commission

Minutes – July 17, 2019

Assembly time: 7:00 PM, Town Hall

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

Visitors: Phil Barker, Steve Hanssen and Anthony Costello

1.0 Approval of Minutes: June minutes – Arin made a motion to approve the minutes as written, Nan seconded the motion and all voted in favor.

2.0 Permits Committee - New: Camp Morgan Beach and Field project – Arin asked Barker, Hanssen and Costello to attend our meeting to speak about the wetlands permit for the CM beach and field project. We had a copy of the wetland permit application to review. Steve said that P&R identified the problem of ponding in the field, erosion and a swale that didn’t drain 6 or 7 years ago. They were asked by the BoS to wait a few years and now they have worked with Anthony on a plan and wetlands application to take care of the problems. He said that DPW has problems mowing the field because of the wet conditions. He said the field does not duplicate use of the upper soccer/softball field and the summer camp uses the field for many things. Arin asked Phil about the historic uses of the CM area. Phil said that where the waterfront tetherball is now was where the brick kiln and ash heap were. In a wet area near the parking lot was the clay deposit area where the clay for the bricks came from. He said the old lodge was built on piers that sat on the clay deposit making the building foundation unsteady. He didn’t have any concerns that this project would affect any of those areas. He asked if they were going to remove the loam before they filled the area. Steve said that was the plan if it is determined to be the best way to go at the time. Steve said that the dredging of the lake bottom would happen during a deep drawdown of the lake. He said Ed/DPW is going to try to do the work, if he feels comfortable with the depth of the drawdown. Arin asked about the coffer-dam and the de-watering of materials. Anthony said that not that much material is going to be removed and he thinks it will be only a days’ work. Arin was concerned about silting and erosion control. Anthony pointed out the silt fence placement on the plan. Nan asked if any test pits were dug in the field to get an idea of the material there. Anthony said they hadn’t yet. Arin pointed out that the shed by the beach was mapped in the wetlands and asked if it should be moved a little to remove it from that spot. Arin stated concerns about the condition of the existing culvert spanning the gravel road and suggested replacing or upsizing it to get better drainage. She thinks this would need to be added to the application. Arin pointed out the state assessment of the lake, which mentioned an increase in PH and suggested a perched beach. Anthony and Steve said they discussed many things about the beach and there is a 4 foot elevation change from the fence to the water’s edge. They felt that perching the beach could be dangerous for small children because of a drop off. Steve said the swim program is important for town kids age 4 and up and their aim is to protect the town asset. Phil mentioned he was the first person to recommend buying the property for the town. Anthony said they are approaching the project as 2 phases; the field first and the dredging at a later date and the five year permit would allow for that. Anthony said the application was submitted to DES. Arin thanked them for coming in to discuss the application.

Rapp Dock Permit – Arin said that Jed, Nan and she went out to look at the site and found no issues, Rapp is replacing an existing dock in the same footprint. Arin signed the permit application and Nan put them on Jane Barkie’s desk. Arin will let Rapp’s know that they need to provide a check for the state.

Previous: Peter Ofman a driveway project for TM 16-94, on East Washington Road. Nan commented that the driveway permit was approved by the Planning Board at their July meeting and that the construction hasn’t begun.

Highland Lake dredging – No news.

Mill Pond dredging – no new news.

Longval wetland issue – Nan said the continued hearing for Longval before the ZBA is July 31st at 7pm. We further discussed the issues concerning us about his application for a wetland setback variance. Arin gave Nan her maps of the area and Arin will draft a statement with our concerns for the ZBA. Nan will attend the hearing and present our thoughts and recommendation that the applicant build any structure within the stated setbacks.

Ayers Pond Bridge – Arin asked Nan to go take a look at the site and see what has been done so far.

Merger of the Chute conservation lot with the Town Forest Meadow lot, Nan will get some paperwork done related to this and bring it next month.

3.0 Committee and Board reports:

3.1 Land Protection Committee – Jed will reach out to contact Whit again on the assessment for Barker.

3.2 Energy Committee – Johanna hasn’t heard from Andrew recently. Arin said he is meeting with the School Board about the heating system and building envelope issues in August.

3.3 Planning Board – Nan said that the PB was approached by a resident about changing the RV portion of the LUO to allow people to live in their RVs on their property for 6 months of the year if the put in some infrastructure (septic, well, electricity and a slab). The Master Plan shows that most residents are against this but they said they are willing to look at it.

3.4 Forestry Committee – No news.

3.5 Legislative update - No news.

4.0 Public Presentations and workshops:

4.1 Dragonflies and Damselflies presentation - Arin call the guy ad see if there are possible dates for presenting this program. He suggested August 12, 13, 14 or 19, 20. We decided August 20^th would be best. Nan will ask Jed to check the date with Deb for using the upstairs of Town Hall and let Arin know. Arin will do a poster and send to Nan to put up on the website and around town and get it in the selectman’s minutes “What’s Happening”. Arin will post on the Facebook page.

5.0 New Business:

5.1 Meet with P&R members and Anthony Costello about the Camp Morgan wetland permit application, (see 2.0)

6.0 Other Business:

6.1 EAB traps – Arin said she went out and checked the traps and they were not as covered with bugs as she thought they might be. She has to reload the pheromone before she goes on vacation.

6.2 Town-owned land – Arin said we met with the Select Board and Planning Board members to discuss 6 parcels that the town has taken for taxes and are going to sell. They asked for comments on the properties and we were mainly concerned about one on Bailey Road, which had a portion in the flood zone. We looked at it and were less concerned do to the

6.3 Compost Pail promotion and sale – The pails have sold out and we ordered 15 more through Ed. Nan and Jed picked the pails up and they are at the Transfer Station. Nan said she was given $150 cash for the first batch sold. Arin made a motion to pay for the new pails with the cash from the earlier sales, Nan seconded and all voted in favor. Nan will give the money to Deb to pay for the second order.

6.4 Trash Pickup – We scheduled August 10^th for the second Adopt-a-highway pickup. We will meet at the parking lot by the Library at 9am.

6.5 Natural Resource Inventory Map updates - Nan posted the new maps on the website.

6.6 Facebook Page – Arin said she is continuing to post things 2 times a week when she can. Arin posted something on the EAB traps. To check out the CC’s Facebook page go here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2173271309586226/

6.7 Trails and Recreation Guide Booklet – We will keep working on this through the spring/summer.

6.8 Master Plan goals for 2019 – This is a placeholder.

6.9 Barker easement – see 3.1

6.10 Tracking Invasive Plants project – Arin said she spotted loosestrife in a wet area when going out on Bailey Road. The reporting sheets and guides are always available here: InvasiveProject.html

6.11 Johanna’s swim – Scheduled for August 24^th at 10am (August 25^th rain date). Johanna said she might have 2 people from Berlin join her for part of the swim.

7.0 What’s Happening in Nature?

Johanna had a picture of a very healthy, very large bear that was in her backyard recently. The American Bitterns are still in their wetlands and she saw one of them fishing. She also saw a brown snake and a painted turtle, who was trying to nest near her driveway. She saw a flock of Cedar Waxwings in the berries. She has breeding wood ducks and mergansers with little ones in her pond. There are woodpeckers in holes in her trees.

Arin said Phil saw a wood turtle on Presidential Drive and got some pictures of it. Arin hasn’t reported it yet to F&G. She saw a mother black bear with 2 baby cubs on Faxon Hill Road.

Nan said summer has arrived with much hotter and drier weather.

To find out more about the wood turtle, click here: NewinNature.html

8.0 Correspondence:

Copy of Rapp dock application

Copy of Shoreland Impact permit for Camp Morgan field upgrade project

9.0 Adjourned at 8:55PM, our next meeting will be Wednesday, August 21^st at 7PM at TH.

Respectfully submitted,

Nan Schwartz, Secretary