WASHINGTON CONSERVATION COMMISSION

 

 

Minutes- July 27, 2004

 

 

1.0 Assembly: Time 7:00 p.m.

Present: Mike Andrews, Sandy Robinson, Carol Andrews, Tom Taylor, Rich Cook, Don Richard, Jed Schwartz, Nan Schwartz.

 

2.0 Approval of Minutes: approved as printed

 

3.0 Old Business:

3.1 Action Items: Mike wrote a letter to the Selectmen requesting they hold town lots taken for taxes for 3 years. Mike also sent an appointment letter to the Selectmen (this was approved).

3.2 Dredge and Fill Committee: DES has sent a letter asking the Conservation Commission for       comment on the lighthouse on LAE property. There was much discussion. The group felt that       the Shoreland Protection Act should be upheld. If safety is a concern at Lake Ashuelot, then the       owner of the lighthouse should seek permission from Marine Patrol or another appropriate state       agency. This location is also an important wildlife corridor. Jed moved that Mike send a letter       of comment to DES, second by Sandy. Motion carried with one abstention (Tom Taylor).

      Nolan permit for Dredge and Fill: this is an after the fact permit. The property owner is seeking       a waiver from the Shoreland Protection Act in order to allow motorized boat access to the       property. After much discussion the group decided to send comment stating that the location of       the original 4’ x20’ dock appears to be the best location. If this permit were granted the channel       would no longer be wide enough for two boats to pass. Mike to draft and send letters.

3.3 There will be a public presentation on Smart Growth on August 18th at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall.

3.4 Lionel, Carol and Tom attended the meeting on the Draft Ashuelot River Watershed Land       Conservation Plan on June 28th at Keene State College. The Nature Conservancy, DES, Natural       Heritage, The Monadnock Conservancy, and the Society for the Protection of NH Forests are       involved in this exciting effort to study and protect the watershed of the Ashuelot River.

            Draft maps and reports may be viewed and downloaded at:

            http://nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/newhampshire/news/news1543.html

            Comments may be emailed to ashuelotplan@tnc.org

      3.5 11 people attended the Town Forest hike. Members from the Forestry Committee and the                       Conservation Commission cleared the trail from Chapel Cove to the Radio Tower. Thanks to                  Steve Hanssen for helping out with trail work.

      3.6 Tom is willing to lead a winter snowshoe. Should we have a hike up Lovewell Mountain this                 fall? Should this be an annual event?

      3.7 Mike asked for a vote confirming Rich as Chair, Sandy as Vice Chair and Carol as Secretary.                  All in favor.

 

4.0 Natural Resource Inventory:

4.1   The Draft Plan for the Ashuelot River should be added to the NRI.

 

5.0 New Business

5.1 Tom mentioned that we should draft a warrant article for Town Meeting to extend the Shoreland Protection Act to the Ashuelot River.

6.0 Correspondence:

 

7.0   Adjournment: 9:00 p.m.                   

7.1 Next Meeting Date: Tuesday August 24th at 7:00 at the Town Hall.

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Carol K. Andrews

Secretary