Washington Conservation Commission

 

Minutes- September 21, 2005

 

 

Assembly time: 7:00 PM.

Present: Carol Andrews, Mike Andrews, Nan Schwartz, Jed Schwartz, Mark Cummings.

 

1.0   Approval of Minutes: approved as printed motion by Mike, seconded by Jed.

 

2.0   Old Business:

2.1 Dredge and Fill Committee - The Saint Benedict Center & the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary have filed a standard dredge and fill permit application with the state. The Dredge and Fill Committee will take a look at the lot for impact, then we will comment on the application. No other new business.

2.2 Planning Board update - the Planning Board discussed the Watershed District at their last meeting. Don Damm has the overlay map from DES. Mary Ann Turner from The Ashuelot Pond Association wants to be informed of any meeting that happens concerning Ashuelot and has spoken to Carol about being included in future meetings about the Watershed district. Carol informed her that the Conservation Commission did not call the meeting, that this was a Planning Board meeting, and she should speak to them about being included. The Planning Board is forming a committee with 3 members of the Lake Ashuelot Association, 3 members of the Ashuelot Pond Association, and 3 members of the Millen Pond Association to work on the matter.

2.3 Roadside Cleanup took place on August 19^th as planned. Four members participated and filled four bags of trash. Thanks to those who helped out. The next scheduled Cleanup Day is on October 21^st. Meet again at the Town Hall at 9am. Let Carol know if you can be there.

2.4   The Conservation Easement gathering at the Cook’s took place on August 29^th. A group of 12 attended a very informative talk given by Brian Hotz, a land protection specialist at the Forest Society. Thanks to Lynn and Richard Cook for hosting and thanks to Brian Hotz. We have some packets of information available to anyone who didn’t attend but might be interested in conservation easements.

2.5   Lovewell Mountain Hike - We are planning our 2^nd annual Lovewell Mountain Hike on October 8^th. Jed volunteered to lead the hike which will take place in good weather only. Nan will make flyers and post them. Carol will make some soup for afterwards. We will meet at 10am at the boat launch on Island Pond.

2.6   Today is the International Day of Peace.

2.7   What’s happening in nature? Many mushrooms are fruiting now and Carol shared pictures she had taken recently of a variety of fungi. There were Hen of the Woods, Chicken of the Woods, Puff Balls, Bear’s tooth, Berkley’s Polypore, Bolete (blue staining), and another mysterious dark colored, hard fungus that she couldn’t identify. Mark asked if anyone knew of a spring on the Bradford Road found on the right hand side of the road as you come into East Washington. He remembered it as a place where people filled their jugs long ago but he hasn’t been able to locate it now. If anyone knows of the whereabouts of the spring, let us know.

3.0   Natural Resource Inventory: Rick Van de Poll is still working on a proposal for us. We are considering going with the Forest Society to do the maps and Rick to do the descriptions and recommendations. We discussed the fact that will cost 12 to 15K for maps and inventory and we only have 5K to spend. Carol will talk to Jack about putting another 5K in the budget for next year and we will devote 5K from our account to make up the balance of what is needed. We want to make sure we coordinate the maps we get done to the town tax maps so we can more easily prioritize what to protect.

4.0  New Business: Mike brought up the possibility of putting bike racks on or near the Town Hall and maybe the Post Office in order to make the town more bike friendly and encourage alternate forms of transportaion. The racks he was interested in are very low profile and attach to the wall. He described them to us and Mark was interested in checking out the design on bikeracks.com and possibly making them for us if we decide to go forward. Mike will speak to the selectmen about it and possibly the Meeting House Committee.

 

5.0   Correspondence:

DES Complete Forestry Notification- Zipper

DES William Smith map/lot #15/92 request for more information File # 2005-01215

DES notice of administrative completeness Town of Washington map/lot # 15 ROW

File # 2005-01763.

DES Steven Kasper map/lot # 25/92 file # 2005-01281 Shoreland Protection Act

violation for foundation encroaching 50’ building setback. No corrective action will be required.

DES New Forestry, LLC file # 2004-02094 Amended Forestry Notification for additional wetlands crossings.

DES Town of Washington Wetlands and Non-site Specific Permit 2005-01763 two culverts to be replaced on King Street.

Statewide Program of Action to Conserve our Environment (SPACE) newsletter

Comprehensive Environmental Inc. Stormwater/LID workshop $65 per person

(several mailings from this firm).

NH Association of Conservation Commissions bill for 2006 dues $175

cc letter to Selectmen from Ed Turner, President Ashuelot Pond Association requesting notification of meetings on Ashuelot

cc letter to Jim Gallagher, Chief Water Resources Engineer requesting another Watershed Overlay District presentation by Jody Connor

NH Lakes Assocation newsletter

Assessors email: Trail design workshop Thursday, October 27 AMC Highland Center, Crawford Notch http://ceinfo.unh.edu/Forestry/Docs/access.pdf

Local Government Center- Municipal Law Lecture Series $25 per lecture, $45 for 3 lectures for more information www.nhlgc.org

 

6.0   Other Business - None

7.0   Adjournment: 8:10 PM.                   

8.0 Next Meeting Date: October 19th at 7:00 PM at the Town Hall.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Nan Schwartz

Secretary