Conservation Commission

PO Box 365

Walpole, New Hampshire 03608

 

March 3, 2008

 

Present:                        P. Graves, P. Happ, M. Schupack, L. Shelley, M.L. Montgomery (alt),

 

Absent:             M. Galloway, P. Happ, D. Watson, P. Palmiotto (alt)

 

Others Present:  Ben Davis, Fred Ernst, Brad Fletcher, Misty Gorski, Andy Lewis

 

In the absence of G. Speed, Mr. Schupack called the meeting to order at 7:32 PM.

Noting the absence of M. Galloway, Mr. Schupack asked M.L. Montgomery to sit in for her.

 

Minutes –February 4, 2008:  Mr. Schupack requested the following changes:  1) Page 2, fourth line- change “common” to “mistaken” belief; 2) Page 2, ninth line- after “Results of previous surveys were noted.  Add “Conservation was a high priority”; and 3) Page 2, under Ballam Farm Update – fifth line – after “will own the 8 acres” add “around the well”.  Mr. Shelley moved to approve the Minutes of the February 4, 2008, meeting with the above corrections.  Mrs. Montgomery seconded the motion.  Mr. Happ abstained as he was not present.  With four members in favor, the motion was approved.

 

Update On The Community Conservation Partnership - Monadnock Conservancy (MC) – Misty Gorski:  Misty Gorski was present to up-date the WCC on the Community Conservation Partnership.  The next step is to create a Task Force and schedule a forum in early May.  Mr. Schupack sent an email to everyone that expressed an interest in participating on this Task Force.  Mrs. Montgomery felt they had a good turn-out for their February 14th meeting; there were nine people in attendance.  Ms. Gorski took notes at that meeting and will send out the minutes.  She distributed copies of the “Talking Points and FAQ’s for CCP Community Forums”.  When recruiting other members she felt they should think of farmers and business owners to have a diverse group.  Mrs. Montgomery wants to develop a list of the current easement owners and she would like to move toward contacting potential easement owners.  Ms. Gorsky left the meeting. 

 

Energy Fair and WCC Booth for Town Meeting:  It was noted that the Energy Fair is May 3rd and the WCC should work on having a booth there.  There was also discussion about having a booth for the Annual Town meeting on Saturday, March 15th.  Mr. Schupack, Mr. Graves, Mrs. Montgomery and Mr. Fletcher volunteered to work on the booth for the Annual Town Meeting.

 

Letter to Planning Board:  Mr. Schupack had emailed copies of the proposed draft letter to be submitted from the WCC to the Planning Board regarding the application of Chamberlain Manufacturing.  Mr. Happ felt there was more information on the protection of the wellhead in the Connecticut River Corridor Management Plan that was adopted by the Planning Board.  Ben Daviss reported on his call to a lawyer at the Local Government Center (LGC) to obtain more information.  The Planning Board is now drafting a letter to Chamberlain’s lawyer about hazardous waste.  Mr. Schupack recommended that a LGC lawyer review this entire proposal.  The WCC members reviewed and discussed various statements in the letter to the Planning Board and made recommendations for changes.  The members designated that Mrs. Montgomery be their representative to present a verbal brief summary of the letter to the Planning Board.  There was a consensus of the members that there was enough support to move forward with it.  At this meeting Mr. Shelley, Mr. Happ, Mr. Schupack and Mrs. Montgomery voted in favor of

Walpole Conservation Commission – March 3, 2008 – Page 2

 

supporting the letter as revised but wanted to read the final version before a final vote is taken.   Because of time constraint they agreed to have Mr. Schupack make the revisions, email it to all members and they will vote by email or phone to Mr. Schupack by Wednesday, March 5th.  The letter will include the names of the WCC members.  The next meeting of the Planning Board will be on March 11th.                   

 

During the meeting on March 3rd, Mr. Schupack moved for approval of sending the final draft of the letter to the Planning Board.  In an email, dated March 06, 2008, from Mr. Schupack it states that because there were revisions suggested, the final draft was emailed to everyone (except Marcia Galloway who was away and does not have email), the email requested that someone second the motion and for everyone to submit their email vote was made on Wednesday, March 5th, 2008.  Lew Shelley seconded the motion by email and all votes from available regular members and two alternative members were received by the evening of March 5th, 2008.  The vote was 5 in favor, 1 abstaining and one “no” vote.  (Mr. Schupack has the emails for this, except for his own vote, should they be needed.)  Gary Speed had seen and approved of the earlier draft before he was away for this entire week; he will sign the final letter as the Chairman on Monday, March 10th, and that signed letter will be given to the Planning Board at their meeting on March 11th.  (They were sent an unsigned copy by email by Friday March 6th, 2008.) Because regular member Marcia Galloway was away and did not participate in any of this discussion, Mary Lou Montgomery was appointed to take her place at the March 3rd meeting and for the email vote.  Peter Palmiotto, the other alternate, was not at the meeting but did see the letter and voted by email to approve it if his vote would be needed.  It wasn’t needed and so was not counted.  

 

Donation - University of New Hampshire – 4-H Camps:  A notice was received from UNH regarding the 4-H Camps.  It was agreed to table this until additional information can be obtained from Mr. Speed.

 

Notice of Incomplete Permit Notification Form:  A notice was received from DES indicating the Charles Morosini / Janet Bisson application was incomplete as it lacked information and documentation to indicate the pond has been maintained for the past 5 years when the cut vegetation and submitted photographs appear to indicate the “pond” is abandoned.  No action is required by the WCC at this time.

 

Department of Environmental Services:  The DES has received two applications; the WCC received copies of the notices as follows:  1) Chamberlain Machine for an Alteration Permit to disturb approximately 260,000 s.f. for construction of a new machine shop in Walpole; and 2) Alteration of Terrain Permit for Frank Whitcomb Construction for 158.177 s.f.

 

OEP:  Brochures were received for the following:  1) OEP grants for Housing & Conservation Planning (HCPP) grants – April 25th is the deadline for making application; and 2) Stormwater Treatment in Cold Climate Regions (2-day course).

 

Forestry News:  Mrs. Montgomery distributed copies of an article on “Forestry News – New Law Clarifies Harvest Buffers Around ‘Prime’ Wetlands” that was issued by the UNH Cooperative Extension.

 

Student Conservation Association:  Mr. Shelley is waiting for the Trustees of Trust Funds to meet to discuss the possibility of having summer trail work done by the SCA students.

 

Walpole Conservation Commission – March 3, 2008 – Page 3

 

 

Mill Pond:  Mr. Graves advised that Alan Johnson will be willing to assist when work is done on the Mill Pond.

 

Next Meeting:  The next meeting will be held on Monday, April 7th, 2008 at 7:30 PM.

 

Mr. Happ moved to adjourn this meeting.  Mr. Shelley seconded the motion.  All in favor, so voted.  The time was 9:22 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary

 

 

(Note:  These are unapproved minutes.  Corrections, if necessary, may be found in the minutes of the April 7th, 2008, Walpole Conservation Commission meeting.)