Conservation Commission

PO Box 365

Walpole, New Hampshire  03608

 

December 3, 2007

 

Present:            G. Speed – Chair; M. Galloway, P. Graves, P. Happ, M. Schupack, L. Shelley, D. Watson, M.L. Montgomery (alt)

 

Absent:             P. Palmiotto (alt)

 

Mr. Speed called the meeting to order at 7:38 PM.

 

Minutes – November 5, 2007:  Mr. Shelley requested the following changes:  Page 1 – change “Mill Pond” to “Mill Pond Trail”; the question was not on the “causeway” but rather on the “west side of the trail”.  Mr. Schupack noted on Page 1 under the first item – change the 4th sentence to the Planning Board is looking at “innovative land uses including some flexible zoning ordinances”. 

Mrs. Galloway moved to approve the Minutes of the November 5, 2007, meeting with the above changes.  Mr. Schupack seconded the motion.  Mr. Happ abstained as he was not present.  The motion was approved.

 

Comparative Land Values of Walpole’s Natural Resources:  Mr. Speed noted that this issue will be put on-hold for a short time due to the absence of Mr. Palmiotto.

 

Forest Monitoring:  Mr. Happ was working on the Forest Monitoring and felt some trees could be marked when the properties are walked during the easement monitoring.  He displayed the logo that will be used to mark the trees. Mr. Happ pointed out that the Monadnock Conservancy now does the monitoring of their easements.

 

Mill Pond Trail:  Mr. Shelley reported on the week-end work that was done on the Mill Pond trail.  Mr. Schupack organized the work party.  They cleaned the trail to beyond the causeway; it will have to be re-groomed in the spring.  The trail next to the pond was washed away so Mr. Shelley is looking to stay away from the water when doing repairs but it is a matter of finding out who owns the abutting land.  It was a successful day.    

 

Grants:  Mrs. Montgomery attended a Trust for Public Land meeting last Wednesday night on grants.  The grant application for the railroad bed area would have to be done by January 18th, 2008.  She asked if a member of the snowmobile club would assess that area.  The grant would be for the Trails-To-Trails program through the Trust for Public Land.  Mr. Watson felt he could put together a scope of work.  The Club might have to back the 20%.  There is money in the Fannie Mason Fund that could possibly be used for the 20% or in-kind services.  Mrs. Galloway felt the project might have to be broken down into sections over multiple years.  The Bureau of Trails will be building a bridge near Malnati’s so they can get to their fields.  Mr. Shelley thought some of the big culverts might be starting to wash out.  Mrs. Montgomery will get the packet of information to Mr. Watson.

 

Conservation Easements:  Josh Kelly, Trust for Public Land, left copies of the proposed Conservation Easement Deeds on the Ballam Farm for the WCC to look at.   

 

Mrs. Galloway left the meeting at 8:04 PM.

 

Conservation Commission Meeting – December 3, 2007 – Page 2

 

 

Non-Public Session: 

Mr. Speed moved to enter into a Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss (d) Acquisition, Sale or Lease of Real or Personal Property which, if discussed in public, might benefit those with interests adverse to the general community.  Mr. Schupack seconded the motion, and on a roll call vote with all in favor, the motion was approved. 

 

The regular meeting resumed at 8:20 PM.  Mrs. Galloway came back into the meeting.

 

Mr. Speed announced that during the Non-Public Session the WCC discussed the Conservation Easement for Mrs. Galloway and agreed to fund an additional $2,000.00.

 

Budget:  Mr. Speed advised that the proposed budget for 2008 had to be submitted to the Board of Selectmen by November 15th.  He reviewed the figures with the WCC; almost all line items were the same.  The bottom line will be $5,800 instead of $6,100.  About two-thirds of the budget has been used to-date.  This year the maps and charts account might be $1,000 over because of the Land Use project.

 

Mr. Speed adjourned the meeting at 8:26 PM.      

 

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary

 

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