Conservation Commission

PO Box 365

Walpole, New Hampshire  03608

 

January 7, 2008

 

Present:                        G. Speed (Chair), P. Graves, P. Happ, M. Schupack L. Shelley, D. Watson

 

Absent:                         M. Galloway; M.L. Montgomery (alt.); P. Palmiotto (alt.)

 

Others Present:             Hal Wilkins; Josh Kelly, Brad Fletcher

 

Mr. Speed called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM

                                                           

                                    Mr. Wilkins presented a project involving wetlands.  This project was for Janet Bisson and involved sediment removal for an existing pond.  Sediment will be removed to a depth of six feet, possibly ten to twelve feet if given approval by DES.  The deeper depth would allow for freshwater fish species to be introduced.  There will be no other disturbance at the perimeter, so there will not be any enlargement of the existing pond area.  All sediment and topsoil will remain on site.  If DES approves the project, work will be done in the winter of 2008.

 

Minutes – December 3, 2007:  Minutes were distributed for approval.  Corrections included the following:

·        Under Grants, change Mrs. Montgomery to Mrs. Galloway.

·        Under Forest Monitoring, change “is” to “was”.  Mr. Happ pointed out that the Monadnock Conservancy now does the monitoring of their easements.

Mr. Happ moved to approve the minutes of the December 3, 2007 meeting as amended.  Mr. Schupack seconded the motion.  With all in favor, the motion was approved.

                                   

Ballam Farm update:  Josh Kelly presented an update on the status of the Ballam Farm easement project.  Fund raising is ongoing but some progress has been made.  As of this meeting, the funding is $21,350 short of the goal.  Prior to the meeting at Burdick’s, it was about $63,000 short of the goal.  The private contributions were helpful and greatly appreciated.  There are some grants being considered to help raise further funding.  A few delays have occurred due to shifts in staffing in the Farm and Ranch Protection program.  He reminded the group that the town will hold the easement, with the U.S. government being the secondary holder, and the Monadnock Conservancy being the third.  A few items of note were discussed such as:

·        A lot line adjustment being made to the eight acre piece.

·        Four lots were being combined into one, reversing a previous subdivision.  Planning Board approval was still required for this.  It will remain as commercial zoning land but it will be protected from development.

·        Baseline documentation was discussed.

·        A one page stewardship plan will be created.

As of today, the contract with the Cabots has not been signed.  Mr. Kelly is waiting for the family and their attorney to sign.  Also noted was that NH D.O.T. has looked at the site and have agreed to access from Rt. 12 at the point where the gate is.

Mr. Kelly hopes to have the closing completed by the March 1, 2008, which is before the town meeting.  At the very least, he does not see any reason why it will not be completed by the end of March.

 

Note: Duncan Watson entered the meeting at 7:55 PM.

 

Monadnock Conservancy Community Assistance Program:  There is a Community Assistance Program available to communities in the area covered by the Monadnock Conservancy (MC).  Grants are available for up to $2000.  Pete Throop is the contact at MC for information.  There may be more conversation on this at the February meeting.

 

Wetlands Permits:

·        Cold River Bridge:  The wetlands permit for construction of the new bridge over the Cold River was approved.

·        New England Power:  New England Power received their permit to do dredge and fill work along the power lines.  Brushing is also a part of this project.

·        Bruce Bickford:  The wetlands permit for Bruce Bickford was denied by DES.

 

Rails-to-Trails Project:  Lew Shelley and Duncan Watson will work on this project over the next year. 

 

Town Report:  Mr. Speed will write the annual report from the Conservation Commission to be included in the town report.

 

Mr. Speed adjourned the meeting at 8:45 PM. 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Lew Shelley, acting for Regina Borden, Recording Secretary

 

 

(Note:  These are unapproved minutes.  Corrections, if necessary, may be found in the minutes of the February 4, 2008, Walpole Conservation Commission meeting.)