Greenfield Conservation Commission
Meeting Minutes
May 12, 2005
Attendees: Karen Day, Neal Brown, Roger Lessard, Janet Romanelli and Karla Allen
Absent: Ray Cilley
Guest Speaker: Paul Susca from NHDES
New Business
1. Aquifer Protection District project – Paul Susca from NHDES joined us to discuss the Groundwater Protection Program. He explained acquifers. “Public water” from Greenfield aquifers is now used by Carbee’s Corner, Greenfield Elementary School, Greenfield Common and Crotched Mountain. Levels of protection range from ownership to “regulations to restrict land use” to “allow businesses but inspect them.” A health ordinance can be passed and used by the selectmen and the health officer to employ “Best Management Practice” - local businesses in the protected district must agree to an inspection, DES will back us up. The next step would be a zoning ordinance which would have to be voted on at town meeting. The most protective would be to start
the ground-water reclassification process. Paul will send all the pertinent material to Karen, who will approach the Selectmen and Zoning and Planning Boards.
2. Purple Loosestrife Program by the PWA on May 19th – set-up & refreshments - Neal will open the doors for Lynn Lombard and Hannah Proctor at about six to set up the screen; Karla will bring water and juice at about 5:45 and Janet will bring cookies at about 6:00.
3. Lake Host Training for all of us - Karen, Neal, Agneta and Colin Sutton, the hired Host, will go to the training on Saturday, 5/21 1:30 - 4:30; Karla will go on 6/12 from 9:00 - 12:00. See below for more details (no. 8). Roger demurred and Janet had to check her schedule because of work and family upheavals.
4. Review of the Roadside Round-Up – what went well and what didn’t - Didn’t go well: a) ran out/logistics about food (Women’s Group offered to do it next time), b) couldn’t recycle roadside stuff (maybe next year). Did go well: a) successful - clean roads!, b) door prized well-received, c) sending the bags was seen as a good idea, d) 2-1/2 tons!
5. Possibility of a new member – Miriam Lockhart - she can come the first couple to see, but fourth Wednesday is better for her.
6. Change in meeting night to 4th Wed of the month starting in June - all set.
Old Business
7. Update on the Earth Machine sale - we have orders for 61! Decision to be made: order the full 80 and store them or get the one from another group. They will arrive the week before 6/18.
8. Update on the Lake Host program - here inserted is Neal’s report via e-mail:
As you may already know, our ConCom has been awarded a $ 3000 grant to support a 2005 "Lake Host' program between Memorial Day and Labor Day at the town boat launch on Sunset Lake. Crotched Mountain Foundation is also committing $1500 to support the ConCom's "matching" obligation to this undertaking.
The program requires three different types of participants: (1) a "Point Person" to run and staff the program, (i.e., me);
(2) one or more paid Lake Hosts to provide approx. 300 hrs of boat launch surveillance (FYI, I have chosen to hire only one person in this capacity; I have recruited a very well qualified 19 year old Peterborough college student named Colin Sutton)
(3) unpaid volunteers to fill in here and there when the paid Lake Host cannot be present. (So far, we have two committed volunteers: my wife, Agneta, and me!).
All of the above individuals require three hours' training at Concord before they are eligible to serve in the program. Considering that the ConCom is officially sponsoring this effort, I think that it would be appropriate for the entire ConCom membership to set an appropriate example by signing on as volunteers and going up to Concord for the requisite training.
Please be advised that becoming a qualified "volunteer" does not necessarily mean that one will become liable for lots of duty. Indeed, most - perhaps all - of this summer's duty can be adequately handled by Colin, Agneta, and me and other local volunteers we hope to recruit locally.
The Concord training sessions are as follows (I can handle pre-registration, furnish directions, - even drive, if necessary - etc.)
Sat May 14: 9-noon
Sat May 21: 1:30-4:30 PM
Wed June 1: 6-9 PM
Sun June 12: 9-noon
Wed June 15: 6-9 PM
Wed June 22: 6-9 PM
Sun June 26: 9-noon
Sat July 2: 9-noon
I am planning to get the program started on Memorial Day Weekend. Accordingly, Colin, Agneta, and I will be driving up to Concord for the Saturday, May 21st/1:30-4:30 training session. I will have room for two more people, should you wish to accompany us.
I look forward to your response to my suggestions, and to discussing them at our May 11 meeting.”
9. Any other business brought forward by members or attendees: a) Karla is proposing that Route 31 from Crotched Mountain Road to the town line be sponsored by New England Forest Products. b) Neal noticed that someone is dumping brush on state park land just north of Siegers’. c) Karen mentioned that we can apply for a “Litter-Free New Hampshire” status from the state because we have done a town-wide clean-up. The reward would be two elm trees or 800 daffodil bulbs - a preference for the bulbs was expressed; Karen will process the paperwork. d) Roger expressed concern passed on to him by Frank Pelkey that recycling will no longer continue after Frank’s retirement, and proposed starting a Recycling Committee or Commission. We could be sanctioned by the Selectmen and get the
word out via the Spirit which hopefully will elicit more help. e) Neal requested a $44 check for the Greenfield Elementary School for their Harris Center trip, which is the incentive made for their participation in the Roadside Round-Up, and he will deliver it to them with thanks. f) Karla mentioned that she will be starting the process of putting town land into Forest Management and will be using some new information she has gotten to set up some observation trails later on this year.
10. Mail of importance - none.
Tabled for now:
11. Website – Conservation page. Please give some thought to what we might write or include for our page on the town website.
Submitted by Janet Romanelli
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