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Newbury Conservation Commission (NCC)
April 18, 2016
Approved May 10, 2016
Members Present: Katheryn Holmes, Chair; Bob Stewart, Sue Russell, Members; Bill Annable, Alternate.
Ms. Holmes called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.
ADMINISTRATIVE
Minutes
The NCC reviewed the minutes of October 14, 2015 and made corrections. Mr. Stewart made a motion to accept the minutes as corrected. Ms. Russell seconded the motion. All in favor.
The NCC reviewed the minutes of January 12, 2016 and made corrections. Mr. Stewart made a motion to accept the minutes as corrected. Mr. Annable seconded the motion. All in favor.
The NCC reviewed the minutes of February 18, 2016 and made corrections. Mr. Stewart made a motion to accept the minutes as corrected. Ms. Russell seconded the motion. All in favor.
The NCC reviewed the minutes of March 14, 2016 and made no corrections. Mr. Stewart made a motion to accept the minutes as corrected. Mr. Annable seconded the motion. All in favor.
Swearing In of Members
Linda Plunkett, Town Clerk, swore in two Commissioners.
- Sue Russell raised her right hand and agreed to the following: I, Sue Russell, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent on me as Conservation Commission member according to the best of my abilities, agreeable to the rules and regulations of the constitution and the laws of the State of New Hampshire.
- Katheryn Holmes raised her right hand and agreed to the following: I, Katheryn Holmes, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent on me as Conservation Commission member according to the best of my abilities, agreeable to the rules and regulations of the constitution and the laws of the State of New Hampshire.
Election of Officers
Ms. Holmes informed Commissioners that Eric Unger agreed to be Vice Chair of the Newbury Conservation Commission for the upcoming year. She requested Commission consensus for Mr. Unger’s appointment. All in favor.
Ms. Russell made a motion to nominate Katheryn Holmes as Chair of the Newbury Conservation Commission for the upcoming year. Mr. Stewart seconded the motion. All in favor.
INTENT TO CUT
Ms. Holmes reported that Mr. Unger reviewed the following Intents to Cut and found them to be in compliance:
- Robert Kenserson on Route 103 A, Newbury, Tax Map/Lot # 18-192-28, for 32,000 feet of white pine, 2,000 feet of hemlock, 16,000 feet of oak, 1,000 feet of ash, and 500 feet of beech and soft maple.
- Robert Hallisey on Cloverfield Road, Newbury, Tax Map/Lot # 18-92-122, for 500 feet of white pine, 11,000 feet of hemlock, 1,000 feet of white birch, 16,000 feet of oak, 4,000 feet of ash, and 3,500 feet of beech and soft maple.
WETLANDS/SHORELANDS
Ms. Holmes reviewed the following communications from the NH Department of Environmental Services (DES):
Shoreline Impact Permit
- For Matthew & Stacey Ovanes, for property located at 368 Bowles Road, Newbury, Permit # 2016-00052, Tax Map/Lot # 16-249-320, to remove the existing cottage, bunkhouse and garage and construct a new cottage and bunkhouse with a small on-car garage beneath, and remove the existing driveway and construct a new shorter driveway further back from the lake. NCC response letter sent.
Wetlands Minimum Impact Forestry Notification
- For Robert Hallisey, Overlook Terrace Revocable Trust, P.O. Box 1196, New London, for Newbury property Tax Map Lot # 18-92-122, File # 2016-00891, notification that “Notice is sufficient to start work…”.
Letter of Deficiency
- For Patrick & Melissa Thompson, 59 Pine Street, Peterborough, NH, for property located at 14 Edgemont Landing, Newbury, Tax Map/Lot # 7-92, regarding Land Resources management File # 2015-02706 (EMD 3162) pertaining to an inspection of the abovementioned property to determine compliance with RSA 483-B, the Shoreland Water Quality Protection Act and applicable rules. Inspection was to determine whether the work performed was consistent with Permit Notification Number 2015-02706 accepted on October 9, 2015. The findings indicated that the work performed was not in compliance with Permit Notification Number 2015-02706. The Thompsons are instructed to retain a qualified environmental consultant by April 8, 2016; submit and “after-the-fact” standard Shoreland Permit application to DES by April 29, 2016; and submit a shoreland
restoration plan to DES by April 29, 2016.
COMMUNICATIONS
Ms. Holmes discussed a number of ideas with Commissioners as follows:
- Including a cover sheet with every permit application from the Code Enforcement Officer detailing what is needed to be in compliance. No action was taken at this time.
- Discussion of tree removal regulations, specifically removal of dead and damaged trees. No action was taken at this time.
- Discussion of regulations for buffer zone cuts. No action was taken at this time.
- Discussion of how trees interact with one another within a forest setting and the damage that occurs when that interaction is interrupted. No action was taken at this time.
- Discussion regarding a potential NCC workshop on trees. No action was taken at this time.
Ms. Holmes shared with the NCC the following:
- The LSPA “Soak Up the Rain” workshop on April 21, 2016 at the LSPA Learning Center at 1:00 p.m. All Commissioners were encouraged to attend.
- The Stewardship Network, specifically the downloadable training guide (www.newengland.stewardshipnetwork.org/training-guides).
- The newsletter, “Supply Lines”, published by the NHDES Water & Groundwater Bureau.
- The 2015 LSPA Annual Report.
- The NH Association of Natural Resource Scientists spring quarterly meeting on May 5, 2016. Mr. Stewart expressed interest in attending.
OLD BUSINESS
Saving Special Places Conference
Ms. Russell reported on her attendance noting that the conference content was very useful. Of particular note were the keynote speakers who were longtime seasoned conservationists. Ms. Russell shared information on vernal pools and Mr. Stewart augmented the discussion with details about how vernal pools are created and what life forms thrive in that environment (wood frogs, salamanders, dragon flies, etc.).
There was general discussion on vernal pools and the possibility of taking a field trip around Chalk Pond to examine vernal pools. Mr. Stewart noted that there are specific criteria for vernal pools and it is important to correctly identify the pools independent of wetlands and report vernal pool locations to the town since they are unique ecosystems that should be protected.
Ms. Russell added that a workshop on conservation-related “crowd funding” was very useful and encourage the NCC to look into the parameters of utilizing that funding mechanism. She directed Commissioners to the website www.worthwhile.com for more information.
Agritourism
Ms. Holmes reviewed the Agritourism bill(s) currently under consideration at the state level, noting the importance of encouraging agritourism in municipalities. She said bills state that the goal of the agritourism bill(s) is as follows: “The goal of both bills is to enhance the economic viability of agriculture by enabling farmers to engage in commercial activities that attract visitors to their farms and that are closely related to their primary farming activities, without excessive local regulation.”
NEW BUSINESS
NH Lakes Association Lakes Congress
Ms. Holmes noted the annual Lakes Congress will be held in Meredith, NH on June 2-3, 2016. Further, there was discussion regarding the potential benefit of having the NCC join NH Lakes Association in the future. No action was taken at this time.
Ausbon Sargent Outreach Program
Ms. Holmes requested that Commissioners consider appointing a member of the NCC to participate in the Ausbon Sargent Outreach Committee. No action was taken at this time.
Newbury Recreation Programs
Ms. Holmes informed the Commissioners that the Newbury Recreation Department hosts a weekly walk at 9:30 a.m. every Thursday starting at Sherman Hall in South Newbury.
Recreational Trails Program Grant Applications
Ms. Holmes reviewed with the Commissioners the program specifications released by the NH Division of Parks and Recreation, Bureau of Trails. Commissioners agreed to examine this topic further at the next meeting.
Summer Workshop
Ms. Holmes suggested that Commissioners consider inviting representatives from area lakes and pond associations to attend an informational “summit” at Newbury for an exchange of ideas, issues and potential collaboration. Commissioners agreed to consider this possibility and discuss it in more depth at the next meeting.
Mr. Stewart made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Ms. Russell seconded the motion. All in favor.
The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Meg Whittemore
Recording Secretary
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