Town of Holderness, NH

Conservation Commission Meeting

March 18, 2008

Town Office

CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. by Chairman Spencer.

PRESENT: Larry Spencer, Shelagh Connelly, and Jackie Jewell.

OTHERS PRESENT: Anne Abear (municipal secretary)

MINUTES: Mrs. Connelly moved and Mrs. Jewell seconded to approve the minutes of the February 19, 2008 as written. Vote was unanimous. Motion passed.

PERMITS AND OTHER MATTERS –

Chairman Spencer reviewed a notice from NH DES for the Sheldon Tilney & Gail Harrity property on Route 113 regarding their minimum impact permit application. The notice indicated that the application had been approved as administratively complete and a decision would be made in 30 days by NH DES as to whether a permit would be approved.

Chairman Spencer discussed a request of UNH for the Commission to sponsor a child to attend 4H Camp. Mrs. Jewell moved and Mrs. Connelly seconded to sponsor a scholarship in the amount of $100 for a child to attend the 4H Camp. Vote was unanimous. Motion passed. Mrs. Jewell will review the information and contact UNH to get all of the details.

UPCOMING MEETINGS & COURSES –

1. Wednesday, April 16, 2008 will be the NH Water Conference at the Grapone Center in Concord. Mrs. Connelly advised she would be attending this meeting.

2. Saturday, April 26, 2008 will be the Spring Planning & Zoning Conference to be held in Manchester.

3. May 12 – May 15, 2008 there will be a River Management Meeting in Portland, Maine.

OLD BUSINESS –

a. Town Energy Committee Meeting – Mr. Spencer advised this committee would be meeting in the next two weeks to review the energy audit conducted by NHEC.

b. Status of Warrant Article for Planning Board - Mr. Spencer advised all of the warrant articles passed for the 2008 zoning changes.

c. Status of Conservation Fund funds – Mr. Spencer advised the Selectmen recommended funds were approved at Town Meeting.

d. Planning for the April 3^rd session at the SLA – A shore lands protection workshop will be held at the SLA on April 3. Mr. Spencer presented a letter in which has been sent out to about 70 people advising them of this workshop. Mrs. Connelly advised she also emailed this letter to her municipal contacts. This training will take place at the SLA beginning at 6:30 p.m. Board members were asked to provide refreshments.

e. Planning for Spring Vernal Pools Workshop – This workshop will be held at the Science Center on Saturday, April 12 (Snow date: April 19). Mr. Spencer advised 11 – 12 people attended last year’s meeting and he is hopeful that this year’s meeting will be well attended. The cost of the workshop is $15 and will run from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mr. Spencer will forward the workshop information to Mrs. Connelly who will send it out to contacts she has.

f. June BioBlitz – This program is scheduled to begin on June 6 and will last through June 7. There are 23 different locations that have been identified as areas in which people can go out and identify as many visible items as possible. Members of the Commission will be asked to attend during this time to assist in the group tours.

g. Open House at Pilote and Town Forest – An open house was made available at the Pilote and Town Forest on Saturday, March 15. Mr. Spencer was there as a guide. Mr. Spencer advised there was no community attendance. The Board wishes to thank Peter Furmanick from the highway department for opening up the parking area for this event. Mr. Spencer advised the trail really could use a good clean up and that he would be discussing the possibility of utilizing children of the Holderness School to assist in cleaning up the trail.

NEW BUSINESS

The Board reviewed information that was mailed to members from Town Planner David Lorch regarding a grant that is being offered. Additionally, the information for the upcoming Planning & Zoning conference was reviewed.

Mr. Spencer requested the Conservation Commission meetings be added to the bottom of the Selectmen’s meeting agendas.

The next meeting is scheduled for April 15^th at 4:00 pm in the Town Hall

ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Spencer adjourned the meeting at 4:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Anne M. Abear

Municipal Secretary