WESTMORELAND CONSERVATION COMMISSION

MAY 3, 2007

The meeting convened at 7:08 p.m. with Marshall Patmos, Walter Derjue, George Duke, Jim Blake, and Jeff Smith in attendance.

As there was no meeting in April, the minutes from March 1^st were read and approved.

A visitor, Dick Schmidt of Westmoreland, was introduced. After some discussion it was learned that Dick has a long history of conservation work and he offered his services to the Conservation Commission. A motion was made, seconded, and voted in the affir-mative to have Dick Schmidt become a member. At this point we joined the Selectmen and they also voted to have Dick be a member of the Conservation Commission.

Jeff reported to the Selectmen the results of the 2007 roadside clean-up campaign. After that, the situation at the town transfer station, including the possibility of closure at the end of May, was discussed. At the conclusion of this discussion, we re-convened to our regular meeting.

Marshall said there have been no changes to the Conservation Fund since our last meeting, but he noted 5 properties will be coming out of current use so additional monies will be coming in.

Marshall announced that Marjorie Swope, Executive Director of Conservation Commissions, passed away. She will be missed.

Also during this period Marshall received the following FYI mailings:

A brochure from “Land for Good”, an organization that assists landowners preserve New England’s working lands. (Web site: www.landforgood.org)

A letter from Steven Roberge, Extension Educator, UNH Cooperative Extension, regarding a meeting sponsored by the Ashuelot Valley Environmental Observatory (AVEO), on May 8^th from 8 a.m. to 12 noon in room 101 at the Keene State College Science Center. AVEO is a well orchestrated citizen science group that has a variety of environmental monitoring programs for the Ashuelot watershed and Cheshire County.

A letter announcing an upcoming workshop on May 17^th from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Keene Public Library. The meeting will focus on farmland preservation.

A letter from the Wantastiquet Region River Subcommittee with comments about the meeting that was held on April 17^th. regarding the erosion threat to the sewage lagoons at the County Farm.

A letter of approval from the NH Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) regarding “Wetlands and Non-site Specific Permit 2007-00573 for sandbar and riprap work on Mill and Partridge Brooks (Westmoreland Tax Map/Lot No. R8/30) to control erosion.

“Notice of Disqualified Forestry” from Vanessa Burnes at NH Dept. of Environmental Services after determination that a stream crossing was for subdivision purposes rather than forestry purposes. No action on our part required.

The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

Jeffrey P. Smith, Secretary

UNAPPROVED MINUTES