WESTMORELAND CONSERVATION COMMISSION

May 1, 2008  Meeting Minutes

The meeting was called to order at 7:12 pm with Marshall Patmos (Chair), Jim Blake, Walter Derjue, George Duke, Russ Martens, Richard Schmidt.

The minutes of April 3, 2008 were read. Marshall made a correction to the minutes regarding the County Jail Wetland Mitigation. It should read that the County has decided not to put an easement on any of their property in lieu of paying a fine to satisfy the wetland mitigation issue for the new jail site in Keene. The minutes were approved with the correction.

Old Business

Zoning Administrator Check List – Jim passed out his draft. Discussion followed and the check list will be made up as two pages. Page one will include the instructions with the zoning laws. Page two will include the check list, appropriate space for signatures of approval bodies and the landowner. The zoning laws will be repeated on the back of page two, with a copy going back to the landowner as a permanent reference. It was recommended that the Zoning Administrator send copies of the completed check list to the Planning Board, Zoning Board, Building Inspector and Conservation Commission. Jim Blake will make the recommended corrections to this draft check list and will send the updated material to the C.C. members for review for the next meeting.

Spring Roadside Clean-Up  Russ reported that there were 142 bags of litter collected including a small cabinet and a car muffler. Twenty-seven (27) volunteers assisted, which included the help of the Westmoreland Lions, town residents and conservation commission members. The event had radio coverage and was publicized in the Monadnock Shopper and Keene Sentinel. Russ said that he was very appreciative for Jeff Smith’s help in organizing the event and for Jim’s help in putting the maps and roadside assignments together. This fall we will be receiving 800 Daffodil Bulbs from Litter Free New Hampshire for participating in beautifying Westmoreland town roads. Russ recommended that next year’s date be set. It was decided that April 18, 2009 will be reserved with the Town Hall for the 2009 Road Side Clean-up.

County Farm Conservation Easement Issue  The County Farm easement issue still remains as a tabled item at the County level. A natural resource inventory should be taken on the County Farm and it should be brought up at the Community Conservation Forum on May 21.

Surface Water Protection  Nothing to Report

Community Conservation Partnership  Russ reported that the Tuesday, April 29^th meeting had 17 people in attendance. Peter Throop brought brochures, post cards (for out-of-town landowners) and posters to be distributed for the Forum being held on May 21 at the Westmoreland School. (Post cards had also been mailed to all households in Westmoreland.) Dessert, coffee and tea will be served in the multi purpose room at 6 pm and the Forum will be held in the gym from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. The school has requested that we vacate the building by 9 pm. Press releases will be sent to the Monadnock Shopper and the Keene Sentinel along with PSA announcements sent to the radio stations.

Parcel Adjacent to Town Barn Property – It was reported that the Town was obtaining a right of way from the owners of that property to resolve the current problem.

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Westmoreland Conservation Commission

May 1, 2008  Meeting Minutes

Lot R13-8C Wetland Issue Update  Marshall reviewed the owners request and presented the map of the property showing the location of the house, the deck location in question and the 75 foot buffer zone to the wetlands. Discussion followed and it was decided that the proposal is a reasonable resolution to the 75 foot buffer zone and will be forwarded to the Zoning Board.

New Business

Water Resource and Property Line Map  The current map (January 2005) should be updated to show current property lines, flood hazard updates, emergency management updates on flood plains along with the most current information on water resources. Jim will check to see if this updated information is available. It was suggested that it should also be supplied in digital form and should be made available to the Selectmen, Zoning Administrator, Zoning and Planning Boards, Conservation Commission as well as the Conservation website.

Town Transfer Station Amnesty Day  Marshall mentioned that the Selectmen’s office had suggested that the town might have an Amnesty Day at the transfer station. This would not include hazardous waste that can be brought to Keene’s transfer station on scheduled dates. Further discussion will take place at the June meeting.

Jim Blake made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Walter Derjue seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned at 9:15 pm

Russ Martens

Secretary

Unapproved Minutes

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