WESTMORELAND CONSERVATION COMMISSION

January 3, 2008  Meeting Minutes

The meeting was called to order at 7:07 pm with Marshall Patmos (chair), Jim Blake, Walter Derjue, George Duke and Russ Martens in attendance. Russ Martens volunteered to take the minutes for the meeting.

Guest, Selena Gallen, of River Road, Westmoreland was present.

The minutes of December 6, 2007 were read. Jim made the motion to accept them as read, Walter seconded it, and the motion was carried. Marshall questioned if the unapproved minutes for December had been sent to Tina for posting at the Town Hall. Russ said that they hadn’t, but they would be sent with the January minutes.

Members John Lukin and Dick Schmidt arrived after the minutes were read.

Old Business

Check list issues outside of Planning Board  Recommendations were made that a check list be developed to assist the Zoning Administrator and the Building Inspector with regard to environmental and conservation issues. Marshall suggested that the Zoning Administrator and the Building Inspector be invited to the next meeting to discuss and develop such list.

Spring Roadside Cleanup  April 19^th is the scheduled date. Russ will call Jeff Smith and ask if he will assist the roadside cleanup committee and if he had a contact at the Garden Club that can be called to ask for their assistance on the cleanup day. Walt mentioned that he had made a request of the Lions Club and that they would be participating.

County Farm Conservation Easement issue  there was nothing new to report on the easement issue.

Open Wells on County Farm  Russ passed out Topographical maps with the GPS positions of the two open wells. George submitted a copy of the Well Laws not in the Water Well Board Rules that was obtained from the NH Dept. of Environmental Services. Sections 485.37 and 485:38 were read. Discussion followed and a letter is to be sent to Barry King, Facilities Manager, with a copy to David Putnam, Manager, Cheshire County Farm.

Surface Water Protection  No additional information was available. It is currently in the hands of the Selectmen. The Conservation Commission will continue to address surface water protection, until the Selectman act upon it.

Membership List  Marshall said that he had prepared the list for the Selectmen’s office. Russ said that he would continue to take minutes of the monthly minutes if everyone was in favor. John Lukin made a motion that Russ Martens be the Secretary. The motion was seconded by Jim Blake and was carried.

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Westmoreland Conservation Commission

January 3, 2008  Meeting Minutes

New Business

County Wetland Mitigation  Barry King, called Marshall regarding a land exchange on the County Farm for an area of wetlands that will be disturbed at the new building site of the County Jail in Keene. Marshall will clarify weather upland or wetland property will be exchanged. Jim and Marshall volunteered to be involved in further discussions of the property exchange.

Community Conservation Project, Monadnock Conservancy  Peter Throop, project director of the Community Conservation Partnership contacted Marshall regarding a five town project being organized for land protection and preservation. Discussion followed. Russ volunteered to serve on the project.

Publications  Marshall distributed copies of “Knowing the Territory"- A Survey of Municipal Law for New Hampshire Local Officials and “Handbook for New Hampshire’s Municipal Conservation Commissions.”

Town Hall Conservation Measures Taken  Dick Schmidt reported that he was working with the Town Selectmen with regard to addressing heat temperature, heat loss and corrective measures to help in reducing energy cost. Dick has installed a new digital thermostat that is programmed to the town hall's calendar schedule. There are twenty eight operational areas that are being addressed.

A motion was made by Walt to recommend Selena Gallen to the Selectmen as an alternate to the Conservation Commission. The motion was second and carried.

The meeting adjourned at 8:45 pm

Russ Martens

Secretary

Unapproved Minutes

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