Marshall Patmos, Chairman 352-8730     October 13, 2005     

John Lukin, Vice Chairman 399-7157       December 1, 2005

Richard Schmidt                                       January 5, 2006

Paula Page                                               March 2, 2006

Bill Fosher                                              April 13, 2006           

Ken Wright                                            July 6, 2006

Gary Dermott                                           October 5, 2006

Selena Gallen, alternate                            November 2, 2006

                                                                 
                                                                                  January, 2007                                                       

                                                                                 February 1, 2007                                                       

                                                                                  March 1, 2007                                                         

                                                      May 3, 2007                                                        

                                                                                 June7,2007                                  

                                                      August 2, 2007

                                                      September 6, 2007                                                                                                           November 1, 2007                                                                                                      December 3,2007                                                     

The Westmoreland Conservation Commission was established as provided for by New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated Chapter RSA 36-A  "for the proper utilization and protection of the natural resources and for the protection of watershed resources of said city or town."  A commission is the only local board specifically charged to protect the natural resources of the municipality.  A conservation commission provides a focal point within municipal government for environmental concerns.
Duties
The commission may advise the planning board and other local bodies on conservation matters. It may act more directly to protect natural resources by acquiring, with the approval of the selectmen or city council, the fee (full title) or a lesser interest in land or water resources. The commission then may manage these conservation areas. If authorized by the municipal legislative body, it may manage duly designated town forests (RSA 31:110,  RSA 31:111,  RSA 31:112,  RSA 31:113)

RSA 36-A authorizes towns to establish conservation commissions and lists their specific responsibilities, plus additional activities which commissions may, but need not, undertake. The statute directs every conservation commission to:

"... conduct researches into its local land and water areas ..."
"... seek to coordinate the activity of unofficial bodies organized for similar purposes ..."
"... keep an index of all open space and natural, aesthetic or ecological areas ... all marshlands, swamps and other wetlands ..."
 "... keep accurate records of its meetings and actions ..."

In addition to the statutory duties listed above, a conservation commission is authorized by RSA 36-A to engage in the following activities:
"... may recommend ... a program for the protection, development or better utilization of all ... areas [in the index] ..."
 "... may receive gifts of money and property, both real and personal, in the name of the city or town, subject to the approval of the local governing body, such gifts to be managed and controlled by the commission ..."
"... may acquire in the name of the town or city, subject to the approval of the local governing body, ... the fee in such land or water rights, or any lesser interest ... and shall manage and control the same, but the city or town or commission shall not have the right to condemn property for these purposes."
 "... may advertise, prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts, plans and pamphlets ... necessary for its work."

Other Commission activities authorized
"_ _ provides two options for municipal forest managers: a forestry committee created for that purpose, or, by vote of town meeting or city council, a conservation commission may manage the town or city forest.
-----The NH statute governing Fill and Dredge in Wetlands, RSA 482-A, allows a conservation commission to request time to investigate an application for a dredge and fill permit filed with the NH DES Wetlands Bureau. If a commission makes this request within 14 days of the date the application is signed by the town or city clerk, the Bureau must delay action on that application until a report is received from the conservation commission or until 40 days from the date of the clerk's signature, whichever comes first. The conservation commission is the ONLY municipal body with authority to "intervene" (request this delay).
-----The conservation commission may also prepare the report and maps for the local designation of prime wetlands under  RSA 482-A.
----RSA 155-E:3 (Application for Permit for Sand and Gravel excavations) requires an applicant for an excavation permit to send a copy of the application to the conservation commission. This provides an opportunity for a commission to make comments and recommendations on proposed excavation and restoration plans.
---- RSA 36-A:2 allows a commission to "appoint such clerks and other employees or subcommittees as it may from time to time require." Conservation commissions may use this provision to create subcommittees to expand available manpower and expertise.

More detailed information is available on the NH Association of Conservation Commissions website at http://www.nhacc.org.  For information, NH Revised Statutes, pertinent legislation, Department of Environmental Services publications, GRANIT aerial photo data base and more, visit the "resource" section of their website.


Other websites of interest: