Town of Newmarket, New Hampshire

Conservation Commission

May 8, 2008 7:00 PM

Town Council Chambers

Vice-Chairman Bruce Fecteau called the meeting to order at 7:07pm.

1. Pledge of Allegiance

2. Roll Call

Present: Vice-Chairman Bruce Fecteau, George Hilton, Jr., Fred Pearson, Ellen Snyder

 Absent: Don Archambeault, James Bergeron, Amy Buxton Jewell, Chairman Wilfred Hamel

3. Public Comments

None.

4. Approval of March 13, 2008 Minutes

Ellen Snyder noted that on Page 2, in the second paragraph Board should be Commission. On Page 5, fifth comment down, roof needed to be added after kiosk. On Page 6, third line from the top maintenance should be removed. Also on Page 6, second to last paragraph, Kurk Dorsey’s and Robert Pruyne’s names had been misspelled.

Motion: To accept the March 13, 2008 minutes as amended.

Motioned: Fred Pearson

Seconded: Ellen Snyder

Vote: All in favor

Vice-Chairman Fecteau explained that he had been contacted by Chairman Hamel who had asked that time be made for Jenn Rowden from the Lamprey River Watershed Association to speak to the Commission. He noted that when she arrived, the Commission would allow her to speak at that point in the agenda.

The Commission members agreed.

5. Treasury Report

Vice-Chairman Fecteau explained that no report had been received from Finance Director Don Parnell.

Fred Pearson asked how the Commission could ensure that they would receive a report at the next meeting. He felt it was important to receive the information monthly.

Vice-Chairman Bruce Fecteau stated he wasn’t sure why there had been no report. He had spoken with Chairman Wil Hamel who had indicated he had not received anything in his mailbox. He suggested that he call Finance Director Don Parnell to remind him that the Commission would like the report monthly. He added that the spreadsheet Don Parnell had provided was much easier to understand than the one provided annually by the former Finance Director.

Ellen Snyder suggested asking Kathy Castle to include the report as part of the packets mailed to Commission members monthly. This would also provide the Commission members an opportunity to review the information prior to the meeting.

The Commission members agreed with Ellen Snyder’s suggestions and asked that Finance Director Don Parnell be contacted and asked to submit the report to Kathy Castle in time to be included in the monthly packets.

6. Land Stewardship

Ellen Snyder asked George Hilton, Jr. if he had had a chance to speak with Eric Sawtelle in regards to mowing the Loiselle field.

George Hilton, Jr. answered that he had spoken with Eric Sawtelle who had indicated that he would mow the field around June 15^th, would apply wood ash after mowing and take a second crop later in the summer. He noted that the wood ash was difficult to use because if it came in contact with any moisture, it would harden like concrete.

Vice-Chairman Bruce Fecteau asked if Eric Sawtelle would mow both the Wiggin Farm and Loiselle property.

George Hilton, Jr. answered that Eric Sawtelle would mow the Loiselle property. Wiggin Farm could not be mowed until mid-August because it was a nesting site for Bobolinks.

Ellen Snyder added that the funding also required that the field not be mowed until late summer.

Vice-Chairman Bruce Fecteau noted that the unmowed area needed to be widened at Wiggin Farm. He added that he though Wiggin Farm would be separated into thirds for mowing.

Ellen Snyder agreed stating that would happen once the alder grew to a certain point. She added that the wider area had been staked once and suggested it would be better for someone to walk the property. She asked if Eric Sawtelle had been told about the trail around the edge of the field.

George Hilton, Jr. answered that he had not told Eric Sawtelle about the area at the Loiselle property but was confident that if the areas were marked, Eric Sawtelle would not infringe upon them.

Ellen Snyder noted she had received a phone call from Linda Bergeron, Peter Bergeron’s mother asking if there were any clean up projects that needed to be done. She added that Peter Bergeron had not yet received approval for his proposed Eagle Scout Project; she was unsure how long that process would take.

George Hilton, Jr. noted that the boat launch off Piscassic Street could use a clean up.

Vice-Chairman Bruce Fecteau asked if the Commission wanted to set aside a time to get some trash bags and head down there to clean up.

Ellen Snyder noted that was what the boy scouts were looking to do.

George Hilton, Jr. stated that Wiggin Farm had no evidence of trash being discarded.

Vice-Chairman Bruce Fecteau suggested doing a cook out for the boy scouts if they do a clean up day.

George Hilton, Jr. stated that Schanda Park could use a good raking.

Ellen Snyder explained that the Great Bay Resource Partnership was coordinating the next Tuttle Swamp management meeting. The meeting date was scheduled to be held at the Nature Conservancy office on Bay Road on June 18, 2008 from 9:00am until 10:30am.

Ellen Snyder noted that the kiosks were up at the Loiselle property and at Wiggin Farm. She suggested maybe in June beginning to get some signs up and information put out there.

Vice-Chairman Bruce Fecteau noted that the kiosk at Loiselle was not quite finished. He suggested he should look into getting that done.

The Commission agreed for him to look into completing the kiosk.

7. Committee Reports

Fred Pearson noted there was no report from Lamprey River Advisory Committee.

Ellen Snyder referenced a brochure depicting the Lamprey River stops, kiosks, historical and natural interests as well as car, bike and hiking trails. Access points to the water were also shown within the brochure.

Vice-Chairman Bruce Fecteau suggested putting these brochures at the kiosks at Heron Point and Loiselle property.

Ellen Snyder agreed adding that Wiggin Farm was also shown on the map and should be included.

Vice-Chairman Bruce Fecteau added that another good place would be at the Piscassic Boat Launch.

8. Chairman’s Report

Vice-Chairman Bruce Fecteau noted that Pauline LaBranche from the guidance office at the High School had contacted him to inform him that there had been two applicants for the scholarship the Commission had approved a few months ago. He had not had a chance to pick up the applications but would try to do so tomorrow. He asked if a couple of Commission members would join him in reviewing the applications and determining which applicant to award the scholarship to.

Fred Pearson and George Hilton, Jr. stated they would help.

Ellen Snyder would be out of town.

Vice-Chairman Bruce Fecteau stated there would be a seminar on June 12, 2008 referencing Regional Water Program Development including managing storm water and low impact development around Great Bay. The seminar would be held in Somersworth.

Ellen Snyder noted she had received a notice about it in the mail.

Vice-Chairman Bruce Fecteau stated that in the past the Commission had reimbursed members cost who attended.

Fred Pearson noted it would be nice if at least one Commission member attended the seminar.

Vice-Chairman Bruce Fecteau noted the seminar would be from 8:00am until 4:00pm.

Vice-Chairman Bruce Fecteau stated that Kurk Dorsey, a past member of the Conservation Commission would be doing a bird watching bird walk at Land Lubber Creek off Bay Road on May 31, 2008. Anyone interested could contact Kurk Dorsey.

Fred Pearson noted that Kurk Dorsey did a fantastic job.

Vice-Chairman Bruce Fecteau noted that he had received a hand written note from Peter Bergeron regarding the inventory of the duck boxes; shells, feathers and eggs had been found. He suggested this could be filed upstairs.

Ellen Snyder asked if this was monitored every year and asked once the scouts monitoring them now went off to college and beyond who would monitor the boxes. She asked if there was a map depicting their locations.

Fred Pearson felt this should be done in perpetuity.

Vice-Chairman Bruce Fecteau stated that a few of the boxes had been moved and repositioned.

Vice-Chairman Bruce Fecteau welcomed Ellen Snyder as a new full member of the Conservation Commission.

Fred Pearson asked who James Bergeron was.

Vice-Chairman Bruce Fecteau stated that James Bergeron is the father of Peter Bergeron, the Eagle Scout that would be working on the trails at the Loiselle property. The past couple of weeks James Bergeron had been busy advertising his candidacy for Town Council. He felt James Bergeron was energetic, cared about the environment and would be an asset to the Commission.

Vice-Chairman Bruce Fecteau noted he had received an application from the Newmarket Main Street Corporation for the Heritage Festival which would be held on September 19-21, 2008.

Fred Pearson felt if the storyboard could be done again it would be great.

Vice-Chairman Bruce Fecteau wondered how much room there would be and whether the boat ride could be done due to the construction.

Fred Pearson noted that the High School had requested use of the Storyboard for May 17, 2008 as part of Newmarket Green.

Vice-Chairman Bruce Fecteau suggested the Commission make plans as though everything would be the same as last year.

Ellen Snyder suggested checking with Project Coordination Julie Glover.

Vice-Chairman Bruce Fecteau noted that if they started now, the Commission would be prepared if alternate arrangements needed to be made. He stated that the trolley had worked well to bring people in last year.

George Hilton, Jr. suggested trying to find out the projected access to the mills. He suggested speaking with Severino.

Vice-Chairman Bruce Fecteau noted that at the March meeting the Commission had discussed Armorex, a goose repellent for the grass area at Schanda Park. Chairman Wil Hamel had looked into the product and had found that it works, but was not recommended by the State as it was considered a pesticide. There was nothing in it that could not be consumed by humans including garlic juice, white pepper and sesame oil. The State felt it was too close to the water to use.

Fred Pearson stated that he would rather the current problem continue than to use a pesticide there.

Vice-Chairman Bruce Fecteau noted that Chairman Wil Hamel had spoken with Dori Wiggin from the Department of Environmental Services who had advised him to speak with the Department of Agriculture Pest Control and USDA Wildlife Service. Both organizations consider the product to be a pesticide. Under the new shoreline protection regulations and the fact that the Lamprey River was a river of the fourth order they suggest that this product not be applied.

Ellen Snyder suggested the Commission follow the recommendations made by the State. She added that the Commission could try additional signage and enforcement.

Fred Pearson agreed stating that the geese needed to be captured and transported elsewhere. He suggested that Fish & Game needed to be contacted and told that the geese needed to be removed safely.

Ellen Snyder noted that Diane Hardy had asked that she announce an easement monitoring workshop to be held on May 12, 2008. Steve Walker from the State would be here to speak. The workshop would begin at 7:00pm. She would not be able to attend as she would be out of town.

Vice-Chairman Bruce Fecteau noted he would try to make the workshop.

Fred Pearson noted he would attend.

9. Discussion with Jenn Rowden from Lamprey River Water Shed Association

Jenn Rowden explained that she is the project coordinator for this summer’s Streamwalk 2008. She explained that she is looking for volunteers to walk the entire length of the Lamprey River to the damn in Newmarket. The volunteers would walk individual sections looking for erosion, trash, invasive species and culverts. The goal is to inventory the areas that need attention; she called this a “find it and fix it” project. Training sessions were scheduled for June 2^nd and June 4^th. This project is a result from a grant from DES. There is a 40% match requirement that she hoped would come from the sixty volunteers needed. Each section of river would be between ½ mile and a little over 1 mile depending on that spans of river. They would keep with DES assessment units so each section could be paired with any improvements the State had identified.

Ellen Snyder asked if land owner permission would be required.

Jenn Rowden explained that letters would be sent to land owners, towns and police departments but the river would be accessed by access points so that the walks would be within the channel. She handed applications to each Commission member explaining that the applications were to ensure that there is a record of volunteer’s experience and qualifications. She noted she would be encouraging volunteers to do sections of the river within their own towns to promote stewardship. She believed there would be ten sections.

10. Old/New Business

Vice-Chairman Bruce Fecteau noted that he would work on getting someone to finish the kiosk at the Loiselle property.

Ellen Snyder noted it was time to start thinking about mowing the trail at Wiggin Farm.

George Hilton, Jr. stated that the Public Works Department had mowed the property regularly last year; he believed it had been once every two weeks or monthly. The low part of the property was still a little too wet. He suggested holding off mowing for a few more weeks. He would contact the Public Works Department to discuss.

Vice-Chairman Bruce Fecteau stated that it would be nice to have some Commission members volunteer for the Lamprey River Streamwalk. He suggested recruiting some of the Boy Scouts as well.

Ellen Snyder asked if Richard Shelton would be doing the fishing derby again this year.

Vice-Chairman Bruce Fecteau stated that Richard Shelton would be taking care of the fishing derby this year but was still looking for someone to take his place. The Commission had donated $1400 towards this year’s derby which would be held on June 14, 2008.

Fred Pearson noted that Richard Shelton put a lot of effort into the derby each year. He added that it would be impossible to replace his knowledge and contacts that make the derby a success each year.

Vice-Chairman Bruce Fecteau agreed noting that Richard Shelton began planning the next fishing derby the day after that year’s derby was over. He suggested that the person that would take over needs to be interested in fishing and someone who would be willing to put a lot of effort into the event.

Ellen Snyder suggested putting the information on the Town’s website as well as the Conservation Commission’s portion of the website. She added that Richard Shelton had noted he would train anyone interested in taking over for him.

Fred Pearson noted the new person would need to be energetic and be willing to be around for a while.

Vice-Chairman Bruce Fecteau noted he had been speaking with members of the community advertising for Commission positions as well as a replacement for Richard Shelton. He suggested that since the Conservation Commission is the major sponsor, he felt it was partly their responsibility to find the replacement.

Ellen Snyder suggested maybe the responsibility for the fishing derby could be structured differently. She suggested perhaps a subcommittee of four people.

11. Adjournment

Motion: To adjourn at 8:08pm.

Motioned: Ellen Snyder

Seconded: Fred Pearson

Vote: All in favor

Respectfully Submitted,

Erica Spechuilli