Notice of Public Meeting

Allenstown Conservation Commission

Date: Wednesday, October 13, 2004

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Location: Allenstown Town Hall

MINUTES

The meeting began at 7:10 pm.

Commissioners Present: Al Heavey, Jenna Gray, Laura Bonk, Phil Trowbridge

Guests Present: Dave Evans

Approve the Minutes of the 9/8/04 Meeting

The minutes were approved without correction.

NH Coverts Project Update

L. Bonk gave a brief summary of the NH Coverts training that she did in September. Handouts and books from the course have been added to the ConCom library. The ConCom would like to move the library out of 238 Deerfield Road to the Town Hall.

Action Items

J. Gray will research getting a 4-drawer file cabinet.
L. Bonk will create an inventory of the ConCom library

Update on "Welcome to Allenstown" Signs Project

Voters on November 2^nd will choose which of the five slogans for the "Welcome to Allenstown" signs. The ConCom will have a display of the five slogans with a voting box at the polls. The slogan that gets the most votes will win. The ConCom will finalize the design of the signs at the November 10, 2004 meeting. The final design will be presented to the Selectmen for their approval. The ConCom will prepare a letter from the Selectmen to NHDOT with the final design. Finally, the ConCom will give the approved design to Armand Verville so that he can prepare a materials list and purchase the materials before 12/31/04.

Action Items

J. Gray will contact the Town Clerk to get permission for the ConCom display on November 2^nd.
A. Heavey will provide a voting box (coffee can) and pieces of scrap paper.
P. Trowbridge will prepare a poster board display of the slogans.
P. Trowbridge will set up the display at the polls and will bring a folding table.
L. Bonk will research the price for granite posts for the signs.

Update on Boat Launch Projects

The group discussed plans for the Albin Avenue boat launch. J. Gray presented a map of the area. There are 3-4 parking spaces on the back side of the cul-de-sac, which is town-owned land. The group felt that 3-4 spaces is enough. The sign or kiosk will be placed near the water. Railroad ties and clean fill will be used to stabilize the bank down to the waters edge. The property should be officially designated a "town park" so that town rules for parks will be enforceable. The goal is to keep this boat launch area as simple and undeveloped as possible.

Action Items

J. Gray will contact the Allenstown Recreation Department (Patti Gardner) to get information on rules and regulations for town parks.
P. Trowbridge will write a letter to the Selectmen asking what needs to be done to legally make the property a town park. The letter will include a description of the project.
A. Heavey will contact Jim Boisvert to see if there is any clean fill at the dump.
A. Heavey will talk to the neighbors to get their opinions and ideas.

The group discussed the latest developments for the Route 3 bridge design. L. Bonk reported that, this fall, NHDOT will make an assessment of the Osgood parcel in its entirety and just the portion of the parcel needed for the new road. NHDOT sent a letter to the ConCom stating that six parking spaces have been included in the bridge design but that there will not be a crosswalk between the parking and the Osgood property. There will only be a "Caution Pedestrian" signs. The ConCom would like an official crosswalk for safety.

Action Items

L. Bonk will circulate the NHDOT letter to the Selectmen, Planning Board, Fire Department, Police Department, and Recreational Department. She will compile comments on the letter and include these comments in a reply to NHDOT. She will also add a list of indigenous plants to be used in the landscaping.

The group discussed the latest plans for the proposed campground next to the Ferry Street boat launch. The latest proposal is for 65 campsites plus some common recreational areas. The owner will not consider selling the property until the plan is approved. The ConCom will be prepared to comment on the final plan when it is presented to the Planning Board.

Action Items

P. Trowbridge will write a letter to the Planning Board asking for the opportunity to comment in writing on the final plan for this project.

Update on Orienteering Event

The orienteering event scheduled for the fall was cancelled because none of the local Boy Scouts were available on the date. The ConCom will try to hold this event some other time.

Review Comments on Open Space Plan

The ConCom received written comments from the Central NH Regional Planning Commission and the NH Association of Conservation Commissions. The major comment was that the plan needed to provide more specific information about the natural resources that would be protected by the plan. Other comments were that: (1) the plan should include information on Natural Heritage Inventory points in Allenstown (all in BBSP); (2) 300 foot riparian corridors along Pease Brook, Little Bear Brook, and Boat Meadow Brook should be included; (3) specific rare habitats in Allenstown (Pitch pine barrens, ledges, south facing slopes) should be included; and (4) all active agricultural lands should be included. Several people also recommended that the owners of the parcels should not be listed in the Appendix. For the plan to be formally adopted, the Planning Board should vote to amend it to the Master Plan.

Action Items

P. Trowbridge will revise the plan and then make a presentation to the Planning Board.

Decide on How to Spend Remaining 2004 Funds

The following expenditures will be made by the end of the calendar year:

$500 to Friends of the Suncook River for the NRI maps

$1,000 to Armand Verville for "Welcome to Allenstown" signs materials (exact amount TBD)

$100 to Friends of the Suncook River for dues

$150 to NH Association of Conservation Commissions for all five ConCom members to attend the annual meeting on November 6, 2004

$1,000 for materials for the Albin Avenue boat launch

Action Items

P. Trowbridge will ask the Friends of the Suncook River to submit an invoice for the NRI maps.
P. Trowbridge will register all five commissioners for the NHACC annual meeting
A. Heavey will develop a material list and cost estimate for the Albin Ave boat launch

Distribute Budget Justification for 2005

P. Trowbridge distributed the budget and justification for the 2005 Conservation Budget. The bottom line amount of $3,027.00 was approved by the Selectmen. The total amount of funding is the same as 2004.

Review, Process and Distribute Mail Received

Date	Sender	Subject
10/5/04	C. Waszczuk, NHDOT	Rte 3 Bridge Replacement over the Suncook River
9/23/04	NH Div. of Historical Resources	Nomination of OAMH to National Historical Register
9/28/04	NH Div. of Forests and Lands	Bear Brook Timber Harvest
10/6/04	DES Wetlands Bureau	File #1999-01927, 1-A Parkwood Drive
Sept 2004	Forest Society	Land Protection Needs Questionnaire
Sept 2004	NH Assoc. of Cons. Comm.	Invoice for 2005 dues
9/9/04	NH Assoc. of Cons. Comm.	Procedure for Adopting Open Space Plan
9/15/04	NH Assoc. of Cons. Comm.	Draft Open Space Plan for Allenstown NH
9/24/04	Central NH RPC	Draft Open Space Plan for Allenstown NH
9/30/04	Michael Frascinella	Draft Open Space Plan for Allenstown NH
NA	Central NH RPC	Agenda for R2C2 Meeting (10/14/04) in Allenstown
NA	Allenstown Revitalization	Invitation to meeting on 10/14/04
NA	UNH/Bear-Paw	Agenda for Community Conservation Roundtable (10/28/04)
NA	NH Assoc. of Cons. Comm.	Agenda for 34^th Annual Meeting (11/6/04)
NA	NHDES	Agenda for Watershed Conference 2004 (11/13/04)
Fall 2004	Bear Paw Regional Greenways	Bear-Paw Print Newsletter
Fall 2004	NHDES	The Source Newsletter
NA	UNH-Coop Extension	Flier on Natural Resource Senior Projects
NA	MA Forest Stewardship Program	Resources for managing town forests

None of the mail required additional action items besides those already listed under other agenda items.

Conservation Commission Resources Inventory

L. Bonk will prepare an inventory of the Conservation Commission resources library.

Confirm Next Meeting:

The next meeting of the ConCom will be held on Wednesday, November 10, 2004, at 7:00 p.m. at the Allenstown Town Hall.

Other Business

Dave Evans is interested in joining the ConCom. He will contact the Selectmen to be appointed to a vacant position. Dave is the manager of Bear Brook State Park for NH DRED.

Adjourn

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 pm.