Notice of Public Meeting

Allenstown Conservation Commission

Date: Wednesday, December 8, 2004

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Location: Allenstown Town Hall

MINUTES

Conservation Commission Attendees: Phil Trowbridge, Laura Bonk, Dave McKay, Jenna Gray

Guests Present: Armand Verville, Dave Evans

The meeting began at 7:05 pm.

Approve the Minutes of the 11/10/04 Meeting (5 min)

The minutes were approved unanimously.

Update on "Welcome to Allenstown" Signs Project (30 min)

Armand Verville presented a full-size mock-up of the Welcome to Allenstown signs. The group discussed different options and decided upon a design for the signs and the sign posts. Armand presented a materials list that estimated the cost for the three signs to be $287. The group estimated that the cost of six pressure treated posts would be $100. Additional hardware and materials for the signs should cost less than $100. Therefore the total costs should be approximately $500.

Phil Trowbridge moved to expend $500 from the Conservation Budget to Armand Verville to purchase the materials for the signs by 12/31/04. The motion was seconded by Laura Bonk. The motion passed unanimously.

Action Items:

P. Trowbridge will prepare a description of the signs and a letter for the Selectmen to send to NHDOT.

Proposal for winter hike in Hayes Marsh in Bear Brook State Park with Eric Orff (15 min)

The group reviewed the proposal for a winter hike on 2/5/05 (with snow day on 2/6/05) from Eric Orff. It was agreed that the ConCom should sponsor this event. The hike will leave the XC skier parking lot, walk along the XC ski trails, and end at Hayes Marsh. It will cover 3 miles over moderate terrain. If weather and time permit, we will have a campfire at Hayes Marsh.

Action items:

D. McKay will notify the Boy Scouts.
L. Bonk will handle advertising for the event and confirm with Eric Orff.
D. Evans will post signs about the event in the park.

Brainstorm ideas for first quarterly newsletter in 2005 (5 min)

The group discussed the content of the ConCom newsletter for the first quarter of 2005. The newsletter should include an update on the Welcome to Allenstown signs, the meeting dates for January, February, and March, an update on the Open Space Plan, and brief notes about upcoming spring events.

Action Items:

L. Bonk will prepare and distribute the newsletter in early January.

Report on workshop on inventorying wildlife on conservation land (10 min)

P. Trowbridge gave a brief summary of the subject workshop. The ConCom received a book about inventorying wildlife on conservation lands. The book is in the Conservation Commission library.

Report on Selectmen’s meeting regarding the sale of Town-owned parcels (10 min)

P. Trowbridge and D. McKay described the Selectmen’s meeting regarding the sale of the town owned parcels. The group thought it would be worth noting that the value of these parcels will only increase so the Selectmen may want to defer the decision for another year. The extra year would give the ConCom more time to inventory wildlife and natural resources on these parcels to better inform the decision.

Action Items:

P. Trowbridge will write a letter to the Selectmen with the group’s recommendation.

Make arrangements for 12/15/04 Planning Board Meeting (5 min.)

The plan for a campground off Ferry Street will be presented on 12/15/04. The Conservation Commission has requested an opportunity to comment in writing on the proposal.

Action Items:

J. Gray will attend the 12/15/04 meeting to remind the group of the Conservation Commission’s request.

Review, Process and Distribute Mail Received (10 min.)

Date	Sender	Subject
12/5/04	Ron Fredette	Land for sale on Kettle Rock Rd (Map 402/Lot 147)
11/16/04	NHDES Wetlands Bureau	Bear Brook Timber Cut
11/23/04	NHDES Wetlands Bureau	33 Riverside Park
NA	Friends of the Suncook River	Invoice for NRI maps

Action Items:

L. Bonk will send easement information to Ron Fredette and notify Bear Paw of the land for sale.

Confirm Next Meeting:

The next ConCom meeting will be on Wednesday, January 12, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. at the Allenstown Town Hall. The meetings in February and March will be on 2/9/05 and 3/9/05, respectively.

Action Items:

P. Trowbridge will ask David Jodoin to put the 2005 meetings on the Town Hall calendar.

Adjourn

The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 pm.