Notice of Public Meeting

Allenstown Conservation Commission

Date: Wednesday, February 9, 2005

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Location: Allenstown Town Hall

Minutes

The meeting began at 7:10 pm

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

Approve the minutes of the 1/12/05 meeting

Motion to approve the minutes by J. Gray, seconded by L. Bonk. The motion passed unanimously.

Update on 2/2/05 Planning Board Meeting

L. Bonk and J. Gray discussed the proposed Ferry St. campground project. The project now has 63 modular homes on private lots. The scope of this project has changed dramatically and it is no longer a campground. The owners will be going back to the ZBA for new approvals.

Acton Items:

P. Trowbridge will review FEMA flood maps for the area of the proposed development.
L. Bonk and J. Gray will call Mark O’Clair of the ZBA to express the ConCom’s disapproval of the project.
A. Heavey and P. Trowbridge will call Bob Lee of the ZBA to express the ConCom’s disapproval of the project.
As many ConCom members as possible will attend the ZBA meeting (tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, March 8^th) to express their disapproval of the project.

Debrief winter hike in Bear Brook State Park

20 people attended the hike on Saturday, February 5^th. Commissioners present were: L. Bonk, J. Gray, A. Heavey, and P. Trowbridge. 10 duck boxes were checked on Hayes Marsh and all the duck boxes had evidence of birds last spring. People enjoyed the hike.

Acton Items:

L. Bonk will send thank you to Eric Orff of NH Fish and Game.
L. Bonk will put photos and article in the Hooksett Banner.
L. Bonk will add photos to our activities notebook.

Review Use Change Tax warrant article

The ConCom discussed at length the Feb. 5^th Allenstown Deliberative Session as well as the correspondence from David Jodoin and Peter Viar. In addition, commissioners read the Feb. 6^th Concord Monitor article. The Feb. 5^th winter hike was scheduled before the Deliberative session and thus no commissioners were able to be present. Commissioners also reviewed the 2004 Allenstown Capital Improvement Plan as well as discussed the process by which this Plan was created. Commissioners were dismayed with both the Allenstown Selectmen and Allenstown Budget Committee that they did not follow the recommendations in the 2004 Allenstown Capital Improvement Plan regarding allocating 100% of the land use change tax to the projects on the Merrimack and Suncook Rivers. Furthermore, the ConCom’s projects in the 2004 Allenstown Capital Improvement Plan did not appear to be discussed at the Deliberative session.

Acton Items:

P. Trowbridge will send a letter to the Hooksett Banner on behalf of the ConCom. This letter will discuss the 2004 Allenstown Capital Improvement Plan and the process by which it was created.
P. Trowbridge will send an email to the ConCom mailing list asking them to vote against this warrant article and to encourage their neighbors to do so also.
The ConCom will submit a new warrant article for 2006 Town Meeting to reacquire 100% of the Land Use Change Tax.

Review final Natural Resource Inventory maps for Allenstown

The ConCom reviewed the maps. The ConCom was pleased with how they turned out. It was decided to display the maps at the March 8^th election.

Acton Items:

L. Bonk will get permission from Ed Cyr to display the maps.
L. Bonk will set up the exhibit and staff the morning hours.
P. Trow
Other Commissioners will try and staff the late afternoon hours.

Other business

L. Bonk discussed the May 5^th Volunteer Day. It was decided that the ConCom will organize a spring river or roadside cleanup, but we would not utilize the Americorps volunteers for this project. P. Trowbridge would like to resign as Chairman in March. He asked for another volunteer to fulfill this position.

Review, Process and Distribute Mail Received

LCHIP call for Projects: The ConCom discussed applying for NH State LCHIP grants to acquire land on the Merrimack and Suncook Rivers (as specified in the 2004 Allenstown Capital Improvement Plan) . L. Bonk will collect additional information to apply for this grant. The grant deadline is not known at this point. The ConCom also discussed the NH DES Water Supply Land Conservation Grants. It was decided that the ConCom is not eligible for these grants—only Pembroke Water Works.

Confirmed Next Meeting:

Wed., March 9, 2005, 7:00 p.m., Allenstown Town Hall

Adjourn at 8:40 p.m.