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

Guests Present: Win Robinson, NH Association of Conservation Commissions (NHACC)

The meeting was opened at 7:05 pm.

1. Approve the Minutes of the 10/13/04 Meeting (5 min)

The minutes were approved.

2. Discussion with representatives from the NH Assoc. of Conservation Commissions (15 min)

Win Robinson asked for feedback on the services provided by NHACC to the ConCom. The ConCom felt that the NHACC provides a valuable service by answering technical and legal questions quickly and thoroughly. The NHACC annual meeting and newsletter are also good. The only suggestion for improvement was for NHACC to partner with regional planning commissions to organize informal meetings of ConComs in the region to share ideas.

3. Share information from the NHACC Annual Meeting and R2C2 October Meeting (10 min.)

Phil Trowbridge and Jenna Gray attended the NHACC annual meeting. Laura Bonk and Jenna Gray attended the R2C2 meeting in October. They shared information from the presentations they attended.

4. Authorize Expenditures (10 min.)

• Payment to the Friends of the Suncook River (P.O. Box 34, Center Barnstead, NH, 03225-0034) of $100 for 2004 municipal dues.
• Payment to the Friends of the Suncook River (P.O. Box 34, Center Barnstead, NH, 03225-0034) of $500 for Natural Resource Inventory maps of Allenstown.

Both expenditures were approved unanimously.

1. Update on "Welcome to Allenstown" Signs Project (15 min)

The ConCom had planned to have the residents of the town choose a slogan for the signs at the Nov. 2 election. However, the ConCom was not allowed to set up a display at the election. Therefore, the ConCom chose the slogan that seems the most appropriate for the Town. It is "Where Rivers and Neighbors Meet". The second choice is "Where Rivers Meet" if the first choice is too long. The sign will also say "Allenstown, Established 1831".

• P. Trowbridge will send a letter to the Selectmen and Planning Board with the final choice for the sign content and layout and request the Selectmen’s approval.
• J. Gray will talk to Armand Verville to get a materials list and total price for the sign construction.
• D. McKay will research the cost of pressure treated posts and granite posts.

1. Update on Boat Launch Projects (15 min)

Al Heavey met with the neighbors to the Albin Avenue boat launch. One of the neighbors would like to buy the town-owned land. The other household did not have any comments. Al Heavey reviewed the site and determined that minimal work would be needed to stabilize the riverbank. The group decided that the costs for materials for stabilizing the bank would be minimal so the $1000 allocated to this launch should be reprogrammed for other projects (e.g., legal fees for easements, improving recycling programs, Allenstown signs). It would be best to do this work in the spring when the water is high. Therefore, this project will be suspended until March 2005. In March, the ConCom will plan for a spring volunteer event to stabilize the bank and to do any other work that is needed for the boat launch.

• P. Trowbridge will write a letter to the Selectmen asking if remaining funds in the ConCom budget can be carried over into 2005.

Laura Bonk circulated the letter from NHDOT regarding the Route 3 bridge design to the Selectmen, Planning Board, and others. No comments were received. The ConCom’s major comment on the letter is that there should be a painted crosswalk between the parking area and the Osgood parcel.

• L. Bonk will respond to the NHDOT letter with our request for a crosswalk.

1. Update on Open Space Plan (5 min)

Phil Trowbridge is responsible for updating the draft of the Open Space Plan. He was not able to work on it during the past month.

2. Brainstorm projects for "Day of Service", 5/5/05 (10 min.)

Patty Gardner of the Allenstown Recreation Department asked the Conservation Commission if we had projects for volunteers on the "Day of Service", which will be observed on May 5, 2005. The ConCom decided that stabilizing the bank at the Albin Avenue boat launch would be a good project (see Agenda Item #6). The work would be physically strenuous (digging holes, moving railroad ties, installing signs). Five or six volunteers would be needed.

Action Items:

• P. Trowbridge will respond to Patty Gardner’s letter.

1. Review, Process and Distribute Mail Received (5 min.)

Action Items:

• L. Bonk will visit 33 Riverside Drive and take pictures to send to DES. She believes that the project is complete and DES just needs these pictures to close out their file.

1. Confirm Next Meeting:

The next ConCom meeting will be on Wednesday, December 8, 2004, at 7:00 p.m. at the Allenstown Town Hall.

2. Adjourn

The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 pm.