Dublin Conservation Commission
Minutes
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
In attendance:~ Jack Lewis (Chair), Ed Germain, Jerry Branch, Rusty Bastedo, Suzie Macy, Peggy Cappy, Sue Yarger and Guest Louisa Birch
The October 2009 minutes were accepted as is with no edits.
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Ed asked how quickly the DCC minutes are posted to the Dublin website?~ Are draft minutes posted?~~ Jack responded that our process, to date has been to send the draft minutes out to DCC members for edits/changes/additions before they're posted and that no draft minutes are ever sent in.~ Ed informed us that a 5 business day requirement is in place to have meeting minutes available. Minutes are posted to the website after approval.~
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What potential initiatives does DCC want to undertake in 2010?
- We've benefitted greatly at Howe Reservoir from the work of Jerry Branch to get the Monadnock Rotary Club involved in planning and cleanup - how do we get the word out?~ Jerry would like to get a base map to mark trails on.~ He has a router kit and will be able to make signs we can place. We may also want to get a letter giving permission to clear and use trails on land adjoining the town land.
- We need more bugs (to help eradicate invasive plants).~ Need also to work on finding ways to eradicate Japanese Knotweed.~~Suzie thought that she had come across an article that mentioned medicinal properties of Knotweed; she agreed to look around to see if she could find the articles.
- Blackberry Lane is an old road which was “discontinued subject to gates and bars”.~ It's been cleared from the gate on Old Harrisville Rd. to its end next to Worcester's Garage, on Rte 101. We need to figure out how to incorporate it into a trail system in Dublin.~
- More broadly, we need to see if we can find a way to connect the various trails (Howe Reservoir, Dublin School, Beech Hill, Blackberry Lane, Dark Pond, etc......) Rusty thought there might be something in the Dublin Archives about a "great greenway", written by Abe Wolfe. We volunteered Rusty to investigate.
- Ed attended a conference, in Concord NH, which included many people with ties to the state on environmental issues as well as~an Economic Advisor for President Bush.~ Ed feels that the role of Conservation Commissions will change in the near future to~encompass~a broader scope.~~Perhaps looking at:
- 40%-60% of air pollution comes from vehicles
- Quality of water, aquifers, wetlands (including Dublin Lake?)
- Trails?~ Cemetery?~ Beech Hill?~ OSPC?~
- Should we be looking at an Energy Committee?
- We may need to take a look at all of these, with members of other committees, and redesign DCC for 2010, including the possibility of~integrating existing committees that would become a part of DCC without taking away any authority that is already in place.
- There is a large amount of aquifer data on Dublin.~ The State has provided the town much of the data and Ed has a stack of additional information.~ We need to merge this data and find a way to make it available.
- In the summer and fall of 2009, DCC had several test sites of Japanese Knotweed where various methods of control were used: cutting and covering with a rock-covered-tarp; cutting and bagging in heavy-duty black plastic bags; cutting and removing cuttings.~ None proved to be hugely successful (some of the bagged knotweed actually did not die), but further tests need to be done as this is not an easy invasive plant to deal with.~ Jack suggested that an article be written for the Dublin Advocate; Sue thought she might have one from a few years ago and agreed to look for it.~ Sue will also contact Doug Cygan, from the NH State Dept of Agriculture to learn if NH has been approved to try an insect (sap sucker) that has shown some success in Europe.
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Suggested articles for the Dublin Advocate:
- The continued work at Howe Reservoir
- Galerucella Beetles and Purple Loosestrife
- Japanese Knotweed and suggested ways to control it
Monitoring town-owned Dublin properties:
This was supposed to take place in the fall of 2009 but did not.~ It was suggested that Sue pick several dates in Feb/Mar to walk/snowshoe/ski the town-owned properties and to report on them.~ Sue will send out a note with dates and times and hopes to have at least 3 people available~to monitor~each property.
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Workforce Housing : Ed reported briefly on the new RSA which requires all towns in NH to provide affordable housing.~ A public hearing is scheduled for January 21 to discuss proposed town regulations covering this requirement and how it will impact Dublin's zoning.
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Building Permits: Jack mentioned briefly that several building and driveway permits had come in during the fall and had been reviewed by various members of the Commission. Ed said that the Selectmen were in the process of developing a streamlined method for handling such permits in light of the departure of Paul Waterman.
CCCD Annual Meeting: Jack, Jerry Rusty and Sue attended the~Cheshire County Conservation District annual meeting, November 10 in Walpole.~ Steve Taylor spoke on "Cows and Communities" and how cows are a vital part of the iconography of rural NH.~ Cattle were essential to the survival of early NH settlements and today are still central to the lives of many granite staters.~ Steve Taylor addressed how the cow has nurtured New Hampshire through four centuries.~ Steve Taylor~ served a quarter century as NH’s Commissioner of Agriculture.
Southwest Regional Planning Commission Workshop: Sue attended a SWRPC Workshop on Forest Pests and will make the information she gathered available at Town Hall.~ She will also write up an article for the Advocate.
Other Problem plants and animals: Mention was made by committee members of the progress northward of the Mile a Minute Vine, the Zebra Mussel (which Sue has heard is already in NH.~ She will look into where it can be found.), and the Asian Longhorn Beetle.~ This is too close for comfort and can be found just over the border in Worcester MA.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:54 PM. Next meeting is scheduled for February 10, 2010.
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