Conservation Commission

MINUTES OF THE MEETING December 9, 2015 LACONIA CONSERVATION COMMISSION CITY Hall Room 200B Approved at the January 6, 2016 meeting I. CALL TO ORDER : D. Anson, Chair, called the meeting to order at 6:15 PM PRESENT- Dean Anson, Chair, Deborah Williams, Assistant Chair, Lisa Morin, and Dick Christopher MILFOIL SUBCOMMITTEE: Jon & Dom Jude ABSENT - Marnie Schulz and Mike Foote II. REVIEW OF THE MINUTES: Review of the minutes of the Wednesday October 21 non -public and Wednesday November 18, 2015 non-public and public meeting minutes. L. Morin made a motion to approve the Wednesday October 21 public and non- public minutes as amended. D. Williams seconded the motion. The motion passed 4-0. L. Morin made a motion to approve the Wednesday November 18, 2015 public and non- public minutes as amended. D. Williams seconded the motion. The motion passed 4-0. III. New Business: 1. Milfoil Subcommittee Discussion D. Anson announced A. Smagula, State Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator, provided information to S. Perley indicating funding will be available to offset some of the milfoil control costs related to the 2015 Paugus Bay work. L. Morin announced the grant to further fund the Winnipesaukee River Invasive Milfoil removal was not awarded. The grant money was intended to fund the remainder of the Winnipesaukee River cleanup not covered under the United Way Day of Caring Day volunteer effort back in November of 2015. The remaining clean-up area extends from Jewett Brook to Eager Island. She would apply again for the same funds during the next grant cycle. She will also pursue a Bank of New Hampshire grant in case funds once again are not awarded so the completion of the project can be accomplished next year. Jon Jude updated the Conservation Commission (Con. Com.) on the recent completion of the successful milfoil removal project in Black Brook. The area covered extended from the Union Avenue bridge to the mouth of Black Brook at Spinaker Cove. The only issue remaining on that portion of the Brook is the Milfoil clog at the Brooks mouth. The Brook is now flowing more rapidly which in turn should improve water filtration and oxygen levels. Part of the recent removal project included verifying that no additional invasive vegetation has come back in the previously cleaned target areas of the Brook behind McDonalds. Native vegetation has restored itself in much of the impacted area. A Blue Heron frequents the Union Avenue Bridge area and fresh water leaches were located during the clean-up. The fresh water leach is a popular diet choice of the Heron family. D. Jude directed everyone to view pictures of the clean-up which are posted on the under Construction Con Com Face Book Page.  D. Anson said he met with R. Tilton a resident and overseer of the Mobile Home Park at Langley Cove. Mr. Tilton was very interested in taking part in the Con Com milfoil subcommittee. 2. Budget vote and follow up L. Morin made a motion to vote in favor of the 2016-2017 conservation budget proposal in the amount of $14,170.00 which carries the $10,000 dollar Black Brook targeted funds if they remain unspent as of June 30, 2016. The new budget proposal will also add a line item for Lake Host /Weed watcher support in the amount of $750.00. The motion was seconded by D. Williams. The motion passed 4-0. 3. Update on 30-foot waterbody buffer research and presentation Due to some of the Planning Board members concerns about adding back the 30-foot waterbody buffer the Con Com has gone back to the drawing board to create a full scale presentation for the February 2, 2015 Planning Board meeting. The goal will be to add a number (2) to section 235-17 E to protect all intermittent streams with a minimum 30-foot protective buffer. A CUP permit would also be required to work within the 30-foot buffer area. S. McPhie and D. Anson will research the materials required to create a power point presentation for the February meeting. The Con Com chose to wait until February to enable many of the Planning Board members to be present. Luke Powell, Assistant Public Works Director will provide intermittent stream impacts to culvert and road related issue. The general format of the presentation will be: 1. S. McPhie will provide the introduction and explain the function of the Con Com. He will provide actual Laconia examples as to why we need to add the 30-foot buffer back into our ordinance. 2. Rick Demark, one of the original authors of the 30-foot water body buffer will speak to the Science behind the original implementation of the ordinance. 3. D. Anson will conclude the presentation showing a detailed GIS map to illustrate the minimal areas of impact involved. IV. Old Business: 1. Non-Public Session concerning land acquisition per RSA: 91: A: II (d)–(roll call vote required). D. Anson requested a roll call vote to enter into Non-public session. The roll call was read with L. Morin, D. Christopher, D. Anson, and D. Williams all voting to enter non-public session. 2. Brook Subcommittee updates L. Morin added she would be working with S. McPhie to create an outreach event or simply a mailer for the impacted abutters of the Union Cemetery. V. Liaison & Sub-Committee Reports: 1. Permit Sub-Committee review and updates Many individuals are choosing to fill out their own permits and those same permits are being sent back by NHDES requesting additional information. It would behoove those residents seeking quick turnaround time for their wetland permits to hire a wetland scientist or Engineer. VI. Other Business: 1. Subdivision/ Site Plan update Laconia Real Estate Co. request to amend Notice of Action to remove large tree currently required be preserving and protecting from 1092 Union Avenue. It was evident on the Notice of Action approved by the Planning Board and listed on the site-plan the tree in question was to be preserved. D. Williams and D. Anson once again wanted to reiterate it was the owners of the property that committed to save the tree which led us to believe such preservation was possible. The information provided and reviewed by the Con Com said the tree may be a potential fall hazard in the future. The traffic Engineer indicated because the driveway will be used as an exit it creates a site distance issue. D. Christopher and L. Morin had concerns about safety issues. The Con Com felt since no alternative plans to move the exit or make the access point by the tree an entrance only the owners appear unwilling to save the tree and therefore are in violation of the original site plan requirements. A proposal to restrict the exit to only trucks was mentioned. A blinking traffic signal could be added before the south bound traffic reaches the driveway by the tree. The light could turn red when trucks were exiting the site. These are just suggestions provided by individuals. It seems reasonable that a traffic engineer could create even better solutions that would not only protect the tree but address public safety issues as well. D. Williams made a motion not to grant approval for removal of the tree, and hold the owner to their original Notice of Action (NOA) commitment to preserve the tree before, during, and after the site is completed. Alternatives to tree protection should be provided. L. Morin seconded the motion. The motion passed 4-0. 2. Commissioners Comments D. Christopher wanted the Con Com to review the tree preservation letter that will be sent to the Planning Board. D. Anson explained that would be difficult because the Con Com cannot do business over e-mail because we may violate the right to know law. S. McPhie mentioned someone could edit the document for spelling but expressed similar concerns as D. Anson. Staff Comments S. McPhie thanked everyone for another great year and for all of the wonderful accomplishments achieved by the diversely talented Laconia Conservation Commission. VII. Adjournment: L. Morin made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by D. Williams passing 4-0.