Conservation Commission

CITY OF LACONIA CONSERVATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES June 5th, 2017 6:00 PM, CITY HALL, ROOM 200A SECOND FLOOR OF CITY HALL 45 BEACON STREET EAST Call to Order (Roll Call) (6:01 PM) Commission Members: Dean Anson, Lisa Morin, Dick Christopher, Deb Williams, and Staff Evan Rathburn Guests: Peter Howard of Steven J. Smith and Associates. P. Howard gives a brief overview of the Big Island CUP. He explains that a Doctor once owned the island and had run an outdated cable for energy to his house on the island under the lake. The CUP is to run a updated cable out to the island and place a transformer pad on the island to power the houses. The process to run the cable will involve drilling underneath the lake and following the cable and sewer lines out. L. Morin inquires as to where the dead cable is and P. Howard explains where the approximate location is. D. Anson inquires about the timeline for this. He also asks questions as to whether it will be above ground and whether landscaping will be used to hide it. L. Morin inquires whether there will be secondary containment for the transformer. P. Howard explains the pedestal that will be on the property. D. Anson asks if the contractor will replant buffer disturbance area when they are done. P. Howard explains that they will look for island growth to look at it to remediate the disturbance. Dean suggests to talk to the Loon Preservation Organization. The Conservation Commission recommends to replant the disturbed areas to keep the vegetation natural. • The commission recommends plants such as low blueberry bushes. M. Foote arrives at 6:15 PM. M. Foote makes a motion to have the applicant revegetate the ground where it has been disturbed with native plants, to maintain the silt socks on the island until the threat of erosion has passed and to not use pesticide, herbicides, and fertilizers on the island as a precaution to prevent lake contamination, and the minimal grinding and removal of stumps. All in favor: “All Aye” All in opposition: None D. Williams moves to accept the minutes with corrections. • M. Foote seconds.  • All “Aye” D. Anson explains that he took the version of The Gardens recommendations and added his corrections/suggestions. M. Foote makes a motion to accept the recommendations drawn up by the Conservation Commission with changes made by D. Anson such as the HOA shall follow the City of Laconia Ordinance to properly dispose of pet waste, elimination houses 81 and 82 along with the adjacent loop road, and citing that the City does not recognize a directional buffer method, the conservation commission would like the applicant to particularly focus on vegetation upkeep in the area where the vernal pool buffer abuts the residential areas as to maintain an additional buffer between the two areas, The Conservation Commission would like to have periodic access to the property to monitor the wetland, vernal pool, and vegetated buffers D. Christopher seconds. All in favor “Aye” D. Anson initiates discussion about scouting out rain gardens. L. Morin informs the commission that she has an idea to dig a trench for a rain garden and is in the process of getting a silt sock or similar method installed to make it so that the Parks and Recreation mowers do not get caught on it. L. Morin will look into having help from the Key Club to dig the trench and the county jail to level the trench. Dean has multiple locations: • Up by Robbie Mill’s park. A pipe that comes out perpendicular Meredith Center Road. The ditch that the pipe drains into is prime location for a rain garden. • Up towards the radio station in town on the path there is a ditch to the right that can be used for a rain garden. • D. William suggests spots on the WOW Trail and plenty of spots by the Messer Street ramp. Brownfields sites that have been identified is 126 Church Street and a Main Street location. Former laundromats. D. Anson would like E. Rathburn to contact Eckman Construction to see what their silt socks by the River’s Edge apartments are made of. If they are biodegradable, then the commission would like to recommend that they use the material to plant some sort of vegetation in that area. D. Williams explains that she is going to training in Concord along with Caitlin Williams and Monique St. Germaine for Lake Host. D. Williams also requests volunteers for boat inspection at the Messer Street boat ramp. D. Williams and D. Anson went to the NH Lakes Congress.  D. Christopher informs the commission that the Master Gardeners will be at the Laconia Farmer’s Markets. Laconia is on Thursday from 3 PM to 6 PM. BCCD is looking into doing a presentation and NH Lakes is also looking into doing presentations. M. Foote informs everyone that the NH Coverts program has classes for people to take to be educated on how to give presentations. D. Christopher informs everyone that the seed packet program created by the Master Gardeners has been cancelled. L. Morin makes a motion to adjourn at 7:50 PM. D. Williams seconds. All “Aye.” Meeting adjourns.