Conservation Commission

City of Laconia Conservation Commission City Hall in the Armand A. Bolduc City Council Chamber Accepted 11/6/2019 10/2/2019 - Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Dean Anson called the meeting to order at 6:00pm 2. ROLL CALL Members Present: Dean Anson, Deb Williams, Lisa Morin, Richard Christopher and Mike Foote Absent: Marnie Schulz, Wes Bates Planning Staff: Ashley Ruprecht There were no guests. The commission saluted the flag. 3. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS 3.I. Acceptance Of Minutes From September 18 Deb Williams motions to accept the meeting minutes. Lisa Morin seconds. There is discussion about quorum requirements of the commission. Seven members are the maximum amount of members, per state and local regulation. Without a quorum, which is 4 members, an unofficial work session meeting is allowed, but there are no meetings, the meeting is not recorded or public, and the meeting is not official. There is discussion about potentially starting the meetings later, at 6:30pm. Chair D. Anson will discuss this with Wes Bates to see if it will assist. Chair D. Anson suggests asking if anyone on the Planning Board would like to be a liaison on the Conservation Commission. The Planning Board meetings are the first Tuesday each month, which are the night before the Conservation Commission meeting. Chair D. Anson asked for members to RSVP to A. Ruprecht for the conservation commission meetings to see if we will have a quorum or whether it will be a work session. A. Ruprecht stated she can send out a reminder via call or email. R. Christopher requested a call instead of email. Chair D. Anson asked that an ad is put out for new alternate members. A. Ruprecht stated she would work on the ad. Chair D. Anson stated he will asked the head of the Planning Board if he has any members who would like to participate in the conservation commission. All voted in favor of approving the meeting minutes. 4. NEW BUSINESS 4.I. Lot 8- "Beechwood" Common Area Rules A. Ruprecht read the previous recommendations the Conservation Commission had made on the application which were: 1. A note is added on the site plans that states “The 30-ft wetland buffer is a no cut zone and is not to be disturbed.” 2. The original Conditional Approval notes listed on the site plans dated August 7, 2019 are shown on the plans for approval.  A. Ruprecht read the previous recommendations the Conservation Commission had made on the application which were: 1. A note is added on the site plans that states “The 30-ft wetland buffer is a no cut zone and is not to be disturbed.” 2. The original Conditional Approval notes listed on the site plans dated August 7, 2019 are shown on the plans for approval. 3. A list of acceptable activities in the common area of the homeowners association are provided for review of the Conservation Commission 4. Construction is done per the plan and proper erosion controls are installed and maintained during construction and until vegetation is re-established. R. Christopher asked why the buffer is 30ft and not 50ft. A. Ruprecht explained that the buffer was 30ft when the CUP was approved and the applicant has come back each year to request an extension, and the ordinances have been increased to a 50ft buffer. D. Williams explained that they moved the lot more out of the wetland to minimize impacts. D. Williams said she did not see any restrictions in the rules about using fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides within the buffer. D. Williams also wanted to know where they plan to store snow since the salts could impact. Chair D. Anson recommended that A. Ruprecht asks about the snow storage during the TRC meeting for the application on October 9, recommend that they do not use fertilizers with phosphorus within the buffer, and have a certified professional remove any invasive species outside of the 30ft wetland buffer on the property. If herbicides are required to remove invasives, consult the Conservation Technician in the Planning Department prior to usage. There is discussion about how HOA ordinances are withheld. A. Ruprecht stated the City is responsible for making sure City ordinances for Common Areas, Conservation Areas, and Green Spaces but other rules on the lot would be managed by the HOA. D.Williams suggested periodic walk-downs of green spaces in the City to make sure they are maintained as such. 4.II. Updates To NHDES Wetlands Rules The new NHDES Wetlands Rules will be implemented December 15, 2019. There is discussion amongst the commission about the new wetlands rules and how they may impact Conservation Commission. Chair D. Anson stated he would like for Permits by Notification (PBNs) to be looked at individually since the timeline for NHDES review has been changed from 10 to 5 days. A. Ruprecht stated at the NHACC Conference November 2nd, NHDES will have a training on how the new rules and changes will impact Conservation Commissions. Chair D. Anson stated that after the training it may be a good idea to meet with other conservation commissions to see how they will be adjusting to the NHDES wetlands rules changes, as well as discuss watershed management. Chair D. Anson suggested that if several commission members plan to attend the same session at the NHACC conference, that A. Ruprecht suggests they attend another session, so that everyone can share their experiences at the next conservation commission meeting. A. Ruprecht will assist with that. 5. NEW HAMPSHIRE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES APPLICATIONS There are no applications to review. 6. OLD BUSINESS 6.I. United Way Day Of Caring Event A. Ruprecht explained that Chair D. Anson, Dean Trefethen, and herself removed bittersweet from the library property. Chair D. Anson mentioned that the police thanked the volunteers for making the area more visible. 6.II. Perley Pond Update  6.I. United Way Day Of Caring Event A. Ruprecht explained that Chair D. Anson, Dean Trefethen, and herself removed bittersweet from the library property. Chair D. Anson mentioned that the police thanked the volunteers for making the area more visible. 6.II. Perley Pond Update R. Christopher shared pictures of the Perley Oak since it was trimmed. The commission is happy with the way it looks. A. Ruprecht stated the Union Leader wrote an article about it. Chair D. Anson stated the tree was treated with a systemic pesticide to assist with the ants infesting the tree. Chair D. Anson stated that the commission is supposed to provide recommendations for plantings on the site. L. Morin suggested referring to the rain garden planting guide. Chair D. Anson stated he is not sure if the commission is supposed to plant the plantings. D. Williams asked what happened with the Perley oak limbs that were trimmed. Chair D. Anson said they were hauled away. A. Ruprecht said she confirmed this with Parks and Rec ahead of time and consulted Chair D. Anson, and determined that since we have no plans for the limbs at this time it would be okay for them to be hauled away. 6.III. Tributary & Paugus Bay Water Quality Sampling A. Ruprecht stated that deep water sampling in Paugus is scheduled for tomorrow, October 3. Mike Foote will be assisting. Chair D. Anson stated that Winnisquam Watershed Network will be doing some tributary sampling this week or next week. He will check in with his contact and let A. Ruprecht know when the sampling is scheduled. 6.IV. State School Property Update There were no updates. 6.V. Pickerel Pond Property Update There were no updates. 6.VI. Cyanobacteria There were no updates. 7. LIAISON AND SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS 7.I. Milfoil Management Chair D. Anson mentions that treatment will be occurring in Moulton and Pickerel coves. A. Ruprecht confirmed and added that the divers would resume treatment in June 2020. 8. OTHER BUSINESS There is discussion about the new project proposed at Barton's Motel and the new housing built at 1212 Union Ave. L. Morin mentioned there could be shoreline impacts to the abutting Bayside cemetery property from the Barton's project. Chair D. Anson agrees that the potential impacts to the Bayside cemetery should be looked at. M. Foote noted that the property is privately owned. The commission briefly discussed Lakeport Park and Sanborn Park, which have been proposed as being paved parking areas. M. Foote stated Sanborn Park will not become paved parking due to federal funding. L. Morin stated that she thinks multiple smaller lots along Mechanic St. and other side streets is better than one large parking lot that would make the area hotter. The commission discussed other various parking locations in the City. 9. STAFF REPORT A. Ruprecht stated she is cleaning out and organizing the office. L. Morin mentioned the commission had discussed potentially saving or archiving various materials. There is discussion about archiving materials of importance during the process. 9. STAFF REPORT A. Ruprecht stated she is cleaning out and organizing the office. L. Morin mentioned the commission had discussed potentially saving or archiving various materials. There is discussion about archiving materials of importance during the process. 10. ADJOURNMENT D. Williams motioned to adjourn the meeting. M. Foote seconded. All voted in favor. The meeting adjourned at 7:49PM