Conservation Commission

City of Laconia Conservation Commission Wednesday, October 2, 2019 - 6:00 PM City Hall in the Armand A. Bolduc City Council Chamber Draft Minutes 10/2/2024 - Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER D. Anson called the meeting to order at 6:01 PM. 2. ROLL CALL The following members were present: Dean Anson, Robert Harrington, Lisa Morin, Deb Williams, Mike Foote. 3. SALUTE TO THE FLAG D. Anson led the Commission in the salute to the flag. 4. RECORDING SECRETARY Grey Draper, Conservation Technician 5. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE Grey Draper 6. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS M.Foote moves to accept. R. Harrington seconds the motion. Unanimous. 6.I. 9.18 Minutes 7. NEW HAMPSHIRE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES APPLICATIONS No applications. 8. OLD BUSINESS 8.I. Gale Avenue Con Comm Project The NH DES application has been approved. D. Anson had a meeting with Rob Mora. R. Mora requested an itemized cost estimate for the project. Rick Ball provided this to R. Mora. R. Mora then took this estimate to Kirk Beattie, the City Manager. R. Mora shared with K. Beattie that Con Com wanted to use the remainder of their FY25 budget to pay for the estimated cost of the project. K. Beattie expressed that he wanted Con Com to instead submit the estimate as part of the city’s FY26 budget proposal. The FY26 budget proposal process begins in July 2025. D. Williams expressed her disappointment that the project will not begin work during the lake drawdown starting October 14 th . She believes that if Con Com has enough money in their budget to cover the cost, they should be able to start the project during the drawdown. G. Draper explained that in an email chain discussing the project with D. Anson, R. Ball, R. Mora, and Amy Lovesk, there seemed to be a miscommunication about Con Com seeking an outside contractor to operate backhoe and execute the project as opposed to relying on DPW or Parks & Rec. staff. D. Anson agreed that was the original plan, but after him and R. Ball researched contractors, they learned that liability of the backhoe operator would be a hurdle so they decided to ask if they could use DPW personnel. D. Anson shared with R. Mora that he was  She believes that if Con Com has enough money in their budget to cover the cost, they should be able to start the project during the drawdown. G. Draper explained that in an email chain discussing the project with D. Anson, R. Ball, R. Mora, and Amy Lovesk, there seemed to be a miscommunication about Con Com seeking an outside contractor to operate backhoe and execute the project as opposed to relying on DPW or Parks & Rec. staff. D. Anson agreed that was the original plan, but after him and R. Ball researched contractors, they learned that liability of the backhoe operator would be a hurdle so they decided to ask if they could use DPW personnel. D. Anson shared with R. Mora that he was bothered by the lack of communication to Con Com around this project. Con Com will continue exploring outside funding options. D. Anson shared with R. Mora that he is bothered by the lack of support Con Com received from K. Beattie because the City Manager has said no to two projects where financial assistance was needed. L. Morin suggests inviting Kirk to a Con Com meeting to discuss his financial expectations of Con Com when they are pursuing projects as well as his level of support of the Commission. L. Morin suggests writing a letter to K. Beattie expressing their frustration and disappointment with his decision to red flag this project in the 11 th hour. D. Anson agrees. L. Morin and D. Williams will draft a letter to K. Beattie for the next Con Com meeting. D. Anson feels that Amy Lovesk should notify the Gale Ave. residents that Con Com’s project will not begin in the coming weeks. 8.II. Lake Host Wrap Up Megan wrapped up her season as lake host. There is some money left over that can rollover for next year. Megan inspected over 200 boats total this summer 8.III. Paugus Bay Drinking Water Protection NHDES Grant 8.III.i. FB Environmental Proposal D. Anson reached out to FB Environmental who reached out to NH DES, who agreed to issue an RFP (Request For Proposal) for the drinking water supply. There will be a meeting on Friday between FB Environmental, the Water Dept., the Planning Dept., LWA (Lake Winnipesaukee Alliance), and D. Anson, to discuss what this grant and study would look like and to see if the city would be interested in participating. In previous similar studies, FB Environmental has studied the levels and source of phosphorus in the water since this impacts the cyanobacteria. 9. NEW BUSINESS 9.I. Suggestions For Improvements Throughout The City During D. Anson and R. Mora’s meeting, R. Mora invited Con Com to brainstorm a list of suggested improvements that they would like to see prioritized around the city in the future in order to protect our natural resources. D. Anson suggests fertilizer controls and erosion mitigation be included. D. Anson also suggests that the Water Dept. drill drinking water wells and that the wetland buffer be expanded. L. Morin suggests winter street treatment controls and food waste controls be included. 9.I.i. Stormwater Protection And Other Climate Change Ideas 9.I.ii. Performance Zoning Changes L. Morrin suggests Con Com reaches out to Amy Manzelli for legal counsel in generating improvement ideas for the city before they are submitted to the Planning Dept. AMY MANZELLI | BCM ENVIRONMENTAL & LAND LAW, PLLC (BCMENVIROLAW.COM) Email: MANZELLI@NHLANDLAW.COM Law Firm’s phone: (603) 931-4089 9.I.iii. Other Ideas Con Com will send their suggested improvements to G. Draper and carbon copy D. Anson by 10/21/2024. D. Williams will also reach out to Winnisquam Watershed Network (WWN), Lake Opechee Association (LOPA), Lake Winnipesaukee Alliance (LWA), and the Lakes Region Planning Commission (LRPC), to send their ideas for improvements around the city to G. Draper by  9.I.iii. Other Ideas Con Com will send their suggested improvements to G. Draper and carbon copy D. Anson by 10/21/2024. D. Williams will also reach out to Winnisquam Watershed Network (WWN), Lake Opechee Association (LOPA), Lake Winnipesaukee Alliance (LWA), and the Lakes Region Planning Commission (LRPC), to send their ideas for improvements around the city to G. Draper by 10/21/2024. 10. LIAISON, SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS, AND UPCOMING EVENTS 11. OTHER BUSINESS Pour Points Simulator Project Con Com requests that the Planning Dept. see if they have the Pour Points Project in their files. NHACC Annual Conference D. Williams shares that the NHACC Conference is coming up. Lake Winnipesaukee Cleanup This is coming up on 10/12. WOW Pollinator Garden Sign merchant needs half of the sign cost upfront. 11.I. Con Com Applicant Recommendations 12. STAFF REPORT 13. ADJOURNMENT M. Foote motions to adjourn. D. Williams seconds the motion. Unanimous.