Present: Mary Anne Broshek, Larry Chase, Tina Cotton, Jerry Hersey, Nan Kaplan

Correspondence: Letter from FEMA regarding flood plains – notification of input meetings and map. Tina will give map to John Cotton and will e-mail link to new map to Andover Conservation Commission (ACC) members.

ASLPT Update: Upcoming workshops sponsored by the ASLPT Outreach Committee are:

• Cost of Community Services in October
• Big three bugs to look out for: February 2016, outdoors

Outdoor Workshops this summer:

• Dragonflies: July 28 in Bradford, August 5 in Sutton
• Fern identification walk: August 16 in Bradford

Wilmot Storage Tanks: Feedback on ACC comments regarding regional impact on Blackwater River and shared aquifer have been favorable.

Halcyon Island Public Hearing: Comments made during the public hearing were discussed. Main issues were camping, toilet facilities, and protection of the loons. Final decisions will be made by the Board of Selectmen. The August 2015 Beacon article by Vicky Mishcon has a good description of the comments.

Approval of Stewardship Funds for McLeod Donation: A public hearing will be scheduled to coincide with the August ACC meeting, dependent on ability to provide adequate public notice. Mary Anne will advise Board of Selectmen of need and timing for public hearing. Nan will research a number of questions on “fee ownership” restrictions posed by ACC members.

Articles for the Beacon

• Rain Barrels: Mary Anne will check with the Merrimack County Conservation District to see if reduced rain barrel and composter prices can be extended to all readers of the Beacon. If yes, she will write an article for the August Beacon.
• Natural Resources Inventory: Tina has not yet attended the Planning Board meeting. Article to begin after meeting with Planning Board.
• ACC comments on Business District: Mary Anne will resend comments to Planning Board and ACC members prior to any articles being written.

Town Forest: Mary Anne and Larry will meet to come up with wording to respond to the Capital Budget request.

Wildflower Walk: Larry will work on this for spring of 2016 and will also contact Dave Pilla as a potential walk leader.

Rain Gardens: Merrimack County Conservation District will submit a grant to provide this workshop in summer of 2016. It will include a general discussion on how to manage stormwater runoff and a hands-on demo of installing a rain garden. Participants can attend one or both.

Loons: Highland Lake loon eggs are not viable; Bradley Lake has two baby loons.

Business District/Conservation Easements: Mary Anne and Nan will meet to discuss how to proceed with conservation easements around Bog Pond.