Andover Conservation Commission
October 12, 2022
Final  Minutes

Present: Nancy Robart, Nancy Teach, Sooze Hodgson, Tina Cotton, Lee Wells, Jerry Hersey.

Also attending: Lisa Meier, Donna Duclos

Lisa Meier to swear in all ACC members: documents could not be found, so we will all be sworn in again.  Tina will remain an alternate, Sooze will return to being an alternate when Jesse returns.

October Minutes: Sooze moved to accept, seconded by Nancy T: all in favor.

Correspondence: Food Guide – why do we get it so late? Copies also arrived late at libraries.

Town Administrator will be retiring at the end of the month, there will be a search committee to find a replacement.

White Oak – they have cleared an area for the new garages.  Does Frank know of the wetland boundaries that are posted there? (Horseshoe Pond is protected by the Shoreline Water Quality Protection Act RSA 483-B) We will do a walk-about (White Oak and Transfer Station) with Frank Bryson, Andy Guptill and Transfer Station staff. Tentatively scheduled for Monday, October 24 at 1 PM.

Dyer’s Crossing Road – walk about with Earle Chase on September 24 – Tina, Lee, Jerry, Nancy R joined him. There were already markings there. Might have been done by the interested buyers. Earle will submit a report. Earle was there to see if it is a potential buildable lot and what impact there might be.  We saw plenty of wildlife evidence, it was all quite wet, which is remarkable given how dry this year has been.  Earle needs to submit his bill soon, Nancy R will email him about his bill and the time frame for the report. 

We should start drafting our warrant article soon – there is a pattern/style that should be followed. Sometimes there is an explanatory narrative as well.  Nancy T can help with the language and style of a warrant article. We may need to have public hearings (do we need to check with Town Council?) about it.  If it is not required, it would still be a good public courtesy to have a hearing.  Donna can send Nancy T information about dates as outlined by the New Hampshire Municipal Association. This warrant will not need to be on the ballot. It will be a hand vote at the March Town Meeting.

Nancy went to the Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust (ASLPT) quarterly meeting. Issues:
-Beech Leaf Disease, Hemlock Looper Inchworm Moth.
-Sunapee is updating their Resource Inventory as part of their Master Plan. 
-Sutton is trying to do a low-salt program this winter as there are roads near wetlands and ponds.  It is usually up to the truck operator  to determine how much salt is released. 
-Warner has a 24 unit housing project underway
-Sunapee (Lake Sunapee Protective Association) has a newly renovated facility near the harbor) will have functions there – hope to network. Jan 3, 2023 next quarterly meeting.

ASLPT
–Deb Stanley stepping down – starting search for her replacement.
-Round Table event Oct 27 (Lee and Nancy T will attend).
-Monitoring for ASLPT has started. (should we look for invasives as we monitor?)
-New London needs workforce housing.

Rt 4A land update: Current owners do not want to put it into Conservation Easement.  ASLPT is still interested, Andy Deegan (ASLPT) needs to pursue different funding sources to help with this. Funding sources will be available in the spring.

2023 Budget discussion: we have $1300. We have currently only spent X. 

We will be submitting for Earle’s work.  We will also submit for the conference that Sooze and Nancy attended and the NHACC (New Hampshire Association of Conservation Commissions) and the conference that Sooze and Nancy T will attend Nov 5 in Pembroke.

Beaver Deceiver update: had planned to have a field trip with Frank Bryson, Andy Guptill, BD monitors, and Michelle Lambert. Frank was too busy.  We can try again later – after we do our wetland walkabout.  Good article in the Concord Monitor about beavers.

Andover Garden Club: they have been very involved in beautifying Andover. Nancy proposes that we give them a modest $25 donation, seconded by Lee: all in favor.  Hopefully Mary Lou can attend a meeting in the spring.

Nov/Dec ACC meeting: Nancy will not be available, but Nancy will set the agenda, Tina will chair.

Hopkins Pond – cyanobacteria bloom – State has posted signs.

Invasive species  – now in this area
Buckthorn
Knotweed
Bittersweet
Euonymus

Will keep CDs in low interest accounts in order to have access.

Sooze working on article for the Beacon about invasives

Lakes Region Planning Commission – was very helpful with the Master Plan and making maps.  They also took our zoning ordinance and brought it up to date.  It can now be edited.  Planning Board pays dues, so they are able to provide these services for us.  We should have someone on the LRPB.

Meeting adjourned 8:26 PM.