Lamprey Rivers Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes January 26, 2012
Nottingham Town Hall 7:00 p.m.
members present: Emily Schmalzer (Brentwood), Richard Snow (Candia), Harriet Cady (Deerfield), Dick Lord (Durham), Joe Foley (Epping), Jenn Rowden (Epping), Todd Piskovitz (Exeter), Fred Lindahl (Fremont), Sharon Meeker (Lee), Alison Watts (Newfields), Michelle Daley (Newmarket), Jim Hadley (Northwood), Mike Russo (Nottingham), Bonnie Winona-Mackinnon (Nottingham), Patrick Bower (Raymond)
13 towns + 15 representatives = quorum present.
Dick Snow advised that excused absences (if the member calls the chair or the secretary with a legitimate excuse) be noted separately.
guests: Dawn Genes, Jim MacCartney, Suzanne Petersen
absent: Ellen Conklin, Steve Conklin (excused), Wes Golomb (excused), Bill Hall, Jim Hewitt, Rich Kelley, Jere Beckman, Kitty Miller, Kathleen Hoelzel, Ted Janusz (excused), Mike Kappler (excused)
Election of Officers:
The slate of officers was presented as follows:
Patrick Bower - chair
Mike Russo- vice chair
__________- secretary
Jim Hadley- treasurer
Harriet Cady made a motion to accept the slate of officers as presented.
Dick Snow seconded.
Motion passed with 14 yes votes, 1 abstention.
Sub-committee reports:
project review:
Sharon Meeker reported that three projects need to be reviewed, but the sub-committee had not reviewed them yet. She noted that comments need to be completed soon and requested that project review sub-committee members meet in the very near future. Members agreed to meet Thursday, February 2, 7 p.m. in the upstairs meeting room at the Lee Safety Building. Sharon will send a check-list of potential impact criteria to consider.
Projects to be reviewed include a 34 unit subdivision on 70 acres of land near Bunker Pond in Epping, an extension of an Exeter Hospital medical facility parking lot in Epping, and a riverside project for gas tanks in Raymond.
How should the committee handle project reviews that cannot, due to time considerations, be reviewed by the full committee? After discussion, the group reached a consensus that the sub-committee should meet publically to review projects and draft its recommendation to the appropriate state agency. This recommendation will be shared with the full committee via e-mail. If no one indicates an objection to the recommendation, committee approval will be implied. If an objection is raised, the recommendation will need to be reviewed by the full committee.
Approval of Bylaws
Dick Snow made a motion to approve the bylaws as presented. Dick Lord seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Officer terms were clarified per a previous discussion. The chair and secretary will have an initial term of three years. The vice chair and treasurer will have terms of 2 years. This will result in staggered terms according to the intention noted in the bylaws.
Disposition of state owned surplus land
Jenn Rowden gave a presentation about two small parcels of state-owned land on the banks of the Lamprey River at the former Bunker Pond Dam in Epping. The state has indicated that it no longer sees a need to retain ownership and recommends giving the south side parcel to the Town of Epping and the north parcel to a private landowner. The committee was requested to offer its recommendations.
After discussion, Harriet Cady made a motion to recommend giving the south side parcel adjacent to Mary Blair Park to the Town of Epping with the recommendation that the town create a formal public access point to the river and preserve historic assets located on the parcel. Further, it is recommended that the state retain ownership of the access easement on the north side parcel so that access to the dam abutment can be retained. Fred Lindahl seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Jenn will send an e-mail to Jacquie Colburn presenting the committee’s recommendation and will copy all LRAC members.
Management Plan Discussion:
What is the purpose of the management plan?
- satisfy the requirements of the State of NH
- manage the watershed so that it meets the vision for the river in 10, 20, or 30 years from now.
How should the committee proceed?
- Expand the existing management plan to include new towns? Do new towns have different needs that go beyond issues already addressed?
- Convey the intention of the plan better to the public.
- Make use of previous studies and recommendations, such as Ellen Snyder’s plan for Northwood.
- Build on previous experiences similar to creation of master plans, conservation plans, business plans.
What is the “vision”? The management plan should serve as the roadmap to the vision.
What does the current plan’s “Tread Lightly” theme mean to various users of the river?
- teacher: keep the river as a classroom for nature and history
- unlicensed fisherman: maintain buffers, habitats, public access, place to park car
- summer resident: protect peace and quiet, nature, enable recreation
- business owner: assure adequate ground water, minimize regulation, maximize profit potential, retain access to river
- developer: minimize regulations, maximize profit potential, protect the values that bring people to the river
- retiree: assure clean and abundant water, nature, give future generations a quality river
- farmer: assure access to water withdrawal, minimize interference on how to operate farm
- tourist: assure access to recreation, clean and abundant water
- kayaker: protect scenery, clean and abundant water, fish, clear passage
- swimmer: assure clean, safe water; access, protect against pollution
- selectman: balance needs of many constituents, create parks for residents and opportunities for business
- landowner: assure access to recreation, nature, water, right to use land
In summary, the plan must balance different needs and protect the values of the river. New flood maps will be out soon and should help the committee make a sound plan.
Committee members are asked to write what they value and want to add to the “tread lightly” theme. Think also of future generations, how to attract jobs and workers.
Miscellaneous:
- Posters for the Lamprey River Film Festival on Feb. 26 were handed out.
- NH local advisory committee training will take place in late March or April.
- A region-wide conference is being planned to address nitrogen issues.
- The Wild and Scenic Small Grants Program was mentioned and flyers were made available.
- “Connecting Lives on the Lamprey River” DVDs were handed out to one representative per town to be given to the library and cable access channel.
Sharon will send out posters for the film festival and the Wild and Scenic Small Grants program to all committee members and requests that they post them in their towns.
Adjournment:
Dick Lord made a motion to adjourn. Joe Foley seconded. Meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m..
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