NOTES OF MAY 21, 2015 RYE CONSERVATION COMMISSION MEETING

Final Revision B – Provided by the Rye Civic League

Present (clockwise around table): Jim Raynes, Jaci Grote, Sally King, Suzanne McFarland, Jeff Gardner.

Also present: Cory Colwell (MSC Engineers), Ian Baker, Peter Crawford, Tracy Degnan, Steve Ricker

Editor’s note: For ease in finding particular sections using the archived video and audio on Vimeo, the elapsed time is indicated. Use the slider and the elapsed time indicated at the bottom of the video window to fast forward to the desired section. The video is available at https://vimeo.com/129323154/. The video is also available, but with the audio turned off, on the Town of Rye website. The recording on Vimeo combines that video with separately recorded audio, and may have some skew between the two.

The video starts at 7:05:13 p.m. (0:00 elapsed)

Summary

1. Site walks for wetlands applications at 94 Harbor Rd. and 2230 Ocean Blvd. were scheduled.

2. Grants are being pursued to provide additional funding for land purchases of the former Rand Lumber parcel and another parcel on South Rd.

3. Round table meetings with the Planning Board and the ZBA are being pursued to encourage Conservation Commission review of certain applications. Specific cases where this did not occur were discussed.

4. Compensation for trail damage from a Jeep is being sought.

5. Additions to the cell phone tower on Town land managed by the Conservation Commission are being sought. This raised the issues of Conservation Commission involvement, whether the revenues should continue to go to the Ambulance Fund, and whether the negotiations conducted by the Town are obtaining as much revenue as possible.

Minutes (0:28 elapsed)

The minutes of the April 16 meeting were unanimously approved. Jeff Gardner noted that he was erroneously not listed as one of the members present.

Wetlands Application, 94 Harbor Rd. (1:02 elapsed)

Steve Ricker presented. He noted that the property is right next to the Winslow and McLaughlin properties. The owner lives in Virginia. The plan is to enclose a breezeway, create a laundry room and add a 123 sq. ft. three season porch. A walkway would use impervious pavers. Almost the entire lot is within the 100 foot wetland buffer. The footprint of the existing house is 1279 sq. ft. A site walk was scheduled for Thursday, May 28 at 6:00 p.m.

Wetlands Application, 2230 Ocean Blvd., Map 5.3 lot 66 (10:05 elapsed)

Cory Colwell presented. He stated that the property is across from Myrica. The plan is to remove the existing dwelling and replace it with one of similar size. The footprint of the walled area would be less, but including steps and other external areas it would be more. The property is 51.2 feet from the ocean. The impervious area would be reduced to 1130 sq. ft., from 53 percent to 39 percent.

A site walk was scheduled after the one above on Harbor Rd., for May 28 at 6:30 p.m.

Ian Baker, Boy Scout conservation project (29:06 elapsed)

Mr. Baker stated that he is with a Portsmouth Boy Scout Troop 164 and is working on an Eagle project. The project involves the Parsons Field entrance to the Town Forest. He will be raising about $300 in funds to cover the cost. He would like to add trailheads and message boards. There was discussion about another group from Portsmouth High School that may be doing a complementary project and obtaining donated materials from Ricci Lumber. Coordination between the two was suggested. Tracy Degnan offered to meet Mr. Baker at the site and point out the various types of plants.

Tracy Degnan, Conservation Practices update (44:58 elapsed)

Ms. Degnan of the Rockingham County Conservation District referred to an invasive control day at the end of the driveway at Parsons Field. A group from Rye Junior High will be planting pumpkins and squash on June 5. Eleven to twelve apple trees have been planted at Goss Farm.

(50:55 elapsed)

Ms. Degnan reported that, for open space, they are moving forward with another ARM (Aquatic Resources Mitigation) proposal. This is a New Hampshire DES program. Funds of $121,000 were awarded for the Rand Parcel last year. They are now asking for $75,000 for South Rd. Editor’s note: At recent meetings of the Conservation Commission and the Planning Board it was revealed that Lot 5 of a planned subdivision at 561 South Rd. would be purchased by the Town for $350,000, to be placed in conservation, in return for the applicant dropping his appeal of an adverse decision of the ZBA which denied a special exception for a wetlands crossing to allow five houses total (one of which already exists) in the subdivision.

Aquatic Resources Mitigation is all about wetlands resources. They had looked at some pools of water. They went back out and heard wood frogs and found salamander egg masses in three of four pools.

With respect to the NRCS Wetlands Reserve program, two applications are in for that. NRCS does not base their grants on appraisals, but rather on GAR. There is no amount asked for; if the grant is received NRCS will tell them how much it is providing. One year ago an application was submitted in connection with the Rand parcel. They qualified but there were insufficient funds so Ms. Degnan rolled the prior application forward and is resubmitting this year.

Sally King reported that Tracy is working to leverage funds as Tracy and Jim Raynes had been doing for years.

There was a report that $5000 had been spent with Chris Keenan on a convoluted transaction. Editor’s note: Chris Keenan is an attorney who frequently does work with the Conservation Commission. This is a possible reference to the South Rd. transaction. Jaci Grote stated that people don’t realize how much effort goes into these applications and how difficult it is to get money. Sally King stated that there is excitement about South Rd. as it is a wet area and a wildlife area, and there is an artificial pond. Tracy Degnan added that there were Atlantic White Cedars in the area.

There was further discussion about bee pollinator sites.

Jaci Grote suggested that people be encouraged to go to see the Goss Farm. People hear about it but do not know what is there.

Round table with Planning Board (67:17 elapsed)

Jaci Grote stated that she had spoken with Kim, who would coordinate. Editor’s note: This is an apparent reference to Kim Reed, the Planning Administrator. Letters to the heads of the Planning Board and the ZBA would be needed. Jeff Gardner said that input from the Conservation Commission should be encouraged before these other Boards get cases. Jaci Grote stated that the process had not worked well in two cases: First, a property across from the Ice House on Wentworth Rd. and another next to Sargent’s Gas Station. Sally King noted that the Planning Board had already approved a parking lot nearly in the wetlands before they got involved. She stated that the wetlands buffer is not very well supported by the land use boards.

Suzanne McFarland suggested two meetings so there would be an opportunity to research issues identified at the first meeting prior to the second one.

Jeff Gardner stated that the Conservation Commission used to be the first to review applications.

Damage to property (75:55 elapsed)

Sally King reported that a lot of damage had been done to “their” property behind the Airfield at Cobbler Hill Farm. A kid of 18 moved a heavy chain in mid-April and went through there with a Jeep with large tires. It made it impassable. The police did not let them know. She learned from Rye Landscaping, which has been doing work on the property for the Conservation Commission there for a number of years. The individual got stuck so someone was able to get his license. The trails were destroyed and the bridge was crushed. Two more estimates were requested. She has had trouble getting these. Insurance does not cover land, but would cover the bridge.

Bills (81:32 elapsed)

Invoices from Tracy Degnan, mostly for grant writing, in the amounts of $1791.20 and $837.50 and $1155, were unanimously approved. Another for $678 relating to trees was unanimously approved.

Cell phone tower (85:08 elapsed)

Sally King noted that there has been a lot of interest in adding on to the cell phone tower, however, the Town is handling that. She does not know why. The Conservation Commission should be signing the contracts, but the Town is doing so. Editor’s note: This has been a frequent source of contention as the Town receives revenue from granting the right to erect a cell phone tower on town land that is managed by the Conservation Commission. The revenue from this goes into a special Ambulance Fund. The Conservation Commission believes that it should go to them. Jim Raynes reported that “Craig” had said that they should get part of the money rather than all of it going to Joe Mills. Sally corrected him and said that the money is going to the Ambulance Fund. Editor’s note: This is an apparent reference to Selectman Craig Musselman. Selectman Joe Mills has been a vocal supporter of putting this money aside to pay for ambulances.

Sally King asserted that the Town could be getting more money from the cell phone tower.

There was discussion about the contract being for five years, but automatically renewing without the ability to renegotiate. Suzanne McFarland suggested that the contract be canceled and that they start over.

There was discussion about finding the minutes of a Conservation Commission meeting more than ten years previously when it was supposedly voted that the money was to go to the Ambulance Fund for five years. It was determined that the records were likely at the Public Safety Building but Dyana is very busy. It was suggested that someone else should look through the records.

Adjournment (88:50 elapsed)

The motion to adjourn carried unanimously.