RINDGE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES – FEBRUARY 28, 2008
The Rindge Conservation Commission met at the Rindge Town Office on
February 28, 2008. Present were members Richard Mellor, Bill Preston, Rick Godin,
Tom Peragallo, Anne Thomas, David Drouin, Fred Rogers, and Bob Cleland (Secretary).
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Mellor at 7:00 P.M.
1. UPDATES:
A. ROBBINS POND DAM – Richard has been in communication with Fred
Dodd concerning Robbins Pond Dam. Fred has been redesigning the plans with his
engineers but is frustrated with different scenarios proposed by the State Dam Bureau.
The Dam Bureau wants Fred to take out the old dam and to truck in fill rather than using
the material dredged from the pond. Because of these obstacles and the new costs that he
would sustain due to these new stipulations, Fred is considering scraping the whole
project and selling the property. The Commission feels that this property is too valuable
to be turned over to developers, and Tom volunteered to contact Mr. Dodd’s engineer to
see if there are any other options to solving the problem.
B. AMY SANDBACK’S TMC EASEMENT EXPENSES – Richard received an
e-mail from Ryan Owens of the Monadnock Conservancy informing Richard that Amy
Sandback would likely contact him to ask whether some of the original $15,000 the
Commission voted for the project could be used to reimburse her. Subsequently, Amy
called twice in reference to the above, and Richard explained that the Commission can
not reimburse a private person, but for her to send an invoice.
Ryan also told Amy that he hopes to find other sources to help cover these costs
such as the Town of Rindge and/or the proceeds from the sale of her land by the NHCF.
It was also determined that the easement land would be called the “Sandback
Wilderness”.
C. CONVERSE CULVERTS –
1. Converse Meadow – Richard received communication from Bob
Hakkala of the Christian Church that the church is willing to donate land by the sand pit
on the northern section of Converse Meadow to the Commission. The Commission will
follow through with this option and make it a target priority.
Ryan Owens e-mailed Richard in reference to the availability of Gayle Rochford,
surveyor, to locate and mark several areas of the easement boundary that are still in
question. It would be the Commission’s responsibility to pay for her services.
The plaque recognizing the services of the RAMS for the bridge construction over
Miller’s River is now in hand. David will bring it to the next RAM’S meeting and will
then post it on the kiosk.
2. Converse Culverts – Tom delivered a new set of plans along with an
invoice for $952.50 from Sandford Engineering and Surveying. The new plan is more
detailed including the technical information requested by the Commission for fill
material, foundation, and culverts. This information allows the Commission to seek bids
for the actual construction. David suggested that we should contact contractors that are
based in Rindge.
D. PLAN NH DESIGN CHARRETTE – Richard received a memorandum from
Jane Pitt, Planning Director, stating that the Planning Department is applying for a grant
from Plan NH to conduct a design charrette to assist in the development of a revised
Gateway Zoning District Ordinance that will address all of the concerns and points of
view gathered from the public hearing process last year when the Gateway District was
originally proposed. She asked key boards and commissions to submit a letter of support
for her proposal. Richard wrote a letter and read it to the Commission for approval. The
letter was accepted and sent to Plan NH.
2. SITE REVIEWS – None planned at this time.
3. 2008 PRIORITIES – Posting Sandback land
4. NEW BUSINESS
a. Tom and Rick will be working as a sub-committee on the Wetlands by-laws to
be completed by the Town Election. Tom recommended that we develop a draft as soon
as possible to avoid a log-jam. Tom and Rick will be developing a draft to present to the
entire committee once it is formed.
b. Rick presented a letter he had written urging voters to vote no on the petition to
repeal the Wetlands Ordinance in the coming election. The Commission approved the
letter, and Rick will send it to the Letters to the Editor’s section of the Monadnock
Ledger – Transcript.
5. APPROVE PREVIOUS MINUTES (1/24/08) - After an addition of some wording,
Bill made a motion to accept the minutes as amended. Tom seconded the motion – All
were in favor.
6. NEXT MEETING – March 10, 2008
Bill made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:25 P.M. The motion was seconded
by Rick. All were in favor.
Robert J. Cleland
Secretary