Harrisville Conservation Commission
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
Meeting Minutes

Members present: Harry Wolhandler, Andrew Maneval, Don Scott, John Sandri. Absent: Ralph Zingaro

The Chair opened the meeting at 7:00 pm.

Agenda and Minutes of July 2Members voted in favor to approve the agenda and the minutes of the July meeting.

HCC Community Conversation, Monday, August 12, 6:30 – 8:00 pm at the Granite Mill – Members discussed content and materials to be presented at next week’s Community Conversation.  The goal of the programs is to restore native vegetation and increase bio-diversity.

The Community Conversation will include presentations on two topics, and time for questions and discussion with attendees. Following the Community Conversation, the HCC will make recommendations to the SB at a later meeting, and the SB will vote on whether or not to proceed with the project.

The topics for the evening will include: 1) Japanese Knotweed Mitigation; and 2) the Laricobious Beetle Project to stem Hemlock Tree disease caused by Wooly Adelgid.

The proposed agenda on knotweed includes: welcome and introductions, the problem, experiences of other towns nearby, proposal for remediation (process, timeline, locations, participants, objectives), public discussion and input.

The agenda relating to the Laricobious Beetle Project includes: the problem/issue of Hemlock disease; background on the beetles; the proposal to use the beetles to reduce Wooly Adelgid and related elements, such as timeframe, ideal location characteristics and costs; public discussion and input.

For both topics, Mr. Wolhandler and Mr. Maneval will then speak to the decision-making process and next steps.

The meeting adjourned at 9:00 pm.

The next meeting of the Commission Meeting is Monday, September 9, at 7:00 pm. Please note date change due to schedule conflicts.