Harrisville Conservation Commission Meeting 5-5-2026, 3pm – 5pm

Present: Harry Wolhandler, Don Scott, Kathy Scott, Ralph Zingaro, Tom McGregor, John Sandri

Minutes prepared by AI, edited by Harry Wolhandler

Quick recap

The Conservation Commission meeting focused primarily on hemlock protection efforts and Japanese knotweed treatment. The board approved a contract with Vegetation Control Service for year two of the knotweed control program, discussing safety measures and public education needs around chemical use. They reviewed applications from John Cucci for two docks near Skatutiki Spring, identifying concerns about access routes and bank disturbance that required additional information from the state. The board also discussed plans for the June Lakes Meeting on June 2nd from 7-9 PM and updates on hemlock beetle releases, including potential expansion of the program and the possibility of forming a Monadnock Hemlock Coalition. Additional topics included updates on the BCC project and planning board activities regarding site plan reviews and cottage permits.

Next steps

  • Send instructions (including where to get IMAPinvasives) via email to the group for mapping invasives
  • Tom & Harry – Get together with Jenna (and possibly Jeremy) to discuss involvement and Adelgid mapping program
  • Ralph and Dick: Send text comments/updates about Adelgids and monitoring to Harry for distribution to supporters and donors.
  • Create and maintain a list of updates (including donor updates) and forward snippets from Ralph and Dick as received
  • Harry: Print and send documentation (including credit card bills and Bev’s invoice) to Mary Ann and Mitch for reimbursement processing
  • Harry: Find actual credit card bills for Staples reimbursements and verify precise amounts
  • Open up concept of Monadnock Hemlock coalition/non-profit to Selectboard and gather feedback on municipal guidelines
  • Charles: Take a closer look at Chesham Pond knotweed locations and report back to Town
  • Common Threads: Send out broad announcement asking homeowners to report knotweed locations for spraying. Prepare and submit a blurb/article for May 20th Common Threads deadline about knotweed spraying, including educational content about chemical use.
  • Send comment to NHDES (and copy applicant) regarding Cucci dock applications, noting lack of description of bank impact and access, and request additional information Provide simple note to state for each Cucci dock application independently, raising concern about lack of description of bank impact and access
  • Help manage volunteers for Old Home Days (July 18) event

Summary

Biocontrol Planning

Main focus was on engaging Jenna, an entomologist, to help with biocontrol efforts and mapping invasive species, particularly adelgids, with plans to connect her with Ralph and potentially the Harris Center for reporting and monitoring.

Meeting Logistics and Event Planning

The group discussed logistics from a recent meeting where only about a dozen people out of 35 signed in, and they agreed to improve name tag and sign-in coordination for future events. They discussed plans for sharing updates about larvae findings, with Ralph Zingaro  offering to provide written updates that could be forwarded to donors. The conversation also touched on upcoming events including Old Home Days though specific details were limited.

June Lakes Meeting Planning Update

The meeting covered updates on various topics the scheduling of the June Lakes Meeting. It was decided that the June Lakes Meeting would be held on Tuesday, June 2nd from 7 to 9 PM, with the lakes portion running from 7 to 8 PM followed by HCC business discussions. The group also discussed the preference for in-person meetings over online platforms, citing state law requirements and practical concerns about attendance and engagement.

Beetle Monitoring and Planning Updates

The group discussed beetle monitoring and egg-laying patterns, noting that 10-12 eggs are needed before Laricobius Nigrinus beetles will lay eggs, with beetles laying eggs over a 13-week period starting 3-4 weeks ago. They planned a visit from Lee Barnes and Dick McDonald from June 3-8, with Lee offering to fund additional monitoring. The group approved three reimbursement requests to Harry Wolhandler: $165 for a dinner event catered by Beverly Largier, $2,291.34 for shipping Laricobius beetles from North Carolina, and Staples printing costs of $121.98 for various signs and banners used in displays at the 4/22/26 Earth Day presentation on progress releasing and monitoring beetles.

Native Plant Month

The group discussed reviewed plans for a potential meeting with the governor regarding native plant legislation and the beetles project to save the Hemlocks, led by Beata Becker from the Dublin Garden Club who is working on securing support from Senator Shaheen, Maggie Hassan and Maggie Goodlander as well.

The discussion also covered a $6,000 national grant from the Garden Clubs of America to the Dublin Garden Club that will support their program, with specific requirements to locate hemlock adelgids on Dublin’s public properties as part of the funding conditions. The national grant is to be disbursed over 3 years, with $2,500 for each of the first two years and $1,000 in the third year as the grant phases out.

Hemlock Beetle Program Expansion Plans

The group discussed expanding their hemlock beetle release program beyond Harrisville to Peterborough and Dublin, with donations coming from various sources including Lee Barnes of North Carolina who contributed $13,000. They explored the possibility of creating a Monadnock Hemlock Coalition or initiative as a non-profit entity to handle larger-scale operations and tax-deductible donations, rather than continuing through the town of Harrisville. The discussion included considerations about finding board members, potential collaboration with New York State for out-of-state beetle collection, and the need to continue current operations while developing the new organizational structure, with plans to present concepts to the select board for guidance.

Japanese Knotweed Treatment Plan Review

The group discussed the Japanese knotweed treatment plan for the second year of a five-year project. They reviewed a bid from Andy Powers of Vegetation Control Services, which included selective application of herbicides to target plants and mapping of knotweed locations. The estimated cost was around $6,800, similar to the previous year. Charles Sorenson inquired about coverage of private properties on Chesham Pond and elsewhere, and Town confirmed they would be included based on previously provided addresses. The group agreed to accept the bid and move forward with the project.

Knotweed Treatment and Pesticide Protocol

The group discussed the successful treatment of knotweed in the area, with dead patches observed across multiple locations including near Don and Kathy Scott’s house and on Chesham Road. They addressed concerns about glyphosate use, with Ralph explaining that the chemical’s dangers come from improper use by unregulated homeowners rather than professional applicators who follow safety protocols. The group agreed to create a press release for the May 20th Common Threads deadline to educate residents about proper pesticide use and encourage them to report knotweed locations, while also promoting organic alternatives to conventional pesticides.

Cucchi Docks Application Review Meeting

The meeting focused on reviewing John Cucchi’s application for two docks near Scatutaki Spring. The board identified concerns about how the applicant planned to access the docks due to the steep slope from the road, noting that the wetlands permit application lacked sufficient details about bank impact and docking structure. The board decided to send a letter to the state raising these concerns rather than approving the expedited permit. The discussion also covered updates on various town projects including the police department’s leadership changes, HHI’s activities including potential plans for the Trip Hammer building, and upcoming community events.