Conservation Commission
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Meeting Minutes

Attendees: Hary Wolhandler, Tom McGregor, Don Scott, Kathy Scott, Jordan Long, Ralph Zingaro, John Sandri
Recording Secretary: Mary Ann Noyer

Agenda Review / Approve Minutes – With the additions of a Shoreland Permit application, education regarding invasives, and follow up on road salt, members approved the agenda. The minutes of the August meeting were approved.

Follow up from Select Board Meeting – Harry and Kathy shared highlights of the discussion with the Select Board about suggestions for the knotweed removal program, including:

  • The Conservation Commission committed to noticing of herbicide application and will continue to treat off Right of Way areas on private properties by permission only, continuing the practice of last year.
  • The HCC explained to the board about the dye disappearing almost immediately after the herbicide is applied. Given the brief active period of the solution, members noted that placing signage at right of way locations doesn’t make sense, though the commission will post when treatment is complete.
  • Harry conveyed to the Select Board the impracticality of having an HCC member accompany Andy Powers while he sprays, as Andy is the licensed professional and expert.
  • The HCC program plan is to spray knotweed this year and next year, then skip one year (the 4th year) for monitoring, and renew treatment again in year 5.

Further comments on Japanese Knotweed:

  • This is year 2 of remediation. The sooner the knotweed can be knocked down, the less solution will be needed to be applied over time. Members discussed that there are other options available to treat the invasive but they are very labor-intensive and costly.
  • The chair will send letters and permission forms out in the next couple of weeks and will follow up.
  • All agree it’s time for another Common Threads article. The deadline for the next issue is 9/20.

Use of road salt – The chair will follow up with Steve LaMears on the trial using sand only on Roxbury Road.

Shoreland Application, 153 Skatutakee Road – Don Scott shared the site plan and architectural plans showing infiltration measures, plantings, and building foot print of the ZBA-approved cottage replacement. The application will be filed with DES in the coming weeks.

Other business
– Members reviewed and discussed Cornell’s brochure on alternatives to invasive ornamental plants. The HCC would like to put this information on the town website if possible.
– Ralph and Harry met with the Rindge Conservation Commission to discuss the Saving Hemlocks initiative.

The meeting adjourned at 4:50 pm.