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Conservation Commission — April 8, 2026

The meeting was primarily administrative and focused on routine updates, with the only notable friction being internal discussion over leadership titles.

Date Wednesday, April 8, 2026 Decisions 4 Routine
📄 Agenda 📄 Minutes

Public ⁠impact

Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
01

Bridge Street wetland incursion

Potential environmental impact requiring DES follow-up regarding unauthorized or problematic wetland activity. Affected: Local residents and environmental stakeholders near Bridge Street
other high impact
02

Highland Lake sand replenishment

Physical alteration of the shoreline/beach area. Affected: Residents and users of Highland Lake/Chafee Beach
other high impact

Decisions ⁠logged

Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Approve March Minutes
Motion made by Laurel, seconded by Nancy T.
All in favor
00:00
Maintain Co-chair designation
Motion made by Jenny to keep the Co-chair titles rather than switching to Chair/Vice-Chair.
Majority in favor
00:00
Election of Officers
Co-chairs: Jesse Schust, Miranda Dawalga; Treasurer: Nancy Teach; Secretary: Jenny Bodwell; Recording Secretary: Lee Wells.
Majority/All in favor
00:00
Adjourn Meeting
Motion made by Nancy T, seconded by Jenny.
All in favor
00:00

Topics ⁠discussed

Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
00:00 Approval of March Minutes

The Commission reviewed and approved the minutes from the March meeting.

Speakers: Laurel Shinerock, Nancy Teach
00:00 Communication and Donations

Discussion regarding donation requests to NH Lakes and LSPA; Tina recommended contributing to the Highland Lake Protective Association. A request for a basal area variance for timber salvage on Depot St was noted as approved and ongoing.

Speakers: Tina CoLon
00:00 Officer Elections and Governance

The Commission discussed changing the Co-chair title to Chair/Vice-Chair per Select Board preference, but ultimately voted to maintain the Co-chair designation. The full slate of officers was then elected.

Speakers: Nancy Teach, Lee Wells, Jesse Schust, Miranda Dawalga, Jenny Bodwell
00:00 McDonough Trail Project

Planning for upcoming trail work involving Proctor students on April 11th and May 2nd.

Speakers: Laurel Shinerock, Lee Wells
00:00 Beaver Deceiver Maintenance

Discussion on utilizing the Beaver Deceiver Fund for maintenance and the process for contacting Skip Lyle for repairs/surveys.

Speakers: Jesse Schust, Miranda Dawalga
00:00 Natural Resource Inventory (NRI) and Conservation Plan

Review of the NRI and discussion on integrating a Conservation Plan into the Town Master Plan, potentially with assistance from Alan McIntyre.

Speakers: Tina CoLon
00:00 Infrastructure and Environmental Issues

Updates on the Old Lead Mine Road culvert replacement project, Bridge Street wetland incursion, and the Highland Lake sand replenishment request.

Speakers: Jesse Schust, Nancy Teach

Controversy & ⁠dissent

Where the board, the community, or the agenda diverged.

Potentially controversial issues

01

Governance Structure (Co-chair vs. Chair/Vice-Chair)

There was a conflict between the Commission's preferred leadership structure and the preference expressed by the Select Board. This involved internal negotiation regarding officer titles and roles.
Board position: The Commission voted to maintain the Co-chair designation despite Select Board preference.
Internal dissent
Jesse Schust expressed specific reservations, stating he was willing to serve only as Vice-Chair rather than Co-chair during the discussion of the transition.
low concern

Split votes

Maintain Co-chair designation vs. switching to Chair/Vice-Chair
Majority in favor

Action ⁠items

Who owes what, by when.
Post notices at Town Hall and Post Offices regarding Saturday trail work.
Assigned: Lee Wells · Due: Before April 11th
Contact Ricker Miller regarding ACC assistance with the bench.
Assigned: Nancy R.
Attempt to contact Skip Lyle regarding Beaver Deceiver maintenance.
Assigned: Jesse Schust
Contact Don Sieburg to reschedule the White Oak Walk About.
Assigned: Miranda Dawalga
Follow up with DES regarding the Bridge Street wetland incursion.
Assigned: Jesse Schust
Complete the application for the Highland Lake Chafee Beach sand replenishment project.
Assigned: Nancy Teach

Notable ⁠statements

Willing to serve only as Vice-Chair (later clarified by the vote to serve as Co-chair). — Jesse Schust · Discussion regarding the transition from Co-chairs to Chair/Vice-Chair. 00:00
The Conservation Plan should be the end piece to the Master Plan. — Unspecified (Commission Member) · Discussion on the process for implementing the Natural Resource Inventory (NRI). 00:00

Public ⁠comment

What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
No public comments were identified in this meeting.
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Report composed by grok-4.3, grok-4.20-0309-reasoning, gemma-4-26b · analyzed 2026-06-01.