Monday, April 20, 2026

Treasurer's report

Treasurer's report accepted. All in favor.

The Conservation Account held $75,428.90 and the Current Use Account held $21,706.07. The report said there were no expenditures of note. The Current Use Account holds money from land-use change fees. A commissioner moved to accept the report and another seconded.

Bylaws draft review and legal counsel referral

Motion to send the bylaws to the Town's legal counsel passed. All in favor.

The chair thanked a commissioner for the updated bylaws draft and made a few small edits. Version 1.1 was posted earlier in April for review. A commissioner asked what the Secretary does now that a non-member Recording Secretary takes the minutes. The chair said the Secretary makes sure the minutes are complete and correct and could also handle correspondence. Another commissioner asked if a Public Information Officer role is needed or if the Secretary would cover it. The chair changed the bylaw text to "correspondence and communication." A commissioner moved to send the bylaws as they now stand to the Town's legal counsel for review and feedback, and another seconded. Earlier, officer elections were postponed to the May meeting so the bylaws talk could happen first.

Resource Waste Services application public hearing

The Commission was updated on the Resource Waste Services application. A public hearing is set for April 28, and anyone can attend. Several Commission and Select Board members plan to attend, and some plan to speak. The Select Board liaison said he wants to hear from the company why the project is needed and why the expansion is as large as proposed. The chair thanked a commissioner for the time he spent following the project and encouraging people to take part.

Open space plan update

Commissioners said the current open space plan is decades old and should be updated so the Planning Board and others can use it. A subdivision application is coming to the Planning Board. The Select Board liaison asked what the Commission's role would be. The chair said the Commission is supposed to keep a wetlands inventory and a natural resources inventory, and that open space may fall under the Planning Board but the two are linked. A commissioner said the Commission would review the existing surveys and decide which need updating, and noted many map and land-type resources now exist. The chair said the last update used grant money to hire someone to do the surveys. A commissioner named the Coastal Viewer as a useful tool. The Planning Board will discuss the property near the ice pond, which has a wetland, on May 14. A commissioner shared a map, and another noted the third lot looks to encroach on other properties, which would need a variance (permission to break a zoning rule). No decision was recorded.