Monday, February 16, 2026

Resource Services waste permit in Epping

The Commission agreed this is important and that a member will keep working to regionalize the effort. No formal vote was recorded.

Resources Services Inc. applied to the state to add municipal (household and business) waste handling at an Epping site it uses for construction waste. The site is next to the Piscassic River. The Commission sent a letter in mid-January, along with the Select Board, Exeter, Newmarket, SELT, the Lamprey River Advisory Committee and others, sharing concerns. The state Department of Environmental Services (DES) will respond, and its decision date is April 12. A member said the plan would add 750 tons of waste per day. A member said the Epping Planning Board could send the case to a regional planning commission, and that it has twice chosen not to. If it does not at its April meeting, it likely will not. A member is working to get more information and to make it a regional effort. Next steps are to contact the Lamprey River Advisory Committee, ask Resource Services for a full presentation, and work with Newmarket, Brentwood and Exeter on a joint plan. A member said it could affect future development, depending on what happens with the Rugg property. The Commission agreed it is important and discussed ways to get the public involved, such as emailing DES or a petition to the Epping Planning Board.

Garden Club rain barrel program

All Commission members supported moving forward with the program. No formal vote was recorded.

The president of the Newfields Garden Club presented the Great American Rain Barrel Program, in which communities can buy rain barrels. The barrels hold 60 gallons and cost $89 each. Residents would order online and pick them up at the Garden Club plant sale in May. The town must sign up for the program for it to be offered to residents. Promotional materials would need to go out in April. A member will contact the program about next steps. All members supported moving forward. There is no cost to the Town.

NH HB1691 current use tax bill

The Commission is not taking action on the bill.

The Commission discussed House Bill 1691, a state bill that would limit who can get the current use property tax break (a lower tax rate for undeveloped land) for land that is not being used, lived on or developed. The NH Association of Conservation Commissions strongly opposes the bill. The Commission is not taking action, but the public can submit comments on the State of NH's website.

Commission bylaws and new member onboarding

The Commission is drafting changes to its bylaws on quorums (the number of members needed to hold a vote), alternates and other topics. One idea is to limit how many terms in a row the Chair and Co-Chair can serve. Members discussed allowing an exception by unanimous vote. One member also described term limits for all members, and another said they did not see a need for that based on past interest but that limits make sense for officers. A member will finish a final draft to share with members, for more discussion and a vote at the March meeting. The bylaws let non-members serve on committees, which have been inactive. The Commission discussed restarting some, such as a Communications Committee. The chair would like to add "information management" to one of the roles. A member has an onboarding packet for new members with maps, easements, monitoring report examples, policies and budget information.