11/20/2025 CC Minutes

Bethlehem Conservation Commission

November 20, 2025

Bethlehem Public Library

Minutes by Chris Jensen

 

Attendees: Cheryl Jensen, KP Petersen, Veronica Morris, Rachelle Lyons, Joanne Jones, Wendy Aldrich Jordan and Colin Lunetta.

Chris Jensen (alternate)

 

The meeting began at 5:04 p.m.

 

Minutes of October 16, 2025

The minutes were reviewed and several edits suggested. Ms. Jones made the motion to approve the minutes as amended. Ms. Jordan seconded the motion, which passed, with one abstention: Ms. Morris.

 

Treasurer’s Report

Ms. Jones reported that the checking account has $33.67. The savings account has $14,481 and 80 cents.

 

The $1,500 for noise consultant Les Blomberg is still pending and there is an invoice for $250 for membership in the New Hampshire Association of Conservation Commissions.

 

Ms. Jones said she was informed by a town official that the commission will be receiving $1,669 and 75 cents from properties coming out of current use. That is about $1,300 less than last year, she said.

 

Ms. Jones also noted that when she and Ms. Jensen presented the proposed budget to the select board, select board members said they were amazed at how much the commission gets done with so little money.

 

Ms. Jensen also told the select board that requested budget was unchanged from last year because the commission understood the need to minimize expenses when some residents are struggling financially.

Noise ordinance update

Ms. Jensen said the planning board is considering the industrial-commercial noise ordinance, including the required legal review. It has yet to decide on whether to attach the proposed noise ordinance to the site plan regulations.

 

Town Forest

Ms. Jones provided an update, including plans to post no-hunting signs, possibly by January. Ms. Petersen was also thanked for her excellent work on putting town info on the signs.

 

Ms. Jones also provided a briefing on what Aries Engineering has found in its monitoring of the old town landfill.

 

Mr. Lunetta presented his excellent report on where invasive plant species are located in the town forest. The commission felt that it would be a huge help moving forward, although there was no decision on how to tackle the issue. Mr. Jensen said he would research grants to fund removal.

 

Meeting of Conservation Commissions

Ms. Lyons reported on her effort to arrange a January meeting of regional conservation commissions. The Rocks seemed like a logical location, except for $200 to rent a room. Ms. Lyons said she would pursue the issue, including seeing if The Forest Society charges for a Bethlehem town function.

 

Eversource X-178

Ms. Morris provided a briefing on the latest alteration-of-terrain proposal. There was continued concern about the impact, including permanent access roads. There was some doubt that NH DES would change anything and it was noted that the commission has limited resources.

 

Ms. Morris made a motion to decline to comment to NH DES, but to provide the Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust with the portions of the AOT pertaining to the new 700-acre tract along the river. It was seconded by Ms. Jones and passed. Ms. Lyons abstained.

 

Priorities and 2026

Given a tight schedule, it was decided to delay that discussion until the next meeting. However, Ms. Jensen did announce that 2026 will be her last year as chair and the commission will need to figure out what to do. Mr. Jensen said one possibility would be to have shorter stints as chair: For example, three months.

 

Annual Report

There was a brief update on the commission’s accomplishments and the need to provide that information to Mr. Jensen, who volunteered to assemble it for the town report.

 

Communications Plan

There was a discussion about doing an informational mailer to residents. The idea is to make sure residents understand the proposed noise ordinance and that it would basically only affect new industrial-commercial operations.

 

In addition, the explanation could be included in “Our Town News: Bethlehem NH.” Ms. Jensen said it would be good to have letters-to-the-editor.

 

Ms. Petersen said she would be happy to work on the graphics for a mailer.

 

Adjournment

Ms. Jensen made a motion to adjourn. It was seconded by Ms. Petersen and unanimously approved at 6:53 p.m.

 

The next meeting is Dec. 18^th at 5 p.m. at the library.