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The commission unanimously approved (3-0) recommending Martin Shoquette and Sue Hatch for appointment to the Conservation Commission. A motion requesting a $1,000 budget for 2027 was also unanimously approved (3-0). To dissolve the inaccessible original Hodges conservation fund, a warrant article for the March 2027 ballot is required; Kathleen Felch will work with town counsel to draft this for a November Selectboard meeting. Monitoring by Rockingham County Conservation District identified an encroachment from a neighbor involving a camper and materials over the Kimball property line, which RCCD is addressing. Sue Hatch and Martin Shoquette walked the Hodges property boundaries to prepare for posting no hunting signs, intending to complete this within weeks. SHEA representatives discussed estuary management and current grant work. The next Conservation Round Table is scheduled for September 24th, focusing on community awareness. Discussion continues with property owners regarding one conservation opportunity, while another property is no longer under consideration. Source: https://www.kensingtonnh.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_09082026-303
Kensington Conservation Commission Minutes for 9/8/2026 Members in Attendance: Sydnee Goddard, Pam Holland, Andrew Roberts 1. Call to Order 7:30 pm 2. Open to Public. Todd Caldwell expressed interest in helping commission with trails and other projects. Skip Heal expressed interest in working on trails and trail maps. 3. SHEA (Seabrook-Hampton Estuary Alliance) representatives Rayanne Dionne and Sarah McNamara-Gagnon (the Hampton Seabrook Estuary Conservation Liaison) shared the work that they do to support efforts to benefit the estuary including but not limited to securing grants to fund projects, community outreach, a resource library, species mapping, trail work, and creating an estuary management plan. Sarah is working under a 3 year grant ending in March 2028 to support conservation work in communities within the Hampton-Seabrook estuary watershed. She has already worked with Kensington to create a conservation land database. Kensington is within the Hampton-Seabrook estuary watershed. Sarah is working with Hampton Falls on many exciting projects including a yearlong bioblitz on the Raspberry farm conservation land and town forest. 4. Charles Hodges Conservation Area business a. In order to dissolve the original Hodges conservation fund which has fund that are not accessible the commission needs a warrant article for March 2027 ballot. Kathleen Felch will work with town counsel to draft this. We should have this ready in time for a November Selectboard meeting. b. Discussed mapping of Hodges and other town owned trails to help emergency responders find their way efficiently. c. Sue Hatch shared that she and Martin Shoquette walked the property boundaries to prepare for posting for no hunting which they intend to complete in the next couple weeks. d. A subgroup had explored alternative access into Hodges from Sawyer Park without success. 5. Work continues to secure trail access to Sawyer Park from Kensington Elementary. 6. Conservation Opportunities in Kensington. One property under discussion is no longer on the table. Discussion of another property continues with property owners. 7. Motion made to recommend Martin Shoquette and Sue Hatch for appointment to the Conservation Commission by the select board was seconded and unanimously approved (3-0). 8. Next Conservation Round Table to take place on Sept 24th and topic is enhancing community awareness. 9. Motion made to request a $1000 budget for 2027 was seconded and unanimously approved (3-0). 10. Monitoring of Kimball conservation land was recently completed by Rockingham County Conservation District. Encroachment from a neighbor was reported and RCCD is following up to resolve the issue. A camper and other material are over the property line. 11. Adjourn 9:13 pm Respectfully Submitted by Sydnee Goddard