The Hooksett Conservation Commission voted to ask the town clerk to place a 40‑day hold on all wetland applications so the commission can review them before the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) completes its review.

The motion, introduced during a discussion of wetland‑permit procedures, instructs the town clerk to notify DES that the commission will place a 40‑day hold while it conducts its review. The motion was seconded and approved by the commission.

Commission members said the change reflects a desire to see wetland permit packages earlier in the process. Sheena Gilbert, who introduced the motion, said the change responds to the commission’s limited time to comment under the current workflow: “So if notification is not received by the department within 14 days following the date of notice filed by the municipal clerk, the department shall proceed as if no notification has been made,” she summarized from DES guidance and added that the hold gives the commission more opportunity to review applicants’ materials.

The meeting also included a contested effort to rescind a recommendation that the commission had recorded in its Dec. 9 minutes related to the Granite Woods driveway and wetland buffer (line 214 of those minutes). A commissioner moved to rescind the earlier motion — a step the commission’s rules allow — but the rescission motion failed by roll call.

Beyond the procedural change on wetland applications, the commission received updates and discussed ongoing conservation projects:

- Quimby Mountain: The commission learned that Jeff Littleton is scheduled to prepare a stewardship plan in late winter or spring and that Meadows Forestry (a consulting forester) will assist after the previously announced forester withdrew for medical reasons. Members discussed whether the commission should seek a full ADA‑compliant trail design or pursue a less intensive accessibility upgrade; members asked staff to define options before hiring an engineering firm.

- Heads Pond: Commissioners reviewed outreach to potential grant sources and an engineering estimate. An engineering/survey estimate for a first design phase was identified at about $5,000; a complete project estimate was discussed in the range of $25,000–$30,000. One commissioner disclosed a family connection to a proposed contractor and recused themself from vendor selection.

- Hooksett Riverwalk Trail: Members discussed recent dumping on the trail’s Allentown side and coordination with Allentown officials. The commission is exploring installing lockable bollards and signs to reduce motorized access; staff will follow up with the town public works department and neighboring property managers.

- Pinnacle Park signage and Clay Pond: The commission reported progress on new trail maps and sign quotes, and discussed interest in potentially acquiring parcels near Clay Pond. Bear Paw (a land trust partner) indicated limited bandwidth to pursue acquisitions immediately; commissioners agreed to make initial outreach to landowners.

Why this matters: The new 40‑day hold procedure changes when and how the commission can influence wetland permitting outcomes. Under state rules, DES can proceed if a municipal body does not assert an intention to investigate in time; commission members said earlier notification and a formal hold will allow local technical concerns to be raised before DES issues decisions.

The commission directed staff to (1) formalize the hold/notification process with the town clerk and DES, (2) bring clearer scope options for the Quimby Mountain stewardship design back to the commission, and (3) continue outreach about trail maintenance and possible land acquisitions.

Votes at a glance

- Motion: Have the town clerk place a 40‑day hold and notify DES so the Conservation Commission can review wetland applications prior to DES action. Outcome: Approved (motion carried). Motion language: “the conservation commission moves to have the town clerk notify us of each wetland application” (motion proponent: Sheena Gilbert; second: recorded). Note: the approved hold follows DES guidance and is meant to permit a local review window before DES proceeds.

- Motion: Rescind the commission’s earlier motion recorded at line 214 of the Dec. 9 meeting minutes (related to the Granite Woods driveway/wetland buffer). Outcome: Motion to rescind failed by roll call. Note: commissioners debated whether the earlier language should be clarified to specify that the recommendation applied only to residential use; the motion to rescind would have opened that issue for rewording.

What’s next: Staff was directed to implement the administrative hold process with the town clerk and to return with follow‑up materials on Quimby Mountain design options, Heads Pond funding opportunities, and Riverwalk Trail bollard options.

Speakers quoted in this story are drawn directly from the meeting record.