6210_NewGloucester_2017-2018_AnnualReport_Web

ANNUAL REPORT Environmental Resources Committee The Committee meets the second Wednesday of the month at the New Gloucester Library. Our mission statement is: • participate and report on regional environmental projects. • advise or participate in committees in New Gloucester relating to environmental issues, including but not limited to land acquisition and land use, energy efficiency, recreation, wildlife habitat and water quality. • provide information and education for environmental issues. • coordinate our Committee’s work with the environmental goals of the comprehensive plan. The 2011 energy efficiency plan for the Town was reviewed with the hope of updating and completing some of the recommendations. Educational displays at the New Gloucester Library were done on radon and composting. Educational information was placed on the NGXchange web site on radon, composting, brown tail moths, Paintcare, disposal of Christmas wrapping at the transfer station, control of Japanese beetles, a list of invasive plants that no longer can be sold in Maine and photos and information on the pollinators’ garden. Members attended two workshops, one on milfoil and the other on watershed training. We visited the Gray transfer station for information on how the Paintcare project is working there. A member of the Royal River Conservation Trust met with the Committee to update us on activities in New Gloucester and to discuss ways to potentially coordinate environmental activities with them. The Committee worked at the Fairgrounds and did the following: • Invasive plants in two areas bordering the track were removed with the help of the New Gloucester High School Community Service Group. The Public Works Department removed stumps and seeded one area where new plantings were being added. • The pollinators’ garden was cared for by members and volunteers. A mail box and post was put in place with brochures containing information on the native plants in the garden and along the track. A mason bee house made by a volunteer was put in place behind the garden. • New plantings were placed along Bald Hill Road as well as outside the water district fence. • An area for a possible Nature Trail was identified. Members:

Clifford Andrews, Chairman ~ Phoebe Hardesty, Secretary Richard Allen, Treasurer, James Fitch ~ Anthony Hodgdon Trudy Hodgdon ~ Joanne McKee ~ Douglas Smith

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