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Conservation commission discusses Winter Carnival table, gate repairs, kiosk replacement and reports Wildcat name change
Summary
At its Jan. 27 meeting the Merrimack Conservation Commission signed up for a table at the town Winter Carnival, discussed replacing a damaged 12‑foot gate at Greater Woods, reviewed a $235 estimate to replace Sklar kiosk plexiglass and heard a report that the town council approved renaming the Wildcat site to Wildcat Conservation Area.
Commission members used the Jan. 27 meeting to handle several administrative matters: participation in the 2025 Winter Carnival, repairs at Greater Woods, kiosk replacement estimates and an update on a town council vote to approve the Wildcat Conservation Area name.
Winter Carnival: The commission confirmed that it has registered for a table at the Feb. 8 Winter Carnival. Commissioners said they would organize volunteers and shifts by email; the commission welcomed ideas for children’s activities and noted coordination with the town council and VFW table arrangements. No formal assignment was made during the meeting.
Gate at Greater Woods: Commissioners discussed a damaged gate at Greater Woods. A 12‑foot gate purchased previously from Tractor Supply may need replacement. The commission has not assigned final responsibility for purchase or installation; one member said they will inspect the site and the group will determine whether the public works department or volunteers should handle installation.
Sklar kiosk plexiglass: A commissioner reported pricing and an estimated cost of about $235 to replace plexiglass and build a new frame for the Sklar kiosk, noting that tongue‑and‑groove pressure‑treated boards used in the original frame are no longer common and that the job may require cutting new grooves or revising the frame design. Volunteers offered to inspect the kiosk and perform on‑site repairs; the reporting commissioner will bring the detailed cost list to a subcommittee and return to the commission with a final plan.
Wildcat Conservation Area name and parking: A commissioner reported on a town council vote that approved the name change to Wildcat Conservation Area. The town council discussion examined options such as naming the property after a prior owner but determined the property had been sold to the town and had no single prior owner to honor. The commission discussed long‑standing parking overflow at the Wildcat site; police records reportedly show fewer than five parking complaints per year. Residents can obtain placards from the town manager’s office for temporary street parking; the commission said residents should call police to report illegal parking. Commissioners also discussed changing online map directions and placing signage at Watson Park, which town parks staff have permitted for use as a primary access point.
Approval of minutes: The commission discussed and proposed amendments to the draft minutes of Jan. 13, 2025 (corrections included meeting location, the identity of a second on a motion, wording clarifications and the term “weekly patrol”). A motion to approve the minutes as amended was made and seconded; the chair called for votes and the meeting record states, “All abstaining. As is 5 to 0 to 0.” The clerk will post minutes with the agreed corrections.
No formal votes beyond the administrative motion on minutes were recorded on other items during the meeting. Commissioners asked volunteers to coordinate logistics for the carnival and subcommittee members to review the kiosk repair plan before the next commission meeting.
