Commission discusses outreach, tree‑planting grants and welcomes new member Bill Gabler

The Manchester Conservation Commission used part of its Dec. 23 meeting to plan outreach initiatives for 2025, review the calendar and introduce a newly appointed member.

Commissioners discussed staying involved beyond case hearings by organizing community tours, conducting tree inventories and supporting a state school tree‑planting grant whose applications open in January and are due in March. Members reported that Wolf Park is in a second‑draft planning stage and that a pollinator garden was considered for park space; one commissioner suggested dedicating such a garden in memory of a local contributor if the project proceeds.

The commission reviewed proposed meeting dates for 2025 and flagged potential conflicts (school vacation weeks, members’ shift schedules). The group tentatively set Jan. 23 as the next meeting and discussed moving the December meeting date to avoid holiday conflicts.

Staff gave a brief finance update: the commission’s conservation fund balance was last noted at about $9,000 and a full six‑month transaction history will be provided by late January. The commission also welcomed new member Bill Gabler, who described a 23‑year Navy career in nuclear engineering, prior local elected service and a background in volunteer emergency service; he said he hopes to bring technical and field experience to conservation work.

Members agreed to reconvene outreach planning in January once the new commissioner is seated and to coordinate tree‑planting outreach with local schools and Manchester DPW.