Section 3.2 The years 1985-1989
Subsection 3.2.1 The year 1985
The annual meeting on August 24 had mostly the standard players at work:
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The beavers were at both ends of the pond. Fish and Game destroyed dam(s) at the north end, and persons unknown did the same at the inlet.
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The condition of Stocker Pond Road was again reaching a challenging point, and concern was expressed about speeding on the road and the often difficult time people have seeing at the intersection of Stocker Pond and Sanborn Hill Road.
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Aquatic weed control was again an active topic of conversation with mechanical harvesters considered, though the cost proved prohibitive. Chemical methods are difficult to control and potentially harmful to pond life. The tried and true method of hand pulling weeds seems the only real option.
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Barricades at the Palazzi Pond had been broken down again allowing unauthorized use.
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On a bright note, loons had been seen on the pond in addition to the usual herons.
Subsection 3.2.2 1986
Another year with a discussion of beavers and road conditions. Some issues with renters of cottages, and yet another attempt to find a date for the annual meeting which would encourage more participation.
Subsection 3.2.3 1987
The Eckbreth’s [property: 236-024] hosted the annual meeting again this year together with the cookout which helps attract a few extra participants.
A letter from Gretel Cole [Property: 236-026] which requested the Property Owners’ Association of Stocker Pond to accept the responsibility of enforcing the Deed restrictions previously handled by the 3-Cs Development Corporation. The corporation had allowed its Corporate charter to lapse. It was pointed out that both the Property Owners’ Association or any individual property owner always had the right to take someone to court over a violation of the Deed restrictions. The Association officially accepted the responsibility.
There was an animated discussion regarding the former Howard property [Property: 236-019] which had recently been sold to developers Jerold Weiner and Nicolas Nassar. The property consists of 30.8 acres uphill and to the west of Stoney Brook (Georges Mills) road and 11.4 acres between the road and the Pond much of which lies in the flood plain. The intent of the developers was to construct a condominium development on a shelf up the hill to be approached by the old Barton Road (the snowmobile trail on the right after just entering Stoney Brook from Route 114), as well as 70 units on the Pond side of the property.
At a meeting of the Planning Board for the Town of Grantham attended by Stocker Pond Association president Jackson English [property 236-030], the board pointed out that tentative plans of the developers did not meet the standards set forth in Grantham’s subdivision regulations. Quoting from Jackson English’s delightful letter, "Either the engineer who prepared the plan had not seen the Subdivision Regulations or, if he had seen them had not read them, or, if he had read them he had not understood them." Other eye-catching adjectives from the letter include "insensitive" and "amateurish". In communication with the Water Resources Board, it was learned that the State would allow permanent docks on the Nassar property, not less than 75 feet apart. On the other hand with 950 feet of frontage, that put a dozen docks on that relatively small parcel of land.
The potential for a significant development of land on the Pond led the association to investigate what legal options might be available to them should a condo development be actively proposed. Options considered included purchasing the land by the Association or pursuing a conservation easement, and of course working with State and local authorities concerning land use and development in the Shoreland buffer.
Water level issues were prominent once again. Heinzelmann [property 236-028] complained his shorefront was a bog and he could not even reach his flagpole. Eckbreth’s [property 236-024] and Ron Gaudreau [property 236-015] complained of significant loss of beach on their properties and well as most properties on the west side [Lumber Lane]. On a personal note, our first summer on the Pond was in 2018, and I recall essentially no visible beaches, yet around 2020, the Pond level rose another couple of feet beyond that definitely eroding our shoreline by several feet, and yet the outlet culverts remain approximately halfway open despite what others have described as an army of beaver dams between the two sets of culverts. For contrast in 1987, the intersection of Sanborn Hill Road and Stoney Brook became impassable due to water in the intersection.
Road condition returned as a matter of concern, but the new Road Agent had repairs on their radar. Speeding on Stocker Pond Road and motor boat speed limits were discussed.
Finally, while the Biology Bureau conducted a Lake Water Quality Survey of Stocker Pond, by 1987 the State was transitioning to a State-Assisted Lay Monitoring Program.
Subsection 3.2.4 1988
The Eckbreths once again hosted the annual meeting. At that meeting, Mr. Jody Connor of the State Water Pollution Department gave a talk on Lay Monitoring and distributed a detailed report on Stocker Pond in 1983-1985 [Looking for a PDF]. He characterized the Pond as an "in-between type of Pond", perhaps meaning "mesotrophic." He reviewed options for aiding in the improvement of our water quality.
He first noted that laws concerning septic systems near water bodies had tightened and properties being sold or changed from part-time to full-time use were required to have septic systems inspected for compliance with the new statutes. Many other recommendations are now subsumed by DES regulations regarding any activities within the Shoreland buffer (250 feet from the high water mark at the shore), but perhaps still worth noting here.
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Septic tanks should be pumped out every 2-3 years to reduce the phosphorus buildup; systems over 20 years old should be professionally inspected and assessed.
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Guard against using phosphorus-containing products such as soaps and other cleaning agents which can leach into the water
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Keep land clearing to a minimum (highly constrained by DES), and walkways to the shore should be indirect to prevent runoff in heavy rains.
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Don’t rake organic material (leaves, grass clippings, etc) into the Pond. Don’t feed water fowl.
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Regulate power boat speeds since high speeds will stir up the bottom, especially concerning for us with a heavy deposit of glacial silt left over from the Interstate 89 construction.
In addition to the aquatic vegetation information in the 1983 report, in 1988 bladderwort was reported as common in Stocker Pond. Further information is available in the 2007 report by Aquatic Plants and Algae of New Hampshire’s Lakes and Ponds.
In other matters,
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It was reported that development of the former Howard property [236-019] was rejected by the town’s Planning Board.
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Mrs. English moved that if any Association member decides to sell their property, they should first notify the Association before placing it on the market.
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Mrs. Gretel Cole proposed the formation of an Association committee tasked with enforcement of the 3-Cs deed covenants.
Subsection 3.2.5 1989
It was a slow year. The Palazzi Pond property was sold to a developer who wanted to build 12 houses on the east side of the pond and condos on the south side of the hill. While the Association pays no income taxes and owns no property, the Town requires the Association to file an "annual inventory form" or be subject to a fine.
