Hollis commission preauthorizes beaver removal funds, debates $500/month maintenance plan

The Hollis Conservation Commission on June 17 authorized limited spending to address recurring beaver activity on conservation parcels and debated a vendor’s proposal for a standing maintenance agreement.

The commission considered a $500 invoice from Southern New Hampshire Wildlife Control for service at Rocky Pond Road. Members voted to pay the bill. The vendor (referred to in the record as Tony) also proposed a maintenance agreement to visit three nuisance properties twice a month from April 15 through Oct. 15 at $500 per month (about $3,500 annually for the season). Some commissioners favored a maintenance contract for predictable service; others said paying per visit was more cost‑effective.

To ensure the commission could respond promptly to urgent beaver issues before a formal maintenance contract decision, the chair moved to authorize up to $1,000 in new beaver‑removal expenditures for 2026; that motion was seconded and approved. Commissioners agreed to verify the vendor’s certificate of insurance and whether a conflict‑of‑interest form exists with town offices before committing to any longer contract. Kevin Moore and other members noted that the public works department has a staff member now certified to handle beaver removal, and commissioners asked staff to evaluate bringing the work in‑house versus contracting.

The commission recorded the preauthorization as limited, short‑term funding; further decisions regarding a standing maintenance agreement, contract terms and any annual budget allocation were deferred to future meetings.