Agricultural Commission, January 24, 2017

AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION MEETING
MINUTES

January 24, 2017

Attendance:       Steve D’Aquila, Jim Dunn, Eileen Charbonneau, Maleah Gustafson

Absent:                Denise Cummings

Others Present:  Tim Ethier: BOS Representative, Amy Parker

Meeting called to order @7:30 PM

A motion was made (Steve) and seconded (Jim) to open the meeting for public address.  The motion was passed unanimously.  No one came forward to speak.  The public address portion of the meeting was closed.

A motion was made (Steve) and seconded (Jim) to accept the minutes of the Dec 20, 2016 meeting as presented.  The motion was passed unanimously (Maleah abstained).

Jim presented an updated version of the Poultry Raising regulation summary.  This has been coordinated with the Town Planner.  Jim will work to get it on the Town’s Ag Comm web page.  Maleah can then link it to our Facebook page.

There was no new information on scheduling the poultry raising speaker.  Venue and scheduling conflicts abound.

There was no change in status of displaying Chapter 61 properties on the Towns GIS pages.  The display is available to all, but still has only the pure (not mixed use) properties shown.  Ms. McCauley did pick up a new list of Chapter 61 properties from the Assessor’s office recently though.

Jim noted that he has made arrangements to make presentations to the Conservation Commission (March 1) and the BOS (March 6) regarding the changes to MGL Chapter 40 and Ag Comm’s now being allowed to manage Town-owned property.  The goal is still to get acceptance of this new law onto the warrant for the May annual Town Meeting.

Steve reported that he has submitted his summary of Ag Comm 2016 activities for the Town Annual Report. 

Maleah presented an update on Central Mass Grown activates and coming events.

There was a discussion of the possibility of getting a annual budget line item for the Ag Comm so that we would have funds to do activities, buy useful organization memberships.  The discussion determined that this was generally desirable, but that in order to justify the change it policy, it would require discussion with the Town Manger and BOS and the need to show that the budget dollars would provide tangible benefit to the people of Holden, particularly farmers.  Members were asked to think of ways to provide these benefits if we were to be allocated budget funds.

There was an extended discussion about the Holden Farmer’s Market, with a focus on trying to make it more inclusive to Holden producers.  A ‘letter of concern’ to the market manager was a potential option.  Little technology is associated with Holden’s market and this brings limitations for advertising, promotion, and future growth.

On a motion made (Eileen) and seconded (Jim), the meeting was adjourned at 8:55 PM

Respectfully submitted;

James Dunn

Acting Secretary