Agricultural Commission Minutes
Meeting date:
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
- Town of Bolton Agricultural Commission
- Meeting Minutes
- Date: 17 August 2010
- AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION
- www.boltonag.com
- 63 Main Street
- 978 779-2297 or 779-3308
- Sue Storbeck 779-6020 slstorbeck@comcast.net Term Exp 6/30/2011
- Barbara Parente 779-6303 bparente@comcast.net Term Exp 6/30/2012
- Betsy Taylor-Kennedy 779-5213 betsy@taylor-kennedy.com Term Exp 6/30/2012
- Richard Pelletier 779-5521 email@nashobawinery.com Term Exp 6/30/2013
- Open Term Exp 6/30/2013
- A meeting of the Bolton Agricultural Commission was held on August 17, 2010 at Town Hall. The meeting was
- called to order at 7:35 pm by chairperson Sue Storbeck. Commission members in attendance: Sue Storbeck,
- Barbara Parente, and Betsy Taylor-Kennedy. Richard Pelletier was absent. The July minutes were read by
- members and approved.
- Reports from liaisons to Town Boards/Commissions
- Board of Health (Storbeck) – No report
- Planning Board (Open) – Sue will contact the board concerning the Weatherbee, Lord and Aschettino lands.
- Board of Selectmen (Pelletier) – No report.
- Conservation Commission (Parente) – Contact made but no report. Barbara will follow up.
- Conservation Trust (Taylor-Kennedy) – Preservation efforts are ongoing
- Action item: Sue will contact the Planning Board and Barbara will contact the Conservation Commission
- regarding development, asking that the AgComm be made part of the process; that in each case of a
- development proposal, the boards promote reserving some land with agricultural potential for farming and/or a
- community garden.
- Working Session:
- o VISITORS -- Animal Control Officer Sue Latham came to the Commission to discuss ways of finding
- owners, transportation and containment of wandering animals. Bolton does not have a kennel, but Stow
- has allowed Bolton animals there. Latham said Bolton needs a network of place to put animals,
- especially in view of recent accidents on Massachusetts highways as well as emergency veteranarian
- services, especially for large animals, such as horses. The board suggested Latham talk to Jai Rezac of
- Century Mill Stables and Cindy Schaeffer, local vet. AgComm suggested Latham look at three
- comparable towns to Bolton and find out what they do with large animals. Latham left her email address
- with the board for online communication. Action: Sue Storbeck has names of two rescue places that
- train and said she would follow up with Amy Clark of Essex Equine. Action: Barbara will check with
- Tom Moses to see if pets are included in the disaster plan, and if so, what is the plan.
- o VISITORS – Liz Schoepke and Elizabeth Curry, from the First Parish Church calendar committee,
- came to talk about the 2011 calendar, featuring a Bolton farms theme. Although the calendar is almost
- complete, the visitors asked if the AgComm would provide copy for a page about Bolton farms, some
- photos and the Right to Farm sign artwork. Actions: Barbara will write and submit the copy, using
- words from the AgComm’s “Supporting Bolton Agriculture” brochure and Betsy will send the Right to
- Farm artwork.
- Current business:
- 1. Farmers Dinner – The board voted unanimously, that if a date is available, a Farmers Dinner would be
- held at the Nashoba Valley Winery in October, and a subcommittee would be formed to put the event
- plan in place before the next AgComm meeting. The subcommittee would determine the menu, program
- and participation.
- Action: Within one week of this meeting, Betsy will contact Rich about a firm date for an October Farmers
- Dinner and get back to other members so plans can begin..
- Action: Barbara will check with the town accountant as to whether or not the AgComm can raise funds or
- accept money from any dinner proceeds and how they would be accepted.
- 2. 2011 spending plan and annual review of “Monster List” of goals – deferred to September
- 3. Right to Farm sign usage design by other towns (Barbara) – Barbara met with and has price information
- from the designer; before the next meeting, she will find out from town accountant if and how board
- could accept a token “finders fee.”
- 4. Farm Bureau information (Sue) – deferred to September
- 5. Farmstand directional signs – AgComm will move this item to the goals list
- Future Meetings/Events
- Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 21 at 7:30 pm at Town Hall.
- The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 pm.