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Agricultural Commission Minutes

Meeting date: 
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
  • Town of Bolton Agricultural Commission
  • Meeting Minutes
  • Date: 18 May 2010
  • AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION
  • http://www.townofbolton.com/Pages/BoltonMA_BComm/Ag%20Commission
  • 663 Main Street
  • 978 779-2297 or 779-3308
  • Joe Kovacs 779-6979 joseph.kovacs@comcast.net Term Exp 6/30/2010
  • Ken Nicewicz 779-6423 nicewicz@nre.umass.edu Term Exp 6/30/2010
  • 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
  •  
  • A meeting of the Bolton Agricultural Commission was held on 18 May 2010 in the Town Hall. The meeting was
  • called to order at 7:35 pm. Commission members in attendance were: Kovacs, Storbeck, Parente and Taylor-
  • Kennedy.
  • Minutes from the previous meeting were reviewed; corrections to be made for approval at June meeting.
  • The Agenda was compiled at the beginning of the meeting.
  • Reports from liaisons to town Boards/Commissions:
  • No reports this month.
  • Current business:
  • 1. Grant Workshop: Barbara attended a grant workshop session on March 19, sponsored by Niki Tsongas.
  • The session was not specifically targeted toward agricultural programs, but some of the FDA and USDA grant
  • and loan programs are available for farmers. The USDA sponsored grants include: Rural Energy for America
  • Program (REAP) for rural small businesses and farms and the Value Added Producer Grants for planning and
  • feasibility studies for independent farmers. Barbara will make a list of the grants that are relevant for Bolton’s
  • farmers and agricultural businesses, and present it at the next meeting.
  • 2. Openings on the AgCom: AgCom positions are automatically renewed unless a letter of resignation is
  • sent to the Board of Selectmen. Joe is resigning at the end of his term (30 June). He put forth Rich Pelletier’s
  • name for consideration by the BOS. The BOS will advertise for replacements.. AgCom needs to check on
  • Ken’s intentions for another term. The group needs to decide on a new Chair or two Vice-Chairs.
  • 3. FOBS Pet Yearbook: A motion was made and seconded to pay $50 for the AgCom page in the Friends
  • of Bolton Seniors’ Pet Yearbook. Motion passed unanimously. Barbara will obtain an invoice from FOBS so
  • payment can be processed.
  • 4a. Coolidge Property: ConCom has been dealing with Bob Coolidge over clear-cutting of land in the
  • wetland buffer area of his property. Bob claims the work was to reclaim historically farmed land. Ken was
  • included in ConCom’s review process at Bob’s request. Ken and ConCom made a site visit and ConCom
  • requested that Bob file a Notice of Intent (NOI) with plans of his future work in and around wetlands. ConCom
  • to follow up; this is not an AgCom issue.
  • 4b. Composting project: Update at June meeting.
  • 5a. AgCom Signs: Six signs were put up in time for Town Meeting, using existing poles. (Rte. 85, Rte 117
  • (Stow), Rte 117 (Bolton Orchards), Forbush Mill Rd, Wattaquadock Hill Rd, Berlin Rd.) Next year’s budget
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  • should include 3 more signs: Harvard Road town-line and at both 495 off-ramps. Betsy will take photos to
  • accompany a press release.
  • 5b. Other promotional signage: Farmers at the April meeting requested copies of the Right to Farm signs to
  • display at their farms/farmstands. The quote for a double-sided RTF image on corrugated plastic substrate is
  • $18. These are similar to election signs, with a wire frame to stick in the ground. Sue will get a quote for
  • single-sided signs that can be hung on a wall. Other promotional ideas are small magnets and bumper
  • stickers that could be handed out with brochures at events.
  • 6. Budget: After the payment to FOBS there is $109 left in the budget. The last town-wide brochure mailing
  • was Sept. 2008. Betsy will obtain a list of new homeowners (since 9/08) from the Assessors office and create
  • labels for an updated mailing.
  • Next Meeting: June 15, 2010
  • The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 pm.
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  • Town of Bolton Agricultural Commission
  • Meeting Minutes – Public Forum
  • Date: 14 APR 2010
  • AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION
  • http://www.townofbolton.com/Pages/BoltonMA_BComm/Ag%20Commission
  • 663 Main Street
  • 978 779-2297 or 779-3308
  • Joe Kovacs 779-6979 joseph.kovacs@comcast.net Term Exp 6/30/2010
  • Ken Nicewicz 779-6423 nicewicz@nre.umass.edu Term Exp 6/30/2010
  • 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
  • A public forum was held by the Bolton Agricultural Commission on 14 April 2010 in the meeting hall of the First
  • Parish of Bolton. The forum began at 7:45 pm. The purpose of the forum was to discuss issues facing agriculture
  • in our community.
  • In attendance were:
  • Joe Kovacs
  • Ken Nicewicz
  • Sue Storbeck
  • Barbara Parente
  • Barbara Donato, JoBarb Farms
  • Rich Pelletier, Nashoba Valley Winery
  • Sally Ann King, Pleasant Valley Daylilies
  • Nancy Caisse, Townshend Farm
  • Tom Maker, Townshend Farm
  • Herb Colby, Bolton farmer
  • Jem Mix, Bolton farmer
  • Ada Woolston, Community Garden
  • Teresa Sauer, Community Garden
  • Martha Ashe
  • Ed Taylor
  • The Ag Comm highlighted what they have done since the inception of the commission including writing a proposal
  • and receiving a state grant to support specific activities such as the development of an Ag Comm website, right-tofarm
  • brochure, right-to-farm roadside signs, map of Bolton farms, establish an “agriculture row” at the Bolton Fair,
  • and hold 2 Fall agricultural holiday sales. Other Ag Comm activities include support for the elimination of the
  • agricultural excise tax, meeting with Planning Board and the developer of Houghton Farms to secure non-wetland
  • usable fields for agricultural use or a community garden, etc.
  • Ken Nicewicz provided an update on Ag Day at the State House in Boston. Several topics highlighted were:
  • · The request to have small plot farms (ie less than 5 acres) exempt from residential zoning is still in
  • committee
  • · Support for funding for state extension services is in process
  • · There is general statewide concern and discussion about Board of Health ability to establish rules
  • affecting agriculture without agriculture or government input
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  • Input and ideas from the attendees:
  • · It’s key to keep agriculture available and for the community to understand what farming really is; we all
  • need to do a better job of communicating the “right-to-farm” to newcomers to town. Some activities that
  • can help do this: provide brochures and information to local real estate and physicians’ offices, have open
  • barns and tours, show support via Bolton celebrates with agricultural floats in the parade, etc.
  • · Write a seasonal article for the Bolton Common on agriculture, report on the Houghton Farm success as a
  • way to preserve agriculture
  • · Sponsor a Bolton Celebrates Bolton potluck dinner
  • · Sponsor a dedicated day to increase awareness of Bolton agriculture, a “Taste of Bolton” to include farm
  • tours, highlight different products, sell raffle tickets with ag prizes such as bags of compost, gift certificate
  • for meats. This can build support and awareness for Bolton agriculture and give farmers a chance to give
  • back to the community.
  • · Make better use of local TV channels e.g. a tour of Bolton gardens
  • · Have a booth at the Bolton fair selling pie slices as a fundraiser
  • ·
  • Actions:
  • · Research different & affordable formats for Right-to-Farm signs for broader availability to Bolton farmers
  • who would like to have a sign for their farms
  • · Research Nashoba BOH regs re independent
  • · Research length of time for burning on farms; can current 10am - 4pm timeframe be lengthened?
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