HomeMy Public PortalAboutAgriculture Commission -- 2006-01-12 MinutesMINUTES of the 2"a MEETING of
The BREWSTER AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION
Held Thursday, January 12, 2006 at 7:00 p.m.
At the Brewster Town Office Building, 2198 Main Street, Room A
Present: Peter Herrmann, Julie Trzcinski, Heather Mangelinkx, John MacLellan, Jack
Latham, Elizabeth Taylor, Nancy Sheridan, Keith Johnson
Mr. Herrmann called the meeting to order. Due to the absence of Stephen Brown for
secretary Heather Mangelinkx volunteered to do the minutes of the meeting. Minutes of
the December 29, 2005 meeting were approved and accepted unanimously by the board.
Jack Latham requested to discuss the issue that since the committee is still short one
member to be selected by the selectmen the question azose who should be on the
commission - only farmers or anyone interested in doing so. Elizabeth Taylor expressed
interest in being on the commission. Mr. Latham will check with selectmen on the policy
for choosing members.
Julie Trzcinski reported that she spoke with the Harwich Agricultural Commission on
how they introduced themselves to the other town committees -she reported that they
requested to be on each of the boards agenda so that they could formally introduce
themselves. Mr. Latham suggested we send a letter and only attend their meetings if
requested. He will draw up a letter with a contact person indicated and Ms Taylor offered
to deliver the letters to the appropriate boazds. Ms Taylor also suggested we should have
a selectmen assigned to attend ow meetings as they do for all other boards.
Mr. Herrmann gave us a list of goals and objectives used by other towns and asked for
the boazds input on what their goals for the commission aze. Ms Taylor suggested we
pursue education opportunities. Ms Trzcinski says that the Harwich commission will be
inviting us to one of their meetings and would like to attend one of ours. Irene Winkler
from the USDA would like to speak with us. Mr. Latham would like to get the Right to
Farm Bylaw for Brewster ready to present to either spring or fall town meeting. Ms
Taylor suggested we get the selectmen involved with this and she will help us get the
bylaw ready for town meeting presentation. She also volunteered to help in writing any
grants we would like to apply for.
Mr. Latham suggests we take an inventory of the farms in Brewster including all levels
and areas of farming. By doing so he thinks it is important that we get everyone who is
farming registered with the town with the proper permits. We should help educate what
their rights are since we are considered an agricultural community and with the proper
permits it will be easier to protect them from neighborhood complaints and educate the
community of the rights of farmers. Nancy Sheridan discussed her problem with the
building department on barn set back issues and is hoping that the commission and
someone at the state level can help farmers with these issues. John MacLellan
volunteered to start a farm inventory. He will go through all barn permits and 61 A
permits. He will be getting the name, address, map & lot # and what the land is being
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used for. This will then be put into a map showing the townspeople how much acreage is
being used for agriculture in this community.
Ms. Trzcinski is interested in developing a manure regulation and try to convince the
Brewster DPW to take the manure in for recycling free of charge, instead of the current
$7S /ton.
Mr. Herrmann presented his goals of developing a Right to Farm bylaw to present to
town meeting. Mr. MacLellan seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous. Ms.
Taylor will see if we can have town counsel go over the right to farm bylaw before it
goes to town meeting.
Other goals presented by Mr. Herrmann were to look for state and federal money to use
for different activities either for buying acreage for town pasture land, community
gardens or even a town common. Ms. Taylor will bring a map to next meeting showing
where there is open space that may come up for sale in the future. Mr. Herrmann will
work on the regulations of the state and federal government for what we need to apply for
grants for agricultural acquisition. He also thought we should look into getting some
funds from the town for miscellaneous expenses. Also discussed is having a way people
can get in touch with the commission. We do have a mail box at town hall but we should
have some office space for filling paperwork. He will check with the selectmen.
Ms Taylor also suggested we should get on the town web site.
Also discussed was getting a standard of practice for the animal inspectors job. Animal
inspector, Sherry McCoullough expressed at the last meeting she needed help in this area.
Nancy Sheridan volunteered to help her. Mr. Latham thought that is an issue the board of
health should bring up to the selectmen and the town should have a full time animal
inspector.
Mr. Hemnann said he will try to get Larry McCormick the staff attorney for the Mass
Dept. of Agriculture to come to the next meeting to be held on January 26a'. Ms Taylor
will post the meeting dates for us. Unanimous vote to adjourn the meeting at 9:15.
Respectfully Submitted,
Heather Mangelinkx
Minutes Approved ~;;~iJ -~ L . c,2 yO C,