HomeMy Public PortalAboutAgriculture Commission -- 2006-01-26 Minutes
1VBNUTES of the 3'~ MEETING of
The BREWSTER AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION
Held Thursday, January 26, 2006 at 7:00 p.m.
At the Brewster Town Office Building, Z 198 Main Street, Room A
Present: Peter Hemnann, Julie Trzcinski, Heather Mangelinkx, John MacLellan, Jack
Latham, Elizabeth Taylor, Nancy Sheridan, Carl Alstrom, Mark Stephens
Mr. Hemnann called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The minutes of the January 12a'
meeting were accepted and approved unanimously by the board.
Mr. Latham presented the draft of the letter he would like to distribute to the various
boards to introduce the Agricultural Commission. Ms. Taylor said she will put it on
official letterhead and it will be distributed to the various boards through their mailboxes.
She will also make extra copies that should be sent to the Cape Cod Commission and
local newspapers.
Presenting the right to farm bylaw for the July town meeting was discussed. Suggestions
that we should get the selectmen involved with this to be sure they understand what the
bylaw means. Mr. Hemnann will check with the selectmen to see what would be a good
selectmen's meeting for us to attend to discuss this. Ms. Trzcinski will invite Leo
Coukounas to the selectmen's meeting when a date is known. It was suggested that we
also have to present the bylaw to the finance committee.
Mr. MacLellan reported that he has started gathering the information to produce a farm
map. He has the bog and animal farms located and will continue to locate other farms
(aquaculture, tree farms, nurseries etc.)
Ms Sheridan presented her report on manure composting at the other towns. Harwich
composts it regularly she will check again to see if they make money on this and do they
trade it for T base. Dennis lets people drop their manure off but does not do much with
recycling. Brewster lets people drop off for a fee. Last year they made $525 and they
have a waiting list of people who would like the compost. She will speak with the DPW
again to see if they could get approval from the selectmen to let people drop off the
manure with no fee, on days that they are running the machines. She will also speak with
the board of health to see if they can help move this process along.
Mr. Herrmann has scheduled for the March 23`~ meeting to have Victor Staley of the
building department and Larry McCormick, chief counsel for Ma Dept of Agriculture to
discuss windmills. It was also brought up that we would like to discuss other zoning
issues that farms are allowed to do. Mr. Herrmann will notify them of the additional
discussion.
Mr. Hemnann reported that we have been given a $500 budget. We discussed that we are
allowed a phone line but we decided this was not needed at this time. We will be given a
small office space for storage. Ms Mangelinkx suggested that we could use some of this
~°~- ~. ~a
money for a brochure for the townspeople to help them understand the role of the
Agricultural Commission and the rights of the farmers before the farm bylaw goes to
town meeting. Ms Taylor suggested that the state may have funds for this.
Mr. Hemnann handed out a flyer for a SE Mass AGcom Gathering and Training session
to be held on March 18's. Mr. Hemnann, Ms Trzcinski, Ms Mangelinkx, Ms Taylor and
Ms. Sheridan all expressed an interest in attending.
The board then discussed that fact that we are still one member short and also Mr. Brown
has yet to attend a meeting so we would like to suggest some names to the selectmen for
additional members.
Ms. Trzcinski will check on the date for the next Harwich Agricultural Commission
meeting so that some of our members can attend.
Ms. Trzcinski motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 p.m. the vote was unanimous.
Respectfully Submitted,
Heather Mangelinkx
Minutes Approved ~rh ~ . o? On [~