Agricultural Commission agenda and minutes 11 22 11Northampton Agricultural Commission
Minutes
Date: Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Time: 7:00 PM
Place: City Hall, 210 Main Street, Room 10, Northampton
For more information:
Wayne Feiden, FAICP, Director of Planning and Development
wfeiden@northamptonma.gov
(413)587-1265
Members present: Chairman John Omasta, Rich Jaescke, John Bobala, Ben James, and Chip Parsons.
John Omasta opened the meeting at 7:10 PM.
Minutes of October 12, 2011
Upon motion by John Bobala and second by Rich Jaeske, the Commission voted unanimously to approve the minutes.
Keep Farming follow up discussions.
Nola Reinhart presented the revised agricultural economics report (available under Office of Planning and Development, Agriculture at the Public File Cabinet at www.NorthamptonMA.gov/opd).
She highlighted the changes referencing products grown (no tobacco) and products retailed locally. Upon motion by Ben James and second by Chip Parsons, the Commission voted unanimously
to accept the report. Nola Reinhart agreed to follow up with outreach to the press.
January Farmers’ Forum
The commission agreed to have the forum on Tuesday January 10th, Wednesday January 11th, Tuesday January 24th, or Wednesday January 25th, depending on the availability of necessary staff
and board members. The commission will finalize the agenda in December but agreed generally:
Keep Farming will present initial recommendations and conclusions, followed by farmer discussion
DPW will present discussion on grading meadows roads, status of meadows roads, and, if they know the issues, Army Corp policies for releasing water from upstream dams, followed by farmer
discussion
Conservation Commission staff or commissioners will present a discussion of wetlands issues, followed by farmer discussions
Planning and Development staff will present a discussion of Agriculture Preservation Restriction and open space programs, followed by farmer discussions.
December Agriculture Commission meeting
The Commission set December 6, 2011 at 7:00 PM as the date for the next meeting.
Update from Farmers Market Subcommittee
Ben James presented the final report and recommendations from the Farmers Market Subcommittee (report available under Office of Planning and Development, Agriculture Commission, in the
Public File Cabinet, www.NorthamptonMA.gov/opd). The Commission discussed the recommendations in detail. Upon motion by Chip Parsons and second by Rich Jaeske the Agriculture Commission
voted unanimously to accept and adopt the report and its recommendations.
Other items not reasonably known to the chair when agenda is set
John Omasta shared CISA’s program on providing farmer loans for recovery from Tropical Storm Irene and the early fall snow storm.
The Commission adjourned at 8:55 PM.