Agriculture Commission Agenda and Minutes December 15_2015Northampton Agricultural Commission
Minutes for 7:00 PM Tuesday December 15, 2015
210 Main Street, Room 10 (2nd floor, City Hall), Northampton, MA
Members present:
Chair John Omasta
Chip Parsons
Stan Zawalick
Vice Chair Rich Jaescke
Tim Smith
John Bobala
Robert Vollinger
Wayne Feiden (staff)
John Omasta opened the meeting at 7:00 pm. There was no public comment.
Annual agricultural forum (9:00 AM-12:00 PM Sat. Jan. 30, 2016). The commission agreed:
Robert Vollinger will see if FFA can offer coffee and donuts for sale.
Pete Westover will coordinate, bringing in resource people to facilitate and inform.
Pete will coordinate outreach to Agriculture Commissions throughout the region.
Planning will do a mailing to Northampton farmers.
Former farmland at Montview/Meadows Conservation Area- Rich Jaescke renewed his offer to brushhog and till the easterly half of the area if it will get the site back into productive
agriculture. He offered to continue conversations with Stockbridge on getting assistance finding a farmer to use the site as an incubator. Several members suggested that moving the
play area out of the center of the best farmland might be the most effective way to create a critical mass of farmland. Seven abutters and members of Meadows City Conservation Commission
were very appreciative of any help the commission can give. They expressed concern at moving the play area. They also wanted time to think about how incubator farms could be managed
to minimize any problems and will take this up at their MCCC meeting.
Approval of Agriculture Commission minutes of November 10, 2015- By unanimous vote upon motion by Rich Jaescke and second by Chip Parsons.
Sandra Clark Agriculture Preservation Restriction—Feiden reported that if the state does not approve, because the area is below 5 acres, The APR might become a local agricultural conservation
easement.
Stormwater Fee—A study group is examining whether the stormwater fees should be revised, perhaps focusing only on impervious area and not pervious areas.
Right-to-farm signs-- DPW will install the first two farm signs. Planning will order two more.
Next Commission meeting: Wed. January 13, 2016. Possibly with Clem Clay, Grow Food Northampton.
The commission adjourned at 8:30 pm.