Agriculture Commission Agenda and Minutes November 10_2015Northampton Agricultural Commission
Agenda
7:30 PM Tuesday November 10, 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)
Public comment: no public comment
Approval of Agriculture Commission minutes of September 22, 2015: Upon motion by Chip Parsons and second by Rich Jaescke, the Commission unanimously approved the minutes.
Introduction of Shayla Howe, Northampton Animal Inspector: Ms. Howe described her animal inspector duties and inspections, including counting all large farm animals and chickens, in
part to be prepared for contagious disease.
Updates (if any action in any of these areas)
Farmland preservation and open space activity—Rich Jaescke suggested that the overgrown area outside of wetlands on Montview Avenue could be used for a farm incubator. He personally
offered to mow and plow that area one time if it will lead to productive use or an incubator. Feiden will follow up with the neighborhood association that asked for the right to manage
the property and see what it takes to get that going.
Meadows roads maintenance—Rick Jaescke, Chip Parsons, and John Bobala reported that Northampton DPW did an excellent job of graded city gravel roads in the Meadows and that it appears
that this has been added to the permanent DPW schedule.
Policy and regulatory review issues—Feiden reported on the Urban Agriculture Grant application for extending a downtown farmers market season. The commissioners supported the effort,
suggesting that awnings or tents should be examined.
Annual agricultural forum (9:00 AM Saturday January 30, 2016)—The Commission confirmed the date. Feiden will follow up with Pete Westover, MDAR consultant.
The Commission set Tuesday December 15, 2015 at 7:00 pm for their next meeting.
Upon motion by Rick Jaescke and second by Chip Parsons the Commission voted unanimously to adjourn at 9:00 pm.