Agriculture Commission Agenda and Minutes April 9_2014Northampton Agricultural Commission
Agenda and Minutes
7:30 PM Wednesday April 9, 2014
210 Main Street, Room 10 (2nd floor, City Hall)
Northampton, MA
Members present: Chair John Omasta, Vice Chair Rich Jaescke, John Bobala, Chip Parsons, and Robert Vollinger. (Maggie Gifford and Stan Zawalick were unable to attend.)
Staff present: Wayne Feiden. John Omasta opened the meeting at 7:30 PM
Public comment: There was no public comment.
Approval of Agriculture Commission Minutes of March 12, 2014: Upon motion by Chip Parsons and second by Rich Jaescke the Commission voted unanimously to approve the minutes.
Meadows Roads update—No new information from the City Solicitor on this subject. Summary of what we determined—only public access to Rainbow Beach by water. The city has a standing
offer to purchase a sliver of land to connect to Rainbow Beach on a willing-buyer/willing seller basis if anyone wants to sell. On the broader public access on roads there is not clarity
on whether roads are private statutory way unless the City Solicitor can provide information. This will no longer be on the Commission’s action agenda unless and until 1) the City Solicitor
provides an opinion, 2) substantially new information comes or 3) there is an interest on all sides on some kind of mediation.
Work program for 2014-2015 year—The Commission set the following work plan:
Summer meeting schedule—no meetings unless something critical comes up.
Fall and winter meeting schedule—start up on September 24th 2014 at 7:00 PM.
New agenda for after the growing season (in addition to on-going issues)
Joint meeting with Conservation Commission—meet with them and then have usual Ag. Commission meeting.
Explore right to farm signs (possibly CPA eligible project)
Explore other ways to support farming.
Explore brainstorm and social event with other nearby agriculture commissions (possibly buffet at Smith Vocation Agricultural School)
Winter or year-round farmers market
Other items not identified when the agenda was written.
To again request that DPW install the no parking at water standpipe signs, consistent with the no parking ordinance passed a year ago.
The Commission reviewed the Conservation Commission’s draft land management policy. Upon motion by Rich Jaescke and second by Bob Vollinger, the Commission voted unanimously to recommend
that all kinds of farming (organic, no till, and conventional) be allowed on conservation working lands parcels to provide the greatest farming opportunities consistent with the City’s
Right-to-Farm Ordinance which acknowledges that farming “shall include the attendant incidental noise, odors, dust, and fumes associated with normally accepted agricultural practices.
It is hereby determined that whatever impact may be caused to others through the normal activity of agriculture is more than offset by the benefits of farming to the neighborhood, community,
and society in general.”
The Commission adjourned at 8:50 PM.