Agriculture Commission Agenda and Minutes January 2 2013Northampton Agricultural Commission
Agenda and Minutes
5:00 PM Wednesday January 2, 2013
210 Main Street (City Hall) Room 10
Members present: Vice Chair Rich Jaescke, John Bobala, Bob Vollinger, Chip Parsons, and John Kelly.
Staff present: Wayne Feiden
Rich Jaescke opened the meeting at 5:00 PM.
Approval of Agriculture Commission Minutes of November 14, 2012 and December 12, 2012.
Upon motion by Chip Parsons and second by John Bobala, the Commission voted unanimously to approve the minutes.
Set final agenda for Farmers’ Forum
The Commission approved the following as the final agenda:
Smith Vocational Agricultural High School welcome (2 minutes)
Northampton Agriculture Commission welcome (5 minutes)
Mayor David Narkewicz welcome (3 minutes)
Commission of Agriculture Resources Greg Watson welcome (5 minutes)
Massachusetts Association of Agriculture Commissions overview, Pete Westover (10 minutes)
Department of Agriculture Resources review of programs, Rick Chandler (10 minutes)
Keep Farming review of effort (10 minutes)
NRCS and other federal, state and non-government agencies overview (10 minutes)
Vendors (10 to 20 minutes)
Breakout for any questions or discussions with agencies and vendors
Farmers Forum details, as approved by the commission
Each commission member will follow up with their vendor contacts
Pete Westover will handle outreach to other agriculture commissions
Farming to Northampton farmers mailed, most received on January 2, 2013
Wayne Feiden will notify the Republican and Daily Hampshire Gazette newspapers and post on the Office of Planning and Development’s email listserv
John Kelly will create comment sheets for the forum and see if Smith Vocational culinary students can make coffee available.
Rich Jaescke will be the master of ceremonies for the forum and will be the point person to decide if the forum has to be canceled in case of snow.
Agenda setting for February meeting, as set by the commission
Follow up on January Agricultural Forum
Vandalism issues
Meadows Road maintenance and future BPW meeting
Other business not foreseen when agenda was written
Upon motion by Rich Jaescke and second by Chip Parsons, the Commission voted unanimously to sponsor an ordinance establishing a no parking zone within 100’ of the water standpipes on
Hockanum Road and on Fair Street Extension.
Next meeting (after the January 19, 2013 Farmers Forum) set for 6:00 PM on Wednesday February 6, 2013, with a snow date of 6:00 PM on Wednesday February 13, 2013
Upon motion by Rich Jaescke and second by Bob Vollinger, the Commission voted unanimously to adjourn at 6:00 PM.