Agriculture Commission Agenda and Minutes May 6_2015Northampton Agricultural Commission
Agenda
7:30 PM Wednesday May 6, 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 7:30 PM.
Public comment— Shelly Szawlowski, President of Swaz Potato Farms, raised concerns about the unfairness of stormwater fees on pervious farmland.
Stormwater fees—The commission expressed interest in re-examining the policy of charging stormwater fees for pervious farmland, especially farmland in the meadows that are down-gradient
of all flood control and stormwater improvements. Commissioners indicated that they understand the need for stormwater fees to cover stormwater and flood control systems. They indicated
four objections to the fee on pervious farmland:
1. The farmland in the Meadowsreceivesno benefits from flood control and stormwater improvements.
2. Farmland in the Meadows receivessignificant losses because of those flood control and floodplain systems. The dikes serve to prevent floodwaters from coming downtown, thereby causing
the water level behind the dikes (the meadows) be higher than it would be without dikes. Some elements of stormwater system serve to move water more quickly towards the Meadows, the
Mill River, and the Manhan River, again causing higher floods in the Meadows than otherwise.
3. The pervious soils in the Meadows and the land above it provide the single most cost effective method of storing water that would otherwise flood other properties.
4. The state of the art is to pay for the ecological services that the Meadows and farmland provides, not to make these properties pay for the privilege of hosting floodwaters and stormwater
from the rest of the community.
Upon motion by Rich Jaescke and second by Chip Parsons, the Commission voted unanimously to attempt to reopen discussion on these issues and to offer to co-sponsor a relevant ordinance
change with interested City Councilors.
Approval of Agriculture Commission minutes of March 18, 2015—unanimously approved upon motion by Chip Parsons and second by John Bobala.
Right to Farm signage—the commission approved the final design. Signs will be fabricated by the Commission’s next meeting.
Report on Grow Food Northampton tour—No tour took place yet. Clem Clay of GFN will reach out to Commissioners at some point to invite them.
Meadows Road Maintenance—Rich Jaescke spoke the director of public works who is going to explore options with the street superintendent.
Other items not identified when the agenda was written.—the commission asked that we reach out to Pete Westover to see if Pete will coordinate another agriculture forum.
Next meeting—the commission set Tuesday September 22, 2015 at 7:30 PM for their next meeting, subject to time conflicts that might require rescheduling.
The commission adjourned at 8:35 pm.