Agriculture Commission Agenda and Minutes October 25_2016Northampton Agricultural Commission
Agenda and Minutes
7:30 PM TuesdayOctober 25, 2016
Planning & Sustainability, 210 Main St., 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—There was no public comment.
Agriculture Commissions joint meeting 2017: Pete Westover discussed plans for the joint regional meeting on Saturday January 14, 2017 in Deerfield, co-sponsored by the Northampton and
Deerfield Agriculture Commissions. Commission members agreed that the agenda could include the new agriculture commission legislation, RMV rules for farm vehicles, and a general discussion.
Pete Westover will coordinate the effort.
Approval of Agriculture Commission minutes of September 27, 2016, upon motion by Rich Jaescke and second by Stan Zawalick, by unanimous vote.
Farmland at Montview, Meadows Conservation Area, with Jane Potter, Meadows City Conservation Coalition (MCCC)—Jane Potter thanked Rich Jaescke for the mowing, plowing and harrowing he
did at the farmland at Montview to prepare it for the current garlicfarm. Rich Jaescke suggested that the last half-acre of farmland at Montview should be an incubator farm. He offered
to mow, plow, and harrow it if MCCC finds a farmer. Jane Potter said she would explore that option with MCCC and the Conservation Commission.
Bee City USA-- Peggy MacLeodexplained the desire to create pollinator friendly areas of the city and shared these goals and a sample resolution. She stressed that this need not discourage
herbicide treatment of some farmland. The commission express interest.
Request tomanage agricultural portions of conservation properties and farmland licenses—The Agriculture Commission request to set the basic rules for farming licenses will be going before
the Conservation Commission.
Updates-- Wayne Feiden reported 1) Agriculture Commission staffing may move to a new land specialist that the city just hired, 2) legislation passed to transfer the Venturers Field former
jail “work farm”to the City, although it will take a year, and 3) adjusting the stormwater utility rates is under some discussion.
Set next meeting date: Tuesday November 22, 2016
Adjourn: The Commission adjourned at 8:50 PM.