HomeMy WebLinkAbout06182015 Nantucket Agriculture Commission MinutesNantucket Agricultural Commission
Minutes from June 18th, 2015
In Attendance:
Patty Myers
John Kuszpa
Campbell Sutton
Michelle Whelan
Not In Attendance:
Adgenda:
1. Set agenda for next meeting -
a. Set agenda for next meeting-
b. approve minutes from 6.18.15 meeting
c. On-going discussion
d. open discussion
e. future objectives
f. set time, place and date for next meeting
g. adjourn
2. Approve minutes from 5.14.15 meeting- Michelle motions, patty seconds, all in favor.
3. Ongoing discussion-
a. livestock updates- Campbell- open meeting was well attended by spirited
islanders, upset and who did not see need for any regulation, feel that if the
existing application was utilized that would be sufficient. Ag com trying to protect
people's rights to keep animals, crowd felt BOH doesn't have a right to do this.
Commission to be a work group, accepted by the BOH, 2 at large, 2 ag com, 2
BOH, maybe interested people would join Ag Com, people said they have hired
lawyers to go after BOH on the regs and their ability to do them, got a call from
head of BOH said BOH was not the right venue and that he proposes it becomes
an AG Com issue, not a desired topic to be regulating, we would be willing to
propose the regs but they would go to BOH to enforce, we would like to take
position to protect people's right to have animals, not necessarily regulate it, we
should be a voice protecting ag, right to farm bylaw would help them. Motion to
recommend continuing with the work group to develop agricultural
livestock guidelines to BOH- campbell motions, John seconds, all
approve, Michelle will go to the meeting at 4 today.
b. Objectives updates- Michelle- wants to sketch out schedule of month to month
what we will have done for right to farm bylaw so we can get it done. work
backwards from november- next month have research done on which towns in
mass have the RTF bylaw. Does it cover all of its zoning in towns, look at
standards from other towns. Michelle will do this by August, she will bring a draft
to sept meeting.
4. Open discussion- Plastic from landscapers- containers, bags, etc… waste from them,
costs town money to ship off island. Put in bulky vs recycling, informal campaign could
help. Talk to dpw on policy on the buckets, speak with waste options, to see what they do.
We can burn, gasification? Goes in bulky to make more $ for Waste options because it is
out of contract. Lot on our plates so this is not a priority. Patty will research.
5. Future Objectives- same
a. live stock regs,
b. right to farm bill,
c. challenging the greenhouse law
d. water restriction and size of lawns (drains aquifers, polluted harbor (harms
shellfish farming), pollutes air,
e. get all the other boards together (invasives,shellfish)
f. updating website- put links to brochures Pete gave us on town website.
6. Set Date, Time, and Place for next meeting- July 7th -2nd Tuesdays at 4pm- town
conference room
7. Adjourn
Meeting Start: 13:10
Adjourned: 14:00