HomeMy WebLinkAbout11192015 Nantucket Agriculture Commission MinutesNantucket Agricultural Commission
Minutes from November 19th, 2015
In Attendance:
John Kuszpa
Tracy Pattenden
Richard Arnold
Michelle Whelan
Not In Attendance:
Campbell Sutton
Patty Myers
1.CALL TO ORDER
2.ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA Michelle moved, Tracy seconded, All in favor
3.APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF OCTOBER 22, 2015 Tracy motions to postpone until Campbell is present and
Richard seconds
4.PUBLIC COMMENT No members of the public present
5.OFFICIAL BUSINESS
a.Discuss and review Officer Gales recommended changes to the Livestock Permit
Board of Health Regulation 8:00
Changes suggested:
2nd paragraph, Renumber
8.02 Animals must be kept within a fenced yard with shelter that will be weather resistant and enclosed.
Roosters or fowl must be kept in said shelter from 10PM to sunrise. We suggest removing third line of
paragraph as it is addressed elsewhere (proposed nuisance bylaw).
8.03 As established by the Board of Health, the keeping of animals annual permit fee is $5. Please note:
Some members feel that the permit fee should be higher. No consensus was reached.
8.04 Repeated noncompliance with permit requirements shall ultimately result in a fine of $25. Please
Some members feel that the fine should be higher as allowed by law. No consensus was reached.
Michelle motioned and Richard seconded.
The Ag Commission feels that the Chicken Ownership Responsibilities is redundant.
Bullet #1 is included in BOH regulation 8:00
Bullet #2 is an existing law
Bullet #3 Reference to light proof structures is not in any Health Dept policy that we are aware of. We
suggest inserting a line in BOH Regulation 8:00 under 8.02 that reads Owners of roosters are responsible
for ensuring that their roosters do not disturb the peace between 10pm and sunrise.
Bullet # 4 should be included in BOH regulation 8:00 under 8.02 All feed containers shall be vermin and rat
resistant.
Bullet #5, 6, and 7 is included in BOH regulation 8:00
The Ag Commission suggests and would be happy to assist in drafting a Best Practices document for chicken
ownership that could be part of the application permit process and would include the pertinent
Massachusetts General Laws as they exist.
Richard motions to accept as listed above. John seconds. Motion passes.
Nuisance Bylaw suggested revision: Line 2 in the first paragraph is redundant and should be struck as this
rooster and fowl noise is addressed in BOH regulation 8:00
2nd paragraph should be struck because it is the same as the 4th paragraph and the use of the word animal
could impact commercial farming, which is protected by state law.
Paragraph H: Line 1 should end after the phrase “health and safety of the animal”. 2nd line should read If
medical aid is requested by the animal control officer, and the owner has no proof of having already sought
such medical attention, and elects not to seek such medical aid, they will be subject to…”
Paragraph J should be struck and should be in BOH Regulation 8:00 after Noncompliance, and should read.
If an owner or keeper of farm animals does not obtain the town permit, they could be subject to a fine of
$25.00. Some members feel that the fines should accrue over time for violations or lack of permit. No
consensus was reached;
3rd, 4th and 6th paragraphs are outside our purview
Tracy motions to accept the proposed nuisance revisions as listed above. John seconds. Vote is unanimous.
C&D of the agenda will be continued to the next meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 8:26PM.
Nuisance
b.Review status of Right to farm bylaw
c.Dylan Wallace has submitted the Right to Farm Bylaw to the Town Clerk with 20 signatures. The
article was signed by farmers, oyster farmers and Ag Commission members. JOhn Kuszpa sent
an update to the Board of Selectmen with points of interest about the bylaw,
d.Discuss change in secretary and Chair position
e.Draft FY2015 Annual report
6.SET AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING
7.SET TIME/DATE/PLACE FOR NEXT MEETING
8.ADJOURN
Meeting Start: 6:37 pm
Adjourned: 7:40pm