HomeMy WebLinkAbout02112016 Nantucket Agriculture Commission MinutesNantucket Agricultural Commission
Minutes from February 11th, 2016
In Attendance:
John Kuszpa
Patty Myers
Richard Arnold
Patty Myers
Tracey Pattenden
Campbell Sutton
Not Present:
1.CALL TO ORDER 6:33 P. Tracey arrived at 6:43
2.ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA Campbell motions, John Seconds all in favor
3.APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF January, 2015 Michelle motions to accept, Patty seconds all in favor
4.PUBLIC COMMENT Patty recuses herself and suggesting that the Commission consider joining the
Massachusetts Association of Agricultural Commissions (MAAC). Dick motions that we bring this matter up
for discussion in this meeting. Campbell seconds. All in favor.
5.Tracey motions that Nantucket Ag Com join MAAC.
6.Campbell motions that Michelle is Nantucket’s representative to the MAAC. Tracey seconded. All in favor.
7.Patty returns at 6:51PM
8.OFFICIAL BUSINESS
a.Review status of Officer Gales amendments/bylaws John reached out to Officer Gale and did not
get a response. Last mention of Officer Gale in the BOH minutes was in September making Suze
Gale, the Animal Control Officer their BOH Animal Enforcement Agent and following accepted
state protocol when handling complaints. Dick motions that Michelle contact Chief Pittman
regarding Suzy Gale and her warrant article and hopefully encourage her to meet with us at our
March meeting. John second it. All in favor. Tracey abstains.
b.Review status of Right to farm bylaw. We are waiting to hear from Libby on whether the language of
our notification can be added to the scholarship notification. Michelle spoke with Dylan who is
willing to talk about Right to Farm at Meet the Articles and possibly on a radio show on ACKFM.
Dylan also recommended that we talk to Suzy Gale about supporting Right to Farm
c.Review recommended plan of work: JOhn would like to prioritize this list.
i.Right to Farm bylaw
ii.Ag Com survey results Campbell will bring in result in April. Ag Com will look at
existing questions online and we will decide if we want to do this again.
iii.Michelle mentioned that SN has been doing Farm surveys and will bring results in April
iv.John asks whether we want to combine that and discuss in April
v.Communications is important. Ag Com can work with MAAC for content and SN for
publication / printing support.
vi.Protecting Farmland and supporting production we are doing still import
vii.We annually would like to remind other town agencies and organizations that the Ag Com
shall be here to help facilitate conflict resolution and has stalelevel resources to bring to
the table. This should go through the Town Managers’ office.
viii.Promote agricultural entities working cooperatively facilitating / networking with the
Island Fair and the farmers market and any of the Community Farm Institute Workshops
as a venue
ix.animal husbandry
x.search for funding
9.SET AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING Tracey Motions to approve the agenda, Dick seconds
10.Status of Suzie Gale’s bylaw
11.Status of Right to Farm bylaw
12.Discuss town greenhouse zoning. Richard will talk with Leslie Snell about the zoning code.
13.Discuss filling seat 7
14.Review Mission
15. Is there an money in the budget for Ag Com initiatives John will talk with Libby and report back
16.Ad for Ag Com in Nantucket Grown
17.Ad for Island Fair in Nantucket Grown
18.New business for discussion
19.SET TIME/DATE/PLACE FOR NEXT MEETING March 10 6:30PM Michelle motions, John seocnds
20.ADJOURN
Meeting Start: 6:30 pm
Adjourned: 7:45 pm Dick motioned, John seconded.