HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-3-4Agricultural Commission Minutes
March e, 2011 - 12pm.
Town Building Conference Room
ATTENDANCE:
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Present:
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1. Dylan Wallace - Chair
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2. Morgan Beryl - Secretary
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3. Dane DeCarlo - New Member
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Absent:
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4. John Barttlet
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5. Steve Slosack
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Updates:
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1. Welcome new member - Dane DeCarlo,
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2. Update on quorum rules:
a. We only need a majority of acting members to be present at the meeting, so currently we only
need 3 people to meet our quorum.
3. Review and accepted minutes from last meeting
* Vote to Approval of Minutes, Morgan moves to approve 8/2/2010 minutes & Dane seconds, all in
favor
4. Morgan & Dane to complete ethics training send certificate to Dylan.
On -Going Discussion:
1. Create Work Plan:
a. Ag Community List - up to date and posted on website?
b. Send out Survey and calculate results
* Vote to Approve Updated/edited Ag survey, Morgan moves to approve & Dane seconds, all in favor
c. Create Ag Com. Brochure
d. Conflict Resolution Form for neighbors and farmers.
e. Right to Farm to Bill?
f. MPPU?
2. Meet with Health Department to discuss and educate re: MPPU' s?
g. We are hoping that we can start the pilot program
h. Build our own unit.
i. Whoever runs the unit would be paid something like $15.00 an hour from the farmer.
j. Flock inspection is done for free by the state.
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3. Morgan and Dylan to meet on March 13"' at 2pm to review and update agricultural contact
list, and send out surveys via mail (must be sent before May) - DONE
4. Morgan to contact Cormac at NLC:
a. Right to Farm Bill is unnecessary for Nantucket. - Sent email.
5. Morgan to contact MFBF
a. Ag Commission application for fee membership - Sent
b. Right to Farm Bill bylaws.
6. MPPU:
a. Dylan to forward email to Morgan so she can contact sender
b. Do you need a license to sell game?
c. Can all 4 legged animals be butchered in the same unit?
d. MPPU is run by a main group of people. When the unit arrives on a farm, there must be one
representative from the farm also working in the unit.
7. Morgan to contact SAKE to order more pamphlets - farmer educational materials. -
ORDERED and SHIPPING.
8. Dane brings up idea of creating a brochure via the Ag Commission.
a. Guidelines to promote Sustainability - essentially would be a synergy of all the environmental
non - profits missions.
b. Compost / zero waste / worm bins / fertilization
c. Once finished, send press release to I & M, N - Mag, upload on Town Website, SN Website,
maybe NLC site ??
9. AG Community Party:
a. Dylan to discuss with Caleb if the "Pig Roast" could be held at on his property
b. Apple pressing, sheep sheering, music, etc.
c. Mid - September 12 -5pm
d. Basically a time to connect with Ag community and get others interested.
e. Also a fundraiser for the commission to be able to be more active.
f. Have booth at Market to publicize and sell tickets.
10. Sam - Expresses the need to get an Ag extension agent to the island
11. Ag Feld 7lip - Pilot Program
a. Where each farmer can give a short tour of their property and business
b. Other farms can ask questions
c. Possibly come up with ideas on how to work cooperatively.
12. Importance of Working Cooperatively: Part of Ag Com' s Mission
a. The Ag Commission believes that it is essential to get the Ag community together and
connected in order to work cooperatively, which is the key to successful and profitable
agriculture on the island.
13. Annual Ag Commission Meeting:
a. Both Morgan and Dylan will be out of town.
b. Dane might go, TBD.
14. Next Meeting: April 4t°, 2011. - 12pm - Town Building