Town of Bolton Agricultural Commission
Meeting Minutes
Date: 20 September 2011
AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION
63 Main Street 978 779-2297 or 779-3308
A meeting of the Bolton Agricultural Commission was held on September 20, 2011 at Town Hall. The meeting
was called to order by chair Rich Pelletier at 7:36 pm. Commission members in attendance: Betsy Taylor-
Kennedy, Barbara Parente, Robyn Roberts, Richard Pelletier and Eric Schartner.
The July and August 2011 minutes were approved and submitted.
Reports from Liaisons to Town Boards/Commissions
Board of Health (open) : no report
Planning Board (Schartner) : no report
Board of Selectmen (Parente) : Selectmen appointed Robyn Roberts to AgComm at their
September 8 meeting. More on the Townshend Farm utility pole next month.
Conservation Commission (Pelletier): The review of the Open Space plan is taking place now.
Since they meet at the same time as AgComm, we were able to ask for and obtain copies of section 7 to
review.
Conservation Trust (Taylor-Kennedy): The most recent meeting was postponed.
Complaints/Requests for Site Visits
none
New Business
New Member -- The board welcomed Robyn Roberts to the group.
Fall Sale – Robyn and Barbara agreed to solicit interest and based on response, co-chair a sale the weekend of
October 29-30 at either Slater’s (first choice) or Bolton Spring Farm. With a slim response to email sent this
week, Barbara and Robyn will contact potential participants by phone or in person. The board voted to fund up
to $300 for sale expenses.
Multi-town Farmers Meeting (and members of area AgComms at our November meeting) – Because
some towns do not have active commissions and listings sometimes are not on town websites, Eric is seeking
ways to find out who is on the Agricultural Commissions in local towns, in the hope of inviting them to our
November meeting, where we will discuss and schedule a winter multi-town farmers meeting. Members
suggested going to large farms in targeted towns, where farmers might be aware of board members.
Old Business
Membership Application for MA Farm Bureau – Robyn will coordinate this with Sue Storbeck.
AgRow at the Bolton Fair – Two participants responded to a survey and indicated that they liked the big tent
and would take part again.
Animal Emergency Management Plan – No notes yet from Sue Storbeck on her meeting with Jai Rezac or
follow-up. Barbara will try to get them for next month’s meeting.
Right to Farm Signs– Betsy reported that the new signs would be put up by the DPW, one on Still River Road
and one on Harvard Road, both near the Harvard town line.
Wayfinding Grant – Rich indicated there have been no new discussions since August.
Future Meetings/Events
October 18 – AgComm meeting, 7:30 pm upstairs at Town Hall
October 29 or 30 – Fall Agriculture Sale, Slater’s (tentative based on interest)
November 15 – AgComm meeting, 7:30 pm – with invited members of other AgComms – location?
The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 pm.
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