Greenfield Open Space Committee
Minutes
November 8th, 2006
Attended: Karen Day, Carol Irvin, Laura Putnam, Janet Romanelli
Current Business
1. Introductions - attendees introduced themselves.
2. Mission - attendees discussed why they came and what they hope to accomplish.
3. Ideas - Janet and Karen explained some things and the group put forth some ideas.
a. Potential new or updated ordinances -> warrant articles for a steep slopes ordinance, limit on building permits, change-use tax, authority to purchase, and strategies for getting those articles passed: Spirit article, brochure, talking to people.
b. Open space inventory.
c. Specific land conservation projects - i.e., the Forest Rd. project.
d. How to raise money? $140k in the budget = ~$1 per thousand of tax.
e. Floating a bond.
f. Bring back the Forest Society presentation, “The Dollars and Sense of Open Space.” How can we get people out? Free food! Late February? In conjunction with the Winter Carnival? Enlist the Women’s Club?
g. Have a biologist as a member of the Committee.
4. Discussion of priorities
a. It was felt that the warrant articles were key because they have to be submitted by early January, especially an update to the change-use tax (from 100% with a cap of $5,000 to 100% with no cap) and authority to accept land.
b. Publicity and strategy for the warrant articles are also important.
5. Next steps
a. Janet will draft the two warrant articles and send them to members for review, and then send them to Deb Davidson so she can get them to the Selectboard.
b. Laura agreed to draft a brochure. Karen will help with it and recommended Savron in Jaffrey and an online printing company called Overnight Printing. We can use the Postal Patron bulk permit. It should be mailed just before town meeting and should include wording like “we need your vote.”
c. Carol agreed to draft an article for the Spirit and get it to Karen soon, as the deadline for the December-January issue has already passed.
d. Carol agreed to attend a meeting of the Hancock Committee, to get an idea of what a successful committee does.
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