2018-01-30 Town Forest Committee Minutes

Home Browse Search

oF>7 . o x Town of Reading Meeting Minutes E�: ECEI E �a rJ 0 VV N co J-1 t t J; si`1 L Board - Committee Commission - Council: 2018 JUN 25 A 10..57 Town Forest Committee Date: .2018701-30 Time: 7PM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Berger Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose. Town Forest Management Session: Attendees: Members - Present: _ Rick Wetzler, Kurt Habet, Tom Gardiner, Nancy Docktor, Bill Sullivan Members- Not Present: - - Mike Bourque, Dan .Ford, Farrukh Najmi Others Present: Paul and Charles Ballou . Minutes.Respectfully Submitted By: Bill Sullivan Topics of.Discussion: Charles Ballou of Wilmington requested.permission to cut down a tree in the Town Forest for use as.a sail boat mast. Permission to remove a°healthy,standing tree was 'not granted. It was noted that the DPW has taken some trees-down that were leaning over: The TF .Committee suggested that Mr. Ballou ask DPW for one'of these trees. A conferencecall was held with certified forester Mr. Phil-Bar)' amin regarding planning for a: pilot program to selectively thin.a distressed area of the-Town Forest in an effort to change the monoculture to a more natural mixture of trees and plants. Mr. Benjamin noted that -- there are different types of thinning operations ranging. from.hand cutting with chain saws to mechanized harvestors. Optimaltimeof year, contracting methods and public participation in the process were also discussed. Mr. Benjamih said he will prepare a draft plan for the committee's use in planning this pilot program. Some communities and the.National Park Service have hired.,goats.to control. invasive plants..The goats are enclosed within an electrified fence. They will eat everything including both the invasive buckthorn-but also.blueberry bushes.A representative of Goats to-Go. offered to attend a future TFC meeting.to discuss the potential of bringing goats to an area of the Town Forest. A professional dog walker told a member of the TFC.that she is concerned-about the lack of control excercised by some-other dog walkers over the dogs that they are bringing into the . Town Forest. The TFC agreed that we should increase our efforts to raise awareness of a dog.walking etiquette i.ncludiing. picking up .dog.waste and keeping.dogs under voice:control. Rick Wetzler stepped down.as committee chair. The committee-voted Bill Sullivan as the new TFC chair. The committee thanked Rick Wetzler for his years of service'to the Town Forest Committee. The minutes of the 11/30/2017 TFC meeting were approved. The next meeting was scheduled for 2/20/2018:at 7:00 pm. - Page 1 1 -