2023-04-11 Town Forest Committee Minutes

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O�.,1 orHEgOi Town of Reading RECEIVED + ` TOWN CLERK Meeting Minutes C': V 'SJ9`INCONQ�NP /i iiCii JUN -5 AM 7: 3, Board - Committee - Commission - Cou : Town Forest Committee Date: 2023-04-11 Time: 7 PM Building: Location: Address: Purpose: Town Forest Management Session: Attendees: Members - Present: Tim Kirwan, Kurt Habel, Nancy Docktor, Jeff Lamson, Bill Hughes, Tom Gardiner, Bill Sullivan Members - Not Present: none Others Present: Jane Kinsela, DPW; Martha Moore, Conservation Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Nancy Docktor Topics of Discussion: Meeting was held in-person and by video conference • Bill Sullivan reviewed the March Select Board presentation highlighting the current and proposed plans for the ARPA Fund use. SB was briefed on the invasive plant removal and increased dog complaints. • Friends of Reading Scouting (FoRS) has started collecting funds for trees. TFC will coordinate with them for Friends and Family Day presence. • Kurt Habel asked for approval to accept a donation of$150 from the Reading Garden Club. Members agreed the donation should be directed to FoRS to secure trees for replanting. • Jeff Lamson and Tim Kirwan shared their review of 15 other communities off-leash dog policies. Discussion centered on the need to protect public safety. The Reading Animal Control Officer recommended that the number of off-lease dogs be limited to two per handler. • The proposed bylaw change must be submitted to the Bylaw Committee. Two alternatives were discussed for changing the bylaw. One would be to add a limit to the bylaw of not more than two off-leash dogs per handler. A second alternative would be to revise the bylaw to be consistent with the Conservation language so that the TFC could make further changes to animal control by revising the TF Rules and Regulations. Bill Sullivan to determine if the TF Rules and Regulations can be enforced by the RPD. • Discussed Parterre invasive plant mapping. Japanese knotweed is a priority for control. It should be cut in the late spring,then cut and dabbed with an herbicide in the late summer. The 25 sf area of knotweed in the TF should be cut in late May. Bill Sullivan will discuss this with Conservation. • DCR rules were reviewed for applicability to the TF signs. Jane Kinsella will look into pricing. • Fire road signs still pending. • Jeff Lamson asked for support with management of TF Facebook page. • Bill Sullivan asked for input in recruitment of filling the open associate position. • June 10 Friends and Family Day as well as 9/23 Forest Day were discussed. • Public comment consisted of a resident sharing a photo taken on 4/11/23 that showed one person, presumed to be a commercial dog walker,with eleven off-leash dogs in the TF. • TFC reviewed the 3/14/23 meeting minutes and voted unanimously to approve them. • Next meeting scheduled for 5/30/23 at 7:00 pm. Page I 1