2023-07-11 Town Forest Committee Minutes

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Topics of Discussion: Meeting was held in-person and by video conference • Reviewed status of the permitting and bidding for invasive plant control. Mass. Fish & Wildlife concern is centered on how the work will be done to minimize the environmental impact, in particular the salamander. • MESA application is complete. The goal is to complete the RDA in time for the 8/9/2023 Conversation Commission meeting. Chuck Tirone asked that the RDA be submitted by July 26 to allow adequate time for review. • Replanting of the steep slope of Area 7 will be done by Parterre Ecological in September to control erosion. • Sign revisions were discussed. Metal is preferred given the cost and need for durability. The signs will be 36° x 48". They will reflect the current bylaw and TF Rules. Need to determine a phone number for the Animal Control Officer as the ACO is now under the Health Department. The revised sign tela was approved unanimously. • Discussed Friends of Reading Town Forest Facebook page, which has recently had more traffic with 414 members listed. The content has gotten contentious to the point Jeff put the page on pause. Discussed what would be an official vs unofficial town forest page as well as who would monitor, i.e., member of TFC vs. a non -committee member. Benefit was seen in keeping the page but with clear rules. Jeff will research rule changes and bring it back to a future meeting. • Update on 9/23/23 Town Forest Appreciation Day. Requested that Black Earth, Reading Garden Club, Plant Lady (Terry Hale), and Trails and Conservation be included. • Meeting minutes of May and June were approved unanimously as amended • Kurt shared local book "A Year in the Forest" by Jack Carroll, about the Reading Town Forest. • Next meeting was scheduled for 8/8/23 Page 1 1 � • OPF Town of ReadingtttGEIVLI, 0NN CLER Meeting Minutes 2023 OCT 16 Afl 11:14114 Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Town Forest Committee Date: 2023-07-11 Time: 7 PM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Berger Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: Town Forest Management Session: Attendees: Members - Present: Tim Kirwan, Kurt Habel, Jeff Lamson, Bill Sullivan, Nancy Docktor, Tom Gardiner Members - Not Present: Bill Hughes Others Present: Remote: Jane Kinsela, DPW; Martha Moore, Conservation; Bob Holmes, Reading Chronicle Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Nancy Docktor Topics of Discussion: Meeting was held in-person and by video conference • Reviewed status of the permitting and bidding for invasive plant control. Mass. Fish & Wildlife concern is centered on how the work will be done to minimize the environmental impact, in particular the salamander. • MESA application is complete. The goal is to complete the RDA in time for the 8/9/2023 Conversation Commission meeting. Chuck Tirone asked that the RDA be submitted by July 26 to allow adequate time for review. • Replanting of the steep slope of Area 7 will be done by Parterre Ecological in September to control erosion. • Sign revisions were discussed. Metal is preferred given the cost and need for durability. The signs will be 36° x 48". They will reflect the current bylaw and TF Rules. Need to determine a phone number for the Animal Control Officer as the ACO is now under the Health Department. The revised sign tela was approved unanimously. • Discussed Friends of Reading Town Forest Facebook page, which has recently had more traffic with 414 members listed. The content has gotten contentious to the point Jeff put the page on pause. Discussed what would be an official vs unofficial town forest page as well as who would monitor, i.e., member of TFC vs. a non -committee member. Benefit was seen in keeping the page but with clear rules. Jeff will research rule changes and bring it back to a future meeting. • Update on 9/23/23 Town Forest Appreciation Day. Requested that Black Earth, Reading Garden Club, Plant Lady (Terry Hale), and Trails and Conservation be included. • Meeting minutes of May and June were approved unanimously as amended • Kurt shared local book "A Year in the Forest" by Jack Carroll, about the Reading Town Forest. • Next meeting was scheduled for 8/8/23 Page 1 1