HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-04-11 Town Forest Committee Minutes�h OFq
O�
° Town of Reading
1, Meeting Minutes
ick 1 � "
Toxo°P�
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Town Forest Committee
Date: 2017-04-11 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Location: Conference Room
Address:
Purpose: Town Forest Management Session:
Attendees: Members - Present:
TOWNCLERK
nEADiNG. MASS.
ion N'420 P 1:%21
Dan Ford, Michael Borque, Thomas Gardiner, Farrukh NaJmi, Kurt Habel,
William Sullivan, Rick Wetzler, Nancy Docktor
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Ben Vaness, Paws Wakefield representatives, lane Given, Lauren Fresco
and others Dog Walkers
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Farrukh
Topics of Discussion:
1. Ben Vaness's presentation of Troop 728 Eagle Scout project proposal
• Already presented to trails committee
• Will build 8 screech owl boxes
• Rise in owl population will help control vermin population
• Install in various location on trees (no poles) in Town Forest and Bare
Meadow
• Locations selected with help from Mr. Dave Williams
• Expect to complete by August 2017. Owls nest in March and April
• Boxes will be used for multiple years and can be cleaned as needed
• Kurt offered 2 additional owl boxes and Ben agreed to install them as well
• Motion to approve project unanimously approved
2. Open discussion of concerns regarding dog attacks and dog feces problems
The following proposals were considered:
• Dog park - A location in the field at Town Forest was not suitable for dog
walker who felt it was better located at Imagination Station or other more
centrallocation(s)
• Passport for dog walkers - require that dog walkers have some sort of
passport they get from town that they must carry with them when walking
the dog
Page 1 1
• Designate some trails to be off limits to dogs on the Wood End side. It was
felt that the layout of the trails in forest make this impractical
• Designate a time slot for dogs to be required to be on leash. There was
consensus and support from Dog Walkers present on a trial run for a Sunday
10AM-12PM time slot to require dogs to be on leash. ACTION: Nancy will
check with Selectmen if this can be done without requiring a change in by-
laws.
• Make better signage reminding Dog Walkers of dog etiquette. ACTION:
Nancy and Farrukh to disseminate the latest Dog Etiquette document
• Have a maximum limit on # of dogs a person can walk at one time in the
forest
• Encourage victims of dog attacks to report incidents immediately to Reading
Police Department so we have clear data
• Encourage dog walkers to pick up dog feces when they encounter it even
when it is not their own "See a poop... Do a scoop".
3. Discussion on ATV in forest
• Trails committee has prepared signs on Lynn Village way and Pond View
4. Town earth day fair April 22
• Have table for TFC, next to trails and Walkable reading and coordinate
• Have dog etiquette to disseminate
5. PAWS Wakefield Fall Fun Run in Town Forest
• For many years it was a Wakefield organizations but now also includes
Reading and Lynnfield
• Is a foster network for dogs and cats
• Proposing an annual Fun Run SR race fund raising event to support caring
for the animals
• Planning for a 100 people
• First event probably in Fall 2017 and will likely have fewer people
• Compost center would be open on the two days proposed for event. PAWS
agreeable to entering from Wood End. Permission for Parking at Wood End
would need to come from School officials
• PAWS will need to provide Town Forest Committee with a contact person
• PAWS should talk to Friends of Reading Recreation for guidance on liability
and whether there will be a need to have an EMT on hand for event
6. Discussion on forest health management
• There is no money in revolving fund right now for selective thinning of
diseased tree
• There is $1,000 from TFC budget for this year and another for next year
• Upcoming town meeting may vote on approving $10,000
• Priority is to get the forester report updated
• Tom will find out from Town how to cut a check to pay the forester for the
report
7. Approval of previous minutes:
• Deferred until next meeting
8. Next Meeting: May 9, 2017 @ 7:00
Page 1 2