HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-10-23 Town Forest Committee Minutes Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes RECEIVED
TOWN CLERK
°•• .^'� READING, MA. /
Board - committee - commission - council:
2019 MAY 22 PM 2 31
Town Forest Committee
Date: 2018-10-23 Time: 6:00 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Berger Room
Address:
Purpose: Town Forest Management Session:
Attendees: Members - Present:
William Sullivan, Nancy Docktor, Rick Wetzler, Thomas Gardiner, Kurt Habel
Members - Not Present:
Michael Bourque, Dan Ford and Farrukh Naimi
Others Present:
Barry Berman, Selectboard; Mike Hannaford, Parks/Forestry Supervisor;
Chuck Tirone; Conservation Administrator; Rebecca Longley Conservation
Commission
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Bill Sullivan
Topics of Discussion:
1. Review of Town Forest health management plan with Town officials
• Discussed pilot program to thin a limited area to improve the health of the
surrounding trees in the Town Forest. The Town has done some limited
thinning of dead trees, especially in the Council Ring.
• The TFC will attend an upcoming Conservation Commission meeting to
discuss the area of the proposed pilot program. This would be followed up
by a site walk by the TFC and ConCom.
• A Forest Cutting Management Plan must be presented to the ConCom.
• The trees are close together which will make equipment access difficult.
2. Pack 702 Cubmaster proposed reestablishment of the old Campfire Girls council
ring near Wood End School.
• The main Council Ring is too far for the youngest Cubs to walk.
• Clearing the old Campfire Girls council ring would provide an opportunity
for young Cub Scouts to experience the Town Forest on day trips.
• The Committee voted to approve the clearing of the CG council ring on the
condition that the Reading Fire Department had no objection.
3. Some groups request TFC approval to use the TF and others go directly to
Reading DPW. Need to improve communication between the TFC and DPW
regarding how groups sign up to use the TF. Invite DPW Director Jane Kinsella
to the next TFC meeting.
4. Mass. Department of Conservation & Recreation sponsors Town Forest
Conferences. Kurt will contact Mass. C&R for more information to see if Reading
might host this conference to celebrate the g0th anniversary of the TF in 2020.
5. Next Meeting: Tuesday November 13, 2018 at 6:00 PM
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