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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1969-04-28 Town Forest Committee Minutes 36 April 28 , 1969 7:30 PM Room 2, Municipal Building The formal posted meeting was called to order by Chairman James S. Perry. MembersP resent included: James S . Perry, Chairman Benjamin E. Nichols, Secretary Irving E. Dickey Representative of the Junior Chamber of Commerce : Gurdon J. Graham Mr. Irving E .Dickey has been appointed by the Board of Selectmen to, fill the vacancy created by the retirement oL Maurice H. Donegan, who had been a member of the Town Forest Committee since 1944. The Committee organized for the coming year. B. E. Nichols nominated James S . Perry as Chairman, and he was elected. James S. Perry nominated Benjamin E. Nichols as Secretary, and he was elected. The minutes sof the meeting of November 12 , 1968 were read and approved,. Mr. Gordon J. Graham came to this meeting as a representative of the Reading Junior Chamber of Commerce , wno wish to take an active part in the Town Forest program. The Junior Chamber of Commerce has three projects which they would like to work on for the betterment of the Town Forest . 1. Provide a new sign to replace the present sign which has been damaged by vandals . 2 . Creat an arboretum as part of the Tcw nForest . This will carry out the wishes of Maurice H.Monegan who would like to have samples of the various local species of trees identified in the Town Forest, and to transplant trees to the Town Forest if there are none of a particular species there at present . Descriptive signs would be placed on these trees . This work will be done4ith the guidance o3 Robert Patterson , teach of industrial arts , at the Reading high School. A survey of this project is to be made in the Town Forest on April 29 , 1969 at 5 :30 PM. Mr. Irvin& Dickey will invite l;r. Frank Colombo , from the Department of U.:tural Resources of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 37 3. Two possible long term projects will be considered. A. Building a large body of water abutting the Ipswich River. B. Rebuilding the Cranberry Dam, which might make possible ice skating after the le gal, and physical,problems are solved on the wood road leading to the Cranberry Dam. Careful consideration should be given to this project to protect the Bancroft Island as a 'Wilderness Area. The Bancroft Island abuts: the westerly side of the Cranberry Dam. The new map of the area drawn by H. K. Abbott, Surveyor, has been delivered, and payment made for it . An increment borer has been purchased for the Town, Forest Committee , and is now kept at the home of Benjamin E. Nichols . The sum of 01,767.02 remains in the Town Forest Committee funds for this year . The annual maintenance work will start tomorrow. The first project will involve removing all refuse from the woods . The workers in the past have been off-duty firemen, and this year we may also have off-duty treo department men. The pay scale for these semi-skilled men, who are capable of using a chain saw , was discussed. It was agreed to pay these men 02.75 per hour as part time temporary help, with no fringe benefits. The men will be covered by the Town of Reading blanket insurance . Two thousand Scotch Pine saplings have been ordered, and are scheduled to be delivered this weekend. Benjamin D. Nichols is to arrange with the Boy Scouts for the planting of these saplings. BenAamin E. Nichols moved the co nfinza tion of the expenditure of 5237.50 for air photos of the flooded area, particularly that around Scrub Oak Hill. These pictures were taken in a joint activity �nith the Rearing Conservation Commission. Lr. Russell atone , Jr. was hired to take these photographs, 3 which were taken on Thursday, March 27, 1969 in, the late morning on a beautiful clear day. Mr. Albert J. Schneider , Chairman of the Conservation Commission., went on the flight , and took colored slide photographs. Mr. Schneider's slides included the Scrub Oak Hill area, as well as additional slides covering the length of the Ipswich River and Cedar Swamp. The third member of the flight was ,William L. Durland , who was the pilot . He lives at 116 W.Foster St. , llelrose ,Mass. The business .of the meeiing was completed, and the meeting was adjourned.