HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-11-16 Town Forest Committee MinutesTown of Reading
Meeting Minutes
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
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2022 JAN 19 AM 10: 35
Town Forest Committee
Date: 2021-11-16 Time: 7 PM
Building: Location:
Address:
Purpose: Town Forest Management Session:
Attendees: Members - Present:
Thomas Gardiner, Kurt Habel, Jeff Lamson, Susan Bowe, Brian Scouten,
Nancy Docktor, Tm Kirwan, Bill Sullivan
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
lane Kinsella & Chris Cole DPW; Kathy Kelly & Ray Vaillancourt Trails Com;
Martha Moore ConCom
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Bill Sullivan
Topics of Discussion:
Meeting was held by video conference due to the COVID pandemic.
Pine Tree Die -Off
o Town Meeting approved $50,000 for the Phase 2 cutting and Phil
Benjamin's charges
o DCR awarded a grant of $10,000 for the Phase 2 cutting
o DPW to bid Phase 2 in December with the work to be done in January or
February
Discussed collaboration between the Trails and Town Forest committees
including invasive plant removal, clearing of downed trees, graffiti removal and
dog waste control. Hold a future joint meeting between Trails, Town Forest and
Conservation committees.
Discussed invasive plant control
o Removal of black swallowwort has not been effective. Need to investigate
other measures of control.
o National Guard is planning invasives control at Camp Curtis Guild. Will be
considered by Conservation Committee.
o Japanese knotweed is growing at the compost area and likely to spread
into the TF.
o Ask for a blanket approval from ConCom for removing bittersweet, black
swallowwort and buckthorn from all wetland buffer zones.
o Set up a buckthorn pull in the spring of 2022, possibly Earth Day.
Next Meeting: scheduled for 12/21/21 at 7:00 pm
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