HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-12-21 Town Forest Committee Minutes� OrA
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council: 35
Town Forest Committee
Date: 2021-12-21 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 DPW; Martha Moore & Brian Bowe 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 Phase 2 bid results: Forward Enterprises $22,900 and Mayer Tree
$54,488
o Will need a purchase order for Phil Benjamin to provide periodic oversight
during tree removal
o A site walk to be scheduled with Forward Ent., DPW, TFC, Phil Benjamin
and Conservation.
Discussed invasive plant control
o Susan Bowe proposed to establish a native plant restoration area north of
Area 1 by the beaver dam after removal of bittersweet. The committee
voted to support the pilot area. Will need approval from Conservation
since it is in the buffer zone.
o ConCom approved the National Guard plan for buckthorn removal at
Camp Curtis Guild including pulling smaller plants and the application of
an herbicide to the cut stems of larger plants. The plan is on the
Conservation Commission webpage.
o Is painting an herbicide on large buckthorn cut stems feasible in the TF?
o Japanese knotweed is growing at the compost in four areas and likely to
spread into the TF. It is by the brush pile, causeway, front gates and the
rubble pile. Need a plan to control. Can an herbicide be used on the large
stems? Need further discussion with Conservation.
o Set up a buckthorn pull in the spring of 2022, possibly Earth Day.
Discussed dog waste control. Add a trash can by the council ring for dog waste?
DPW to consider. Dog waste bag dispensers at Strout Ave and the Council Ring.
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Another incident reported of aggressive dogs not controlled by a commercial dog
walker with 6 to 8 dogs off leash. Discussed how to limit the number of dogs off
leash to three per walker. Will need Bylaw Committee to present at Town
Meeting to change the current bylaw that does not limit the number of dogs off
leash. Reading and Wakefield may jointly hire an animal control officer. Invite to
a future TFC meeting to discuss dog incidents in the TF.
Next Meeting: scheduled for 1/18/22 at 7:00 pm
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