HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-04-17 Town Forest Committee MinutesFq
Town of Reading RECEIVED
Meeting Minutes TOWN CLERK, a�z
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Board -Committee -Commission -Council: Y024 MAY 28 AM 7: 35
Town Forest Committee
Date: 2024-04-17 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Berger Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: Town Forest Management Session:
Attendees: Members - Present:
Tim Kirwan, Jeff Lamson, Tom Gardiner, Bill Sullivan, Bill Hughes, Nancy
Docktor (remote)
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Mike Kessman, DPW; Walter Talbot, Conservation; tarry Kometsky and Bill
Boles, New England Mountain Bike Assn.
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Nancy Docktor
Topics of Discussion:
Meeting was held in-person and by video conference
Bill Boles and Larry Kornetsky from NE Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA) attended the
discussion on rogue mountain bike trails in the Town Forest. NEMBA uses the Strays app
that tracks which trails are used the most. Rogue trails have been established by mountain
bikers on the slopes of Area 7 by the gas line. Most of the signs that were placed there after
the dead tree removal are down. The TFC voted unanimously to authorize up to $300 to
install more durable signs at Area 7. There are also rogue trails throughout the TF. The
Trails Committee is not in a position to take on additional trails. Several ideas to reduce the
use of rogue trails were discussed. Some are not town supported, i.e., camera use. The
TFC decided to use barriers such as trees and brush, signage, and education to reduce
rogue trail use in the forest. The TFC policy is that visitors are to stay on blazed trails only.
Discussed 4/16/24 site walk with members of the TFC, Trails, Conservation Commission,
DPW, and foresters Phil Benjamin and Chris Pryor.
o Cutting and dropping the dead trees along the steep slopes of the Pine Ridge Trail in
Area 5 is a cost-effective and environmentally supportable alternative for this narrow
trail for which logging equipment has no access. Removing the cut trees would be
extremely expensive given the inaccessibility of the area. The downed trees must be
kept out of the wetlands, avoid hardwoods and white pines in the understory, and
make contact with the ground in order to facilitate decomposition. Red pine trees
decompose relatively quickly. The downed trees will also discourage mountain bike
riding on the slopes.
o The 4/16/24 site walk participants discussed cutting the tops off the cluster of dead
trees at the water's edge at the north end of Area 12. The remaining snags will form
good habitat for insects and birds. Some of the dead trees in the southern end of
Area 12 have pine needles in their crowns but they will die soon. Logging equipment
access is easy in Area 12. Snags will also be left at the water's edge at the southern
end of Area 12.
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o Cutting the dead trees near the trail through Area 13 is a matter of public safety. The
benefit of leaving a core of dead trees at the bottom of the Area 13 slope has
environmental benefits. Leaving cut trees on the Area 13 slopes will help reduce
mountain bike riding which has become a problem in this area.
• TFC members voted to accept all of the recommendations of the 4/16/24 site walk
participants including:
o Cutting and dropping the dead trees in Area 5
o Including Areas 12 and 13 in Phase 4 of the dead tree cutting program and leaving
some snags and dead trees in place for wildlife habitat
• TFC will request funds for Phase 4 at the November Town Meeting. An application is being
prepared for a DCR grant to help mitigate the cost to the Town for dead tree cutting.
• An application was submitted to DCR for invasive plant removal along two trails not included
in the last project due to budget constraints. The priority will be in Area 5. Future invasives
work will focus on the remaining trails first, to be followed by the fire roads pending funding.
• DPW does not currently have funding for invasive plant control in the Compost facility.
Japanese knotweed and Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus) have a heavy presence there. DPW
has a staffing shortage so is unable to take on any additional work at this time.
• A sign at the new Lot 5 entrance is outside of the TFC financial means. This has been
referred to the Town Manager as it appears the cost for a sign was not included in the
construction project budget. Tim Kirwin suggested moving the abandoned kiosk at the Water
Department gate to Lot 5 and use it to post the TF Rules and Regulations.
• Friends and Family day on 6/8/24 will be a recruitment opportunity for the TFC as well as a
chance to educate the public about the Town Forest.
• Discussed recruitment for two open positions on the Committee.
• Meeting minutes for the March TFC meeting were approved unanimously.
• Next meeting was scheduled for 5/15/24 (later rescheduled for 5/22/24)
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