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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-06-23 Town Forest Committee MinutesRECEIVED ayAC k r:aa «ti Sy b1, SOY O� Town of Reading -� Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Town Forest Committee Date: 2025-6-23 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Berger Room Address: Purpose: Town Forest Management Session: Attendees: Members - Present: Jeff Lamson, Tim Kirwan, Christine Lusk, Brandy Hopkins, Bill Sullivan, Tom Gardner, Kathy Kelly, Derrick Puft, Dave Flynn Members - Not Present: Others Present: Chris Cole and Mike Kessman, DPW; Walter Talbot, Karen Rose Gillis, Karen Herrick Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Brandy Hopkins Topics of Discussion: Meeting was held in -person and by video conference Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM. Review and Approval of Agenda The agenda was reviewed and accepted as presented MEETING WAS HELD IN THE TOWN FOREST AT THE COUNCIL RING Call to Order at 7:35 TOPICS OF DISCUSSION Welcome to new members by Jeff Lamson Review progress of invasive plant removal phases 5 and 6 o Removal of invasives by Gagnon update, change order has been processed and they are scheduled to come back in the fall. Quotes for the next phase of removal from Gagnon, Essex and Partaire — base bid and alternates to Partaire. Discussion of board funding requests —the Town forest signs were ordered from the budget, current budget has been exhausted and budget request is being prepared for the town meeting. Discussion of needing sustained funding to manage invasives every year. Discussion with Karen Herrick on how funding comes from the selectboard Review GIS mapping of town forest — update GIS data is being uploaded from all the previous work done in the forest Pape 1 1 Town of Reading Meeting Minutes • Discuss removal of cages from previous plantings — Dave Flynn will organize the scheduling of a pick-up day — all left over cages from previous plantings will be removed • Discuss updated rules + regulations • New signage has been ordered • Creation of a "dog log" — Bill Sullivan discussed the Dog log and Chris Cole will look into adding it to See Click Fix. • Discuss next steps for enforcement— do we need our own officer • Discuss process for obtaining police reports related to town forest — Brandy to request for the police dept • Discuss development of programming — adding education programs to the town forest, reaching out to the schools and Ipswich river association — Kathy and Brandy will discuss actions • Discuss Friends and Family events —try to combine with the Trails Committee for future events • Discussion of Turkey Jam — approval to allow more than 3 cars in the Town Forest for the event is requested o Jeff Lamson: Motion to allow more than three cars in the town forest for Turkey Jam o Christine Lusk: seconded o yay vote:Dave Flynn, Bill Sullivan, Derrick Puff, Brandy Hopkins, Christine Lusk o Abstained: Jeff Lamson o Motion Passes Approval of minutes from May meeting o Jeff Lamson: Motion to appove May minutes Christine Lusk: seconded o Unanimous minutes approved ADJOURNMENT Tim moved to adjourn. Bill Sullivan seconded. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned orx Town of Reading Meeting Minutes4.e�'ke Minutes prepared by: Brandy Hopkins - Secretary Date: 7/9/2025 Page 1 3