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Home My WebLink About2025-08-11 Town Forest Committee MinutesTown of Reading RECEIVE[) Meeting Minutes R O nNNCLER r M A ""SEP29 (�'� � Board - Committee - commission - council: AM 8: 0 Town Forest Committee Date: 2025-8-11 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,Kathy Kelly, Derrick Puft, Dave Flynn(zoom) Members - Not Present: Others Present: Chris Cole and Mike Kessman, DPW(Remote); Karen Rose Gillis Hobbit(Visitor), Joe Carnahan and Sarah BurBlochio 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 TOOPM by Jeff Lamson Review and Approval of Agenda The agenda was reviewed and accepted as presented. TOPICS OF DISCUSSION 1. Community Preservation Act update from CPA study group commissioned by the Select Board —Joe Carnahan and Sarah Burblockio (Historical Committee) a. Overview of the program and what it could provide and cost b. Types of uses: Land conservation usage, biodiversity, healthy ecosystems, and forest stewardship can be done with funds c. Questions from committee: What impact would that have on the funds we currently receive? CPA is required to allocate 10%of funds to each area. Community Preservation collation page has information on the CPA projects for more information d. Suggestion to pass a vote in support for the future 2. Discuss funding request for November Town Meeting Page I 1 Town of Reading Meeting Minutes 0 a. Committee wants to make a 5-year plan for the TF for the sustainability of the work that has happened on the TF to date. How to get continued funding for stewardship of the TF from the town. b. Discussion on how to present budget requests from multiple committees. Discussion of Warrant wording. c. Discussion of starting a Friends of the Town Forest Volunteer group Motion: To move to request $50,000 for continued invasive species removal funding from the Select Board — Brandy Hopkins Seconded: Tim Kirwan Vote: Unanimous 3. Review progress of invasive plant removal a. Status: two new maps for the two projects — remainder of the red pine bid for invasives, led to a change order for invasive continuation b. Committee previously voted for using leftover funds for a bid on further invasive species. Both projects are ongoing c. One area in strong need still, new tree of heaven invasives have been seen and need to be professionally handled 4. Review progress of removing cages from previous plantings a. Dave Flynn —Volunteers have removed approximately 80 to 100 cages from the open meadow area. Most of the cages have been removed; another walk through will be scheduled in the fall. b. Future projects: only high -quality cages can be used and need to be marked for easier removal 5. Discuss educational programming opportunities+development such as bird walks, plant identification walks, collaboration with Reading Public Schools, invasive plant pulling, and historical postings a. Proposed activities:Dave Williams would like to do Quarterly Bird walks, Plant ID walks and Edible plant walks, and Barefoot walks through the woods b. Discussion on how to advertise events from the town forest, where to put a calendar, how to promote events c. Discussed having a Buckthorn pull event in September d. Check on the connection to Public Schools and Reading Recreation e. How to advertise the boards on the common and the electric ones — decision was that you need to go through the Town Manager f. Education on the kiosk boards in the town forests working with Ipswich River, allow the Ipswich river committee to add signage 6. Discuss upcoming town events a. New Residents forum at the Library— Oct 21- will attend and staff a table, dicussed about the summer street fest and have decided not to have a table Page 1 2 Town of Reading Meeting Minutes 7. Discuss plans to decommission former water treatment infrastructure a. Early discussions to abandon the wells and other infrastructure, in early stages and no decisions were made 8. Discuss fire road rock reinforcement areas and ways to make them more pedestrian - friendly a. Rocks were laid in the TF and are very sharp in some areas. Question was brought upon how to make the area more pedestrian -friendly —stones are needed to give access to trucks - check with conservation on options — fire trucks need to be able to be supported 9. Review the progress of the installation of rules & regulations signage a. Posts are arriving and locations have been chosen and DPW will install 10. Review + approve June meeting minutes: Motion to approve June minutes: Tim Kirwan Second: Brandy Hopkins Vote: Unanimous Next meeting: Sept 8'^ ADJOURNMENT Moved to adjourn: Brandy Hopkins Seconded: Tim Kirwan Vote: Unanimous Meeting adjourned Minutes prepared by: Brandy Hopkins — Secretary Date: 8/20/2025 Page 1 3