Forest and Parks Commission

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    Chelsea Town Forest and Parks Commission Monday, October 6th, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. At the Chelsea Public Library

    ByJen Chase

    1. Approve August & September meeting minutes
    2. Additions to the Agenda
    3. Public Comments
    4. Greens Maintenance
    5. Tree Planting and Maintenance Grants
      a. Update
    6. Town Forest
      a. Next walkthrough with UVTA
      b. Hemenway property
    7. Pollinator Garden
      a. Update
    8. Adjourn.
      If you want to attend via Zoom call please email the group at chelsea-forest-parks@googlegroups.com
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    Chelsea Forest and Parks Commission DRAFT Minutes 8/4/2025

    ByJen Chase

    Minutes
    Forest and Parks Commission
    August 4, 2025
    6:00 p.m. at the Chelsea Public Library
    Present: Jen Chase, Susan Elder, Kate Willard.

    1. As there was no quorum no minutes were approved.
    2. We have received a couple of spam responses on our listserve. Jen Chase has handled both issues and will continue to monitor spam emails.
    3. The Pollinator Garden could use some weeding attention. Susan will send out a weeding evite to get a few of us together some evening in late August. We do not know the status of the park’s benches. We are wondering if Pete Amber could ask Erik Anderson as to when we could pick them up from the school. Tree protection will need to be installed before the ground freezes – perhaps another work bee can be arranged. Susan will pick up the wooden stakes from Ackermans.
    4. Tree Grants Updates. Post meeting Lizzie Amber sent an update on what work has been completed thus far. Tree planting is scheduled to begin soon as well.
    5. Town Forest UVT Alliance. Jen is trying to schedule the next walk through of the town forest but no response has been received. Kate may reach out as well.
    6. The next meeting will be Monday, September 8th at 6:00.
    7. Adjourn at 6:50 p.m.

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    Forest & Parks Commission Meeting Agenda – 8/4/25

    ByJen Chase

    Agenda
    Chelsea Town Forest and Parks Commission
    Monday, August 4, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
    At the Chelsea Public Library

    1. Approve June 2 meeting minutes
    2. Additions to the agenda
    3. Public Comments
    4. Upper Valley Trails Alliance
      a. Walkthrough update
    5. Tree Planting and Maintenance Grants
      a. Update
      b. VCF Online Grants Management system
    6. Pollinator Garden
      a. Update, deer, benches
    7. Responding to external emails to the group
      8.
    8. Adjourn. If you want to attend via Zoom call please email the group at chelsea-forest-parks@googlegroups.com
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    Forest & Parks Commission Meeting Agenda – June, 2 2025

    ByJen Chase

    Chelsea Town Forest and Parks Commission
    Monday, June 2, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
    At the Chelsea Public Library

    1. Approve April 4 & May 5 meeting minutes
    2. Additions to the Agenda
    3. Public Comments
    4. Organizational Discussion
    5. Tree Planting and Maintenance Grants
      1. Update
      1. RFP
    6. Town Forest Management plana
      1. Coordinating harvest with state
      1. Suggestions for selectboard on harvest profit use
    7. Pollinator Garden
      1. Update, deer, benches
    8. Upper Valley Trails Alliance
    9. Adjourn.

    If you want to attend via Zoom call please email the group at
    chelsea-forest-parks@googlegroups.com

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    Forest and Parks Commission Meeting Agenda – May 5, 2025

    ByTierney Farago

    Chelsea Town Forest and Parks Commission
    Monday, May 5, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
    At the Chelsea Public Library

    1. Approve April 4 meeting minutes
    2. Public Comments
    3. Upper Valley Trails Alliance
      a. Walkthrough update
    4. Tree Planting and Maintenance Grants
      a. Update
    5. Town Forest Management plan
      a. Coordinating harvest with state
      b. Suggestions for selectboard on harvest profit use
    6. Pollinator Garden
      a. Update, deer, benches
    7. Adjourn.
      If you want to attend via Zoom call please email the group at
      chelsea-forest-parks@googlegroups.com
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    Forest and Parks Commission Minutes – November 4, 2024

    ByTierney Farago

    Minutes

    Forest and Parks Commission

    November 4, 2024

    Present Peter Amber, Lizzie Amber, John Upham, Jen Chase and Linda Kuban

    1. Minutes of October 7, 2024 were approved as submitted

    2. No public comments

    3. Commons update, no update

    4. Pollinator garden work bee was a success, A great group from First Branch Middle School and other community worked together and planted trees, shrubs and bulbs. Everyone enjoyed the activity. Extra bulbs were planted on the triangle area on Barre Corner on Rt. 110.

    5. Update on town forest We are now members of the Upper Valley Trail Association. They will be doing a walk-through of the town forest later in the year, to assist us in trail planning. John Upham asked what kind of traffic will be allowed. This will be discussed more once we are in the planning stage. The selectboard will be reviewing and signing the Town Forest Plan at their next meeting. There will be future discussion on our role with legal trails in town.

    6. Play-ground decorative lights will be going up this weekend Nov 9 and 10. Contact Marty Grats if interested in helping

    7. We will be working on a grant for replacing trees in the commons. Pete and Lizzie Amber have done a tree inventory and will be assisting in writing this grant.

    8. Adjourn at 6:40

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    Forest and Parks Commission Agenda – November 4, 2024

    ByTierney Farago
    1. Approve Oct. 7, 2024 meeting minutes
    2. Public Comments
    3. Commons
      a. Provide recommendations to SB – update
    4. Pollinator Project status
      a. update
    5. Town Forest
      a. Upper Valley Trails Alliance
      b. Forest Management Plan
    6. Legal Trails
    7. Playground Lights
    8. New Grant Opportunities
    9. Adjourn.
      If you want to attend via Zoom call please email the group at
      chelsea-forest-parks@googlegroups.com
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    Minutes of the Forest and Parks Commission – September 9, 2024

    ByTierney Farago

    Minutes of the Forest and Parks Commission
    September 9, 2024
    Chelsea Public Library
    6:00 p.m.

    Present: Jen Chase, Susan Elder, Andy Pomerantz, Linda Kuban, Erik Anderson, Lizzy
    Amber, Marty Gratz (via zoom) and John Latham (via Zoom).

    The minutes of the August 5, 2024 meeting were approved as submitted.
    No public comments.
    Jen Chase reported that she spoke to Ron Johnson to get a quote on the work needed
    for the Commons including adding fill in low spots, fertilizing, seeding, aeration, etc. The
    quote totals $2400. Jen is going to ask for a breakdown. Once finalized the group will
    bring to the Board for approval. It is unknown whether this work needs to go in as an
    RFP.

    Susan Elder thanked Lizzie Amber for assistance in the purchase and delivery of trees
    and shrubs for the pollinator garden. Erik Anderson said he thinks October 8th and 10th
    would work as planting dates. He suggested that the older students be first to help with
    digging and the younger classes be brought in afterwards for planting of bulbs and
    watering, etc. Erik will look into the possibility of making benches in the school’s
    workshop. Cost would be only materials. Susan will look into access to water and
    promotion of the work day and will contact lot neighbors. The Amber family will supply
    bark mulch. Lizzy and Susan will find a date for marking out the lot for tree planting.
    Jen spoke to Russell at the Upper Valley Trails Alliance. It will cost $100 for
    membership. State Agency of N.R. Orange Cty. forester Dave Paganelli suggested it is
    a good organization to join. 7 acres of the town’s forest has been logged. The
    selectboard knows it needs to move forward with the remainder but Paganelli will need
    to develop a logging plan first and he is busy with several projects already. A logging
    plan could also be done by a private firm. Once a logging plan is done, trail creation can
    be planned.

    Erik Anderson is interested in involving his class on the trail work and feels this is a
    good fit for school participation. The sign work approved by the selectboard for the
    Town forest may be another student woodworking project; such as a Town Forest sign,
    a parking sign, and trail signs.

    The next meeting will be held on October 7th at the Chelsea Public Library.