Forest and Parks Commission

Special meeting – March 18, 2024

6:00 p.m. via Zoom 

In attendance: Jen Chase, Marty Gratz, John Upham, John Latham, Peter Amber, Robin Amber, Susan Elder

1.  Public Comments – None. 
2.  Pollinator Project – Revisions to Spark Grant reviewed.  Motion made to approve draft for submission to Selectboard. All in favor. Passed. 
3. Adjourn.  

Present: Robin Amber, Kate Willard, John Latham, Jen Chase, Andrew Pomerantz, Susan Elder, Linda Kuban, Pete Amber and Marty Gratz (via Zoom). 

Kate Willard:  Discussed work done on drafting an Ordinance and information gleaned from discussions with selectboard, VLCT, grant organizations, and others to determine whether an ordinance is really the best avenue. She suggested that perhaps a Mission statement is all that is needed. 

Linda: Agrees that Mission statement should be used instead. 

Andy: Feels the question needs to go back to selectboard for guidance. An Ordinance could be the ultimate goal of the group giving guidance of rules and regulation on use of parcels. 

Kate: Agrees it is up to selectboard to make this decision.

Marty: Agrees bringing issue back to selectboard and that a mission statement is a better fit. Selectboard seemed to be asking for help due to so much work on their plate. 

Susan: Found out that some grants do not require Ordinance. Review of some Ordinances currently on books. Discussion needs to happen about whether to include Heath Field and Roberts Gould land. Perhaps include a Rec Department person to this group. 

Pete: He had done work for both Will Gilman on the Roberts Gould land and at Heath Field so maybe rec. Dept. would like a collaborative approach or advice from this committee.

Robin: Tunbridge mission statement is reviewed from their website. She is on Rec. committee and will discuss with them the issue of Heath Field and basketball court/playground area. 

Kate: Would like to pursue getting the forest management plan to address multi-use options with Pagenelli before he retires. 

John: Would like to know from selectboard what are  plans for suggested timber harvesting. Hesitant to jump aboard multi-use as it may encourage mis-use. Trails are one thing but opening forests up to ATV,  and bikes invites trouble which some states experience. 

Kate: Will bring these issues to selectboard tomorrow night under “public Comments”. 

Robin: Next meeting is Jan. 8th at Library at 6:00 p.m. 

End at 7:10 p.m. 

Present: Robin Amber, Kate Willard, John Latham, Jen Chase, Andrew Pomerantz, Susan Elder, Linda Kuban, Pete Amber and Marty Gratz (via Zoom). 

Kate Willard:  Discussed work done on drafting an Ordinance and information gleaned from discussions with selectboard, VLCT, grant organizations, and others to determine whether an ordinance is really the best avenue. She suggested that perhaps a Mission statement is all that is needed. 

Linda: Agrees that Mission statement should be used instead. 

Andy: Feels the question needs to go back to selectboard for guidance. An Ordinance could be the ultimate goal of the group giving guidance of rules and regulation on use of parcels. 

Kate: Agrees it is up to selectboard to make this decision.

Marty: Agrees bringing issue back to selectboard and that a mission statement is a better fit. Selectboard seemed to be asking for help due to so much work on their plate. 

Susan: Found out that some grants do not require Ordinance. Review of some Ordinances currently on books. Discussion needs to happen about whether to include Heath Field and Roberts Gould land. Perhaps include a Rec Department person to this group. 

Pete: He had done work for both Will Gilman on the Roberts Gould land and at Heath Field so maybe rec. Dept. would like a collaborative approach or advice from this committee.

Robin: Tunbridge mission statement is reviewed from their website. She is on Rec. committee and will discuss with them the issue of Heath Field and basketball court/playground area. 

Kate: Would like to pursue getting the forest management plan to address multi-use options with Pagenelli before he retires. 

John: Would like to know from selectboard what are  plans for suggested timber harvesting. Hesitant to jump aboard multi-use as it may encourage mis-use. Trails are one thing but opening forests up to ATV,  and bikes invites trouble which some states experience. 

Kate: Will bring these issues to selectboard tomorrow night under “public Comments”. 

Robin: Next meeting is Jan. 8th at Library at 6:00 p.m. 

End at 7:10 p.m.