Minutes of the Agriculture Committee

Town of Mansfield  9-5-07

Meeting called to order at 7:35  by Chair; Vicky Wetherell

There were no minutes as our last meeting was a work session

Old business:

Manure Piles

Carolyn Stearns shared an idea on creating a manure composting area at the dump as part of the towns recycle and renew efforts, to be done in cooperation with the 4-H and E.O.Smith FFA programs.  Small animal holdings are looking for ways to compost the manure created and this would be a viable solution and speed the composting of the leaf and Christmas tree matter. Carolyn agreed to approach town recycle agent Ginny Walton about this.

Animal Regulations Proposal

   The updated version of the draft of  regulations  brought together at the work session were passed out.  We went over them line by line again. The following changes were made:

 To title bar  the word draft to be DRAFT

  SecB.1-c ….animals weighing30-1000 pounds “but not exceeding 6 animals” ( with a total cumulative weight….

  Sec.2 c.- …Fences “shall be sufficient” that animals shall not escape.

               ….Fencing that borders” undeveloped or agricultural land” may be on the property line.

Sec. 3b.  …remove word “approved”  as there is no one to do approval checks

Discussion of Lot size:  present draft one acre lot required. AL Cyr suggests

    Changing large animal unit to 2 acre lot stated. “ minimum lot size for a large animal unit would be 2 acres.”

It was decided to invite Greg Paddick to discuss our draft at his convenience. Vicky thought our draft would go first to the regulatory review sub committee.

Al Cyr suggested a cover letter explaining some of our choices and why we put items as we did. Suggestions followed.

  Non neutered males up to one year of age – after that some become unmanageable or dangerous.

  Manure piles managed not restricted

  Section 2c on boundries to protect neighbors

We want to note that we used the town regulations of South Windsor and Salem in drafting ours. The E.O.Smith Ag. Ed dept. was also consulted as well as Jim Gibbons.  Also note that Ashford voted down a more strictly worded  set of regulations in the time we have been meeting on this.

The Ag. Com. tried to look at these from varied  viewpoints owners, neighbors, and 4-H & FFA youth with animal projects.

Al Cyr moved to accept the draft of regulations and the motion was seconded by Carolyn Stearns all were in favor.

Barn Inventory:

Vicky Wetherell had contacted Ann Galonska of the Mansfield Historical Society about the barn inventory project. She said members of their board were very interested but they need workers to help on the project.

Carolyn Stearns Suggested the inventory be done by village and teams should be assigned to sections to cover.

The committee decided we need to know first what information the state wants and then how Tolland gathered it. We will ask Ann Galonska to determine this.

The committee discussed forming a special committee for the barn project made up of members of the Ag. Com, Historical Soc., FFA and 4-H  people and any interested community members.

Discussion of Carolyn Stearns earlier idea of a “Barns of Mansfield” Photo Contest It was decided that our next meeting date of Nov. 7, 2007 will be the date for that meeting, we will consider it a work session. All should be invited.

Horizons magazine, The Chronicle and the town website, all places to put notice of the upcoming meeting and forms for the barns or how to sign up.

Carolyn Suggest we ask realtors to let us know if a barn comes on the market so we can get in to collect our data.

We need to ask Ann Galonska to look over our opinions and what ideas she has. All of the project should be done by Memorial Day 2008.

Committee membership:

   Carolyn Stearns will ask the Trickett Family If one will serve the committee Vicky will ask Kristin Wilmer, or her housemates Diane and Brian Connoly if the are interested.

Al will ask Burnie or George Thompson if they would be on the committee.

Carolyn will ask Larry Lombard

Monitoring town Leases

The town   ag. Land presenty leased was divided amont the committee.

Vicky announced a  Nov. 17 Regional Conservational Workshop with the Connecticut  Farmland Trust. Mansfield will send letter to landlords

At 9:05 Al Cyr moved to adjourn the meeting an all agreed.

Vicky seconded the motion all were in favor and the meeting closed.

                                                              Respectfully remitted Carolyn Stearns