MANSFIELD AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE

Minutes of January 2, 2008 meeting

Audrey P. Beck Municipal Building

Community Center Conference Room, 7:30 p.m.

1. Acting Chairman, Al Cyr, called the meeting to order at 7:30

2. PRESENT:            Al Cyr, Charlie Galgowski, Vicky Wetherell, Carol Stearns, Ann Galonska, Ian Mills

3. Minutes of the December 5, 2007 meeting were approved.

Old Business

4. Historic Barn Project

Committee members and Ann Galonska discussed publicity for this project with Ian Mills, publicity volunteer for the Mansfield Historical Society.  Further details of the photo contest were discussed.  (Notes from this discussion will be sent to committee members. (See below.)

New Business

5.  Greg Padick has requested to meet with the committee concerning revised zoning regulations for keeping farm animals.  The committee will ask him to attend a meeting on February 6 at 8:00, following discussion of the barn project at 7:00 (an earlier starting time).

6. Commonfields agriculture fields: The committee discussed the odor and potential pollution problems resulting from sewage sludge spread on the hay fields by the lessee. After considering information from Jennifer Kaufman and Al Cyr, the committee recommended that the Town send a letter to the lessee that 1) he is not in compliance with the lease because the Town did not have prior notification about this action, and 2) sludge is not to be applied to Town land again.  Jennifer will be asked to contact the manufacturer about possible ways to reduce the odor.

7.  The committee would prefer to meet at the Community Center if possible in the future.

8. The meeting adjourned at 8:50.

Historic Barn project, January 2, 2008 notes

Inventory Training Session:  Ann Galonska, Mansfield Historical Society Museum Director, has reserved February 21 and February 28 (snow date) from 6:00 to 8:00 with Todd Levine (of Ct. Trust for Historical Preservation) to present a training session for barn inventories.  Todd will talk for 45 minutes, then teams will be set up to work on specific areas of town.  Ann has reserved the Buchanan center for this event. Ann suggested having food, such as pizza, etc. for this event.  Vicky will ask Curt if the Town could pay for the pizza.  Volunteers would bring salad, dessert, soda, etc.  Todd would speak before food is served.

Photo Contest:  Categories include Children up to 10, children 11-16, Amateur Adults, Professional Adult. May 3 deadline.  Carol will research rules. Prizes: 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd in each category.  Al will supply ribbons.  Community Center membership for best of show? Vicky will ask. Potential sponsors for other prizes: Staples/Lily Pad/Photo Connection, and Mansfield produce basket.   Should send out thank you letters to the prize sponsors after awards in June.  Ask Rotary, etc. for help with soliciting prizes.

Volunteers: Ann reported that a Chaplin resident has volunteered in response to the Eves article.   He would record barns in Chaplin that existed when that town was still part of Mansfield.  Susan  Murphy (UConn School of Ag. contact) offered to publicize with Ag. students.  Ann will contact Art Dept.  Susan offered yellow barn ornaments to sell as part of the museum’s exhibit.

Publicity for Feb. 21 meeting:  Ian will talk with Jennifer Kaufman about adding publicity to the Town’s web site.  He will write a press release about the inventory.  First deadline is Jan. 10 for Feb. issue of Horizons. Possible to have a table at Winter Festival on Sunday, Feb. 10?  Exhibit sample photos, sign up sheet for inventory session, Al offered to print flyers about inventory and contest.

Publicity for Photo Contest:  Carol will do photo contest press release.  Contact photo clubs (UConn, Windham, and Quinebaug(?)) Also contact UConn/ESCU fine arts depts..