Agricultural Commission monthly meeting
Colrain Griswold Memorial Library, 12 Main Road
A meeting of the Agricultural Commission
Meeting of Agricultural Commission
Members: (Quorum)
- Absent: Jill Horton-Lyons, Member
- Absent: Kenneth Herzig, Member
- Absent: Lorena Loubsky, member
- Absent: Robert Ramirez, Member
- Absent: Valerie Finkel, Member
- Present: Lori Shearer, Member, at 6:30 PM
- Present: Joseph Hillman, Member, at 6:30 PM
- Present: Brian Sullivan, Member, at 6:30 PM
- Present: Scott Roberts, Member, at 6:50 PM
- Present: Haynes Turkle, (Chair), at 6:30 PM
Final Minutes
Meeting opened: 6:50 PM
Meeting closed: 7:35 PM
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Meeting Preliminaries
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Meeting Opened / Attendance Taken (see above).
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Minutes Approved: Wed, Mar 20 - Agricultural Commission monthly meeting
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New Business
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- Report on Mass. Assoc. of Agricultural Commissions, Franklin County meeting - Haynes
General Discussion...
Postponed until May 18, 10:30AM - 1PM at Apex Orchard (store)
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Old Business
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- Determine Ag Com position on draft Marijuana Establishments Bylaw - All
General Discussion...
Reviewed draft, proposed changes to Zoning Bylaws to regulate marijuana enterprises in Colrain (2/28/2019). The Ag Com is specifically focused on zoning regulations related to growing marijuana. We want to ensure that small farms and Craft Marijuana Cooperatives are able to enter this market and compete with big Ag. Ensuring a fair playing field including reasonable town regulations is essential.MOTION, moved by Lori Shearer, seconded by Joseph Hillman: To approve the "Resolution to Endorse Proposed Zoning Bylaw Changes Affecting the Cultivation of Marijuana"
Marijuana and hemp are important agricultural products that have the potential to improve the diversity and economic viability of farms in western Massachusetts. To help small growers and Craft Marijuana Cooperatives compete against large agri-businesses in an already highly regulated market, it is important that zoning regulations do not restrict the ability to capitalize on such an important business opportunity.
The Colrain Ag Com endorses the Planning Board’s proposed changes to Colrain’s Zoning Bylaw such that, a) marijuana cultivation may operate in all 3 districts with appropriate Planning Board permitting b) marijuana cultivation activities do not require any special setback restrictions c) Craft Marijuana Cooperatives are recognized as a way for small growers to join together to compete with larger enterprises and they are not specially restricted.
.Pass: Aye: Brian Sullivan, Haynes Turkle, Joseph Hillman, Scott Roberts, Lori Shearer. Not Present: Robert Ramirez, Lorena Loubsky, Valerie Finkel, Kenneth Herzig, Jill Horton-Lyons.
There were no dissenting opinions
MOTION, moved by Haynes Turkle, seconded by Lori Shearer: To amend the proposed zoning bylaw to remove the following exclusions a) allow Greenhouse growing of marijuana by right b) allow marijuana enterprises to operate as home based businesses abiding by the same regulations as any other business.
Pass: Aye: Brian Sullivan, Haynes Turkle, Joseph Hillman, Scott Roberts, Lori Shearer. Not Present: Robert Ramirez, Lorena Loubsky, Valerie Finkel, Kenneth Herzig, Jill Horton-Lyons.
We understand that state laws prevent the sale of marijuana through home businesses. However, it is not unreasonable to expect growers to produce other byproducts that could be sold to retailers. These should be allowed.
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- Report on organizational meeting for Colrain “Fix-It” Day – Jill, Haynes
General Discussion...
"Fix It" day will be on September 14th. The location is currently behind the Library. This event will be sponsored by the Ag Com, Library Trustees and Historical Society. The Historical Society will research history of "tinkerers" in Colrain as well as show some old tools and appliances from the early 20th century.
The Ag Com will help with a children's table and with fixing specialty items e.g., tools or farm implements. There will be a children's table where they can take apart old appliances and children will be able to watch and assist some fixers.
The next organizing meeting will be on May 22 at 6:30PM at the Colrain library. -
- Report on progress on 4H program startup – Jill, Haynes
General Discussion...
A flyer was sent out in the school packet with a note to come to our 4-H table during parent/teacher conference days (April 4-5).
Jill and Haynes staffed the table during parent/teacher conferences. 12 families signed up which is exciting since we need a minimum of only 5 to get started.
Next steps include, submit paperwork to UMass (state 4-H organization) for Jill and Haynes. Work with Mohawk Regional to 1) resolve transportation issues for children who need to get back to Colrain Central for 4-H after school. 2) to collaborate on 4-H offerings (i,e., since Mohawk ha a limited 4-H program underway that is just focused on cooking). -
- Library Workshops: Pasture Management – Haynes, Lori
General Discussion...
Lori, Kenny and Larry Shearer worked on a description of the Pasture Workshop. This was distributed for review. There was agreement on the description. This will be submitted go the Colrain Library Trustees for publicizing.
The workshop is scheduled for June 22 at the Shearer Family Farm, 270 Greenfield Road.
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Meeting Wrap-up
- Next Meetings:
- Wed, May 15, at 6:30 PM "Agricultural Commission Meeting" -- Colrain Griswold Memorial Library, 12 Main Road
- Wed, Jun 19, at 6:30 PM "Agricultural Commission Meeting" -- Colrain Griswold Memorial Library, 12 Main Road
- Wed, Jul 17, at 6:30 PM "Agricultural Commission Meeting" -- Colrain Griswold Memorial Library, 12 Main Road
- Wed, Aug 21, at 6:30 PM "Agricultural Commission Meeting" -- Colrain Griswold Memorial Library, 12 Main Road
- Wed, Sep 18, at 6:30 PM "Agricultural Commission Meeting" -- Colrain Griswold Memorial Library, 12 Main Road
- Next Meetings:
Minutes prepared by Haynes Turkle
Minutes approved on Sunday, Dec 15, 2019