Okay, so the recording is now in progress. Ouch. It's um it's the cap 4:01 p.m. and we're uh calling the meeting to order. Um and our first order of business is approval of the minutes. Hi Diane.
>> Hi everybody. >> Uh is there any discussion, corrections, things? Anything anyone wants to say about Okay. Um, so I move that we accept the minutes as is. All in favor? Is it? Oh, sorry. Second. Is there a second to
it? Okay. And all those in favor? And let the record show that everybody raised their hand. Um, who's here at this point is Sam Spisiac, uh, co-chair? Barbara Bigalow, that's me, co-chair Anne Bighgam, Diane Adams, Ela Po, and
Christine Marglin. Um, we're waiting for the other people to join us. Okay. So, the first thing on the agenda is the very very very Did I have enough varies in there? Successful trivia
night. And Ian, thank you for, you know, you organizing all of us and um it was a really fantastic evening. I don't know if you want to report on it and what you're hoping for the future. Well,
uh, everyone except for Diane was there. So, uh, um, anyone else can can, uh, pipe in, but we had we were capping it at 13 teams. We ended up with 15 teams with about 60 people. So, it was a great
turnout. Uh, I think it was a lot of fun. I think it was uh just again for noting about the um time and effort commitments of this committee. I think it absolutely needed all four of us. So Barbara, Christine, and Jess and I like
it, right? Barbara, Christine, >> I completely agree. >> Just good to keep in mind for the future. I mean, the four of us talked about like there were some tech issues as Elaine and Sam know. Um so next time we can figure out a way to project the questions. I think we can um work with
the timing. We had made it a two-hour event, but I think if we didn't have tech issues, we probably could do it in an hour and a half. Um Christine, you mentioned like at the end you were like, "Oh, I should have I should have announced the runners up." So, we we have a couple tweaks like that, but I think the four of us have them in our
heads and um you know, we can if we do it again or when we do it again, we can we can work on that. Um, and I think Barbara, you had asked about the next one. I think it's a great idea. Oh, and we also got really nice feedback from a couple of
people who went that sent uh emails to the recreation committee and that was really nice. Um, I think we should just try to figure out a date around other organized >> events. You know, I think the trivia night is fairly flexible in terms of
when it's scheduled. So, >> yeah. Um I know that um Matteo Pangalo is looking to organize one and it would be um >> it would be a fundraiser for the for the
library. So I'm not sure. We have plans. It's all it's in motion. >> Okay. >> I think April I want to say it's the 11th or something like that. >> March. >> April. >> Oh, April. April. Yep. Uh and it's all
shoot trivia. >> So he's he has all the questions and the friends are doing um food and some sort of component to it. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Because I had wondered about that
being a fundraiser that that really isn't something that we would would do. So Elaine, were you thinking that would be a good time to stay away from like maybe we should think about May or something since there's another one in April? >> Yeah. And I was wondering um you know
the difference be being that you know ours is um is free and his is going to be a fundraiser. I don't know what you know what kind of feedback we'll get on that or he'll get on that. Mhm. >> I think that it's um going to be more of
like a you know like a fundraiser as in building community raising fund. Not like it's not like a turkey. It's not like a main fundraiser. Um, but like we'll sell food like a dinner like a you know like we would do a lasagna dinner
or something like that of food and then >> I don't remember what we settled on in terms of like there's a price per team or it might be just a suggested donation for the actual um trivia component but the food component will definitely be um
money making endeavor. >> Got it. >> At the library sale >> No, it's at at the sack. Yep. >> The sack really liked us there. They sold a lot of drinks. >> Yeah. So, we'll be very welcomed back
there. >> It was that hazy. I I can't remember the other adjective, Elaine. It was the hazy and >> juicy. Juicy. >> The hazy and juicy team. >> Um I just wanted because two people have
joined. So Jessica Carlson Binger, Ballinger, I'm sorry, and Annie Gagliardi have just joined the meeting. Great. And the reason, just so you know that I say that is because um if anybody's just listening to this as opposed to looking at the you looking at
the whatever this is, the meeting itself, a recording of the meeting, it lets them know who who's here. Okay. Well, so um we'll just I don't think we have to do anything then right at the moment. will kind of make a decision about whether or not we would like to do something in May. Just bearing in mind
that the other kind of big event that we do in May is the well, yeah, it is a big event, the bicycle tuneup. Um, last year it was on May 18th and we'll get to that, you know, shortly. Um, but that would be two separate um events that we
would be be doing. Different audience, different time, but still I'm always acutely aware that there's nine of us and there's 109 ideas. So, we just have to kind of keep an eye on that. Uh, snowshoes, Sam, that's been another big success.
>> Yeah, those are going great. Um, we bought three pairs to start with for the season. Um, and they are circulating and they're going out and people love them and it took a minute for it to warm up, I think, for them to uh like literally
physically be warmer for people to start taking them out. But no, um, yeah, I was there just earlier today and there's just one pair left. So, they're being they're definitely being used and we can talk about if we want to add more later on, but for just for right now with the capacity of the library, I think three
is good. We spent $350. They submitted the receipts and um >> I think it's going great. >> Great. Great. Okay. Yeah, I think we we agreed to $500. So, if we do want to get some more, that money is there. But the storage, you're right. It's kind of
figuring out where everything's going to go. >> Yeah. Well, it's storage and it's just like it takes it takes time to catalog each one and it takes um >> Yeah. And like we it took us a while to figure out >> like we had a snowshoe bag and just
there's all like all sorts of little things takes a minute to do. So, >> yeah. >> Yeah. >> Great. Thanks. >> Yep. >> Any questions about snowshoes? What I I've enjoyed hearing that almost every time somebody goes in, they're out. So, you know, they're really
getting used. Um, I just wanted to give some updates on ongoing um and upcoming activities. And Jess, I wonder could you just say a little bit about the hikes there? What a hearty group you all are. >> Yes, we are.
Um yeah, actually one of the snowshoes um from the library was rented for or loaned out for the hike that we last did. Um so that hike was um cold. The windchill was 4° and we
decided once we were hiking we were totally fine. Um we were actually shedding layers. So if it's only going to be four degrees with the wind chill, that is okay for a sunny day hike in Shootsbury. So I feel like now I have my like cut off. Um there were only four of
us last time, which is the smallest hike, but again the windchill was a factor and the snow was fairly deep, so a couple people didn't have snowshoes and they did okay, but they're used to hiking in that kind of weather. Um, and a few of us did have snowshoes and, uh,
that was helpful. It was another gorgeous day. Um, it was really lovely. So, um, we're doing our next hike is on a Saturday this time, March 7th. >> Um, I'm hoping we don't get too much snow this week. It's like crazy. Um, and
that will be at the Lake Wyola State Park, meeting in the parking lot and hiking the trails there behind um, and over to Pine Brook. So, hope for good weather and not too deep of snow.
>> Beth and I decided Beth and I decided that it was harder to cancel a hike than to just suck it up and do it. So, >> yeah, >> that's our that's what we're going to try to do. We're just going to try to suck it up and do it no matter what the weather is. Diane,
>> what time are you meeting at the lake? >> Um, I think this one is at 1, but I should check that. Um, I'm pretty sure it is because we just sent out a another recreation committee townwide email. Um, actually I didn't even check. Did you
get a chance to do that, Sam? No. Okay. It's going out. Um, as long as it's out by tomorrow, that's all that really matters. Um, and then I I updated the the uh web page. So, that information is on there. And just so you know, Jess, I
did write that um if it's canled, there would be a notice put on our web page and the conservation committee's web page. >> Yep. That's perfect. >> Yeah. Which I keep writing as the conversation committee. I have reversed those two letters so many times.
Um I I wanted to tell you too that we have another hike already planned on that flyer for April, but then we are going to um meet again to decide on what we're going to do for May, June, July, August. Yeah. >> So um we'll just keep we'll just keep
rolling if that's okay with the committee. And yeah, >> if anybody ever has any ideas for places to hike or that are about 2 miles in about an hour, um we welcome suggestions and um if there's like anything that you
feel like you notice on the flyer, like something else is scheduled, we try to be very thoughtful, but we're humans, so we make mistakes. Um and if you ever catch anything, please let me know. Suggestions, welcome. >> Thank you so much. I'm glad it's been
such a success. All right. Um, so another upcoming improv this Saturday um that Christine and I are going to be running. Christine, is there anything you want to say about it? >> No. Um, I I understand Elaine is going
to be the highlight of the whole >> and Diane are coming, right, and are gonna improv it up. No, it's really uh you know I started doing this Elaine because it was so out of my comfort zone. It's so not me that that's actually why I did it the first time
just to challenge myself. And it's it's not difficult. It's not like you're going to find yourself on stage with thousands, you know, like that nightmare where you wake up >> in your underwear. >> Yeah. You don't know your lines. No, it's just really fun. It's just Yeah,
it's easier than trivia. It's a lot easier. You don't have to know anything. No, it'll be very fun. It'll be very fun. We have I think eight people signed up. >> We have uh counting right now nine people. >> Nine people not including committee members. >> No, including including them, but we
we'll have So, it does include them. And then our cuto off had been seven or eight over that. It's easy to run it. Um, and then we may pick up some more people once the this goes out. We'll see. But this is a perfect this is a fine number to run it with, >> right? >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. >> And and Ann, I was hoping that you would come again and lead another lecture. >> You know, I really want to come, but I have tickets to go here. Lauren Grath, I don't know if any of you know that writer, but she's going to be in Southley that day
>> at three. >> At three. >> Yeah. I could maybe come for the first hour, but I don't know if that's rude. I was going to check with uh >> you can do you can do whatever you want. You're a member of the committee. >> It is. And Diane, did you sign up?
>> I did through um just the email. I I didn't have to sign up. >> Well, I was just going to say like I went last time knowing nothing and I had a really good time. And there is some Christine, you have to think on your feet pretty quickly sometimes, but it is very fun. So, um,
>> I'm sure >> whether whether you participate or watch, I think it's it's it's been >> good for some laughs, that's for sure. >> Great. >> So, we're all set. We met yesterday and came up with a bunch of different um games to play and yeah, it is. It's just
a lot of fun. And just for the record, one of the things I have noticed in the time I've done it is when someone says, "I'm not very good at this," they're the ones that have us rolling on the floor. It's like there's because you just can't think. You can't be sitting there thinking what what clever thing am I
gonna say? It just has to kind of pop out and so it that's what is required. Um okay. So I just wanted to mention because we were talking about a birding event last time. Um it that the library
got a grant to do some birding activities if I'm remembering correctly and we had said that we would co-sponsor it with them. So, um, I'll just find out from Cliff the best time to schedule it, talk with Maryanne, and then move on
from there. So, that I don't think is going to really require a great deal from us. Um, I just wanted to kind of let you know where we are with our budget. For some reason, I cannot, there must have been a reason, but I can't remember now. We did not discuss in our
very first meeting of this fiscal year the $1,000 for the library. We typically give them $1,000 to go towards um the yoga, the any exercise programs that they do there because it's one of our ways of making sure that the money that we have is being used by people of all
different ages and that's an older demographic. So, um I'm not going to just wanted to kind of say that I I don't think we're going to vote on it today. I want to talk to Maryanne first because maybe I did this in my sleep and I can't find any record of it. But I think that had I but I didn't. I I just
need to kind of find out. >> Are you sure we didn't do that? >> Well, I I remember doing it. >> I know. And I went back to the minutes and there was nothing in the minutes. >> I remember voting on it. >> Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Good.
>> I think I even remember doing the paperwork for it to >> Oh, okay. Maybe that's because I don't have any of that paper. >> Would it have been in June? >> It should have been in June or Well, no. I looked in June and July because July would have been the first meeting of the
new fiscal year, right? >> Mhm. >> Yeah. I looked I went through the minutes and that's what was further conf I just didn't maybe it was in there and I missed it. I'm going to just assume that any error is me. So, we will not even give it a second thought. Um I'll
give it a third thought though. But I will just want to confirm with um with Maryanne that she got the $1,000. Thank you. because that was my memory too and then I just wasn't finding any corroboration for it. So, um at any rate, so which means that we then have
$1,123 which goes a very long way with our programming, a very long way. Um so just kind of something to keep in in our mind. Um so let's see. I just wanted to go through some of the things that we had
talked about last. Was there anything anyone wanted to say about that before I rush on? Yes, >> I have one other just like in the things coming up. I I have been going for I haven't brought it up here. I have been going forward with the basketball avenue um to get the it set up like soccer. It
was going to start it this weekend, but I'm just working with the school to get my own um key before I do that. I think that I just don't want to rely like Jess, I know you said you'd be willing to, but I I think it's just responsible to take care of that on my own and be
self-reliant. So, uh just with the snow day and everything that threw that off, I'm going to probably push it back a week and um and go from there. But I'll start that up soon. >> Christine, I know you must have found it. >> Did you? Yeah, I because I knew you had
to have put it in there, but I the >> you know, I'm flawless. So, I knew it had >> I know. That's what's got me really scared about Saturday. I'm not >> It was gonna bug me. It was going to bug me. So, >> I knew it was going to bug you, right? >> But it's in August's minutes.
>> Oh. Oh, okay. Thank you. >> So, that's probably Yeah. We didn't meet in July, I think, because it says June minutes were approved. >> Yeah. >> And this is August. And it says money to library for classes, $1,000 for
activities and classes. All in favor? >> Okay, that's perfect. That's all we need. So, we're down to $1,123, which again is is ample for for what we do. >> So, I just wanted to go through some of the things that we had talked about and
that we would would like to do um or at least consider and then propose. Well, I'll do that. We talked about the Lake Wiiola riata, a a dance hour, the Gaga Ball, and with the Gaga Ball, I looked up costs on Gaga Ball, and they range
from very inexpensive for portable ones to upwards of $2,000 for more permanent ones. So, if we and I'm guessing if it's going to be at the elementary school, we'd want to go with the more durable one. Um, and that's something that we could apply for as we talked about last
year. um which would mean that there will be like a year lag on it because it takes a while for that process. Mushroom identifying that would be something that would cost. We'd make that the $250 honorarium and um need to follow up on
that. Bird watching I already mentioned the gear swap. What we had talked about and I'm going to bring up the bicycle um thing in a moment. Um what we had talked about was do the the bike swap first. see how it
goes and then consider doing the um uh doing the uh gear swap and then the garden planting um and the seeds and and Annie, I don't know whether you uh got any information on that.
Yeah, I um so I I actually asked my neighbor because she does she's she's quite active in like the Ammerst garden club and she has a big garden and I asked her if she'd be willing to to talk like informally kind of give a little talk about planting a garden and then
also maybe having like a seed swap at that and like answering questions. She said she'd be up for it. >> Oh, great. Um, >> so I guess it, you know, I don't I keep going back and forth on if it's like too late to to do something for this season
and probably not. Um, if we could find a time that worked. >> Um, >> yeah, >> I think it would be neat, but I I don't know how to go about like find finding a time. I don't know. We basically sort of arbitrarily pick a date and a time that works for the
person who's doing it and then send out the, you know, the the a townwide email about it. These are fairly easy things to organize because it's just about people signing up and saying, "I'm going to going to do it." And then we would offer her the $250 honorarium, which is
what we do with with um people who are leading things or helping us with things. Yeah. Um, I feel like I should say this and it just reminded me in talking about this subject, but it doesn't necessarily have to relate. Um, but the woman who owns
DJ's farm stand, did I say this at a meeting already? She came on a hike with us and offered >> Was that Diane Jacobe? Yeah. Yeah. >> I just want to put that out there again that she had offered for space in her greenhouse if there's something we want to tie in with that.
>> Oh, that's great. Yeah, that's worth definitely worth thinking about. Um, good. >> I was just gonna say, Annie, if you I think work out like a a few times with your um neighbor that she could do. There's a calendar too on the library
website of when programs are. You could look at that too as a reference um for when things are going on because that seems like a good thing to do at the like in the meeting room or something I would guess. And then um yeah, I can help you with a flyer and and um all
that. Happy to do that. Just let me know some dates. >> Okay, >> cool. >> Yeah. >> Um I um Jessica, I did I did remember what you said about the greenhouse. I guess like for for me planning something, I think I have like very simple bandwidth in terms of what I can
do. And this seemed like something I was like, "Okay, I think I could manage to plan that." Um, but I do think that's a really neat offer opportunity and it would be neat to think of something to do with that. I just I wasn't ignoring it. I just don't think I can
>> do it. >> Yeah. I wonder if even having Diane come to this talk and having her offer up space if anybody individually wants to make use of her space, >> that could even be something that >> she does.
>> Yeah. But I hear you, Annie. That's something that we all have to be careful with with this because some of the ideas like, "Oh, let's do this. Let's do this and let's do this and then well, we can't, you know, it's just we're a volunteer committee." So, yeah, let's find some dates. Um,
talk with your neighbor and then u figure out the logistics and I can help and I'll help with the logistics on that one. Um, okay. So, that's the garden planting. Um, now the bike spring tuneup and bike swap. Last year it was May 18th. Uh I
neglected to look to see what day of the week that was. Probably a Saturday. I would guess >> it was a Sunday. It was the same Sunday. >> It was the same time as soccer right after soccer or something. >> Oh, perfect. That's good timing. So what
I was going to recommend is so this is a very lowcost one. Everybody who all of the people who are helping with the bike repairs uh turn down the honorarium. And what sometimes happens with those honorariums is that then they will just ask us to give the money to the library.
So that's what we do. It's just a donation. Uh well isn't a donation from us, donation from them. Um what we spent money on last year were the kinds of things that people would need, just the bicycle parts and that
people would need to when doing tuneups on bikes. So, we I think Sam, was it Andy who gave or somebody gave a suggestion of a bunch of things to get. We got them. We'll do that again this year. And I think that was like $300, something like that. It wasn't a lot of money or maybe $130. I might be
transposing. >> I think it was Yeah, I think it was $100. I think it was just like cabling for brakes and shifters or something. >> Okay. So, we'll just we would just do that again. I wanted to suggest So, that's in May. Here we are in February
going into March. There's no great big huge hurry about it. How how hard was that to organize, Sam? >> The easiest. >> Okay. >> Yeah, yeah, it was a flyer. Put up a tent >> and then um Andy did the did the rest
and Cliff and >> Mark Prod was it Elaine maybe? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And they they I think all had a great time. >> Great. Okay. And we had like a little kid kids spiked. It was like a biker gang.
>> It was great. It was easy. >> Yeah. >> Leathery jackets and all. >> Yeah. But in later May, >> so are you are you going to do a bike swap with that? >> I think so. >> I think we would just tack that onto the flyer.
>> And I would like to do that. Actually, I'd like to do it the week before the library tag sale so that any bikes that are left over, I could just move to the tax sale and then they have the service come and take things away. So then we wouldn't have to worry about
that aspect. >> That's my thought on that. >> Okay. >> Well, it sounds like I was I'm going to suggest that we form a small committee for that. Um, anybody who wants to be on that committee, just um, you know,
either, uh, volunteer now or send me a text or something. Um, it sounds like it's not going to be a huge amount of work. Uh, but with the addition of the bike swap, just making sure that that we now have,
like Annie, you said with the other one, there's now another moving part and, uh, just make sure that the that all the moving parts are being overseen. I Yeah. >> Oh, great. Thank you. >> I think one of the biggest moving parts
is uh coordinating with Cliff and Mark, too, to make sure that they're available for that date. >> I can do that. >> Okay. Yeah, maybe get a hold of them as well as soon as we have Do we have the date for that already for the tag sale? >> No. >> Oh, okay. So, we'll as soon as we have
that, we'll find out from them. Okay. And I'm sure we'll be able to find other people as well. Okay. So now, um, anything else on the bike or any other programming things before we move on? >> Did you were you were looking at the new
program ideas? Um, you you jumped into a couple of those. So, do you want to finish those? No. >> Uh, I did go through all of them. Those were the ones that cuz we had also had um some other pickle ball had been on there. We decided not to do that. The
high viz vest was also on there. decided not to do that at this point, but everything else we talked about, I just kind of went through. >> So, right now, I think if there's something that someone thinks, "Oh, I really want to do that." Um, we should Yeah, thank you. that we did need to go
back on that. Um, I would just be is is there anybody who in listening to that list thinks, "Oh, I would like to take charge of this." >> We've got >> I have comments. So, I'm not going to raise a hand to too something, but I do
I was wondering about the greenhouse. I'd like to know more about that and about I'm looking at our agenda and the community garden. I'd like to know more about that and how we can mesh that together with Annie's um seed talk, but
does that all work together? Yeah, we're going to get Yeah, that's actually is on the agenda and um we have a what I think will be a very quick item before we get to the community garden um issue. So, um but the other ones, bird watching is
pretty much under control. Mushroom identification, I think a couple of you expressed an interest in looking into that. Um the garden planting, um that you know, Annie's on on that one. the gaga ball. There's nothing we can do now because we have to wait to submit a
grant for that. Um the dance hour, that would be kind of an easy thing if someone wanted to try that out. We could try it one evening, see what happens, and then plan other nights. So, um I don't know whether let's just focus on the dance hour for a moment. And Jess,
that was one of the ideas that you've had um is whether that's something you'd like to go ahead and give a try and see how that works out. Yeah, I'm not sure if we even like I keep going back and forth about whether it needs to be a rec committee thing or whether it's just
something like that I can just do. >> Um >> but it's always nice to have the support in the advertising, I guess. >> Yes. >> Um but I might I might I might think about it a
little bit longer. >> Okay. All righty. Yeah. and then we can get back to it next month and that's what we want to do. >> No, that that's fine. I mean, the problem with a lot of things is we do them and then people like them so much that we're kind of now need to do it
again and we have to really keep an eye on how many of those things we do. um you know something that's once a year like the bike swap that's if bike swap and the tuneup that's not so hard to do but some of the other things if we start adding a whole pile of of those kinds of
things that it would get overwhelming >> so so >> kites will be in the mix too and but that's not a that's a flyer and an announcement >> that's right kites are in there I think
I can't remember when good neighbor day is, whether we already had that and the birthday thing, but yeah, there are these things, but those are primarily um you know, we're providing some money. You you do the kite thing and I've thought of you as being sort of the coordinator for the kite thing.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'll do that again. >> Okay, that's great. >> Do you know off the top of your head when town meeting is? Yeah, May uh 9th. And then I also realized um that this is
the 250th anniversary of the United States this year and there's lots of like programming happening around in bigger cities. But that was another thing that I meant to mention at a meeting. >> Um whether we can help do anything to
celebrate that maybe with the historical commission or with I don't know like combining with some other groups in town. But just to throw that out there. Um great. I know Maryanne said she was planning some activities at the library.
So, um, yeah, there might be things that we can just support that Maryanne is doing. But, um, just another thing to keep in mind for this summer. >> If I could, I'd like to just cut back to that under other because I don't know how big a conversation the community
garden is going to be. >> So, um, are we all set in terms of the programming and what we're moving forward with on at this point? Okay, fantastic. So, letter of support for the conservation committee. I sent the
proposal. It lost all of its um uh form, but the information was there. So, the the project proposes purchasing a 9 plus acre parcel located between Wendo Road and Locks Pond Road um that
abuts the South Brook conservation area. And the conservation committee has worked very closely with Kestrel. Kestrel is the one who's going to be purchasing it. Um, and the project, let's see, basically the
project, the expected results are the project would lead to an expansion of the town's existing Southbrook conservation area and would be protected for open space and public recreation access. The land hosts an existing snowmobile trail and the land's protection would also build on East West
Wildlife Corridor. So um they've asked us for a letter of support and uh so first is there any discussion or questions about this um before we take a vote about whether to send it and I had sent around a draft uh letter of
support. Yeah, Jess. >> Um at the top of your letter it says Elliot Park Committee application. Is that what >> Oh. Oh, that was that was a mistake. That was from an earlier one. I used a Yeah, thank you for pointing that out. Yeah.
>> So, it's the conservation commission. >> Yes. Yes. I just Yes. I was using a temp my Yeah, I copied something else. It was for the Elliot Park and was also for a letter and I just Yeah. Thank you. >> Yeah. And I fully support this. I think
it's a great um addition to our open spaces in Shootsbury and more room for hiking and our monthly. So, >> Right. Exactly. Yeah. Diane, >> um, I have a question. After reading the letter, I was confused if Kestrel owned
it already or was buying it. So, >> buying it. Buying it. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Buying it. >> Yeah. At this point, they have um done two of the tests that they needed to do and they
had one more thing to do. I'm just not finding it immediately in here before. um buying it. Oh, it's the sur Oh, they have already performed a title search and environmental site announce assessment and they still need to survey the land before before selling to the
town. So, um >> I think that was the wording that was confusing to me that before selling to the town. So, it's being sold to Kestrel. >> Well, yeah, actually that's a good question because I'm just kind of
reading this. I it looks like it's something that Kestrel is going to purchase and then but then are they turning around and selling it to the town and they're going to use these funds for it? Okay. >> Yes, they're they're selling it to the town
>> and some of the property is going to be actually used for um >> right >> housing. Okay. Oh, that's right. Yeah. Was that definite or was that still in the >> That's the hope for it. >> Okay, good. Okay.
All right. Um, do I have a anyone want to um move that we vote on whether to send a letter of support for this? >> I will. I move. >> Second. Okay. All those in favor just
raise your hand and it is unanimous. So, I'll get that letter sent off. >> I'm sorry. Who Who seconded? >> Anded. >> Okay. >> Oh, right. For the for the minutes. Thank you. >> Sorry, Elaine. I did it. I did it without speaking.
>> It's okay. >> No, it's not. It's okay >> to type. So, Elaine, I'm going to really need your help on this one because when I joined this committee, the grant I think was pretty much already written
and I kind of came in at the tail end of it. So, um, just very briefly, and then I, if I may, I'm going to turn it over to you, Elaine. Um, the committee wrote the proposal, got the money, and originally the idea was to have the
community garden back behind town hall. There were many, many, many, many problems with that. Um, and when the library was finally approved and getting built, we um moved it. The plan was to move the garden over there, but the land
there does not support that. So, it cannot go by the library. So, um that's kind of where we stand. Elaine, you can provide more detail or my sense of what this is the last thing
I'll say. My sense of what we need to decide is whether we're going to do this or not. >> Right. >> And where we have no idea where, >> right? and and this was something that um that Bezy was really um very strongly
in support of and wanted to do. And I mean, the thought of doing it by the library was going to be nice, but uh now that the library has been built, there really isn't any place there that can support a community garden because of
all of the uh um conservation commission issues and all the uh wetland issues. So the question is do we the I'm on the community preservation committee also and we're looking to uh
the people who have received funds to say you know are you going to use them or are you not going to use them and so the question is do we have somebody on the committee who is really championing um creating community garden and where
would it go? And the other place that we had that we were thinking of was behind town hall, way in the back um the flat area way in the back behind town hall, which is still conceivable and it would be a problem though getting water to it.
Um it has a lot of issues and I don't know how much community support we have for it and I don't know anyone on this committee who is really strongly advocating for it at this time. So, um, we as the conservation commission, um,
not conservation, community preservation hat, um, want to know if you, we, if the rec committee still wants those funds or if they can be taken back at town meeting, which is where that that would happen. We would take it back at town
meeting. Not to say that you couldn't we couldn't apply for it again at some other time if we were interested in doing it. But at this point, the money's just sitting there and we either have to do something or give it back. That's it.
And I did do some of the work of trying to find out about getting water to it. And I did sort of a cost analysis of the whole thing. And the water is going to be really going to be quite a difficulty. Um there are things that other towns have done with um water
tanks, but then you have to keep constantly keep getting it filled. So this is not just a matter of kind of doing it doing it and being done. This is a matter of doing it and then having to oversee it, come up with rules, make sure there's water. It's it's an ongoing
job. So, uh, yeah, Jess, >> I, um, last year at Shootsbury, we received grants at the elementary school, sorry. Um, to build garden beds and I was all behind it and all excited about it. and I worked with a group of
kids to do some planting. And um and then the summer came and the whole getting water to the beds was very complicated and tricky and having people um tend the beds. Granted, that wouldn't
be a problem if it was a community garden because people would just be taking care of their own spaces, I assume, but um it was much more complicated than I had thought. So, I'm hoping to put more of my effort behind that this year. So, even though I think it's a great idea, I wouldn't personally
be available to help like navigate um the situation. And then I had originally thought too, oh, maybe there's space at the school, but like I said with the water and our inability to take care of just four beds last year. Um it makes me
think that a bigger community garden near the school might be complicated as well. Um, but that's just my like I really I like the idea of the project, but I wouldn't personally have time to put into it >> um if we went forward with it now.
>> Yeah. I just to piggyback on that, I was involved in community gardens when I lived in Chicago and in addition to the water, a lot of times people were riding their bikes there and so then tools became an issue and so it was like, can we support a shed with tools that
various people could use? But then you have to think about in terms of maintenance like who has access to the shed? does somebody need to be there to lend out the tools or do so I think it is one of those things that's great in theory but there are this seems to be the theme for today a lot of moving
parts and especially in the maintenance and I like it's great Jess to know that's happening at the school and I think >> we've done the invasive plant workshops in the past and we always talked about doing more gardening things and now that Annie's bringing this up again I wonder
if that's an avenue that we can think about and I'd be more willing to support that where we do events related to gardening. But like Jess, I'm not personally uh interested in in uh putting my putting my hoe in for the
for organizing the community garden. Well, and and also I'm just wondering how many people in the community would be really gung-ho about having a community garden versus having a garden in their own space and making that a
whole lot easier, not only for us, but also for them to to access it. um you know it's it's different when you're in a a city and you have a a lot that you know people can walk to and such but um
this just presented more issues than I think we were ready to to jump up and down for and I don't think there's any of us that are really gung-ho right now to put it together. Yeah, I was going to add that maybe um through having other
events related to gardening, we could get a feeling of of how many people would would want something like this. And if there is like a need for it or a big desire for it, then in the future, maybe come back to it >> or if there's a need for something else
to help promote people gardening at home, like maybe people >> Yeah. like need access to compost or maybe people, you know, like there's a variety of reasons why people can't do it at their homes or have felt held up and maybe this these gardening talks
help us to kind of gauge and see what the needs really are. >> Well, you did a needs assessment and the response was fairly low as I recall. >> Very low. >> Very, very low. Very few people responded. Um, >> so I'm going to make a motion.
>> Good. >> That we um send a letter to the community preservation committee and tell them that we are not going to be moving forward with this at this time. Uh we may come back at a later date, but
right now this is not on our agenda and we are returning the money or releasing the money because we never got it. We're releasing the money. Okay, >> I second that. Um should you take a vote? All those in favor of sending a letter that um what
is the term that we're using in for the m for returning the money that we're um rescending >> releasing resending >> releasing it. We're releasing it. Thank you. >> Yeah. Releasing. Okay. And all those in favor. Okay. And so let the minute show that that is unanimous.
>> And who's going to write the letter? >> I will write the letter, but I will send it to you to edit. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Okay. Okay. Yeah. Unless you want to write the letter. >> All right. So, um let's go back to if we
want to just go back to the now I'm forgetting what we were going back to. Was it the dance hour or something else? There was something Jess that you were talking about and I and I had suggested you brought some Oh, it wasn't because it was a new agenda item. It was something that you were talking about that um
that I said let's I'm so glad you're not remembering either. >> Was it bad? >> Was it the 250th >> anniversary? >> Oh, thank you. That's right. The an the 250th anniversary. Yeah, that sounds like something that would be worth kind
of exploring and having some conversation about. I wonder maybe I can do some research and see what Maryanne already has in the works and see if the historical commission has something in the works and I can bring that information to the next meeting and we can talk about it.
>> Yeah, that sounds wonderful. >> I have some real history buffs in my family and also at school and so that is like a big focus this year of >> Oh, okay. >> going on. So, yeah, I'll bring back more information next time.
>> Thank you very much. Um, is there anything else now that we're in other anything else that anyone would like to bring up um that has to do with the recreation committee? >> She qualifies. >> My only I just want to mention that my
only hesitation in helping organize the bike uh swap and repair is that I don't know what date it is. I'm going to be away um June 1st through the 8th. So, as soon as we know which day the um bike
swap is happening, I can jump on board or help organize it, but not be there potentially. >> Great. Thanks. Yeah. >> Yeah. Well, as soon as Well, we'll know as soon as um the is it the library that we're waiting on
for a date? So, okay, great. Okie do. So, thank you very much. Um, I move that we uh adjourn the meeting. Is there a second? And okay, there were l and then all those in favor raise your hand. It's
unanimous. I am turning the recording off at 4. The the eating is ending and I'm turning the recording off at 4:48