2015-05-21-CONCOM-min (Community Garden Subcommittee)

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Mrs. Hatshorn suggested that the role of enforcing the Commission's community garden policies should be held by Mr. McCarron, not Mrs. Bartsch. Mr. Hamilton disagreed, indicating that enforcement happens on several levels; the gardeners might feel pushed around if the Town deals with everything. Mrs. Bartsch indicated that she has found it hard to enforce the community garden policies strictly with new gardeners as Mr. McCarron had requested when most existing gardeners are already violating many of the policies. Mrs. Hartshorn suggested that Mr. McCarron include a rationale for each of the community garden polices as a way to help the gardeners understand their purpose and then more unanimously abide by them. Mr. Hamilton expressed the Commission's concern that the raised bed structures at the garden inhibit the functionality of the adjacent wetland due to water displacement. Both Mrs. Hartshorn and Mrs. Bartsch expressed concern that raised beds are essential for gardening in that location, both because of pest and weed pressure but also because of wet soils. Mr. Hamilton also expressed the Commission's concern that gardening practices, including bringing in organic fertilizers and other soil amendments, are having an adverse impact on the wetland. Mrs. Bartsch commented that there does not seem to be any impact to the wetland from gardening since the gardens have been there for 30+ years and there is no visual effect on the surrounding wetland vegetation. Mr. Hamilton reminded the group that the visual health of wetland vegetation alone is not a good judge of the overall impact of the community gardens on the wetland. II. Planning for the Future Mr. Hamilton then focused the conversation on future plans for the Dunback Meadow Community Garden. Mr. Hamilton expressed concern that the garden is located in a very sensitive area and explained that the Commission has become increasingly protective and more -strict about activities in and around wetlands. Mr. Hamilton pointed out that the Commission is extremely strict with development in areas that are less sensitive and offered that the Commission would not allow the gardens to be built at that site if the project came before it today. Mr. Hamilton then expressed the desire of the Commission to move the gardens to a more suitable location and that it would like to do so in the best possible way for the current gardeners while involving the gardeners in the process as much as possible. Mrs. Hartshorn commented that the Commission should get ahead of the game and be transparent with the larger group of gardeners; the gardeners should be given ample opportunity to prepare themselves for the move and not invest a lot of effort in their current plots. Mr. Hamilton explained that the Commission has not voted on this issue yet because the Commission wants the input of the gardeners on timeline, process, etc. before a formal vote is taken. Mr. Hamilton reiterated that the Commission does not want to make any firm decisions on this matter until the gardeners are in a position where they feel like the Town is in support of them, the future of the gardens, and that