Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Conservation Donations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board hears tree-planting proposal and accepts Galen Cole flag offer
Summary
Select Board members discussed planting disease-resistant American chestnuts donated by Great Works Land Trust/American Chestnut Foundation and accepted a Galen Cole Foundation offer to provide flags and poles with town cost-share from Parks & Rec funds.
The board took up two community-initiative items: a request to receive American chestnut seedlings for town planting and an offer from the Galen Cole Foundation to supply new flag-and-pole sets.
Manager said the Great Works Land Trust, working with the American Chestnut Foundation, has disease-resistant chestnut seedlings and would like the town to take one or two for planting and propagation. Board members discussed possible locations—veterans memorial area, mill field perimeter, trailhead parking and other green spaces—and identified constraints including an ordinance that limits trees in the mill field and the need for nearby water and protection during early growth. The manager said the foundation prefers transplanting in May and stressed seedlings require watering and protection during establishment; no formal vote was taken and the manager will research appropriate planting sites and support needs.
On flags, the manager described an offer from the Galen Cole Foundation to provide flag-and-pole sets; the foundation typically covers half the cost and the grantee town pays the other half. The manager estimated the town’s share for 24 flag sets would be roughly $1,600–$1,700 and suggested funding replacement flags and holders from the Parks & Recreation fund. A board member moved to accept the donation and fund the town’s share from Parks & Rec; the motion carried.
Separately, the manager noted the town received a $15,000 housing grant to help draft an ordinance to meet the requirements of LD 1829; the manager said the town had previously received smaller grants for earlier compliance work.
