Garden club pitches town partnership to sell rain barrels at plant sale

Gina Thomassett, president of the Newfields Garden Club, presented a proposal asking the conservation commission to help the club and a vendor called Great American Rain Barrel arrange a group purchase program for 60‑gallon rain barrels priced at about $89 each. "I am Gina Thomassett. I am the president of the Newfields Garden Club," she told the commission and described the barrels, education support from the vendor and the idea of using the club's plant sale as a pickup point.

Thomassett said the program offers an education component about rain gardens and water conservation and that the company delivers barrels to a centralized location for group pickup. She emphasized outreach: flyer placement, town email notices and social‑media posts to raise awareness and avoid leaving residents unaware of the opportunity.

Commission members clarified the town's procedural role: the vendor requires an official town request to participate, and an individual (the presenter) cannot sign the town up on behalf of the municipality. Commissioners suggested the conservation commission or a designee could forward the vendor's contact information or the commission could ask the select board or town clerk to make the official request.

The chair said a commission member would follow up to learn what the town must do to participate and that Thomassett would forward the vendor's instructions and next steps. Commissioners discussed logistics — ensuring the pickup would not conflict with the plant sale or Memorial Day activities — and outreach options for residents who could not afford the full price.

The commission did not take a formal vote on funding; members instead agreed to pursue outreach and a follow‑up. The presenter left materials for members and offered to forward vendor information for the commission or town staff to act on.