Download Thursday, May 19, 2016 8:00 PM AAC Agenda 1. The meeting was

Thursday, May 19, 2016
8:00 PM
AAC Agenda
1. The meeting was called to order at 8:10 PM, and the Sunshine Law notice
read. Present were: C. Blumig, C. Feibel, A. Puchalek, A. Puskas, and G.
Randolph; F. Varacalli; township manager B. Vornlocker and Council liaison T.
Chase. Absent: F. Hasner.
2. A motion was made by G. Randolph to approve the minutes with changes of the
March 24th meeting. Motion seconded by C. Febiel. Blumig abstained. All other
members were in favor. Motion passed.
3. The minutes of the March 24 meeting were approved.
4. Financial report: the Open Space Trust Fund presently stands at approximately
$12,700,000, with the annual bond payment just having been made and the
quarterly tax returns yet to be deposited.
5. C. Blumig made a motion to open the meeting to the public. G. Randolph
seconded the motion. All members in favor. Motion passed. Mr. David Chrin,
Old Georgetown Rd. spoke about his recent Twp. Planning Incentive Grant
application to have the township purchase development rights, farmland
preservation, on two lots not already preserved. The applciaiton listed onmn lot
and Mr. Chrin added an additional lot to his application during this time. C.
Blumig made a motion to close the meeting to the public. G. Randolph
seconded the motion. All members in favor. Motion passed. Meeting was
closed to the public.
The public session was then closed.
4.
The township manager spoke about Councilwoman Sherman’s efforts to
publicize farm markets in the township, as part of the Destination Marketing
program. B. Vornlocker asked if there were any towns in farm that may be
working towards creating a agri-tourism specific farm like Norz Hill in
Hillsborough. Do any farmers wish to invite tourists onto their farms? The
Committee commented that the farm in town most similar to Norz Hill is
Snyders Farm on S. Middlebush Rd. The Committee said that trying to create
that type of farm is dependent on the interest of the farmer who also needs to
have the capital to make those changes.
The Snyder farm is a successful example, well attended. Puchalek commented
that once a farm is opened to the public, the public may show up at any
time. Blumig mentioned tours to her farm from Brookdale Community College.
T. Chase mentioned a conversation with Juanita Painson, Chamber of Commerce
member and real estate agent, who expressed interest in starting a farm
market, perhaps at Laird’s store. A tour of open space properties for hotel
managers is planned for June.
Varacalli reported on farm leases extended – Terhune and Manioudakis leases
are in their last year before full rebid. Harris has leased the Memorial Forest
(Toto) fields. Middlebush Farms has leased Scott Farm/Marden Preserve.
Soil testing was discussed. Puchalek suggested that leased properties’ soils
should be tested in the 1st, 3rd and 5th years of a five-year lease period. Puskas
asked what the penalty would be for letting land go bad, as shown by 3rd and 5th
year tests. The only realistic penalty could be barring the lessee from ever
bidding again if he/she has let the soil go bad. Could this penalty be applied also
to the lease of other properties? Legal advice will be sought on this
question. Such a penalty would have to be stated in the text of the lease.
Parts of the Gunther property which have not been cultivated recently were
discussed. Puchalek asked whether lessees had to demonstrate that they were
capable of farming. Vornlocker said that this could not be required – since a
bidder could acquire or rent equipment after winning a bid – although for work
on historic houses both the state and the municipality must pre-certify bidders
as approved for historic work. The Agricultural Advisory Committee
recommended that Varacalli communicate that the lessee needs to return the
land to tillable acres. In addition, Varacalli will ask the lessee whether he is
planning to plant the property; if not, the township will terminate the lease (his
annual lease payment has been received). Vornlocker will send him a registered
letter, telling him that his lease will be terminated if he doesn’t plant the
property.
The Agriculture Directory is complete, but needs an introductory paragraph.
The Township has created the Agriculture Directory and will be posted on the
Twp. web site in the next week or two once the introductory paragraph is
completed. The goal of the directory is to provide residents and visitors to the
various farms in town that sell products to the public to encourage the buy local
and support the agriculture community in town.
Vornlocker brought up the suggestion by township engineer Zilinek that the
township have its own tree farm, perhaps on the rear field at Catalpa. Blumig
commented on the labor involved.
National Agriculture Day can be celebrated at any time during the year; when is
the best time for farmers. It will most likely be July, but different for different
farmers, depending on their crops. Varacalli will reach out to the farmers to
gauge their availability. This question can be added to the e-mail Varacalli will
send to farmers selling to the public asking whether they are willing to be listed
on the township web site.
A farmers’ market is important to publicize township agriculture. It is desirable
to sell to non-residents as well as residents. Vornlocker mentioned that South
Middlebush Rd has heavy traffic of non-township residents, which Snyder farm
and Puchalek’s farm stand are well positioned to sell to. Extensive discussion
ensued. Vornlocker suggested that we have township Information Technology
set up an on-line survey through the township web site, to determine interest
among residents.
Farmland preservation: Varacalli will send out the usual letter to farmers, asking
if they would like to preserve their land. Discussion ensued about how initial
contact with farmers should be made (Committee members may encourage
farmers to investigate preserving their farms, but all negotiation on terms
should be with the township manager). Farmers could be invited to an
Agriculture Committee meeting.
C. Blumig made a motion to enter into Executive Session to discuss possible
acquisition of development rights. G. Randloph seconded the motion. All
members in favor. Motion passed. The committee went into executive session
at about 10:10 PM.
C. Blumig made a motion to come out of executive session. G. Randolph
seconded the motion. All members in favor. Motion passed. Executive session
ended at 10:22 PM.
C. Feibel made a motion to adjourn the meeting. G, Randolph seconded the
motion. All members in favor. Motion passed. The meeting was then
adjourned.