Community Garden Subcommittee (CGS)
April 20, 2010 6:30pm
1. CALL TO ORDER
Public Works Administrative Services Manager Laurel Belanger called the meeting to order at
6:33 PM.
Committee Members present for the meeting were:
Kimberly Goll – (Morrisville Environmental and Recycling Committee (MERC) Co-Vice Chair)
Theresa Lostaglio – (MERC Member)
Myriam Rouzky - (Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Advisory Committee (PRCRAC) Member)
Committee members absent from the meeting were:
Catherine Willis - (Planning and Zoning Board Member)
Kris Gardner - (Planning and Zoning Board Member)
Karsten Baumann - (MERC Member)
Kechia Baustmeyer - (PRCRAC Member)
Also present were the following staff members:
Public Works Administrative Services Manager – Laurel Belanger
Public Works Parks & Grounds Superintendent – Steve Dickinson
Planning Technician/Administrative Assistant – Shannan Ference
Public present for the meeting:
Cary Resident - Yashikra Bishop 527 Writers Way
Morrisville, NC 27560
2. INTRODUCTIONS
To get acquainted, each member (staff included) took a few moments to introduce himself or herself,
sharing something about themselves personally and/or professionally and stating their reason for
wanting to serve on the subcommittee.
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3. APPOINTMENT OF SUBCOMMITTEE OFFICERS
Volunteers for chair and vice-chair were solicited from the group. Kimberly Goll volunteered to
chair the Community Garden Subcommittee and the other members concurred. Theresa
Lostaglio volunteered to co-chair the CGS and all attending members concurred.
4. REVIEW OF COMMITTEE PURPOSE
The general consensus of the group was that the purpose of the subcommittee would be to
determine whether there was a genuine need or desire within the public for a garden; to define the
general purpose of the garden; to establish a designated site for the garden; and to bring together a
group of people to sustain the development, sponsorship, and management of the garden.
5. DISCUSSION OF IDEAS
Discussion within the group began with the disclosure that what lay ahead of the subcommittee
members was going to be a large undertaking and a task that would probably require a year’s
worth of development. Three essential components that would need to be addressed initially
would be the selection of a site for the garden, the preparation of contracts and/or agreements for
the property and participants, and the acquisition of committed gardeners.
Dialogue encompassed varied ideas for what the overall purpose of the community garden should
be, with no one idea being preferred. Considerations for obtaining outside support were
deliberated, and the notion of possible outside competition that could defer the project was noted.
Discussion on funding for the project touched on the possibility of obtaining an Innovative Grant
from North Carolina A&T University and/or establishing the group as a not-for-profit entity
collecting dues for its foundation.
Group members debated as to whether a structured plan for a community garden should be
addressed first, or whether determining community interest should initially be established. The
group agreed that both aspects could be developed simultaneously but that community interest
was primarily critical to the project.
The general consensus of the group was to contact North Carolina State University system’s
Cooperative Extension to obtain the services of a master gardener to speak at a public open forum
on the benefits and the work involved in developing a community garden. Chairperson Kim Goll
volunteered to contact the Cooperative Extension in an effort to obtain a speaker for the proposed
forum. In addition, the subcommittee members agreed that an electronic survey should be taken at
the forum as well as on the Town’s website to try and establish community interest levels.
6. SET NEXT MEETING TIME
The group unanimously agreed to hold their next meeting on Thursday, May 20th, 2010, at
6:30PM, at the Public Works facility.
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7. COMMITTEE COMMENTS
Several members inquired as to the current accessibility of information developed on possible site
locations for a community garden. Public Works Parks & Grounds Superintendent Steve
Dickinson stated that he did have documentation on the site options and would make it available
to the subcommittee members.
A question was raised as to whether there is any upcoming Town-sponsored events that could cohost with the Community Garden Speakers Forum. No immediate event could be identified.
8. ADJOURNMENT
Chairperson Kimberly Goll adjourned the meeting at 7:30PM.
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Chairperson Kimberly Goll
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Secretary to the Committee
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Date
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Date
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