oF  TOWN OF BRISTOL  CONSERVATION COMMISSION Department ofCommunity. Development 235 HighStreet, Bristol, Rhode Island Thursday, June 6, 2024@ 5:30p.m.  JUNE 2024 MEETING MINUTES Members Present: Tony Morettini Ray Payson Lindsay Green Craig Fisher Glenn Donovan Jay Maciel  Staff Present: Ed Tanner  Member. Absent: Lee Ann Freitas  The meeting was called to order by Chairman. Morettini at 5:34, p.m.  1. Open Space: Mr. Tanner provided information ont the Town's plans to purchase 120 acres of open space land on Tower Road. The tract of land, referred to as the Mt. Hope Community Forest, will be purchased from Brown University for $1.7 million, and will be paid for in part with a $400,000 Open Space grant that was recently announced by RI DEM. The land willl be placed 2. Tree Program: Mr. Tanner announced that al Bristol Tree Canopy and Planting Workshop will take place on. June 17, 2024 at the Quinta-Gamelin Community Center to provide residents with information on the Town's plans to plant over 200 trees int three neighborhoods. Agrant from the RI Infrastructuré Bank has been received for this Municipal Resilience Project to help mitigate stormwater runoffi in the Tanyard Brook, Silver Creek, and Mount Hope Bay problem areas. Mr. Tanner shared a copy of the Town Administrator's proclamation recognizing the Bristol Conservation Commission and the King Philip Little League on the occasion of the Arbor Day Celebration and tree planting that took place on May 15, 2024 at' Veterans Park. Mr. Payson said that "23 Years" stickers have been affixed to the three Tree City USA signs in Bristol. 3. Composting Study: Mr. Morettini said that RWU: Sustainability Studies students did not 4. Land and Water Acknowledgement: Mr. Morettini. said he is anticipating a recommendation for the proposed Indigenous Land and Water Acknowledgement from Pokanoket Sachem Dancing Star and, once received, he will recommend to the Town Council that they adopt the acknowledgement. Mr. Morettini also stated that he has received letters of recommendation for the proposed land and water acknowledgement from Save Bristol Harbor, the Bristol Middle Passage Port Marker Project, the Bristol Historical & Preservation Society, and the Bristol Warren Regional School District, who would incorporate an acknowledgement ini their Pokanoket history  under a conservation easement, preserving it forever as opens space.  present a substantial municipal composting study.  curriculum.  continued    OFBRIS  TOWN OF BRISTOL  CONSERVATION COMMISSION Department ofCommunity, Development 235 HighStreet, Bristol, Rhode Island Thursday, June 6, 2024 @ 5:30p.m.  ISL  JUNE 2024 MEETING MINUTES, continued  5. Around the Room: Ms. Green mentioned that Rosie Warburton from thet firm Black Earth Compost spoke at the May 29, 2024 Town Council meeting about Black Earth's residential compost pick-up programs and benefits for the Townt to incentivize curbside programs by subsidizing residential compost pickup. Mr. Morettini said that the RI Nursery & Landscape Association (RINLA) is behind the electric powered leaf blower rebate program as proposed by bills ini the General Assembly. Mr. Tanners said that improvements will be made tot the Fales Road boat launch as outlined in RI DEM 6. The next Conservation Commission meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 at! 5:30p.m. 7. Mr. Morettini entertained a motion to adjourn and the meeting ended at 6:52 p.m.  Water Quality Certification (WQC) File #24-076.  qy  pk