Beautification Committee Meeting

Beautification Committee Minutes​ Tuesday, Oct 21st, 2025​ Location In person at Johnson Municipal Building and Remote on Zoom Members (P=Present; A=Absent; R=Remote)​ Adrienne Parker P OPEN SEAT A Blake Parker P Kyle Nuse A Lauren Phille P Jo Marsan P After Meeting Action Items ​ Meet on Sunday at 11am at the Cold Spring to remove planters and work on the plantings. ​ Create a rolling mini-grant program with a $500 budget, allowing community members to apply for beautification funds throughout the year.​ 6:00 – Call to Order & Adjustments Adrienne calls the meeting to order at 6:00pm and asks for any additions or adjustments to the agenda. The group puts together two large wreaths to be hung up on the covered bridge by the town public works. Budget Planning and Maintenance Challenges The group discusses the high cost of plants and the need for donations to save money. Jo shares experiences with expensive plants and soil, suggesting donations to reduce costs. The group discussed the challenges of maintaining flowers and the impact of drought and poor soil quality. A proposal was made for an "adopt a spot" system to distribute responsibilities among community members. Community Engagement and Adoption Program A suggestion was made to leverage community help through an "adopt a spot" program. The importance of community commitment and the potential for volunteers to adopt and maintain specific spots was discussed. The need for clear communication and flexibility to accommodate vacation schedules was emphasized. It was proposed to have one person as a coordinator for the community adoption program. Lauren volunteered to be coordinator. Budget Allocation and Grant Applications The group discussed the budget allocation for flowers, mini grants, and decorations. A suggestion was made to prioritize grant-fundable projects to avoid spending the entire budget. The process of applying for grants under $5,000 and the need for approval from the select board for larger grants was explained. Someone mentioned the need to organize a way for people to donate items and the balance between spending the budget and saving for future projects. Community Beautification Ideas and Projects Potential projects like redesigning village flower beds and installing wayfinding signage were discussed. It was suggested to focus on high-impact projects that add value to the town. A proposal was made to use fake plants for areas with limited water and light. The group discussed the challenges of maintaining certain areas and the potential for community involvement in projects. Maintenance and Volunteer Involvement The need for ongoing maintenance and the challenges of volunteer labor were discussed. The importance of advocacy and the need for the town to prioritize beautification efforts was emphasized. Someone mentioned the need for better maintenance of areas like the River Street Bridge and the village green. It was suggested to reach out to other committees for potential collaboration on maintenance projects. Finalizing Budget and Action Items A budget of $1,500 for flowers, $500 for mini grants, and $500 for decorations was proposed. The need for perennials around the Cold Spring and the potential for larger trees and shrubs was discussed. Challenges of maintaining certain areas and the potential for community involvement in projects were discussed. The meeting concludes with plans to schedule a day to remove planters and flowers from various locations.