LPPG
Meeting Minutes
August 13, 2025

Members Present:
Joan Dodd (Jon Dodd via phone), Eliza Reed, Rosanne O’Hara, Liz O’Hara, Annemarie Kavulla, Maureen Brennan, Betsey Lawrence, State Lawrence
Agenda

. Block Party Recap
General feedback: “Good, not great.”

Location and positioning were not ideal; the event display blended into surroundings.
. Bee Boxes Event
Huge success — 30 people in attendance.

Participants made bee boxes and watched My Garden of 1000 Bees.

Positive response from attendees; suggestion to make this an annual event.
Garden Planning: Next Three Months
Business as usual-continue working on mission/strategic plan
Watering
Google Sheets sign-up schedule in place; fully booked until September.

Current rain barrel may be sufficient for now. However Eliza has an additional green rain barrel available for use.
Will require cinder blocks to raise it.
Garden Care Updates
Pumpkin Patch and Memorial Tree require additional nourishment due to dryness.
Mowing
Tom (Bob O backup). to handle mowing duties as needed.
Fall Preparation & Clean-up
Leave beds and pollinator plants intact through winter.

Clean-up to occur in spring.
Educational opportunity: explain reasons for allowing plants to grow through fall and winter.
Seaweed Application-Still under consideration (TBD).

Treasurer Update
Current Balance: $1,010 in the account.
The LPA Board is assessing what type of financial account structure the garden can use.
-Concern about individualized accounts tied directly to the garden due to liability risks.
The committee seeks clear direction from the LPA Board at the next meeting.
-Specifically: guidance on the garden’s organizational structure within LPA.

The committee is open to changing its setup as needed but requires definitive instructions from the board.

Preference expressed for financial separation from the LPA (e.g., for grant opportunities or designated budget line items).

Clarification needed: will the garden receive annual funds, or is the current amount a one-time allocation?

Request to have financial agreements formally documented.

Steering Committee Update
Fall planning is underway for: Branding, messaging, and positioning.
-Potential name change and overall identity update.

Discussions include broader vision for the entire property.
-Potential creation of a Lords Point Nature Center.
-PG (Pollinator Garden) seen as fitting naturally into this larger concept.

No decisions needed in the next 3 months; vision is ongoing.

Property runs approx. 200 feet along the road — future opportunities:
-Pathways
-Shed?Further research and planning to be discussed
-Expanded signage
-Landscape design
Environmental Considerations:
Phragmites have displaced native species and disrupted water flow.

Possible restoration project, including:

Pond

Marsh or bog walk

Controlled eradication (DEEP has run similar programs)
Phragmites are also a fire hazard due to flammability.

Property Development Planning:
Need to confirm if there’s an official survey of the property:

Important for future projects (e.g., formal pathways, grants).

No current visible markers or iron pins.

Potential surveyor: Jay Dempsey.

Task: Conduct proper site plan and identify starting pins.
Eliza will check with Town Hall on: Existing survey documents/Zoning information
Title transfer status for Lords Point

Next Steps:
Remove lighting in garden – Research shows that the best lighting for pollinators is no light. All agreed to remove the lights. (Maureen to collect and store)
Beautifying power station -water company still needs access.
Tall Grasses? Can be transplanted in the fall or spring as things go dormant
Water sources. Stay with one? – possible to tap into city water but would be an expense
-rain barrels are doable-structures that provide run off-upside down garbage pail lids, think tank on google sheets
-run off structure for water collection
-LP association has EIN number in order to buy things wholesale. -Tax write off for donations-opportunity (unrestricted gifts etc)
Should we make cedar boxes the norm for the garden? Different sizes, shapes, and designs but always cedar (no plastic, metal). Keep same uniform material
Plaques: put on hold for now -time to evaluate and strategize branding before plaques are designed
Education events: Guest speakers for summer or fall -education rubric- events can be repeated annually, add links/ideas to think tank on google docs while looking for replacement for Annemarie
Having adult education programs throughout the year (evenings in the fall, plant swaps, seed savings, subcommittee regarding children and adult and summer vs year round Christmas market, etc)
-Who is our target audience? -to be discussed-google think tank

Next Meeting: Mid October timing TBD