03/13/2023 SELECT BOARD Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 Mashpee Select Board Minutes March 13, 2023 APPOINTMENTS & HEARINGS Public Hearingµ Discussion and Vote Relative to the „Removal of Mohamad Fand from wthe Mashpee Community Garden Advisory Committee (Pursuantwto Mashf ee Charter. Section 7 9 . (continued) Lynne Barbee noted the minutes taken by the MCGAC Chair suggest they may have been biased. Now a clerk has been assigned to take the minutes. Town Manager Collins indicated if Mr. Fand was present and feels the minutes are inaccurate, he can attest to that. Mr. Fand stated that none of the minutes are fabricated. They are all accurate. Mohamad Fand attested his testimony would be true and accurate to the best of his knowledge. Mr. Fand heard accusations, but no specifics involving the community garden and the advisory committee stating if there is an overflow, it should be clarified. Mr. Fand asked did I ever infringe on the rules? Mr. Fand responded by stating he would not desist from dumping upside down in the compost bins. The bins were not functional, and all of these actions happened outside of the fenced area. Mr. Fand asked if the MCGAC can you show documentation as to why you as a committee went after me for it? Can you verbally testify he infringed on the garden rules? Ms. Harris stated Mr. Fand encouraged other gardeners to allow their vegetation to grow out into the walkways. Regulations state the plot and its surrounding pathways must be kept free from weeds and trash. Mr. Fand indicated there is only one issue that has to do with discarded waste and not participating to clean up. Mr. Fand made note of Exhibit No. 9 a photograph of the garden he created outside of his garden plot. It was stated the MCGAC only allows gardening within your assigned plot. Mr. Fand asked about the fenced garden, not the community garden of Mashpee. Mr. Fand indicated this area was full of ivy and other overgrown plant material. Some of which he consumes. Mr. Fhad in good faith indicated he has worked to resolve this matter for some time. Margorie Hecht and Lynne Barbee will be discussing this matter of his behalf. Margorie Hecht stated her testimony would be true and accurate to the best of her knowledge. Ms. Hecht read aloud her comments reflected as Exhibit No. 15. Ms. Hecht indicated she was a part of the mediation process when the matter first came up before the Select Board, and it was agreed to abide by the decision reached via mediation under the guidance of the Town Manager. This was thought to be a reasonable compromise. Mr. Fand would agree to resign and keep his garden plot. The MCGAC flatly rejected the offer. Mr. Fand's plot was mowed down during his absence while he was out of the country. The main point was to add due process to the regulations to establish a clear path in the future for handling disagreements with the Town Manager having the ultimate authority. Ms. Hecht stated the MCAGC is a Town committee overseeing a project that is on public land funded by public money. The garden was established to give residents who do not have land, a way to plant food for family use. It is not meant to be a manicured showplace, it is a community garden for the public good. The positive message is to make it clear to all town committees that due process is important. We all have a right to free speech even if they are a minority of one.