Woodlands Partnership

Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2026 Time: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Remote Meeting via Zoom. Members of the public are welcome. Email lhayden@newenglandforestry.org to request the link. Attendees: Woodlands Partnership (WP) Board Members and Public; Project Staff: L. Hayden – Administrative Agent/New England Forestry Foundation; Guest(s): Dr. Jessica Dolan, Ph.D. – Indigenous-Focused Natural & Cultural Inventory Consultant; Heritage Area Consultants: Jessica Atwood, Franklin Regional

Council of Governments; Cornelius Hoss, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission

Agenda Items

Estimated

Time

Key Person(s)

1. Call to order and Welcome

5:30 p.m.

D. Crane – Board Chair

2. Introduction of Guests and Board member Roll Call

5:35 p.m.

L. Hayden – NEFF/Agent

3. Review and approval of November 5, 2025 Board Minutes ^

5:45 p.m.

A. Peteroy – Board Clerk

4. Vote on unanimous Jan. Ex. Com. recommendation to add new voting Board seat for Western Massachusetts Commissioner on Indian Affairs (currently held by Rhonda Anderson) ^

5:50 p.m.

L. Hayden – NEFF/Agent

D. Crane – Board Chair

5. Bylaws Review & Vote to reflect name change & latest members ^

6:00 p.m.

L. Hayden – NEFF/Agent

6. Agent Contract update, transition, Program Director search committee

6:10 p.m.

L. Hayden – Agent, NEFF team

D. Crane – Board Chair

7. Overview of Heritage Area draft Feasibility Study report themes; Board feedback; next steps: public outreach meetings 2026, dialogue with Indigenous Communities; Park Service, Congressional review

6:20 p.m.

L. Hayden, Jessica Dolan, Ph.D., Jessica Atwood, FRCOG, Cornelius Hoss, BRPC

8. Vote on Ex. Com. 5-0 vote to “recommend to Board that the Woodlands Partnership explore National Heritage Area participation and funding sharing arrangements with interested Indigenous communities whose homelands are anywhere in the 21-town region of Northwest Massachusetts in the event annual federal funds are realized from an

approved Heritage Area through the National Park Service.” ^

6:45 p.m.

D. Crane – Board Chair

L. Hayden – NEFF/Agent Jessica Dolan, Ph.D. Board members

9. Agent & Board Chair reports: WP Fund state law corrected; Register for April 9 Ethan Tapper webinar; Voices for Forest projects; tree-planting sites needed by August grant close; USFS practices grant 2-yr extension

6:40 p.m.

L. Hayden – NEFF/Agent

D. Crane – Board Chair

10. Committee & Board Member Updates as Needed: PILOT reform, environmental bond bill; June officer elections; Town & Chair vacancies; Committees’ focus on NHA vision; View from Appalachian Trail

7:10 p.m.

-Sam Haupt, Peru – Municipal Financial Sustainability Com.

-John Waite, FCCDC, NRBED

-Hannah Poplawski, Rowe

11. Any item(s) not anticipated within 48 hours

7:20 p.m.

L. Hayden – NEFF/Agent

12. Public Comment

7:25 p.m.

13. Adjourn

7:30 p.m.

D. Crane – Board Chair