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OSRC minutes_06.07 City of Beverly Open Space and Recreation Committee June 7, 2023 Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 4 CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD: Open Space and Recreation Committee SUBCOMMITTEE: None LOCATION: Beverly City Hall Council Chambers DATE: June 7, 2023 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair David Alden-St. Pierre, Vice Chair David Brewster, Amber Redmond, Wayne Miller, Gregory Sharp, Todd Callaghan, Charlie Mann, James Passanisi (7:26), Alison Dudley, Elizabeth Dunne BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Marilyn McCrory STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Ken Clawson OTHERS PRESENT: Mike Habich, Ryan Whiting, Jessica Kagle RECORDER: Brett Bauer 1. Call to order Chair Alden-St.Pierre calls the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. 2. Public Comment a. Eagle Scout, Ryan Whiting, presents a trail sign project for the JC Philips Reserve. He proposes one post with two signs at each trail intersection. Some history is provided of the significance of the trail names. A metal dowel will be put through the bottom of the post to make them more difficult to remove. Miller requests that they add a north directional arrow to the sign. Alden-St. Pierre adds that the intent is to match the Trustees' signs at Moraine Farm. Miller asks if they can include a QR code on the signs. Callaghan clarifies that if the land is owned by Parks & Recreation, the Parks & Recreation committee may want to review the signs. Whiting notes the expected timeline is to have the signs installed by September. Callaghan asks if the Trustees are requesting signs to match their sign colors. Whiting is uncertain. Clawson will check if the Conservation Commission approval is needed. b. Mike Habich is in attendance to discuss ways to keep the Pole Swamp Lane area as open space and to connect the existing Right-Of-Way (ROW) to Valley Street. Materials added to the record: • Map of Pole Swamp Area Deeley is the owner of the parcel adjacent to the city-owned open space to the north. Greenbelt Conservation Restrictions have been granted across portions of the Deeley parcel, including a ROW to the city-owned land. Mann notes that the Mayor had been in conversations to connect this public access but they got stalled out. 1 City of Beverly Open Space and Recreation Committee June 7, 2023 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 4 7:26 p.m. Passanisi arrives. Habich has searched through the deeds but has not found any easements or anything to indicate a ROW. Clawson notes that the city's GIS indicates that a ROW from Valley Street exists but does not know how legal documentation would be found. Mann notes that the easiest connection would be across the Williams property, which sits between the Deeley property and Valley Street. Habich notes that the Williams property is held in a trust, and that the elder Ben Williams had maintained portions of a trail to the open space when he resided on the property, so the family may be amenable to an easement. It is noted that the Deeleys have a contentious relationship with the city. There is some discussion about how best to approach the Williams family and who would be best to contact. It is noted that someone should also check with Greenbelt. C. Jessica Kagle, founder of Kestrel, is in attendance to discuss the use of Camp Paradise for her organization. She is looking for a partnership with the city to use part of the space to house Kestrel's staff and gear. It would be helpful to find a space with access to wetlands. She is requesting a letter of support from the OSRC to use Camp Paradise. The property is ultimately under the Parks and Recreation department. Kagle notes that their organization aims to connect school groups with wildlife and wild places, and it is entirely project-based learning. Miller asks about how their program is funded. Kagle responds that it is mostly grants, but also from camp programs and self-funded school programs. She hopes to offer programs to all Beverly schools but they need a site with access to bathrooms to host students for anything longer than 45 minutes. It is noted that Parks and Recreation is concerned about the organization's finances, and the City Solicitor has expressed concerns regarding allowed uses on Article 97 lands. Miller suggests Kagle contacts the city's sustainability coordinator, Green Beverly, and the chair of the Community Preservation Committee. Mann motions to approve a letter supporting Kestrel's public education about open spaces in Beverly. Dudley seconds. The motion is approved, 10-0. Dudley offers to draft the letter. 3. Public Outreach Alden-St. Pierre reports that open space programs are being promoted online. 4. Updates from Boards and Commissions: a. Planning Board Miller has no updates. b. Conservation Committee Redmond reports that the city has submitted an NOI to demolish the Rowands building. Some concerns about parking were voiced at the ConComm. The demolition will leave just the foundation. Crushed stone will be added such that no additional paving will be needed. c. Community Preservation Committee 2 City of Beverly Open Space and Recreation Committee June 7, 2023 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 4 Alden-St. Pierre announces that McCrory will be leaving the CPC and wants to know if anyone would like to take her place as liaison to that committee. d. Harbor Management Authority Callaghan notes that he still needs to finish his report on updating signs for the HMA. He adds that one change will be no way-finding sign to Rice's Beach. Clawson adds that the city's stance on Rice's Beach is not to discourage access, but not to actively encourage it, as the public access is only a 40' ROW down the middle of the beach. e. Parks & Recreation Commission Clawson has no updates. 5. Open Space Conditions/Issues a. Ward 1 Brewster reports that issues are ongoing re: 27 and 27A. b. Ward 2 The Giles Park project is just about completed. c. Ward 3 No updates. d. Ward 4 Sally Milligan Nature Reserve is getting a map and kiosks finalized. e. Ward 5 They are waiting for Iron Tree to remove a fallen pine from an open space. f. Ward 6 Miller reports that holes in a bike trail are becoming filled with plastic bottles. Because this trail is on private land, there is little they can do about enforcement. The group has no concerns about the jumps that were built, but the holes are seen as a dangerous hazard. Miller will talk again with the culprits, but that is all they can do. 6. Staff Updates a. Bass River District Resiliency Study Materials added to the record: • Bass River District Resiliency Study flier A meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 131h. 3 City of Beverly Open Space and Recreation Committee June 7, 2023 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 4 b. Encroachment policy Clawson reports that they can send a letter to property owners about encroachment issues, but there is no mechanism for enforcement. He adds that the city is interested in pursuing encroachment issues, but only up to a point. Alden-St. Pierre would like to get further input from the Planning Director or City Solicitor. c. NOI for trail work Clawson will connect with Essex GreenBelt for assistance. d. Easements/Parcels of Interest Pole Swamp area discussed earlier in the meeting. No other updates. Other Announcements Callaghan reports that he believes the Bass River dredging project is not moving forward. Clawson reports that staff had an open meeting law training and that specific items for discussion with addresses need to be added to the agenda rather than having general space holders. There is some discussion about the utility of space holders on the agenda. Clawson will seek further guidance. 7. Approval of minutes No drafts of minutes pending approval at this time. 8. Adjourn Miller motions to adjourn. Brewster seconds. The motion is approved, 10-0. Meeting adjourns 9:00 p.m. Next meeting: July 5, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. 4