2002-10-02
City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board: Parks and Recreation Commission
Subcommittee:
Date: October 2, 2002
Place: Beverly Recreation Department
Board members present: Bruce Doig, David Gardner, Kevin Hobin, Arthur Powell, Elizabeth Caputo, Lisa
McFadden, Patti Adams
Board members absent: Mark Casey, Lauren Young
Others present: Artie Sullivan, Acting Director, Tom Scully
Minutes of previous meetings were accepted as written.
. Montserrat College of Art
Public Art Course teachers were present and discussed program. Would like help in selecting public sites that
have potential for their use. Suggested a review committee be set. Presented a few of the students conceptual
designs. Models will be built. Need Commission's blessing for the concept. Lisa and Kevin have agreed to sit on
the review committee along with Councilor Roger Morency if he is interested. Motion was made to create an arts
review subcommittee to review the proposals for the public art project. Motion carried.
. BARC
Gary Simpson, Bill Collins and Donna Furse from the Lynch Barc SubCommittee made a presentation. Their goal
is to ensure positive community relations by functioning as liaison between pet owners and the city's service
agencies. Described their web site: beverlybarc.com. Written materials, which further detail, their mission and
how they plan to accomplish their goals was distributed. Commission asked if the committee could get a small
group people to be at Lynch early every morning to help monitor the park and help "educate" those dog owners
who may have their dogs off leash.
Discussed the fact that the two existing conflicting ordinances need to be dealt with and that additional issues
beyond cleanup and dogs off leash do exist. Problems, such as, residents afraid of dogs and problems on the
beach and other areas where urine cleanup is impossible. The Commission stated that their responsibility was to
see that Lynch Park be an area that all residents can enjoy and that the needs and the concerns of all of the
residents, the majority of whom do not own dogs, need to be considered. The Commission also explained that
these issues have been discussed for several years and their decision to ban dogs was not made lightly. Both
groups agreed that criteria needs to be set to judge whether or not situation is getting better. Motion was made
to form a sub committee, to include 2 or 3 Commission members empowered to dialog and work out a plan of
action and measure of evaluation. BARC will be contacted when the subcommittee is named. Motion carried with
all in favor.
. A report that Joan faxed from Hawaii was distributed.
ACTING DIRECTOR'S REPORT
. Good Heavens Mrs.Evans: well attended and hugely successful. Over $7000 raised for the roof fund.
. Gillis Park rennovations: about $10,000 raised so far. Councilor Costa been instrumental in finding sponsors.
Installation could be soon.
. Obear Park swings have been purchased.
. Lynch Park Tot structure is unsafe and will be removed as soon as DPW can get to it
. Helli's morning exercise class has relocated at Endicott College Post Center. Seems to be working out well, Helli is
very happy.
. Shannon Wallace has resigned from her office position. For now, Jean Belanger will come in a few days a week
to keep up with the class registration.
. Ahearn Park project is finally finished. A parking area has been paved and posted "park parking 8 am - 7 pm -
violates will be towed" Discussion was held on a suggestion by Councilor Costa who was interested in removing
the signage to allow parking for residents. Commission felt signage should be left as is.
. Discussed a suggestion to move the equipment at Centerville closer to the school. Arthur Powell noted that if the
equipment is installed on school property they will lose $10,000 of funding from the Lynch Trustees.
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Recreation Commission Meeting / Oct 3, 2002
. Discussed annual dinner. Group agreed to return to the Depot on Thursday, Dec 5th at 6:30 pm.
SEAWALL
Arthur Powell reported on seawall project which should be completed by the end of the year. Lynch Trustees have
appropriated up to $200,000 for the project.
LYNCH PARK ADVISORY COMMffiEE
Tom reported that the committee asked 3 companies to make a proposal for Lynch Park Master Plan. Tappe
Associates were selected. Slide presentation of their ideas was viewed and discussed.
Meeting adjourned.
Respecfully submitted,
Gail Carmody
Recreation Department