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9-2-20 OSRC minutes - FINALCITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD: Open Space and Recreation Committee SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: September 2, 2020 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Charlie Mann (Chair), David Brewster (Vice Chair), David Alden-St. Pierre, Todd Callaghan, Elizabeth Dunne, Marilyn McCrory, Wayne Miller, Gregory Sharp BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Jenna Pirrotta, Environmental Planner OTHERS PRESENT: Nathan Currie; Eric Swanzey RECORDER: Sharlyne Woodbury Mann chairs and opens the meeting at 7:07 p.m. This is a remotely held meeting, in accordance with Open Meeting Law allowances by Governor Order during the State of Emergency due to the national crisis of COVID-19. 2.Members of the public opportunity to address the Committee Nathan Currie and Mann discuss their findings from a recent walk through a proposed new trail section at Sally Milligan Park. Members discuss the new trail route and appreciate efforts to minimize disturbance. Mann will provide flagging tape for Currie to mark the new trail. Members agree to walk the new trail at their own leisure after it is flagged and to provide additional feedback. 3.Approval of Minutes Callaghan moves to approve the July 8, 2020 minutes as presented. Alden-St. Pierre seconds. The motion carries 6-0-2. McCrory and Sharp abstain. 4.Principal Items of Business a.Community Preservation Committee Representative Report McCrory provides updates on Community Preservation Committee (CPC) activities. McCrory discusses the Briscoe Village for the Arts and Seniors project detailing the project progression. CPC approved funding for a housing program which the City Council approved. The annual public hearing is planned for October 8, 2020 and pre-applications are due October 29, 2020. McCrory notes there is a $610,759 balance for open space activities. b.Planning Board Representative Report Miller reports there are no updates at this time. The final Master Plan recommendations are still delayed due to COVID-19. The Planning Board is aware of concerns expressed from varying Open Space & Recreation Committee September 2, 2020 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 4  municipal committees (including the Open Space and Recreation Committee) and the public regarding extending the timeline. c.Conservation Commission Representative Report i.Bass River Moynihan Lumber Mann notes that the potential easement space is not as wide as originally thought, behind the concrete blocks. Conservation Commission regarding creation of a pedestrian easement. ii.Dunham Road/Norwood Pond Pirrotta provides on the revised proposal at Dunham Road. Letters of concern by the public and the Committee were submitted to the Conservation Commission regarding the earlier proposed commercial building. The proposal was changed from construction of a commercial building and parking area to a paved materials storage area. Members discuss the paving and particularly the stormwater drainage and how it affects the wetlands. Brewster and Callaghan express encouraging vegetated swales and measures to minimize stormwater impacts. Mann informs the Committee the project engineers should have a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) for the site. Pirrotta provides details on the plan and notes the locations of wetlands resource areas including the 100-Foot No Disturbance Zone associated with the vernal pools. iii.Waring School encroachment Members discuss the encroachment on City property and note the property is held in public trust, with the purpose of the property to be kept for conservation and passive activities. Lawrence Coolidge, representing the estate of the donor of the land, wrote a strongly worded letter to the mayor regarding the need for the City to uphold obligations and remove the encroachment. Mann will circulate a copy of the letter to members. Members discuss next steps including submitting a letter to the Solicitors Office to take up the encroachment with Waring School. Members further discuss the legalities and lack of City response. Miller inquires if there is a compromise to satisfy both parties and members note concerns with no resolution over many years. Sharp moves to submit a letter to the City Solicitor regarding removal of the Waring School encroachment on City property. Alden-St. Pierre seconds. The motion carries 7-1. Miller dissents. Mann will draft the letter. d.Parcel Updates i.Green Street Updates 27A - The meeting with the Mayor and property owner from before the declaration of the State of Emergency mayor still needs to be rescheduled and the date is pending. 27X Pirrotta reports that to work preparing public schools for the return of students, but that volunteer effort could be used to complete portions of the work prior to DPS completing the work on the retaining wall, such as install of signage and placement of logs or other features highlighting the trailhead area. Open Space & Recreation Committee September 2, 2020 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 4  ii.Bass River Denise Deschamps, Economic Planner, was previously in contact with members of the Bass River Yacht Club regarding potential parcel acquisition, with no updates to report. 5.Trail Subcommittee a.Update & next steps Members agree they will use the generic email address as the main contact for the public to note any comments, questions, and/or concerns as well as establish a single point of contact for any trails issues. b.Bald Hill Trails Pirrotta recaps the meeting at the Bald Hill property and concerns raised with unauthorized creation of trail features and other destruction. Pirrotta reports there have not been additional complaints in the area for illegal activities, but that property owners have been directed to call police if there are fires or any other unauthorized activities. There is no further action for the Committee to take at this time. 6.Other Business & Updates a.Master Plan Comments and Updates b.Public Outreach Alden-St. Pierre notes that he continues to provide updates to the Committee Facebook account and Beverly Trails Instagram, sharing relevant photographs at different Open Space properties and positive messaging. c.Membership Reappointments Temporary appointments were put forth by the Mayor for Sharp, Mann, and Callaghan as they are mayoral appointees with terms that are up for renewal. Pirrotta has contacted Ward Councilors regarding Alden- Alden-St. Pierre was already reappointed and McCrory has a temporary reappointment. Brewster moves to nominate McCrory for reappointment as the Open Space and Recreation Committee representative on the Community Preservation Committee. Callaghan seconds. The motion carries 8-0. 7.Future Agenda Items Open Space & Recreation Committee September 2, 2020 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 4  Potential guests for future meetings: Sandy Pearl from Science & Engineering Educational Development (SEED) and Rick Grandoni from Change is Simple. Adjournment Miller moves to adjourn meeting at 8:30 p.m. Callaghan seconds. The motion carries 8-0. Next Meeting: October 7, 2020, 7:00 p.m.