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OSRC minutes_ 09.07 CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD: Open Space and Recreation Committee SUBCOMMITTEE: None LOCATION: City Hall; Council Chambers DATE: September 7, 2022 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: David Alden-St. Pierre (Chair), David Brewster(Vice Chair), Elizabeth Dunne, Gregory Sharp, Marilyn McCrory, Wayne Miller, Charlie Mann, Alison Dudley,James Passanisi BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Todd Callaghan; Robin Didinado, Parks & Recreation Representative STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Victoria Healey, Associate Planner OTHERS PRESENT: Todd Rotondo, Ward 1 Councilor RECORDER: Sharlyne Woodbury 1. Call to Order Alden chairs and opens the meeting at 7:05 p.m. This is a hybrid meeting with special meeting format as required to honor Governor Baker's Executive Order declared due to the national crisis of COVID-19. 2. Discuss Principal Items of Business a. Community Preservation Committee— Representative Report McCrory provides the updates. September 29,2022 7-9 pm is the CPC meeting to discuss funding round with preapplications due October 27, 2022. Those deemed eligible will be invited to submit full applications. CPC recently published a CPA plan with updates from 2022. Healey provided the OSRC updates to McCrory. Those updates are included in the CPA plan as an abbreviated description for the OSRC goals. b. Planning Board— Representative Report No updates at this time. Members will discuss at the next meeting. c. Harbor Management Authority Updates— Representative Report No updates at this time. Members will discuss at the next meeting. d. Conservation Commission— Representative Report No updates at this time. Members will discuss at the next meeting. Sidebar: Brewster asks Ward 1 Councilor if he has anything. Councilor Rotondo discusses the Lindsey Park eligibility to create a community garden. They are looking to coordinate with Ward 1 Civic Association. This project has mayoral support. Green Open Space&Recreation Committee September 7,2022 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 4 Beverly is interested in assisting with the community garden creation. Future projects include mobile food markets, donations to Apple Village, Beverly Bootstraps, etc. A water source is presently owned by the city to assist with irrigation. Brief discussion on the easement connecting Apple Village to the County Way extension. 3. Annual Report to City Council Simon street parcels, Moraine Farm, green street progress. Members discuss the completed projects to include for the report. Alden will create a draft summary list for the report. Included in the report will be concerns from first responder Captain Matt Hart. Their primary hope would be the trails are better marked and maps updated. Currently waiting on new GIS person to ensure the first responders have access to updated maps on their IPADs. Miller is also happy to speak with the GIS regarding the app "What 3 Words". 4. Scott Hufford— Bass River Loop Green's Hill signage Rotondo serves on the HMA alongside member Todd Callaghan. He discusses the loose parcels related to the disconnected pieces of the Emerald necklace. They will meet with the owner to determine how best to connect the trails. S. Sally Milligan Bridge RDA Healey provides the updates. This item can be on the meeting for the Conservation Commission (ConsCom) if they will pay for the legal add for the RDA. Next steps are determining funding for the bridge. Healey has a meeting with MassTrails 9/15/22. The application was not accepted. The issue with the application rejected because the bridge would be more than what the current needs are; part of which includes ADA accessibility. Healey suggests applying to CPC for funding. Mann suggests looking into the Norwood Pond Trails funding. Alden notes that funding is only for Norwood Pond. Alden suggests first step is to get the bridge approved. There is potential to seek funding from NMBA (New England Mountain Bike Association). Current bridge condition is a plank. 6. Eagle Scout project(s) presentations/updates Healey sent correspondence to Sebastian Brouillette for his project, which he has permission. Alden will meet with Trabulsi to further discuss the status of his project. Sidebar: Miller brings up Greenwood trails that are badly worn down and suggests really closing them down. Members are concerned the public will create their own trails. Miller notes people are blocking trails for a variety of reasons. The trails are eroding and require maintenance. Members discuss best methods. Mann discusses the connectivity from the hair salon to the Bass River behind Starbucks. Rotondo and HMA are working to establish the connectivity. Open Space&Recreation Committee September 7,2022 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 4 7. Norwood Trail Update Mann provides the updates. The paperwork started. Mann is researching a surveyor in order to complete the NOI. Sidebar: Alden asked if there are any updates on the Open Space Plan. Healey submitted the plan to Melissa Cryan at the state 7/15/22. Communication as of August from Cryan noted review will not be completed until later in the fall. McCrory inquired if there is a letter from the state confirming the plan is not reviewed but still eligible for funding. The project still in holding pattern. 8. Parking Discussion: concerns for open space and recreation access Mann informs the committee the Waring School increasingly is seen as a default parking lot for the public to use trails. Alden reviewed parking at most parks and open spaces. Parking was found inadequate for demand. JC Phillips has decent parking compared to other open spaces. Miller inquires if once Moraine Farm is open to the public, will the public be able to access more parking thru the farm. Mann discusses the possibilities. Members discuss what best options are available to assist with parking. Continued collaboration with schools, city signage directing parking, are minimal options. Mann suggests the committee mark on maps and make suggestions where the city could manage parking for those open spaces and locations most used by the public. Alden asks the members if there would any areas where the residents would have pushback on increased parking. Rotondo suggests collaborating with the Parking &Traffic Commission, Sgt Michael Henebury for these areas and concerns. Brewster notes the biggest parking issue is the base of the Beverly Salem bridge. Sidebar: Healey informs members there are no Endicott Trail updates and no updates on the blanket approval NOI form from ConsCom. Dudley informs the members there is a meeting September 8, 2022 for the Simon Street park with the abutters. She will provide updates after the meeting. Healey informs the members pickleball received a $200,000 grant. Funding to be used at Birch Plains (near soccer fields by the Beverly Airport). They must go before ConsCom for approval since the land is contaminated. 9. Approval of Meeting Minutes a. May 4, 2022 Motion: Mann moves to approve the minutes as presented. Miller seconds. The motion carries 9-0. Open Space&Recreation Committee September 7,2022 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 4 b. June 1, 2022 Motion: Mann moves to approve the minutes as amended. Miller Seconds. The motion carries 9-0. c. July 6, 2022 Motion: Dudley moves to approve the minutes as amended. Miller Seconds. The motion carries 9-0. 10. Adjourn Motion: Brewster moves to adjourn. Miller seconds. The motion carries 9-0. Meeting adjourned 8:50 p.m. Next Meeting: October 5, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.