OSRC minutes_4.05.23 City of Beverly Open Space and Recreation Committee
April 5,2023 Meeting Minutes
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CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD: Open Space and Recreation Committee
SUBCOMMITTEE: None
LOCATION: Beverly City Hall Council Chambers
DATE: April 5, 2023
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair David Alden-St. Pierre, Vice Chair David
Brewster, Gregory Sharp, Todd Callaghan, Charlie
Mann, Wayne Miller, Marilyn McCrory, James
Passanisi, Amber Redmond, Alison Dudley (late)
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Elizabeth Dunne
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Ken Clawson, Assistant Director of Planning
OTHERS PRESENT: Mario Tricome of 25 Whitney Avenue
RECORDER: Naomi Moca
1. Call to order
Chair Alden-St.Pierre calls the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
2. Sally Milligan—
a. Update from Conservation Committee meeting
Mann states that he presented the RDA for the Sally Milligan bridge to the Conservation
Commission at the April 4, 2023 meeting. There was concern among the Commissioners about
notching into the bank to build the bridge, so the item was continued. There is a site visit
scheduled on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
3. Norwood Pond
a. Update from Conservation Committee meeting
Mann states that the Norwood Pond White Pine tree removal item at the Conservation
Commission meeting caused concern among the Commissioners due to the mention of a crane
and heavy equipment being used to remove the tree. Mann will report back to the Commission
with a plan for controlling the cutting up and removal of the tree.
The Committee discusses whether the tree removal can be done with hand tools only or with
heavy equipment, as written in the materials presented to the Conservation Commission. The
Committee discusses the timing of the tree removal being after April 25, 2023, the date of the
next Conservation Commission meeting, and Mann recommends conducting the tree removal in
the fall when the water is shallower.
Chair Alden-St. Pierre summarizes the potential Notice of Intent(NOI) for trail work that has
been an ongoing discussion for around a year. The Committee discusses that the NOI item has
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City of Beverly Open Space and Recreation Committee
April 5,2023 Meeting Minutes
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not been on the agenda because there were no changes or updates, and thus it fell off the agenda.
The Committee discusses that even if there are no updates or changes on agenda topics, it may be
appropriate to keep them on the agenda.
7:13 p.m. Dudley arrives
Clawson and the Committee discuss that it is required to keep the discussion focused on the
current topic of the agenda.
Clawson agrees to investigate if the funding is already in place to finalize the three kiosks for
Sally Milligan. The Committee discusses cutting and assembling the kiosks off site. The
Committee members observe that a trail was slightly redirected at Sally Milligan to keep anyone
from riding across the soccer field and to keep all parties safe. Tricome states that he observed
that the field dried quickly after a recent rain.
Materials added to the record:
• Massachusetts Stream Crossings Handbook, Division of Ecological Restoration
4. Earth Day
a. City and Green Beverly Event:
Dudley states that she explored collaborating with the Green Team at her daughter's school to
brainstorm ideas for Earth Day. Tricome states that he plans to bring his Scout troop to clean up
the trails, provided the weather allows.
The Committee discusses that Earth Day being on April 22 does not necessarily mean that an
event has to occur on that exact day. The Committee agrees on Sunday,May 7, 2023 at 9 a.m. to
gather volunteers to pick up trash on the trails, and names the event"Field Work."The
Committee discusses the two locations of the cleanup being Norwood Pond,with volunteers
meeting at trail head at the end of Elnew Avenue, and Green's Hill along the Bass River with
volunteers meeting at the kiosk at Ayers Ryal Side school. The Committee discusses the
equipment needed,proper marking and disposal of discarded hypodermic needles,precautions
against ticks, and publicity channels for the event such as Ward 5 Councilor Kathy Feldman and
City Sustainability Director Erina Keefe.
5. Updates from other boards and commissions
a. Community Preservation Committee (CPC):
McCrory states that the Community Preservation Committee approved four of the five projects
for funding. The pickleball courts funding item was continued. The CPC members were filled in
on the discussion that occurred at the meeting between residents of the Birch Plains
neighborhood and the City Hall staff about the proposed pickleball courts.
b. Harbor Management Authority:
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City of Beverly Open Space and Recreation Committee
April 5,2023 Meeting Minutes
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Callaghan states that no new kayak racks have been built, and that Gillis Park currently has one
rack, and Lynch Park has two. Callaghan states that there is Conservation Commission approval
and funding to buy more racks, that no more racks will be constructed at Independence Park due
to some concerned feedback from citizens, and states that there is a backlog of people who
would like to use the racks.
Callaghan states that he has entered Phase III for public access signage and states that he
welcomes suggestions for signs to go on the waterfront. Mann suggests a sign located at the end
of Congress Street may be appropriate.
Callaghan summarizes a recent event on Sunday April 3, 2023, where once a year public access
to the pier is granted to local scientists to study and spawn nudibranch. Nudibranchs are a group
of soft-bodied marine gastropod molluscs that shed their shells after their larval stage and are
often called"sea slugs."
c. Conservation Commission:
Redmond summarizes the Commission meeting discussion on April 4, 2023, including the tree
removal at Norwood Pond and the Sally Milligan site visit. Redmond states that the Commission
is working with the Planning Department to spend down some funds in reserve on a part-time
Field Assistant position. The job description has been drafted but not posted, and the
Commission is still researching the funding.
The Committee discusses the organizational format of future agendas, such as being based on
Ward, issue, or committee/commission. The Committee discusses standing agenda bullet items,
such as public outreach and engagement, a checklist of locations and trails to update or discuss,
feedback from the public, vandalism, open space, easements, and encroachment policy. The
Committee discusses bringing back agenda items such as Simon Street, which is a project
entailing two lots owned by the City to be used for recreation and open space.
The Committee discusses the open slot in the Committee to be filled by a Parks and Recreation
representative,parking on Grover Street and Webster Avenue, and the trend of mountain bikers
excavating dirt to build jumps on the trails. Chair Alden-St. Pierre states that he attended a recent
New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA) event where dirt bike skills practice parks
were a popular topic.
The Committee discusses inviting the Mayor to the next meeting.
6. Adjourn
Brewster: Motion to adjourn. Callaghan seconds. Motion carries (9-0).
Meeting adjourns 8:22 p.m.
Next meeting: May 3,2023 at 7:00 p.m.
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