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2000-10-02City of Beverly Public Meeting Minutes BOARD: Open Space and Recreation Committee SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: October 2, 2000 PLACE: Beverly Public Library MEMBERS PRESENT: David Gardner, Charles Raymond, Cynthia Modugno, Robert Buchshaum, Kathern Tracy, Guido Lauranzano, Richard Baker, Ellen Flannery, William Squibb Anthony Paluzzi MEMBERS ABSENT: ALSO PRESENT: RECORDER: Karen Bradley Gardner calls the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. and asks if members have any suggested changes to the draft minutes of the committee's September 11, 2000 regular meetiag. There are no suggested changes. Baker: motion to approve the minutes of the committee's September 11, 2000 meeting, seconded by Tracy. All members in favor, motion carries. In Cassidy's absence, Gardner updates the committee on development of the open space and recreation plan. Cassidy expects to have a very rough draft for distribution next week and would like to discuss at next month's meeting. Gardner explains that one of the sections that needs to be completed is a list of properties prioritized for acquisition during the five-year period of the plan. The selection of the 2nd Tier Sites will be key in completion of this section and Csssidy suggests this be on the agenda for the November meeting. Gardner next explains that a second appraisal has been obtained for the Crosby property. Cassidy plans to review the two appraisals with the Mayor and facilitate negotiation with the property owners for acquisition of the property. Gardner explains that the land forum is set for October 4, 2000 at 7:00 p.m. at Beverly High School. A total of 200 homeowners have been invited. Cassidy has received 24 responses from property owners indicating they will attend, 16 others have indicated they will not be attending. Gardner explains that the Master Plan Steering Committee has postponed choosing dates for the public meetings in order to review and decide on a structure for the series of hearings. Once the hearing dates are finalized by the Master Plan Steering Committee, a list of the meetings and topics will be forwarded to the Open Space and Recreation Committee. Open Space and Reereation Committee minutes October 2, 2000 Page two Gardner next explains that the Santin dedication/open space walk is scheduled for either October 21st or October 28th. Cassidy is still waiting for word from Mr. Santin on whether he and his family are able to attend. Cassidy hopes for the October 21st date, using October 28th as the raindate. Buchshaum suggests the dedication begin at 2:00 p.m. with the walk to follow. He states he will plan the walk to be approximstely one hour in length. Gardner asks if there are any questions on Cassidy's report Renee Mary asks if the land forum is open to the public. Gardner answers that it is open to the public, but has not been advertised. He explains that the forum has been set up as an informational meeting for the Iandowners that were invited to attend. The Committee then reviews the subcommittee reports. Trails: Charles Raymond and Guido Laurenzano. Lauranzano explains that he, Raymond and Renee Mary went out on the historic trail; Witch Lane, starting from Tall Tree Drive. He explains that the intent of this walk was to identify the trails and then map them out. They were alarmed that some of the trails are rapidly disappearing. They also discovered no trespassing signs at certain points of the trail as well as fallen trees along the trail These discoveries have raised the concern that there are no general guidelines in place defining what constitutes a trail, as well as what the public rights are with regard to a trail, etc. Lauranzano suggests to the committee that completing guidelines should be a task for the Open Space and Recreation Committee. The trails subcommittee will speak with Cassidy to acquire more information for the guidelines. Buchsbaum states that there have been similar cases elsewhere. He makes reference to the Town of Rockport. He is of the opinion that the City should be able to ascertain what rights the public has in these rights of way. Gardner suggests putting together a list of sites that are being encroached upon by neighboring homeowners and request the City Solioitor to investigate the sites. Baker: Motion to request survey and opinion of the City Solicitor on the public's right to Witch Lane, Pole Swamp Lane, and Branch Lane, seconded by Buchsbaum. All members in favor, motion carries. Raymond states that he has received a map for the south side of the Norwood Pond campus. Raymond and Lauranzano will finalize the mapping for Norwood Pond. Baker volunteers to assist with the mapping of that area. Baker suggests marking out boundaries of city-owned trails in certain areas of the city. Buchsbanm suggests organizing a citywide school contest for the design of the trail marker. Buchsbaum states that his wife is a teacher in the city and will discuss possible ideas with her. Open Space and Recreation Committees October 2, 2O00 Page three Regional: Cindy Modugno and Robert Buchsbaum. Nothing to report at this time. Modugno states that she will contact surrounding communities to set up some meetings for the possibility of connecting trails between these communities. Master Plan and Zoning: Ellen Flannery, Tony Paluzzi, and Bill Squibb. Flannery states there is nothing to report this month. Trees: Kathern Tracy. Tracy explains that she has contacted Jim Goslin of Outdoor Exploration in Boston. His organization assists communities on site layouts. She submitted information on the Phillips Estate and they did not feel it was a big enough project for them to take on. She explains that Outdoor Exploration searches out projects that would require 3 to 5 days. They expressed an interest in teh newer acquisitions and will coordinate the Committee in the spring. Tracy states that she has not contacted any organizations such as the Boy Scouts for any clean-up projects. Gardner asks each Ward Representative to make a list of projects within each ward and the Committee will discuss at next meeting. At that point, Tracy will contact various organizations for volunteer work. Cahill states that Endicott College would be a good source for volunteers to complete clean-up projects. Inventory: Richard Baker and David Gardner. Baker explains that both public and institutional lands and the properties of conservation protection interest (2nd Tier Sites) are now on the same computer base. He also states that he updated the original map including property ownership based on information from Cassidy. He is waiting to print out those maps. Coastal Zone Managemeut should be able to print out the their maps this week. Next, Gardner addresses the Election of Officers. Gardner, Buchsbaum and Tracy state that they would like to continue in their respective positions as Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Recording Secretary. Flannery: Motion to nominate Gardner, Buchsbaum, and Tracy to their respective positions for a second term, seconded by Baker. All members in favor, motion carries. Gardner explains that he and Cassidy discussed a report that the Norwood Pond Commission published in June that recommends that the specifics on which types of active and passive recreation be decided by both the Parks and Recreation Commission and Open Space and Recreation Committee. He has asked Cassidy for a formal request for the Committee's input and states that the members should think about how to utilize this open space. Baker asks what the process is to put a conservation restriction on the property. Buchsbaum explains that in order to put a conservation restriction on the property, you have to receive approval from both the City of Beverly and the State of Massachusetts. Buchsbaum refers to a handout given to Committee members explaining conservation restrictions. He further expisins that to get a property out of conservation restriction is much more involved. Open Space and Recreation Committee minutes October 2, 2000 Page four Cahill explains the DEM spending cap to the City of Beverly. After negotiations, the State committed to making $1.2 million available to the City of Beverly. The City is in the process of determining where this money will be spent. Cahill mentions the Hill Estate and Greens Hill as possibilities for where some of this money could be spent. Scully asks Cahill where the Commnnlty Preservation Act stands. Cahill explains that this law was passed a few weeks ago. It will provide just under $25 million for matching grants annually for the entire State of Massachusetts. Gardner next addresses the October reporrt to the City Council. He plans to send the City Council a letter stating accomplishments by the Committee over the last six months. Committee members are in agreement to include: 1. Finalized the Open Space inventory. 2. Identified some of the 2nd Tier Sites. 3. Update on the Land Forum 4. Trails sub-committee progress and grant application. 5. Regional sub-committee attended conference. 6. Trees sub-committee pursing public participation and grants. 7. Santin acquisition and upcoming site dedication and open space walk. 8. Include complete set of updated maps. Gardner next dicusses year-end goals for the Committee. He states that Cassidy would like to see properties prioritized for acquisition during the five-year open space plan. Gardner would like to finalize the 2nd Tier Sites at the next meeting. Cahill states that the Norwood Pond issue should be a consideration for the next few meetings. Buchsbaum states that getting a head start on the Community Preservation Act would be a good idea in order to get any funds that are available. Cahill explains that the details have to be finalized by the State and he will forward that information to the Committee when it becomes available. Squibb asks is there was any public access on Moraine Farm and the Phillips Estate. Renee Mary states that there is public access and there should be linkage between the two properties. Cahill states that the Essex County Greenbelt Association is working with the owners for better public access and linkage of the two properties. He also explains that the City has negotiated with the property owners of Moraine Farm to install a soccer field. He states that it is still pending and needs proper attention from the City to pursue the design and installation of the field. Gardner asks the Committee to review that map at this time to formalize 2nd Tier Sites. Flannery suggests that each Ward representative should submit a list of sites for their respective Ward. Buchsbaum refers back to the September minutes and reads the 2nd Tier Sites listed for each Open Space and Recreation Committee minutes October 2, 2000 Page five Ward. Gardner states that each Ward representative should have their lists prepared including reasons why each site is of importance for the November meeting. Once the 2nd Tier Sites are finalized, each Ward Representative will organize public meetings to seek public participation that would like to volunteer. Baker will leave copies of map by Ward in the Planning Department for Ward Representatives to pick up. Beverly resident, Mary Rodrick states that preservation of open space should also protect the water supply. She states that the protection of Johnson Tree Farm should be a high priority since the water runoff from that property flows into the Longham Reservoir. She also mentions the historic importance of the Witch Lane and that this site should be another high priority site. Gardner asks if there are any other matters for members to discuss at this meeting. There are none. Gardner states the dates for the next two meetings will be November 6, 2000 and December 4, 2000. Tracy: motion to adjourn, seconded by Flannery. All members in favor, motion carries. The meeting is adjourned at 8:50 p.m.