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2002-05-06City of Beverly, Massachusetts Public Meeting Minutes BOARD: Open Space and Recreation Committee SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: May 6, 2002 PLACE: Beverly Library BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: David Gardner (Chairman), Charles Raymond, Kathern Tracey, Bill Squibb, Cindy Modugno, Kathleen Skrabut, Elizabeth Dunn, Robert Buchsbaum, Ellen Flannery ABSENT: Anthony Paluzzi OTHERS PRESENT: City Planner Debra Hurlburt RECORDER: Jeannine Dion Chairperson Gardner calls the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Old Business Acceptance of Meeting Minutes Skrabut: Motion to accept the April 1, 2002 meeting minutes as written, seconded by Tracey. All members in favor, no one in opposition. Motion carries. Old Business Signage – Streets and Woodlands Dunn states she has received more information regarding commercial signs. She has spoken with Mike Collins regarding signage along the streets. Collins informs Dunn that there are regulations, which must be adhered to. She recommends that the committee decide if it wants different signs for different trails. Buchsbaum recommends color-coded signs for trails. Hurlburt states that Salem uses a marker identifying a specific bird, which comes from that habitat. There is discussion regarding the use of the “Hannah” for signs. Gardner recommends discussing the following at the next meeting: · Using the “Hannah” for signs · Cost for blazes Open Space and Recreation Committee Minutes May 6, 2002 Page 2 Mission Statement Tracey will E-Mail the current version of the Mission Statement for members’ comments and the committee will discuss at the next meeting. Action Plan Update To be discussed at the next meeting. Earth Day Report Skrabut reports that she conducted a walk on Earth Day and eight people accompanied her. She states that a larger number of people would have been great, but the people had a great time. She was astonished by the amount of trash the group collected. Buchsbaum reports that he walked the Norwood Pond area with two groups. The first group scooped and picked out tadpoles out of a vernal pool. The second group found another vernal pool. Modugno reports that later in the day at the kiosk, there were lots of people, animals and information. The only drawback was that there were no handouts and everything had to be purchased. New Business Trails Modugno introduces Mr. Dana Hansen, Chairman of the Chebacco Woods Land Management Committee. Hansen states that he was Chairman of the Chebacco Woods Land Management Committee and he felt the best approach to developing the map was to ask “Who is going to use this map?” (mountain bikers, cross country skiers, walkers, Fire Department, Police Department, Public Works Department, etc.). The age of the people using the park range from 12 to 95 years old. He states the committee used a USGS topographical map. The trails are delineated by dashed lines (---) and blazes were used. The committee decided not to show every trail on the map because it gets too confusing. The Chebacco Woods Map provides the following information: Open Space and Recreation Committee Minutes May 6, 2002 Page 3 · Welcome (description of the woods) · List of species which inhabit the property · Management · Trail system · Permitted uses · Reporting problems · About this trail map There is a kiosk and small shelter with a bulletin board at the “main trails entrance.” Maps may be obtained at the kiosk, town hall and the library. Dunn asks where the funding came from. Hansen responds that the property is owned by the Town of Hamilton and Manchester-by-the-Sea. Each town had a line item in the budget and the committee had an annual budget under the Conservation Commission. Hansen states that blazes work well. The committee used pieces of ¼ inch pine. Each piece was painted a different color. Hansen states that the committee prints about 2,000 trail maps at a time and they have distributed approximately 7,000 to 8,000 trail maps in 2 ½ years. The Open Space and Recreation Committee thank Mr. Hansen for his presentation. Trails Map Discussion Gardner states that he believes the committee must get a trail map out now and work on improving it later. Tom Scully recommends that the committee solicit businesses to help pay for the maps. Hurlburt recommends perhaps trying to do one map and do it well, every six months to one year. Also, the committee could solicit businesses, college (graphic arts departments) to work on it. It could take it away from the committee and get professional maps. Skrabut recognizes all the work Kathern Tracey, Charlie Raymond and Tony Paluzzi have done on the maps. Hurlburt offers to contact someone from Montserrat College. She recommends meeting with the subcommittee and reporting back at the next meeting. Planning Biodiversity Day Activities Open Space and Recreation Committee Minutes May 6, 2002 Page 4 Modugno encourages the schools to participate. Buchsbaum states that it is important to make it a fun event for Beverly. Modugno volunteers to contact Cable, Community News and the schools (fax). Tom Scully states that he is developing a “Community Events” calendar on the cities’ website. He could include Biodiversity Day on the website. Hurlburt states that she was involved in the planning of a similar event and it requires lots of planning in advance of the event. She targeted the schools and copied every student K- 8. She recommends that the committee choose perhaps two events during the year and work at it more in advance. Next Meeting Date The next Open Space and Recreation meeting is scheduled on June 3, 2002. Adjournment Flannery: motion to adjourn, seconded by Tracey, all members in favor, no one opposed. Motion carries. A roll call vote is taken to go into Executive Session. There will be no open business after Executive Session. Charles Raymond (yes), Kathern Tracey (yes), Bill Squibb (yes), Cindy Modugno (yes), Kathleen Skrabut (yes), Elizabeth Dunn (yes), Robert Buchsbaum (yes), Ellen Flannery (yes), David Gardner (Chairman) (yes). The regular meeting is adjourned.