2003-03-05
BOARD: Open Space and Recreation Committee
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE: March 5, 2003
PLACE: Committee Room at Beverly City Hall
BOARD MEMBERS
PRESENT: David Gardner (Chair), Robert Buchsbaum, Cindy
Modugno, Anthony Paluzzi, James McNeil, Elizabeth
Dunne, Kathy Skrabut and Ellen Flannery.
BOARD MEMBERS
ABSENT: William Squibb and Paul Knight
OTHERS PRESENT: Amy Maxner, Environmental Planner
RECORDER: Cheryl Lamont (tape)
Chairperson Gardner called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M.
ACCEPTANCE OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
Paluzzi makes a motion to approve the minutes from February 5, 2003 as amended. Modugno
seconds. All in favor. Motion passes (8-0).
OLD BUSINESS
Trails – Status of Trail Map Reproduction
Buchsbaum stated he received a $100.00 donation from Nature’s Classroom. Modugno states
that she spoke with the City Treasurer who will set up an account for the donations and release
expenses as needed. Modugno states that she will contact the Beverly Chamber of Commerce to
see if they would like to make a donation. Members feel that the donations should be
acknowledged and added to the text of the map. Paluzzi states that the map will be reproduced
in brown stock, similar to a paper bag.
Chairman Gardner expresses his hope that the donations will be forthcoming over the next
several weeks and that the map will be ready in about a month.
Sally Milligan Management Plan
Buchsbaum stated that he compiled all comments and suggested changes to the Sally Milligan
Plan and will incorporate comments given, mark as a “draft” copy with a cover letter asking for
their input, and mail it to Parks and Recreation and the Conservation Commission. Paluzzi
Open Space & Recreation Committee
March 5, 2003 Meeting Minutes
makes a motion for Buchsbaum to make needed changes and for the draft plan. Flannery
seconds. All in favor. Motion passes (8-0).
Henderson Road status
Paluzzi states that a lot of people attended the Conservation Commission’s special meeting to
discuss the Vitale Site, and that the Conservation Commission is going to take a vote at its March
11 regular meeting. He states that the Commission will be voting on whether it will support
using this site for playing fields. Paluzzi feels that the public is generally split 50-50 on the
disposition of this parcel of land because of the fly ash.
Chairman Gardner stated that it is the position of this Committee that this is a reasonable site for
recreation, and that another authority determines the safety of the site for such use, as everyone is
concerned that the site be made safe. Chairman Gardner states that the opportunity should not
be foreclosed to create playing fields by grading the site at New England Power’s expense so that
later on, if safety is not a concern, the City can go ahead and use it instead of ending up with a
situation similar to the Brimabal Avenue landfill, which is unusable.
Action Plan and Map
Chairman Gardner states the Action Plan and Map will be reproduced “in house”. Phyllis
Kennedy, Planning Department, will make and collate copies. He states that Maxner and Russ
Fisk, MIS Department, are collaborating on the cover, and that this document will be reproduced
on white 11x17 stock with a tinted picture in light green ink. Maxner passed out maps to
members, which will be bound in the back of the Action Plan and distributed to the various City
boards. Gardner states that the large map will be talked about at a later date, distributed and/or
posted.
Bass River Subcommittee
Chairman Gardner states that the Tanzella family who owned the majority of the lots in that area
has sold it recently to a developer named Thompson from Danvers. Gardner states that he has
talked with Thompson and urged him to speak with Deb Hurlburt, Director of Planning, so that
he will gain an understanding of how difficult it will be to build on that site because of
Conservation Commission requirements of set backs and river rights, etc. Gardner expressed his
hope that Thompson, rather than buying this parcel outright, would have exercised a purchase
and sales agreement option with the City. Gardner stated that Thompson has not contacted
Hurlburt. Gardner stated that he would call Thompson again in the hopes that the Committee
engages in some type of fundraising to purchase some of the property there.
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March 5, 2003 Meeting Minutes
NEW BUSINESS
Action Plan Publicity Program
Chairman Gardner states that he would like Action Plan copies to be made available to pass out,
as well as Trail Maps, when appearing before community meetings (Kiwanis, etc.) where a
presentation done on boards can be shown.
Funding Program/Working with Beverly Conservation Land Trust
Chairman Gardner asks if the “non profit” status is still up in the air. Maxner states that it is.
Buchsbaum asks if the Committee would discuss Earth Day scheduled for Sunday, April 27th.
Buchsbaum states that plans have been made to have the same group do the Vernal Pool at the
Gazebo at Beverly Commons, starting at 12:00 and they will stay as long as people show an
interest. This would be a good spot to give out trail maps. Modugno states that Hurlburt had
several great ideas and developed the presentation over the several years she was in Salem.
Maxner will ask Hurlburt about getting information for the presentation that she made in Salem.
Chairman Gardner expresses his hopes that there will be enough time to discuss this topic further
at the next scheduled meeting early in April.
Chairman Gardner states that he would like to see projects such as a bridge crossing the brook at
Sally Milligan, construction/design of the kiosks, and maintaining the field at Sally Milligan.
The Committee discussed if the kiosks should look the same. Modugno states that there may be
space issues as some of the properties for these structures. Committee members felt that it would
be good to have them all designed the same so that there would be recognition as to what they
were.
Modugno states that some publicity would be helpful to let people know what the Committee is
doing and make a plea for funding/architectural design for the kiosks. Gardner asks if it would
be a good idea to call Montserrat to see if they would be interested in donating time for this
project. Members agree that it was worthwhile to investigate this possibility.
Skrabut states that if the Committee is going to be doing presentations in front of various groups
that it would be a good idea to standardize the presentation so that any Committee Member could
conduct the power-point presentation. She explains that this would enable each Committee
Member to show that they have reviewed the content and agree with the focus rather than try to
each create their own presentation.
Chairman Gardner states that Tom Scully has power-point presentation software, and will find
out if he is willing to lend it out. Modugno states that she has power point on her laptop that she
can offer for use if Tom Scully does not. Gardner would like to see some blow-ups of Sally
Milligan Park on a couple of boards and then standardize the presentation for any Committee
Member to use.
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Chairman Gardner would like this topic to be on the agenda for next month and would like
Committee Members to bring their thoughts on this to the next meeting.
Hannah School Land Plan
Chairman Gardner asks if there is anything the Committee can do on that. Buchsbaum replied
that the PTO is working on this.
Setting Up “Friends of Parks” Volunteer Program
Modugno asks if this was to be “Friends of Parks” or “Friends of Sally Milligan Park” and if this
was to be geared toward one particular park. She feels that if Committee Members start with one
particular park and do a good job and lead by example that the other parks will fall into place.
Modugno suggests that the Committee should sponsor a birthday party for Sally Milligan Park.
She suggests that people sign up for keeping an eye on the property, maintain the trails, maintain
the kiosks and then move onto the next piece of property.
Flannery asks about the inmate program and if they performed duties such as this.
Paluzzi states that Norwood’s Pond is becoming overgrown and that in a period of time the pond
will become wetlands. The Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) has now become involved and
may be interested in dredging that pond to save it. Maxner states that the ACOE has approved a
Preliminary Restoration Plan (PRP) and will be able to start in the fall. She states that she and
Hurlburt met with two representatives of the ACOE in December who gathered preliminary
information and determined that further exploration of the pond is in order. She states that the
PRP is the first official step in investigating the project’s worthiness.
Maxner stated that a local Biker’s Association, the Essex County Velo, contacted Hurlburt and
would like to be property monitors for the Conservation Commission property along Greenwood
Avenue and Common Lane. Chairman Gardner states that this group would need to know what
is appropriate and what is not.
Buchsbaum states that Committee Members could spread the word to get the project rolling.
Modugno suggests developing a newsletter. Committee Members decide on Saturday, April
th
26 at 2:00 for “Sally Milligan - Friends of Park” clean up activity. Committee Members would
like to get this information out on the website.
OTHER BUSINESS
Chairman Gardner states that he has a copy of a letter from the City Solicitor to the Beneventos
that puts them on notice that they are not to obstruct the public access.
Chairman Gardner asks Committee Members if they would be interested in changing the meeting
time from 7:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. Members agree that 7:30 p.m. would be more convenient.
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Open Space & Recreation Committee
March 5, 2003 Meeting Minutes
Maxner states that the Planning Department got a publication from DEM, regarding various
forest management practices conducted by several Massachusetts towns and cities. Maxner
passed out two copies for Board Members to look over. This item will be placed on the agenda
for next month’s meeting.
Chairman Gardner states that he will contact Hurlburt about getting information to be used for
Earth Day.
NEXT MEETING AGENDA ITEMS AND DATE
Items for next month’s meeting agenda:
1. DEM Publication Brochure
2. Action Plan Publicity Program – Sally Milligan Draft
Standardized Presentation
3. Earth Day
The next scheduled meeting will be held on April 2, 2003 at 7:30 P.M.
ADJOURNMENT
Modugno makes a motion to adjourn. Flannery seconds. All in favor. Motion passes (8-0).
Meeting is adjourned at 9:00 P.M.
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