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2004-05-05 City of Beverly, Massachusetts Public Meeting Minutes BOARD: Open Space and Recreation Committee SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: May 5, 2004 PLACE: Beverly City Hall BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: David Gardner (Chairman), Bill Squibb, Robert Buchsbaum, Elizabeth Dunne, James MacNeil, Paul Knight, and Sue Beaudoin ABSENT: Pam Kampersal, Tony Paluzzi, Ellen Flannery, and Kathy Skrabut OTHERS PRESENT: Amy Maxner - Planning Department; Thomas Scully – Director of Community Services RECORDER: Jeannine Dion Chairperson Gardner calls the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Greens Hill Meeting and Site Walk Update Gardner states that the meeting at the Ryal Side Civic Center went very well with approximately 20-25 people in attendance. The meeting lasted for about 1 and ½ hours and lively discussion took place. As a result of this meeting, a site visit was scheduled on Saturday, April 24, 2004 in the morning, which 7-8 people attended. Gardner briefly reviews the ideas and suggestions made at the site walk. He reminds members of the Parks Commission meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 6, 2004 at 7:00 p.m., at which time ideas for Greens Hill can be exchanged and discussed with Parks Commission members. He encourages Committee members to attend. Earth Day Follow Up Gardner states that Earth Day went well and asks Maxner and members to offer their impressions of the event. Maxner states that there was a flurry of visitors within the first hour of the event, but attendance petered out thereafter. She thinks that a more strategic location should be chosen next year, and suggests maybe Lynch Park should be looked at. She states that the Little League had team photographs taken at Lynch Park during the same hours as Earth Day and thinks maybe being located there would have boosted attendance. Open Space and Recreation Committee May 5, 2004 Meeting Minutes Page 2 Dunne states that the weather was cool as it was very breezy and it may have deterred people from coming or staying longer. She knows that the “Touch a Truck” event brings many participants and visitors and wonders if that event could be coupled with Earth Day. Squibb states that he spoke with several people at the Open Space table and some of them were unaware of the Committee’s existence. He states that this event is an excellent educational opportunity and thinks publicizing the event more effectively would bring more visitors. Buchsbaum states that children really need to be the target for this event as it is an excellent venue for education. Beaudoin states that planning this event should start earlier, and that the schools should be made aware early on so that the teachers have time to plan it into their curriculums. Gardner states that this item should be something that is placed on the Committee’s agenda several months in advance so that planning and brainstorming can begin early. Greens Hill Pro-Bono Work Update Dunne states that some funding for this project is needed as even with schools, such as the Conway School of Design, has some overhead (i.e. travel, material, expenses). Gardner mentions that the neighbors seemed to want to only make minimal improvements to the site, and maybe this project should be placed on hold at the moment to allow for the neighbors’ ideas to be further explored. Kiosk Update – Kampersal/Gardner Gardner recommends the formation of a Signage Subcommittee to develop a signage design and logo. Dunne states she has worked on this in the past. She looked up prices and got examples and she thinks the committee determined that it was fairly expensive and the logo was not the most important thing. At the time, the members decided to use paint. Dunne states she has had several discussions with Dennis Tarsook and he was going to be a guide regarding the street requirement for signs. There are some basic guidelines for street signs. Dunne is hopeful that she will be able to meet with him before the next meeting. Members agree that Dunne, Beaudoin and Maxner should work together to develop a signage design. Buchsbaum suggests developing signs that mark the boundaries of the property. Open Space and Recreation Committee May 5, 2004 Meeting Minutes Page 3 Gardner states it is important to have both boundary and street signs and he recommends integrating the street signs and the park signs so that they are common. Gardner recommends that the subcommittee members discuss this in further detail and prepare information and recommendations to be discussed at an upcoming meeting. Discussion regarding Rights-of-Way Gardner states he has written a letter to three different City Solicitors requesting action on Rights-of-Way to no avail. There is discussion regarding public Rights-of-Way. Scully states it is very important for the citizens of Beverly to pursue and push for enforcement on the encroachment of these rights of way. He states that this issue has been a long-standing one, which the City has not pursued to the fullest extent. He explains that the City of Rockport has formed a committee specifically tailored for the research, enforcement, and maintenance of public right-of-ways. He explains that Rockport has also instituted an Ordinance which requires the Building Inspector to investigate and research any project that is near or adjacent to a known or suspected right-of-way to ensure the proposed project does not encroach. Gardner recommends inviting members of the Rights-of-Way Committee in Rockport to attend a future Open Space and Recreation Committee meeting. Sally Milligan Plan finalization – Buchsbaum Buchsbaum expresses concern about construction debris from parcels on top of the hill and a sign, which has been destroyed at the Bonad Street building lots. He states that he has photographs of the sign when construction began and it is perfectly good condition in the photograph. He offers to email it to Maxner for the record. Maxner states she spoke with Tina Cassidy about the sign issue. Cassidy will contact the developer regarding the damaged sign. Maxner states she spoke with David Lang, Chairman of the Conservation Commission regarding getting a delineation done for the lot lines. He told Maxner that she could call Bob Griffin, who did the engineering work, to perhaps get stakes or flags on the property. Gardner agrees that the debris looks like it is on private property. Buchsbaum recommends writing a plan for field maintenance and for the trail signs so that this problem can be avoided in the future. Open Space and Recreation Committee May 5, 2004 Meeting Minutes Page 4 There is discussion regarding paint ball activities in the parks and having the proper signage on the kiosks prohibiting paint ball activities. Kiosk update – Kampersal/Gardner Gardner reads an e-mail from Pam Kampersal, who could not attend the meeting, regarding the kiosk update. Kampersal’s comments are as follows: · Moynihan Lumber’s quote (without the plywood for the doors) is close to $1,000 for six units. · Kampersal’s husband is donating the pine, has completed assembly one roof section and is cutting the pieces for easy assembly of the other units. · She is still looking for volunteers to help shingle the roofs. · She has had difficulty in getting volunteers. Gardner recommends that future kiosks could be sponsored and funded by citizens or organizations. The contribution could be recognized on the kiosk. Tanzella Update – Maxner, Gardner Gardner states that the developer’s engineer is looking into the possibility of an alternate plan. Maxner states she has not received any new information regarding this project. Future Open Space Committee Agenda Items: Buchsbaum recommends that a formal document (Management Plan) be prepared for open space parcels in the City of Beverly to outline the intention of use. Members agree that developing management plans for each property is a good idea even if they are brief but outline major goals and maintenance activities for each site. There is a recommendation that there be a sign on all city property that states who manages the property (for example: Conservation Commission or Parks and Recreation) so that people understand there is somebody who takes some authority for the property. OTHER BUSINESS Beaudoin states the need for an alternative site(s) for community gardens. She explains that the present community garden is located on Cole Street, but there is no confidence that that will remain the case. She would like to discuss this subject further with the Committee to brainstorm for possible alternative locations within the City. Open Space and Recreation Committee May 5, 2004 Meeting Minutes Page 5 Discussion takes place regarding the various open space properties, and members agree that this issue is worth further research and discussion. Next Meeting The next meeting will be on June 2, 2004 at 7:30 p.m. Adjournment Dunne moves to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Beaudoin. All members are in favor. Motion carries 7-0. Meeting is adjourned at 9:15 p.m.