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.
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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.
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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.
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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.