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2004-03-03 City of Beverly, Massachusetts Public Meeting Minutes BOARD: Open Space and Recreation Committee SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: March 3, 2004 rd PLACE: 3 Floor, City Hall BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: David Gardner (Chairman), Bill Squibb, Robert Buchsbaum, Kathleen Skrabut, Elizabeth Dunne, Ellen Flannery, Anthony Paluzzi, Pam Kampersal, Suzanne Beaudoin ABSENT: Paul Knight, James MacNeil OTHERS PRESENT: Amy Maxner, Planning Department RECORDER: Jeannine Dion Chairperson Gardner calls the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. OLD BUSINESS Earth Day Update Maxner states since the last meeting, Mr. Oosthoek has approached her about his efforts with Beverly Main Streets and the street sweep campaign. He and Maxner discussed the option of loosely joining forces to make an effort to get the word out and have an organized cleanup on th April 24 in the city, from which street sweep volunteers could then be directed to the Common for the Earth Day celebration. Gardner states the plan was to have the Earth Day celebration on the common with a rain location at the Cove Community Center from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. Oosthoek provides an overview of the cleanup plan and he states he would appreciate it if the Committee could help get the word out. He hopes that this effort will become an every-day practice for business owners and citizens rather than an annual activity. He explains that during last year’s street sweep, volunteers collected many bags of trash and debris. He explained their arrangement with the Department of Public Works in trash pick up for that day. He states that City Council President Paul Guanci provides free catering for the volunteers through his Casual Catering business, and it has been a success in the past. Open Space and Recreation Committee Minutes March 3, 2004 Page 2 Maxner provides the following Earth Day planning update: · Maxner E-mailed Paul, Kathy and Bill and requested that they call a few local businesses (i.e. Great Harvest Bread Company, Wild Oats Grocery Store, Starbucks, etc.) and provide information about the Earth Day activities and request their participation. · Maxner states she spoke with Richard King from the Arts Department in the school system regarding an Earth Day poster contest. The theme of the posters will be the kid’s favorite natural space in Beverly. Maxner arranged with the library to display the posters during the week before the event. The posters can be displayed at the Earth Day event and the committee can judge on the posters on that day. The judging could take place at a specific time and prizes could be awarded. · Maxner states she has been in contact with Massachusetts Audubon Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary staff and there is an interest in participating in the Earth Day celebration. The Wildlife Sanctuary could come with activities for children, which could be scheduled at specific times. They will be back in touch with Maxner. Maxner will E-mail the members regarding the progress of Earth Day activity plans. Green’s Hill – Report on concept plan pro bono work – MacNeil/Dunne Dunne states she found out that there is a program at U Mass in which a student could work on a project for a final thesis. She asks members for their opinions. Gardner recalls within the last two years he has approached the Conway Landscape School regarding student projects. They needed to cover expenses, which were estimated at $4,000 to $4,500. He would be interested to find out more about this program with Umass, and ask if there is pro-bono work involved. The members agree to have Dunne follow up and find out more about the program. Beverly Land Trust – Update on grant applications – Gardner Gardner states he sent the Beverly Land Trust the Auto-Cad Kiosk Plan. He will E-mail members the next meeting date of the Beverly Land Trust. Kiosk update – Pam Kampersal Gardner states he spoke with Stella Seamans about their grant and they have been talking with the Greenbelt because the Greenbelt has some high tech material that they are using. He also explains that he is schedule to speak with the Lynch Park Trustees to solicit money for the Land Trust grant package for matching funds. Open Space and Recreation Committee Minutes March 3, 2004 Page 3 Kampersal states David Gardner asked her to call the Essex County Greenbelt. She spoke with Dave Rimmer. He informed her that they don’t have kiosks. They have new signs but they don’t have standards. Kampersal states her husband visited the kiosk sign in Manchester. She presents a drawing of a plan that her husband designed, which resembles the kiosk in Manchester. She states that her husband is willing to cut all the materials to size in his personal workshop, but that they will need help putting together and installing the signs. Gardner states Maureen Troubetaris has told him that she has a long list of interested Boy Scouts. Kampersal states she has spoken to the leader of the Eagle Scouts and the project is not big enough for the Eagle Scout progam. She will speak with the individual troop leaders regarding participation in the project. Kampersal recommends presenting the materials list for the project to the local lumber companies (Gove or Moynihan) and perhaps they will provide a discount. Green’s Hill Draft Public Presentation Review – Skrabut, Knight Skrabut states she and Knight have been in touch with the Ryal Side Civic Association Chairperson and she said they had no specific plan for a meeting, but that the committee can pick a date at the end of March or beginning of April. They will get the notice of the meeting out and post it. Skrabut provides an overview of the Green’s Hill Draft Public Presentation with changes incorporated from the last meeting. The members review the presentation and are pleased with the results. Members agree that incorporating a few details on the history of acquisition by the city would be helpful. Members also suggest incorporating information about the zoning, what department in the city has custody of the property. Squibb states that it would be helpful to include more information about the property lines and abutting properties. Maxner states that she can research that information. She also explains that she could work with Roland Adams in the Engineering Department to develop an aerial photograph using GIS and overlaying the lot lines for the property and abutting properties. Skrabut states that would be helpful, and that Maxner could email that to her and she would place it within the Power Point program. Committee Schedule – Action Plan Gardner states the Committee should make its best effort to bring Action Plan goals to reality, such as improvements to parks such as kiosks, street signage, developing trails, etc. He Open Space and Recreation Committee Minutes March 3, 2004 Page 4 recommends inviting participation in a limited number of projects. This approach will enable a limited focus and enable members to have responsibility for particular activities. He asks the Committee for ideas on what projects should be made priorities. Buchsbaum states that he believes that the existing open space parcels managed by the Conservation Commission should be looked at for more permanent protection, such as developing Conservation Restrictions for various properties. He also expresses his concern over the lack of management plans for the properties within the city. Gardner recommends that the Committee prepare a letter to send to the Mayor regarding potential future projects. He will prepare the memo and request a meeting with the Mayor. Maxner states that getting the signage on the walking streets and off road trails with the present connections is a good idea to heighten visibility. Gardner responds that is one of the objectives of the Beverly Land Trust. Kampersal states in other states, every new development has a trail around it. She recommends that the Committee make a presentation to the Planning Board, Conservation Commission, and City Council regarding changing zoning requiring a developer to “make something beautiful” for the City of Beverly. She states that Open Space Residential Design Ordinance should be something the city looks to adopt. She asks if the Committee could approach the issue as a group. Gardner states that rezoning is going on now with the Comprehensive Rezoning Committee (CRC). He offers to write a letter to the CRC on behalf of the Open Space and Recreation Committee (OSRC) requesting that the draft copy of the recommendations be sent to the OSRC. He states this would be helpful in advocating for the types of things Kampersal is bringing forward. Sally Milligan Plan finalization – Buchsbaum Buchsbaum is working on this. OTHER BUSINESS Next Month’s Agenda The next meeting is scheduled to take place on April 7, 2004 at 7:30 p.m. Gardner recommends the following topics for the next meeting: · Signage and kiosk project · Rezoning Discussion Open Space and Recreation Committee Minutes March 3, 2004 Page 5 · Earth Day Update Adjournment Squibb moves to adjourn the meeting. Sseconded by Knight. All members are in favor. Motion carries 9-0. Meeting is adjourned at 9:15 p.m.