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2005-07-06 CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD: Open Space and Recreation Committee SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: July 6, 2005 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Robert Buchsbaum, Patricia Adams, Suzanne Beaudoin, Tony Paluzzi, Pam Kampersal, Bill Squibb BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Ellen Flannery, Elizabeth Dunne, David Brewster, Paul Knight OTHERS PRESENT: Amy Maxner, Environmental Planner RECORDER: Amy Maxner Approval of Minutes Paluzzi moves to accept the minutes from the June 1, 2005 regular meeting as amended. Seconded by Adams. Squibb abstains. Motion carries 4-0-1. Paluzzi moves to accept the minutes from the June 1, 2005 executive meeting. Seconded by Kampersal. Squibb abstains. Motion carries 4-0-1. Presentation from Matt Plum – Essex County VELO Buchsbaum introduces Matt Plum, representative from Essex County VELO, a local cycling organization involved with community projects throughout the North Shore. Plum states that the VELO organization was established about 10 years ago, and he himself has been biking throughout the North Shore for about 11 years now and believes this area has much to offer. He goes on to explain the various projects and events the VELO membership is involved with which includes trial maintenance and coordination with communities and conservation organizations such as Essex County Greenbelt Association (ECGA). Buchsbaum asks what projects they have done locally in Beverly. Plum states that on Common Hill they worked with Cindy Mom with the ECGA, to establish a new trail that rerouted an existing trail that was highly eroded and degraded, its aptly named the “Cindy Mom Trail”. They have also done a boardwalk over some areas that were chronically muddy and wet. Last summer the group did a very ambitious clean up of the area off of Greenwood Avenue and collected a very large amount of trash and debris including refrigerators. He states that he coordinated trash pick up with Amy Maxner and he had provided a report of what they Beverly Open Space & Recreation Committee July 6, 2005 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 4 accomplished and their findings as to trial conditions. He states that VELO would be more than willing to help with any other projects that Beverly may need done. Plum explains that this year they have worked with ECGA at Stony Cove in Gloucester, they sponsored a kids cycling race at Bradley Palmer as well as a few other projects. He states that they have a great relationship with Gove Lumber who has provided a 30% discount on all materials they have needed for their construction projects. He states that they also receive support and sponsorship from Eastern Mountain Sports and Cliff Bar Company for their various events. Buchsbaum states that the City has trouble keeping up with actual management of their open space properties as there is no budget and very limited man power. A brief discussion ensues regarding possible projects that the VELO could help the Committee with. The Conservation Commission property off of Tall Tree Drive was discussed, as there is a need for trail blazing and marking the trailhead and such. Plum expressed interest in helping with anything the Committee needs done. Plum provides the group’s web address (www.ecvcylcing.org) which has a link to the VELO’s president , Dan Tieger who is the founder of the North Shore Bikeways Coalition. He also provides their email addresses: matt@ecv.org and dan@ecv.org. The Committee thanks Plum for coming to speak and they will keep his organization in mind for future projects. Presentation from Barbara Warren – Director of Salem Sound Coastwatch Buchsbaum introduces Barbara Warren, director of Salem Sound Coastwatch. Warren states she would like to first provide a little background on what her organization is about. Originally it was named Salem Sound 2000, and since its inception its focus has been on water quality of the Salem Sound. Water quality testing programs were initiated for outfalls along the coast and could not have been accomplished without its trained volunteers. This work continues and has been successful in pinpointing problem areas. Their name was changed to Salem Sound Coastwatch and some of its focus has turned landward, as land use directly effects water quality within the Sound. Warren goes on to explain that her organization received grant money from the Department of Conservation & Recreation Urban Forestry Department to develop watershed analysis mapping of the Salem Sound and would like to share their preliminary findings with as many decision makers within each community as possible. This research project, through the use of GIS imaging and coordination with the various communities, aimed to characterize land use patterns within the watershed and pinpoint priority areas that would need attention to mitigate for the impact of that particular land use. She provides several maps for the Committee to review and Beverly Open Space & Recreation Committee July 6, 2005 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 4 explains the details found therein. She explains that there were three criteria that were used for levels of mitigation, they are: Conservation – what areas of open space and undeveloped land within the watershed would be best candidates for conservation restrictions or limiting development; Restoration – what areas would best benefit from restoring the vegetation, planting trees, native landscaping and the like; and Stormwater management – what areas would benefit from improving treatment of stormwater runoff through the use of BMP’s or LID’s. The maps show color-coding to indicate these criteria for various areas throughout Beverly. Members review the maps and discuss areas of Beverly and how they relate to the Open Space Plan and mission. Warren explains that these results have shown that this is the tip of the ice burg in terms of what other research and actions that need to be taken to address this issue, and she anticipates needing further grant money to fully pursue this project. She hopes that this information can be useful to the Committee. Members agree that this could tie into its land acquisition priorities and thanks her for coming to speak on the topic. Warren states that as she progresses with this project she will keep them informed. Buchsbaum states in the interest of time, some items on the agenda could be postponed for discussion to another meeting. He suggests addressing the following items. Right-Of-Ways - Updates Folger Avenue: Maxner states she has looked into the status of Bathing Beach Lane and it has been determined to be a private way. She indicates that Tanzella Avenue, a paper street, which provides frontage for the City property, does allow for public access and it would seem that the terrain from Leech Street would be much easier to traverse for most people. YMCA: Maxner states that Tina Cassidy, Planning Director, has called for a meeting with Buchsbaum, Knight and David Gardner to discuss and brainstorm about the possible alternatives to the 50’ right of way to the landfill. Maxner explains that Cassidy would like input from an Open Space perspective to help formulate a response to the YMCA’s alternative proposal. Beverly Open Space & Recreation Committee July 6, 2005 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 4 Natural History Newspaper Articles Buchsbaum states that Brewster’s article was in last week’s Citizen. He states that more articles are needed. Kampersal states that Ron Johnsen has promised to finish his article on Norwood Pond and she will follow with him on his progress. Buchsbaum states that he will draft one on the rights of ways issue as it would seem timely to broach this topic considering the YMCA problem. Kiosk Poster for JC Phillips Mary Reilly states that she had made final revisions to the poster and Amy Maxner arranged to have it printed through the Engineering Department. Maxner provides a copy for members to review. Reilly states that she has not been able to open the frog & fern logo from Beaudoin. Beaudoin states that she will ask her husband to work on the format and will get back to Reilly. Buchsbaum suggests waiting to install the poster until adding the logo can be worked out. Members thank Reilly for her time and effort on the poster and complement her on the result. Conservation Restrictions Buchsbaum states that the power point for Norwood Pond should be worked on at some point before the Committee meets again. Members of the power point subcommittee state they will arrange a time to meet sometime soon. Other Business Kampersal and Squibb initiate a discussion about the status of the Vitale Site playing fields. Kampersal expresses her opposition to installing fields of any kind on the site. Buchsbaum states that the Committee supported the proposal a few years back, and he recalls David Gardner writing a letter of support on the Committee’s behalf. Squibb states he wants to inform the Committee that the Cailin Road developer is proposing a utility trench through the site to access their property from L.P. Henderson road with water and sewer. Buchsbaum reminds members the next meeting will be Wednesday, September 7, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. There being no further items of business, Paluzzi moves to adjourn. Seconded by Squibb. All members are in favor. Motion carries 6-0. Meeting is adjourned at 9:45 p.m.