2005-09-07
CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD: Open Space and Recreation Committee
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE: September 7, 2005
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Robert Buchsbaum, Patricia Adams, Suzanne
Beaudoin, Tony Paluzzi, Pam Kampersal, Paul Knight
(Vice Chairman), Elizabeth Dunne, David Brewster
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Ellen Flannery, Bill Squibb
OTHERS PRESENT: Amy Maxner, Environmental Planner
RECORDER: Amy Maxner
Approval of Minutes
Knight moves to accept the minutes from the July 6, 2005 regular meeting as amended.
Seconded by Kampersal. Motion carries 7-0.
Heritage Landscape Reconnaissance Report
Maxner states Assistant Planning Director, Leah Zambernardi, provided a copy of the Beverly
Reconnaissance Report produced in cooperation by Massachusetts Department of Conservation
and Recreation and Essex National Heritage Commission. She briefly reviews the major points
of the report.
Members request a copy, or web link if there is one available. Maxner states she will obtain that
information for members and forward as soon as possible.
Committee Membership
Buchsbaum states that James MacNiel’s seat is open as Community at Large appointed by the
Mayor, as is a seat for the Harbor Management Authority. He asks the Committee for any
thoughts on who would be appropriate candidates for these seats.
Knight asks if the Harbor Management Authority has been approached. Maxner states that
Planning Director, Tina Cassidy wrote a memo to the Authority on this subject, but there has
been no response or show of interest. She states that the Authority is a fairly small group of
people that have been seated in that capacity for quite some time, and there just may not be
enough interest from that group.
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September 7, 2005 Meeting Minutes
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Knight states that Emily Cademartori may be a likely candidate for the Community at Large seat,
as she is fairly involved in events within the Ryal Side neighborhood. Buchsbaum states she is a
member of the Beverly Conservation Land Trust, and knows that she has a natural science
education background, and has worked with the Mass Bay program. Knight states she will
inquire if she has any interest.
Buchsbaum states that Mary Reilly may be a great choice for this seat as well, especially
considering she has done so much for the kiosk posters. He states he will follow up with her to
inquire of her interest.
Buchsbaum states that the Planning Board seat needs to be an active presence in the Committee
since that board is so intimately involved with land use issues. He doubts Ellen Flannery is able
to commit the time needed for this seat, and wonders is there are any other members of the
Planning Board that may be interested. Renee Mary suggests that Charles Harris may be a good
candidate as he is a newer member and may be able to provide an enthusiastic presence. Maxner
states she will talk with Leah Zambernardi to inquire of his possible interest.
Right-Of-Ways - Updates
Folger Avenue/Bathing Beach Lane:
Maxner states she has looked into the status of Bathing Beach Lane and it has been determined
to be a private way as discussed at the last meeting. 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 than Bathing Beach
Lane for most people. A brief discussion ensues on whether an argument could be used that
there has been substantial public use of Bathing Beach Lane historically to establish as such.
YMCA:
Buchsbaum states that he, Dave Gardner and Amy Maxner met with Tina Cassidy on this issue
and provided Cassidy with feed back on maintaining passage on the right of way and requiring
public parking at the teen center as well as establishing access off of Yankee Way stub out. He
states that Cassidy will follow up with him and Maxner to keep them abreast of this issue.
Tall Tree Drive:
Maxner states that the Engineering Director had recently undergone a triple by pass and
Assistant City Engineer Gerry Marsella has not been able to verify frontage on Tall Tree due to
this, as the Department is a bit short handed. She will follow up as soon as she can.
Paluzzi arrives.
Branch Lane:
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September 7, 2005 Meeting Minutes
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Maxner states that no action has been taken on this issue. She suggests that a site visit with the
Committee as a whole may be more effective that trying to arrange schedules with Mr.
Benevento who may not truly have public access as a priority. Members agree that a site
inspection would be beneficial, and possibly Ed Becker may want to join in. Buchsbuam states
that the Beverly Conservation Land Trust should be included as well, he states he will canvass
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each group to see which date works best for a majority. October 1 and the 15 were discussed
as possible site visit dates.
Kiosk Poster for JC Phillips
Maxner presents the final draft of the poster to members. The frog & fern logo has not been
placed on the poster. Members agree that it should be placed in the kiosk. Knight asks if the
trails have been mapped by GPS yet. Maxner states that she will be going to the site with Roland
Adams next week at some point to walk the trials.
Buchsbaum states that the next kiosk poster should be considered and asks members which one
should be worked on. Discussion ensues regarding Norwood Pond and Greens Hill.
Kampersal states that the Norwood Pond kiosk has some information on it now, but not a formal
presentation.
Brewster states that Greens Hill kiosk plexi glass is shattered and information has been ripped
down. He states he will look into new plexi glass sheet or possibly more durable options.
Kampersal states that the Committee needs to send a letter of thanks to Barney Boutin for all his
work on installing the kiosks. Buchsbaum asks Kampersal if she could draft a letter for the
Committee to review. Kampersal agrees.
Maxner states that she will follow up with Mike Bouchard about locks and keys from DPW for
the kiosks.
Service Projects
Brewster states that he has received inquiries for possible service projects from the Eagle Scouts
troop leaders. Discussion ensues regarding possible projects that need attention. The
threeremaining kiosk slated for Greenwood Avenue and Sally Milligan Park were discussed as
possible projects for scouts.
Kampersal states that kiosk installation is very difficult and hard work for even an adult and
thinks that DPW should do the installation. Maxner states that maybe Matt Plum with Essex
County VELO would be willing to do this work. Buchsbaum asks Maxner to follow up with
Plum.
Norwood Pond trail clean up was discussed as well.
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September 7, 2005 Meeting Minutes
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Knight states he will follow up with Neal Olson of Ryal Side Neighborhood Association to
possibly organize a trail clean up.
Signage
Maxner states that she has the green light from Tina Cassidy to go ahead and order 250 of the
frog & fern trial markers and the bill will be handled through the Planning Department supply
account. Beaudoin states that she will place the order as soon as possible.
Natural History Newspaper Articles
Buchsbaum states that the Committee should try to build up a reserve of articles to make sure
this is a regular feature in the paper.
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.
Knight states he knows the new editor of the Citizen, Dan McAlpine, and is confident that he
will be just as enthusiastic about this concept as the former editor was.
Kampersal states that she will follow up with Ron Johnsen for the piece he has promised. Knight
states he will do an article on volunteers that have helped with projects. Dunne states she would
like to do a piece as well, but cannot promise it in short order, she thinks she could get something
ready by late November or December.
Norwood Power Point Presentation
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The power point subcommittee scheduled a time to meet for Tuesday, September 20 at 4:00
p.m.
Election Of Officers
Buchsbaum states that the Committee needs to reelect officers per the Ordinance, but that they
should take votes next meeting and give it some thought in the meantime. He states that he is
willing to take on the Chairmanship for another year, but could not promise more than that at this
time. Knight states he is willing to take on Vice Chair again if he is nominated.
Semi-Annual Report to City Council
Buchsbaum states he would like to draft the report for members to review and comment on. He
would like to highlight the issue of right of ways with specific examples to emphasize the point.
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September 7, 2005 Meeting Minutes
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He will send the draft to members for review, and if he does not hear from anyone he’ll assume
members are fine with it.
OTHER BUSINESS
New Development & Open Space Opportunities
Brewster states that there are parcels with multiple acreage on the market that he only recently
became aware of and these seem to be opportunities missed. Buchsbaum states this issue should
be more central to the Committee’s work, but budgetary constraints are a huge obstacle for
acquisition.
OSRD
Buchsbaum states that he plans on attending the next Council meeting for when they discuss the
OSRD ordinance draft. He thinks the Committee should remind the Council of its support for it.
Maxner states that there has been changes made since the Committee has written its letter of
support. Members request that the latest draft be sent to them. Maxner states that this should be
available in electronic form and will get it to members as soon as she can.
Dog Park
Adams states that the subcommittee working on this issue is going to give a big presentation to
the Parks & Recreation Commission tomorrow night, and the proposal involves using parks and
parcels of open space scattered throughout the City as opposed to one place. Knight states the
Committee may want to hold off on this issue until the Parks & Recreation Commission has had
a chance to review the proposal and see what they have to recommend. Members agree to this.
Adams states that she will update the Committee on the results of this at the next meeting.
Airport Surplus Land
Kampersal states that the Council had voted to surplus several parcels of land up by the airport
and thinks that this should have never been considered especially considering they are in the
watershed. Buchsbaum asks Kampersal to bring in maps of the parcels to facilitate the
discussion. Kampersal agrees.
Scheduling Next Meeting
Buchsbaum states the next meeting will be Wednesday, October 5, 2005 a t 7:30 p.m.
Adjournment
Paluzzi moves to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Knight. All members are in favor. Motion
carries 8-0. Meeting is adjourned at 9:15 p.m.