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2005-10-05 CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD: Open Space and Recreation Committee SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: October 5, 2005 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Robert Buchsbaum (Chairman), Paul Knight (Vice- Chairman), Tony Paluzzi, Pam Kampersal, Bill Squibb, David Brewster & Elizabeth Dunne BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Ellen Flannery, Patricia Adams & Suzanne Beaudoin OTHERS PRESENT: Amy Maxner, Environmental Planner RECORDER: Amy Maxner Buchsbaum calls the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Approval of Minutes Kampersal moves to approved the minutes from the September 7, 2005 meeting as amended. Seconded by Paluzzi. Squibb abstains. Motion carries 6-0. Election of Officers Buchsbaum states that officers need to be elected, and offers to remain seated as Chairman for another year if there are no other members interested in the position. Squibb moves to re elect the existing slate, Buchsbaum as Chairman, Knight as Vice Chairman, and Brewster as recording secretary. Seconded by Paluzzi. All in favor. Motion carries 7-0. Eagle Scout Project Volunteer Brewster introduces Mike Norris, a senior at St. John’s Prep and working toward Eagle Scout status, and states that Mike is looking to design an Eagle Scout project around trail improvements along Greenwood Avenue. Norris states that as part of attaining Eagle Scout status, he has chosen a final project that involves working to work on the area along Greenwood Avenue. He explains that so far he has done a survey of the area and put together a photo collage and has drafted up his project proposal. He states that he would like to clean up and perform maintenance improvement on the Beverly Open Space & Recreation Committee October 5, 2005 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 5 trails/trash pick up, and upon the suggestion of Brewster install an informational kiosk at the trail head. Dunne asks if he intends on working on the entire length of Greenwood Avenue and if he has locations for the kiosks in mind. Norris states yes, and that he would start at the Hart Street/Stoneridge Road end, but is unsure where the kiosk should be placed as it has not been discussed. Dunne suggests that he contact Essex County Greenbelt as they own land along the right of way a short distance from the first gate on the Stoneridge Road end. She states that she would be willing to allow a kiosk to be placed on her property on the Common Lane end, but would want to talk to her neighbors about it first. Kampersal states that Norris should coordinate with the DPW for trash pick up.. She also suggests that he visit the kiosk at Norwood Pond or J.C. Phillips to look at constructed kiosks. Members suggest that Norris use the poster template developed by the Committee to design a poster for the kiosk. Norris states that he would like to start the work next month sometime, and is in the process of finalizing his proposal for approval by this Scout leader. Maxner asks if a copy of the proposal could be given to the Committee. Norris agrees and provides a copy to Brewster. Committee members thank Norris for his interest and hard work thus far. Norris thanks the Committee for their support and suggestions, and states he will keep Brewster updated on his progress. Committee Membership Buchsbaum states that there are open seats for the Mayor appointed at-large position and the Harbor Management Authority position. Discussion ensues on this topic. Buchsbaum states that he has approached Mary Reilly about the at-large seat. Reilly states that she would be very interested in pursuing this position and states that upon the suggestion of Amy Maxner she will write a letter of interest to the Mayor regarding this. Maxner states that she would follow up with the Mayor’s secretary to let the Mayor know that the Committee is very supportive of having Reilly join the Committee. Maxner states that considering the size of the Harbor Management Authority, the Committee might want to consider not requiring monthly attendance from this representative, but rather every two or three month attendance or notifying that the Harbor Management of a particular meeting their attendance would be needed. She states that this may be an incentive for them to consider participating. Right of Ways Beverly Open Space & Recreation Committee October 5, 2005 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 5 Brewster states that he attended the Conservation Commission site inspection for the 300-foot pier proposed off the end of the Folger Avenue. He explains that access to the pier would be over the City owned parcels, but it may be advantageous to public access should this pier access be established. Buchsbaum and Brewster agree to write a comment letter on this issue for the Commission to consider. Discussion ensues regarding the right of way access from Tall Tree Drive. A field trip trail walk is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, October 23, 2005 to meet at 2:00 p.m. at the end of Tall Tree Drive and then to proceed to Branch Lane and then Thissell Street. Maxner states that the Engineering Department has been out to Tall Tree to survey the property line of the Conservation land, but has not yet marked out the actual frontage on the cul-de-sac. Thank You Letter to Barney Bouton Kampersal states she has drafted a thank you letter to Barney Bouton for his help installing the kiosks at J.C. Phillips, Greens Hill and Norwood Pond. Maxner states that she will work on it further and prepare it for letterhead and email her revised draft to members for their review. Natural History Newspaper Articles Kampersal states Ron Johnsen has drafted an article about Norwood Pond, which she forwarded to Buchsbaum for review. Buchsbaum states that he added information about access to the trails but it is now ready to be sent to the paper. Dunne states she will try to prepare one for Greenwood Avenue considering Mike Norris will be doing work out there it would be timely to place a piece about this area. Buchsbaum states that he is thinking of doing a piece on invasive species and about right of ways. Kiosk Installation & Trail Mapping with Engineering Department Maxner states that she and Roland Adams have mapped the trails out at J.C. Phillips and presents the draft version of the map for members to review. Members offer suggestions for revisions and additional information that the map should include. Maxner agrees to relay these suggestions to Adams. Maxner states that she and Adams will be mapping the trails at Sally Milligan next week sometime but thinks that someone from the Committee who is familiar with the trails should accompany them. Buchsbaum states that he will not be available but states that Tony Paluzzi and/or David Gardner would be great guides. Buchsbaum asks Maxner to follow up with Tina Cassidy on the sign at the Bonad Street end of Sally Milligan that the developer promised to pay for and re-install. Beverly Open Space & Recreation Committee October 5, 2005 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 5 Norwood Pond Conservation Restriction Power Point Presentation Buchsbaum states the power point subcommittee would now like to show members the power point presentation prepared for the City Council on a Conservation Restriction for Norwood Pond. Buchsbaum and Maxner play the presentation and aspects of the slide show are discussed with members. Members offer comments and suggestions as Brewster, Kampersal, Buchsbaum and Maxner narrate the slide show. Buchsbaum states that the slide show will be ready with final edits in time to be on a Council agenda at the end of October or sometime in November. Buchsbaum states that he will try to make an appointment with Ed Becker to get his input on this power point. Open Space Residential Design Ordinance Buchsbaum states that he attended the most recent public hearing the Council held on the OSRD draft Ordinance, and it seems that the biggest remaining issues are whether the Ordinance should be mandatory, and whether or not a certain percentage of wetlands should be included in the dedicated open space. He asks the members if they have any thoughts on these issues. Kampersal states that she does not support including wetlands in the dedicated open space because the wetlands are off limits and the developer would be getting double credit for open space if it included wetlands. A lengthy discussion ensues among members concerning the rational of including or excluding wetlands within the open space, and how a constitutional taking could be construed from these scenarios. Buchsbaum states that there does not seem to be a definite consensus on this issue, and there was not adequate time at this meeting for a thorough analysis of this issue. The Open Space Committee is already on record as being strongly supportive of the OSRD ordinance, but they have not addressed this specific issue. Some members felt they needed more information before they could form an opinion. Since the public hearing on OSRD was likely to close before our next meeting, Buchsbaum encouraged members to write comments as individuals if they feel strongly one way or the other. Semi-Annual Report to the City Council Buchsbaum hands out draft copies of the semi-annual report due to be presented to the Council within the next few weeks. He states that members should look this over and email comments to him. Next Meeting Beverly Open Space & Recreation Committee October 5, 2005 Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 5 Buchsbaum states the next meeting will be Wednesday, November 2, 2005 at 7:30 p.m., and if any members have ideas for agenda items please email him or Maxner to let them know. Adjournment Paluzzi moves to adjourn. Seconded by Kampersal. All in favor. Motion carries 7-0.