2009-09-02
CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD:
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE:
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
OTHERS PRESENT:
RECORDER:
Open Space and Recreation Committee
September 2, 2009
Elizabeth Dunne (Chairperson), Suzanne Beaudoin, David
Brewster, Robert Buchsbaum, Nancy Coffey, Marilyn
McCrory, Bill Squibb
Pam Kampersal, Sylvan Menezez, Michael Ralbovsky
Environmental Planner Amy Maxner, Associate Planner
Kate Newhall
Renee Mary, Mary Roderick, David Gardner
Andrea Bray
Chairperson Dunne calls the meeting to order.
Guest Speaker: Robert Munroe - Assistant City Solicitor - Discussion re2ardin2 Open
Meetin2 Law
Munroe provides an overview of the Open Meeting Law, which prohibits all members of City
committees/boards from discussing issues with a majority of the members outside of the
scheduled meeting. He clarifies that it would be acceptable for the staff to get approval from the
Chair for letters/communications directed to other entities.
He notes that communication between Committee members regarding agendas, meeting rooms
attendance and the like are perfectly acceptable matters that can be discussed as a group by email
or telephone. He emphasizes that any matters of material or decisions that the Committee must
make as a group must be done in open meeting. He goes onto explain other possible scenarios
that may present themselves in administering the Committee's duties and appropriate ways to
address these situations.
Much discussion and Q & A ensues regarding regulations governing Open Meeting Law.
Munroe informed the Committee that members must be present at a meeting to express their
opinions on matters and decisions before them and cannot send members of the public in their
place to speak on their behalf. He notes that the absent member can convey their thoughts to
staff that can then provide such at the meetings.
Munroe encourages members to contact him any time they have follow-up questions or
situations that need clarification. The Committee thanks Munroe for his presentation and
guidance on this matter.
Open Space & Recreation Committee
September 2, 2009 Meeting Minutes
Page 2 of 4
Guest Speakers: Kate Walton. Asst. Director of Land Stewardship. Essex County
Greenbelt Association and Dan Streeter. Director of the New En2land Mountain Bikin2
Association (NEMBA)- Discussion on Trail Maintenance & Stewardship of Beverly
Commons Area
Maxner introduces Kate Walton from Greenbelt and Dan Streeter ofNEMBA to discuss trail
maintenance and stewardship of the Beverly Common area.
Walton states that the Greenbelt Association and NEMBA are collaborating to improve various
trails on this property some of which are on Greenbelt land and some on City land. She refers to
the map and photos and states that the numbers on the map indicate areas of concern that need
drainage corrections. The letters on the map indicate areas on the trail that need a more
comprehensive long-term management or closure may be required. She adds that they plan to
work on the numbered locations this year and the lettered locations some time in the future. She
notes that they met with the Conservation Commission last night and received a favorable
response to this plan. She reviews the plan with the Committee and discussion ensues regarding
maintenance elements.
Buchsbaum states that the removal of auxiliary trails is a priority.
Dunne states that bikes cause most of these auxiliary trails but she appreciates the stewardship
from the bike groups and hopes that the relationships can continue. She adds that the more
people that use the woods, the safer and better protected the woods are.
Walton states that she is trying to get the many trail users to work together to maintain the trails.
Streeter states that he wanted to make the Committee aware of the work that he will do on
Saturday morning September 13. He agrees to contact Amy in the early spring and seek an
opportunity to work with the OSRC on other projects noted on the plan.
Approval of Minutes - July 1. 2009 and AU2ust 20. 2009 Meetin2s
The members review the minutes for the July 1 meeting and make suggested amendments.
Voting members are Dunne, Brewster, Coffey, and McCrory.
McCrory: Motion to approve the minutes for the July 1, 2009 meeting as amended,
seconded by Coffey. Passes 4-0.
Voting members are Dunne, Beaudoin, Brewster, Coffey, McCrory, and Squibb.
McCrory: Motion to approve the minutes for the August 20, 2009 meeting, seconded by
Brewster. Passes 6-0.
Old Business
Open Space & Recreation Committee
September 2, 2009 Meeting Minutes
Page 3 of 4
The Open Space and Recreation Plan
DCR 2rant opportunity for October 2009 - follow UP on proiect: Research and Choice and
Application Pro2ress
Newhall states that she looked into the possibility of using this grant to purchase 27X property
and she is not confident that this can happen, because all acquisition projects must take place
with a willing seller. She notes that 27X is owner unknown. She adds that they need 2
appraisals as well and appraisals cannot be part of the grant, they must be submitted with the
application.
She notes that the National Grid trail project would require that Grid provide a formal right-of-
way on the property but this seems unlikely and even if Grid is amenable it may not happen in
time for grant deadlines.
Regarding Norwood Pond, Maxner states that she met with Bill McGrath, with W AM General
Contractors in Beverly, and together they visited the end ofElnew Avenue. She distributes her
findings on the discussion regarding the installation of an accessible trail in the area at the end of
Elnew Avenue. She explains that the labor costs are higher for a narrow trail that would required
more manual labor, and in this case, would cost about $10,000 just to install an accessible trail to
reach the kiosk.
After much discussion the members conclude that this would probably be prohibitively
expensive. Maxner states that there are drainage issues at Elnew Avenue, which must also be
addressed, as well as long-term maintenance costs that must be factored in and she doubts that
this would be a priority for DPW.
Newhall states that one possibility was the path along the Bass River pathway behind Innocenti
and McPerson Center.
Coffey states that she is in favor of committing the funds to the Bass River area because it is one
of the only sites downtown and she thinks that attention should be paid to these types of
recreational areas. She states that another site that was considered is Rice's Beach but the based
on her conversation with Tom Scully, the neighbors are not in favor of improving that trail and
have expressed strong opposition in the past.
Newhall reviews the specific provisions for the grant.
Discussion ensues as to other projects for this grant; among them were other trail sections of
Norwood Pond and securing a CR for the open space parcel in the Chapman's Corner
subdivision.
Beaudoin suggests the possibility of cooperating NEMBA and ECGB on the Beverly Common
site by using grant money for trail maintenance/repair. Members discuss this option.
David Gardner suggests working on establishing a Folger Avenue trail.
Open Space & Recreation Committee
September 2, 2009 Meeting Minutes
Page 4 of 4
Maxner and Newhall state that the Committee must decide tonight because the grant application
is due on October 1, 2009.
Coffey suggests using the grant money for the Bass River pathway improvement to install an
interpretive kiosks or natural history stations, benches and lighting.
Beaudoin steps out.
Squibb states that the area near Stop & Shop and McDonalds is in deplorable condition and
maybe the grant can be used to improve this. Maxner and Newhall inform the Committee that
Stop & Shop and McDonalds are under obligation to maintain that path under Chapter 91
License and deed restrictions.
The members agree to seek a grant for the Bass River pathway and if that does not work the
second choice would be the Beverly Common trail work with Greenbelt.
Newhall requests the Committee's permission to proceed with the grant paperwork, and the
member agree that it would be fine.
Coffey:
Motion to adjourn, seconded by McCrory. Passes 6-0.
The meeting is adjourned at 9:00 pm.