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2012-05-02CITY 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 May 2, 2012 Elizabeth Dunne (Chairperson), David Brewster, Nancy Coffey, David Gardner, Pam Kampersal, Charlie Mann, Marilyn McCrory, James Matz, Sylvan Menezes, and Bill Squibb Amy Maxner, Environmental Planner, and Kate Newhall, Associate Planner Jane Dooley Chairperson Dunne calls the meeting to order. Acceptance of Previous Minutes — April 4, 2012 Members review draft April 4, 2012 meeting open session minutes. Members discuss amendments with Maxner. Coffey makes a motion to accept April 4, 2012 open session minutes as amended. Seconded by Mann. Motion carries 9 -0 since Matz had not arrived yet. Principal Items of Business Trail Blazing at Tall Tree Drive/Fox Hill — Review of Grant Requirements w/ Kate Newhall Newhall thanks Mann for taking lead on trail blazing project. Mann states that he is getting workday organized. Newhall mentions that grant documents specify that the deadline for the project is September 2013. She explains that if any items are purchased under the $1,000 grant for the trail blazing then she has to submit requests for reimbursement within the same fiscal year (i.e., by June 30 for this fiscal year) and a check would be issued. Mann notes that the walkway is affordable since there are brick borders with mulch. Newhall mentions the issue of sales tax and says she has discussed with John Dunn the possibility of getting a tax - exempt number for Mann to use when he makes purchases. Mann explains that this could apply to the purchase of wood for the bridge and possibly three palettes of brick. He adds that he was going to see if one of the local tree companies (i.e., Cicoria or Mayer) would donate putting in woodchips. He notes that only labor would be getting sod to site. Open Space & Recreation Committee May 2, 2012 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 6 Newhall emphasizes that they need to keep track of volunteer hours for trail work and she will have a sign up sheet. Mann mentions that he spoke to Todd Balf about his group that is prepared to work on June 8 and 9, Friday afternoon and Saturday. He adds that he visited the trail site in the spring and did heavy cuts with a chain saw so raking and knocking down brush is the work that remains. Newhall asks Mann to notify her when the crew is organized for workday during second week in June. Also that she has a summary sheet and that Steven Freeman expressed interest in assisting with project and would bring along some teenagers to work. Discussion ensues about Beverly people that would like to help with this project including Mike Coughlin. Newhall reiterates that she will investigate getting Mann the tax - exempt number. She also mentions that the rate for volunteers that can be reimbursed is $23.40 an hour for unskilled for the state's cash match that is just the value not monetary payout and skilled rate is approximately $30 an hour. Discussion ensues with Newhall about possibility of seeking other grants for the City (i.e., similar to grant for turf field at Beverly High School used last year) and Menezes agrees to email her information on state grant opportunity he is aware of that could possibly be applied to Parcel 27A. Brewster mentions that resident he encountered on recent Earth Day Walk complained about Bass River Walkway having never been completed. Mann notes that Land Conservation Fund is a possibility for funding walkway. Discussion ensues about whether there should be a pre- workday meeting in consideration that trail is already flagged and tree work is done. Newhall reiterates that she needs to quantify the work hours that Mann has already expended on the trail project. Parcel/Linkne List & Land Access Action Items — Review and Discussion Maxner refers to Mann's chart of parcels in City that have open space potential where Committee members were going to consider their own wards for possible land easements. Discussion ensues about Greenbelt planning to acquire seven acres on Grapevine Road in Wenham and at the top corner of Beverly to be incorporated into their master plan. Discussion ensues about whether owner of Johnson's tree farm, that is currently under Chapter 61, is interested in protecting the open space into perpetuity and that the owner has to come to the City first if he wants to sell it due to right of first refusal. Committee members note this as an example of where Community Preservation Act funds could be used if City were to adopt CPA. Gardner suggests members send their parcel wish lists to Maxner so she could prioritize the Committee discussion. Mann notes this could be done in a separate meeting using GIS to identify open parcels without structures and their owners. Gardner mentions that there is a signage issue across the City and he will email his list to Maxner (i.e., Cross Lane playing field). Discussion ensues about the importance of identifying sidewalks and sidewalk improvements throughout the City (i.e., ADA requirements). Open Space & Recreation Committee May 2, 2012 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 6 Discussion ensues about Committee developing a comprehensive list to be sent to Maxner and possibly dedicating the OSRC July meeting or a separate Committee meeting to the issue. Members mention the importance of bicycle lanes assisting motorists with awareness of bicyclists on the road. Maxner asks members to supply her with their wish lists before Memorial Day. Committee agrees to meet on Wednesday, July 11 since July 4 th holiday falls on first Wednesday in July. Access Easement off of Dunham Road to Norwood Pond — Discussion /Action Items Discussion ensues about best person associated with Cummings property at Dunham Road to approach relative to getting an access easement off of Dunham Road to Norwood Pond. Members mention that trail easement would go through Cummings property and would protect existing trail. Maxner offers to work with R. Adams to develop a map of area. Discussion ensues about possibility of OSRC writing a letter introducing the concept. Mann notes that proposed trail easement is similar to commercial place pathway that goes through Cummings Center, former Shoe property, which would not take away from commercial interest but would add amenities. Discussion ensues about importance of doing mapping first, developing comparison to Cummings Center property, and determination about where people would park to access Cummings property trail on Dunham Road. Discussion ensues about whether City officials support putting a Conservation Restriction on the Norwood Pond property and if there is a master plan for an overpass includes that land. Matz suggests the OSRC focus on getting a trail easement in the area. Maxner reiterates that she will work on a map and that the she and the Committee could work on an introduction letter. Coffey offers to assist with drafting of letter. Mann agrees to print GIS map of area that could be colored to illustrate trail easement. Discussion ensues about developing a map that includes Greenbelt land with details on Cummings property. Open Space & Recreation Plan Revision — Changes to Language re: Aquifer Resources — Update and Discussion Matz summarizes a proposed edit to the Open Space & Recreation Plan relative to aquifer resources on page 29 that Committee has discussed previously. Specifically, the aquifer being cited as medium versus high yield aquifer, Matz mentions that Mass GIS and USGS references and letter from DEP note that aquifer is potable. Kampersal describes her discussion with GIS director and another representative at DEP and letter stating high yield aquifer, that USGS refers to aquifer as high yield and she mentions her discussion with Safe Drinking Water Alliance and Kerry Mackin at Ipswich River Watershed Association. Discussion ensues about whether Committee should try to amend its Open Space & Recreation Plan now to change the language referring to the aquifer or if it should be done at the scheduled time for updating. Matz emphasizes his interest in approaching the State to correct the record that the aquifer in North Beverly is potable versus non - potable. Dunne suggests this could be a Open Space & Recreation Committee May 2, 2012 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 6 typographical error and mentions that if plan were amended then changed document would have to made available to public. Discussion continues about how the original document went through a series of hearings between City boards and committees and ultimately City Council for authorization. Maxner agrees with Committee about importance of getting the document correct but mentioned that process to make correction on one word requires a lot of effort to change. Discussion ensues about if aquifer is listed as non - potable this could allow the area to be opened up to less restrictive development. Gardner suggests an errata sheet be submitted to the State to correct the issue. Mann recommends the Committee not review the whole Open Space & Recreation plan at this time. Gardner moves to write a letter to the State informing them that an error was found in the City of Beverly's Open Space & Recreation Plan citing the aquifer as non - potable and change it to potable, and the OSRC would like to issue errata for their records and its own and other documentation will be provided. Seconded by Coffey. Motion carries 10 -0. Community Preservation Act Campaign Strategy — Update & Discussion McCrory updates Committee on formalizing Community Preservation Act Committee and that Peter Johnson has agreed to be treasurer and he is filing appropriate paperwork. She notes that CPA Committee is in process of asking the City Council to place the question on the 2012 ballot for voters to decide on the adoption of CPA. She adds that CPA Committee is working with City Clerk, City Council, Legal Affairs and City Solicitor to refine language to meet a July 2 deadline for City Council vote to ensure this meets the 120 -day requirement before general election. Discussion ensues about need to explain to residents about State match of CPA funds relative to what City collects in real estate tax surcharge and what projects CPA funds could support in preparation for fall election ballot vote. Earth Day Walks — Recap McCrory updates Committee about 12 people attending the most recent walk and one participant expressing interest in trail connection to Moraine Farm. Coffey mentions that news items she has sent to Beverly Citizen on the Earth Day Walks are being published. Maxner suggests summary of Earth Day Walks with photos be done for City's website and could include links to Phillips Reserve. She notes that next Earth Day Walk is an event that Mike Rabolvsky will lead. Eagle Scout Trail Proiect Update — Discussion/Recommendations /Action Items Mann updates Committee about how he and Eagle Scout Matt Akerman met with Mr. Sweeney and convinced him to move flatbed truck out of the City's right of way /trail. Scouts will also deal with Sweeney's trash that is on City property. Discussion ensues about Ed Becker of Greenbelt asking about future of other side of street, that the land is locked in by a swamp and would require a two -board boardwalk similar to the one found at Ravenswood in Gloucester. Open Space & Recreation Committee May 2, 2012 Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 6 Bathing Beach Lane — Ri2ht of Way Access Maxner explains that she resent an email to B. Munroe but did not receive a response. Mann mentions that he blazed the trail at the right of way and suggested members investigate this since it is open and walkable. Greens Hill — Parcel 27X Maxner updates Committee regarding memo given to her by Tina Cassidy from B. Munroe to the Mayor dated April 17, 2012 that refers to parcel of land relative to foreclosing and tax taking of Parcel 27X. Memo describes complication related to Assessors' record about owner unknown for some period of time and that Department of Revenue approval was not obtained for this designation. Parcel 27X is one of 24 parcels carried by the City as owner unknown where DOR approval has never been granted. The designation is administrative versus discretionary and the letter asks Mayor to contact DOR. Discussion ensues about Committee members offering to research location of forms to be filed with Assessors and sent to DOR, and that the tax title taking occurred in 1950 and form filing should have been provided to the Assessors. Committee expresses interest in having this administrative form filing be done for all tax title properties so process can be completed with DOR Maxner agrees to consult with Tina Cassidy on next steps. Open Space Encroachment off Standley Street — Waring School Maxner offers to email Waring School's attorney for an update on open space encroachment. Committee members suggest school will be cooperative and mention that this is likely to be a summer project for the school administration to correct encroachment. Other Open Space Matters Maxner mentions the cease and desist order that was delivered today relative to work done in retention pond at Chapman's Corner due to lack of approval from Conservation Commission and Planning Board as well as violation of Conservation Restriction. Maxner states her conversation with Enginer Bob Griffin representing David Carnevale who is doing the work. She explains that she has requested submission of materials for revised plans under Planning Board subdivision and Conservation Commission restrictions including amended drainage calculations and that a site visit would occur with Conservation Commission and Conservation Land Trust. Other Committees discussion and /or recommendations Matz mentions that nothing occurring with Planning Board that effects open space. Maxner states that Conservation Commission has approved Tall Tree Drive trail, resource delineation for Dunham Road has been continued to May 22, 2012 Conservation Commission meeting since the consultant report came in late and the site is riddled with vernal pools. Matz mentions that there are no substantive changes regarding ongoing litigation with 875 Hale Street. Next meeting agenda items and scheduling Open Space & Recreation Committee May 2, 2012 Meeting Minutes Page 6 of 6 The Committee's next meeting is scheduled for June 6, 2012. Gardner motions to adjourn, seconded by Mann. The motion passes 10 -0. Meeting adjourns at 9:00 p.m.