Loading...
2012-09-05CITY 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 5, 2012 Elizabeth Dunne (Chairperson), David Brewster, Nancy Coffey, Pam Kampersal, Marilyn McCrory, and Bill Squibb David Gardner, Charlie Mann, and James Matz Amy Maxner, Environmental Planner Jane Dooley Chairperson Dunne calls the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in Conference Room A, 3 rd Floor City Hall, 191 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA 01915. Acceptance of Previous Minutes — July 11, 2012 Members review draft of July 11, 2012 regular meeting minutes. Members discuss with Maxner level of detail required for public record of OSRC meetings. McCrory and Brewster provide amendments to Maxner. Committee members agree to allow Maxner and Dunn to work together to edit and condense minutes. McCrory moves to defer to edits by Maxner and Dunne. Seconded by Coffey. Motion carries 5- 0-1 with Kampersal abstaining since she did not attend the July 11, 2012 OSRC meeting. Principal Items of Business Parcel/Linka2e List for Land & Trail Access /Acquisition — Review, Discussion of Priorities and Action Items Discussion ensues about effectiveness of Beverly GIS aerial photos for viewing parcels and that they can be found on the City's website for 1947, 2002 and 2008 as well as information on FEMA's flood zones. Committee also discusses parcel off of Standley Street owned by family of recently deceased Paul Sweeney and that some greenhouses have been taken down. Discussion ensues as to working with Greenbelt in protecting this property. Dunn agrees to talk to Ed Becker to discuss this. Maxner states that the Conservation Commission had agreed to accept the developers gift of the OSRD open space parcel at 1 Lake Shore Avenue and she describes possibility for a loop trail Open Space & Recreation Committee September 5, 2012 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 4 for public access off of Sally Milligan. She adds that she does not know Commission's feeling about blazing a new trail. Maxner then updates OSRC about Waring School's field encroachment on City's open space land where School has had area surveyed to understand location of field and wetlands. She states that School plans to come to the City in the fall with a proposal. Discussion ensues about if there would be any interest by Waring School in the Sweeney property if it were for sale. Committee discussed about possible future development scenarios for Sweeney property. Brewster reports on Ober Park and public access linkage connecting into Ryalside and notes there is a public way sign that could perhaps be updated and that there was obvious use of trail in neighborhood. Discussion ensues about Beverly's shoreline rights (since the 1970s) relative to the Ancient Highway easement. Coffey states that there was a shoreline group that walked these areas on an annual basis, however when the leader of this group died, a shoreline protection group was established, but soon disbanded due to lack of city government support. She notes that gradually property owners started to erect fences and hedges to block public access. Members discuss areas throughout the City that Ancient Highway may apply to such as Independence Park and shoreline access on Lothrop Street, Dane Street Beach, Woodbury Beach, Brackenberry Beach, Lynch Park, Hospital Point, etc. Coffey mentions Tuck's Point paper street and whether or not it was sold to Jubilee Yacht Club and notes nearby public beach. Also addressed were legal actions taken in land court between City and residents and if there were deed references associated with properties related to Ancient Highway. Dunne questions if research on this topic would qualify for financial support through the Community Preservation Act funds. Discussion also addresses ongoing litigation with Port Marina and completion of waterfront walkway. Maxner mentions that it is hoped walkway that was part of the Salem- Beverly bridge overhaul could to be connected by Rowands property by the end of the year. She adds that the City is waiting for adjudicatory decision on matter relative to the BPM Chapter 91 litigation and she offers to consult with Tina Cassidy and Harbor Management Authority on status. Open Space & Recreation Plan Revision — Changes to Language re: Aquifer Resources — Update & Discussion Discussion ensues regarding Kampersal's interest in revising language in City's Open Space & Recreation Plan to correct information about aquifer resources and hydrological connection to Wenham Lake, Longham Reservoir, Beaver and Norwood Ponds where aquifer is classified by DEP as non - potable, medium yield. Committee notes that the June meeting vote was discussed and amended as requested by member James Matz, who is a hydrogeologist and LSP, as he had researched aquifer classification details from DEP including on its MassDEP — Bureau of Waste Site Cleanup map. Dunn recalls that a motion was made at the June OSRC meeting to rescind Committee's previous vote to send an errata sheet to DEP to revise language in the Open Space & Recreation Plan Open Space & Recreation Committee September 5, 2012 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 4 regarding classification of aquifer and for the Committee not to make any amendments to the current existing language in the subject section of the Open Space & Recreation plan upon further examination. Members recall the discussion at the June meeting had addressed how classification of aquifer as non - potable could change in the future and Kampersal could present her motions to the Committee if new evidence came to light. Kampersal explains that she spoke with Matz earlier in the day and he noted to her in an email and over the phone that the June meeting minutes did not accurately reflect his intentions as to how he wanted the vote to be rescinded. Maxner notes that Matz had reviewed and voted to approve the June minutes at the July meeting and suggests that Matz be the one to bring this discrepancy to the Committee when he is present at a subsequent meeting. Committee members uniformly agree that the motion from June 6 th meeting could be revisited with the appropriate vetted documentation to be provided for consideration. Committee members concur that both Kampersal and Matz should work together to present a cohesive presentation and both of them to attend a subsequent Committee meeting to reach a consensus. Maxner notes that changes in Open Space & Recreation Plan do not usually occur midlife and that the City will be responsible for updating the plan in 2015. She suggests this agenda item be continued to the next Committee meeting. Other Business Committee Remembrance for Sylvan Menezes — Discussion /Action Items Kampersal agrees to follow up with Paul Earl of Harbor Management Authority regarding any action that Harbor Management Authority may be planning to honor deceased OSRC member Sylvan Menezes (i.e., bench or walkway memorialized with plaque). Community Preservation Act Campaign — Update McCrory updates the Committee about how CPA Committee needs volunteers to post signs around the City and man tables at farmer's market on Monday afternoons starting on September 10 She notes that CPA Committee members are receiving positive feedback. Discussion ensues about how Salem citizens were able to add the CPA to the ballot with a signature campaign. Maxner explains that OSRC members can write letters of support for CPA as private citizens and, based on DOR Guidelines, that City bodies can formally support CPA by describing how it is tied into their mission. McCrory offers to draft language that Committee could approve. Maxner suggests that language from the Historic District Commission support letter could be used for this purpose. Coffey moves that the Committee designate Maxner, Dunn and McCrory to draft the letter. Seconded by Brewster. Motion carries 6 -0. Squibb notes that letter should contain positive reasons to support CPA and asks Committee members for suggestions on companies that might fund the CPA brochure costs (i.e., postage estimated at $3,000 to $5,000). Discussion ensues about getting positive messages about CPA out to the City's residents (i.e., state match). Coffey offers to spell out clearly the elderly Open Space & Recreation Committee September 5, 2012 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 4 exemptions in a letter to the editor. McCrory describes need for photographs for a CPA poster that includes open space and recreation. Scheduling The Committee's next meeting is scheduled for October 3, 2012. There being not further business before the Committee, Brewster motions to adjourn, seconded by Coffey. The motion passes 6 -0. Meeting adjourns at 9:10 p.m.