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
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September 5, 2012 Meeting Minutes
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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
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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
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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.