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2012-11-07CITY 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 November 7, 2012 Elizabeth Dunne (Chairperson), David Brewster, David Gardner, Charlie Mann, James Matz, Marilyn McCrory, Bill Squibb Nancy Coffey, Pam Kampersal Amy Maxner, Environmental Planner Jane Dooley Chairperson Dunne calls the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Principal Items of Business North Shore Academy — Update on J.C. Phillips Estate Cleanup & Next Phase — David Mercier David Mercier thanks the Committee for allowing North Shore Academy students to do the clean up project at the J. C. Phillips preserve last summer. He says the students benefitted from the experience both by being in the woods and the hard work they did. Mercier presents a slideshow presentation that incorporated information on Frederick Olmstead and Williams Phillips and illustrates the work done by the students at the site. He mentions that significant work remains at the site especially if the architectural structure was going to be put back together by an expert. Also, that there is a lot of glass in the dirt that should be sifted out and removed. Mercier describes an idea the school had to display student artwork outside at the site but this proposal would have required a protected or supervised area so the work would not get destroyed. Mercier notes that the students were proud of the work they did clearing out poison ivy and tree roots to make the path area more walkable. He adds that the area where students put primer over graffiti and painted to clean it up had to be done a second time due to spray painting done by vandals. Mercier mentions when the Academy researched the site they found an aerial view from the 1940s that shows the area where students worked to improve it. He summarizes that it was an interesting experience for the kids and the project was publicized in the North Shore Consortium newsletter and Salem Evening News newspaper. Mercier mentions that they took the project as far as they could without specialized tools or a grant to support future work. Open Space & Recreation Committee November 7, 2012 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 5 Discussion ensues about putting information on the project on the City's Open Space website where Mercier will provide photos and information to Maxner. Mercier describes for Committee what services his school provides for the students and explains the importance of the community service projects. Committee members Gardner and Matz offer to provide Mercier with ideas for future volunteer project or community service training for the kids. Maxner mentions that she has talked to Captain Negrotti from the police department and he agreed to heighten its coverage on the weekends at the site. In addition, discussion addresses simple trail maps that Academy had installed at the site. Brewster notes that he will get another poster for the site that can be installed in April. Acceptance of Previous Minutes — October 3, 2012 Members review draft October 3, 2012 meeting open session minutes. Mann moves to approve the minutes as presented. Seconded by Brewster. Motion carries 6 -0 -1 with Brewster abstaining since he did not attend the October 3, 2012 OSRC meeting. Parcel/Linkne List for Land & Trail Access /Acquisition — Update from Sub - Committee Mann provides update from Sub - Committee and distributes to the Committee a new spreadsheet outlining parcels. He notes that there are 24 properties with no listed owner, suggests Maxner check in with B. Munroe on this, and highlights the parcels that might be of interest for open space. Mann refers to aerial views and mentions that Beaver Pond Road is identified as a private road with unknown owner. He adds information about a parcel along the Bass River that has an unknown owner and that there is evidence at the site that a resident has taken it over. Mann also mentions three properties that border the Audubon land and are bordered by Conservation Commission and ECGA land in Wenham. Gardner states that Jon Dunn is working on acquiring unknown properties to sell them and he suggests that they should ensure Committee expresses its interest in open space use before any sales occur. Discussion ensues about property near Glen Urquhart that is totally landlocked and another behind Turtle Creek and the brush dump. Gardner reiterates importance of Committee sending a letter to Dunn about OSRC interest in some of these parcels for open space. Mann describes tax taking by City with owner unknown and the issue of legal costs related to the transaction. Discussion ensues as to John Dunn's explanation that transacting these types of parcels can be lengthy process since time has to be allocated to allow people to come forward who may have interest in the parcels. Mann suggests OSRC could consolidate ideas and prioritize a few parcels with the most interest for open space. Discussion ensues about City already owning 272 parcels with some sub - ownership such as the Conservation Commission. Committee notes that parcels off of Pole Swamp Lane have not been acted on and Mann offers to research. Committee members also mention landlocked slivers that may not have commercial value but could be of interest to Essex County Greenbelt and /or Audubon. Discussion ensues about Sub - Committee putting together a list of parcels that could potentially be acquired with Community Preservation Act funding. Mann notes that Sub - Committee should hold another meeting to organize the parcels by ward and to prioritize the parcels into a planning tool to address which properties to consider first (i.e., those for sale would move up the list). Open Space & Recreation Committee November 7, 2012 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 5 Discussion ensues about latest OSRC map and the Emerald Necklace trails where Committee members give Maxner corrections (i.e., Branch Lane is not private, Beaver Pond is owner unknown not private) and they agree that the map is a work in progress. Discussion continues about potential of CPA funding to be used for signage and that map has areas labeled as potential trails. The Committee also addresses approaching Cummings Foundation about easement at 50 Dunham Road since it fits all parameters. Matz offers to participate on a team to address this possibility. Mann reiterates that OSRC should finish the parcel list and identify the five highest priorities that could be presented to the Mayor. He adds that an approvals and notes column could be added to the parcels list spreadsheet. Maxner agrees that this discussion on the parcels would be added to the OSRC's December meeting agenda. Semi - Annual Report to the City Council — Scheduling and presenter Maxner refers to draft of semi - annual report that she sent to Committee via email that describes accomplishments of OSRC including CPA approval. McCrory provides comments on language referring to passage of CPA. Discussion ensues about CPA Committee that would be created as part of an ordinance that needs to be established and that recreation will be addressed by the CPA Committee in concert with existing committees such as Parks and Recreation Commission. Maxner states that details on how the City will facilitate and administer CPA have to be defined. She notes that she researched information on this from the CPA Coalition to understand how other towns established the ordinance. She mentions that CPA Committees have typically had from three to five members that represent the interests specified in CPA, and in Beverly consideration would be given to provide equity across wards. Maxner emphasizes the importance of a connection being made between Tina Cassidy and the Mayor about administration of CPA regarding the CPA Committee, ordinance /by -law and funds. Discussion returns to Semi - Annual Report where members give Maxner amendments to her draft report language including the Committee's continuing interest in CPA and appreciation for City Council for putting CPA on the ballot and the citizens of Beverly voting for it. Maxner offers to make changes and finalize report in preparation for 10- minute presentation at an upcoming City Council meeting. Election of Officers — Annual election of Chairperson, Vice - Chairperson and Recording Secretary Dunne moves to nominate Mann for Chairperson. Seconded by Matz. Motion carries 7 -0. Gardner nominates Coffey for Vice - chairperson. Seconded by Brewster. Motion carries 7 -0. Matz nominates Brewster for Recording Secretary. Seconded by Mann. Motion carries 7 -0. Mann agrees to present Semi - Annual Report to the City Council on Monday, December 3. McCrory will accompany Mann to answer CPA questions. Maxner offers to speak to Councillor M. Troubetaris about introducing Mann as new chair for OSRC. Open Space & Recreation Committee November 7, 2012 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 5 Other Business Committee Remembrance for Sylvan Menezes — Discussion /Action Items Maxner notes that Mass. DOT is completing its harbor walk under the bridge where there are two spots for benches, granite or a bench with memorial plaque. She offers to investigate if City is going to pay for a bench in memory of Menezes and she will speak to Paul Earl of the Harbor Management Authority about the logistics. Dunne offers to speak to Sylvan's wife Karen about wording for the bench. Old Business Community Preservation Act — Ballot Results & Discussion McCrory mentions that next steps are to write ordinance and for the City Council to determine and appoint CPA Committee members. She suggests that OSRC has to define ideas for all types of CPA projects including parcel priorities. Discussion ensues about Legislature increasing CPA match, details about the language in the ordinance and tax collections will start in July of 2013, with matching funds from the state being allocated a full year later. McCrory notes that project funding can begin with the tax collections without having to have state funds already in place. The Committee also discusses how CPA funds would be allocated per specified categories (i.e., open space, recreation, historic preservation, affordable housing). Maxner expresses importance of Committee meeting with Tina Cassidy about writing ordinance. Discussion ensues about OSRC reviewing coalition website to review ordinance samples. Squibb suggests that the CPA Committee could come up with draft ordinance language. Maxner notes that a lot of the language could come from the statute. She also raises the issue of how City staff will support CPA. Matz recommends an advocate in the Planning Department and a City Councillor who could champion the ordinance effort. Discussion ensues about how CPA should be administered in Beverly and that some municipalities that already have CPA have a staff person for this purpose. Discussion continues about the interest in open space, historic preservation, and affordable housing where CPA seed money can be used. Updates Eagle Scout Proiect Updates Mann states that he met with Matt Akerman and they put up the trail sign and cleaned up trail entrance so this concludes the Eagle Scout's trail blazing project. Greens Hill — Parcel 27X Maxner states that she has an email in to J. Dunn on 27X timeline but she has not received a response with his opinion. Open Space & Recreation Committee November 7, 2012 Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 5 Bathing Beach Lane — Right of Way Access Mann offers to pursue a meeting with B. Munroe relative to Bathing Beach Lane and right of way access. Other Business Brought Forward by Committee Members Connecting trails at Whitehall Circle Maxner states that the grading done at the property frames the path, the berm has been lowered and path, which is a little steep, has been treated with stone dust. She notes that shrubs remain to be planted to mark the trail. She recommends that it would be worth getting some foot traffic on the path until the shrubs can be planted in the spring. Matz notes that he will bring this up at the next Planning Board meeting. Mann suggests that the trail should have an entrance sign. Eagle Scout proiect, trailhead at Bridge Street — Ben McDonald Maxner explains that Eagle Scout Ben McDonald had approached the Mayor and she met with Mike Collins to develop a plan for Bridge Street and that trailhead work has been completed. Update on Sweeney property Dunne mentions that ECGA's Ed Becker was interested in talking to OSRC about Sweeney property relative to if there was any interest from ECGA in the property. Mann suggests that three properties off of Hart Street could be processed through tax taking and donated to ECGA for their stewardship and master plan. Dunne says that ECGA is less inclined to take properties without a funded, maintenance agreement. She adds that the OSRC could take a good look at maps with Becker who could attend a regular OSRC meeting. Scheduling The Committee's next meeting is scheduled for December 5, 2012. Dunne notes that she received a letter from a scoutmaster about interest in more scout trail blazing projects. Mann suggests that Green Hills trail could be continued to 27X and trail could be finished to Tanzella Hill. Matz motions to adjourn, seconded by Gardner. The motion passes 7 -0. Meeting adjourns at 9:00 p.m.