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2012-12-05CITY 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 December 5, 2012 Elizabeth Dunne (Chairperson), David Brewster, Nancy Coffey, David Gardner, Charlie Mann, Marilyn McCrory, Bill Squibb Pam Kampersal, James Matz Amy Maxner, Environmental Planner Jane Dooley Chairperson Dunne calls the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Principal Items of Business Acceptance of Previous Minutes — November 7, 2012 Members review draft November 7, 2012 meeting open session minutes and provide amendments to Maxner. Brewster moves to accept the minutes as amended. Seconded by McCrory. Motion carries 6 -0 -1 with Coffey abstaining since she did not attend the November 7, 2012 OSRC meeting. Parcel/Linkne List for Land & Trail Access /Acquisition — Update from Sub - Committee Mann provides update from Sub - Committee and explains that goal is to complete spreadsheet of any parcels, organized by ward, which may be of interest for open space or access. The Sub - Committee had flagged parcels where there was risk or urgency of being developed or action occurring with ownership and identified legal action relative to ownership so this list could be used as an internal planning tool and it would not be for general publication. He refers members to a list of owner unknown properties where 24 were identified and states that half of these would have value for open space and were worth pursuing for open space and /or access to linking trails. Mann notes that some landlocked parcels may be of interest to abutters. Discussion ensues about next steps potentially being OSRC members meeting with appropriate City officials about parcels that City is working on in tax taking process. Maxner notes that such a meeting was held in the past and she has since emailed J. Dunn and is awaiting a response. Gardner mentions that City has identified a consultant to work on tax taking parcels. Discussion ensues about what steps need to be identified to move the process along. Maxner offers to call J. Open Space & Recreation Committee December 5, 2012 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 4 Dunn again to get a status and understand next steps. Committee confers about if a letter to J. Dunn would be effective and Mann offers to draft letter that he will email to Coffey to review for OSRC. In addition, Mann spoke to a priority list if CPA funds became available (i.e., 27A as highest priority, and if there is no interest from the owner in selling this changes the priority). Mann explains if parcels are worth tracking they are contained on the Sub - Committee's parcel list of land of interest. Gardner recommends that the OSRC needs to develop a plan for the future when estates in Beverly Farms or other areas are broken up for development. The plan should include as appropriate land acquisition, easements, and rights of way. Discussion ensued about possible rights of away and easements (e.g. trail behind BHS and businesses on Tozer Road as a commuter route for bicyclists.) Mann notes that trail easements would not be acquisitions (i.e., trail behind Beverly High School and businesses on Tozer Road as a commuter route for bicyclists). Gardner offers to send Maxner an email on what he as a Sub - Committee member views are next steps with these parcels. Mann suggests that a next step could be an action list for OSRC (i.e., timing to get easements). Discussion ensues about Pole Swamp Lane as a public or private way where Maxner mentions that a real estate agent had inquired about the status of a lot up for sale on the Valley Road end. Coffey offers to research what is recorded on the deed relative to transaction and access to public right of way. Discussion also addresses identifying projects on the Sub - Committee's parcel list that CPA funds could be used for to acquire land or obtain easements. Gardner inquires about if CPA would pay for legal costs related to land acquisition and easements. Mann describes collaboration that has occurred with Essex County Greenbelt Association and CPA funds. He suggests carriage house at Lynch Park as a possible project for CPA funds. Maxner recommends Sub - Committee and McCrory meet with Ed Becker of ECGA to understand what Greenbelt is considering for Beverly and if the City could partner with CPA. Discussion continues with focus on 27X relative to tax taking and CPA as well possibility of building trail on Green Street. McCrory notes that CPA projects in other communities are done in phases. She offers to call CPA coalition relative to 27X tax taking to understand CPA potential. Also discussed by OSRC was if any of the parcels identified by the Sub - Committee were buildable. Committee addresses 27A, without Squibb in the room, and the value of the property relative to the access and topography of lot. Gardner mentions the Conservation Commission land at Whitehall and conservation restriction held by Con Com and Beverly Land Trust relative to trails. CPA: Next Steps Open Space & Recreation Committee December 5, 2012 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 4 McCrory explains that a next step for the City relative to CPA is to appoint the ad hoc committee by December 17th to write the ordinance defining number of members and length of terms for the permanent CPA committee. She also explains the controlling statue requires various City boards and officials that must have seats on the permanent CPA committee. Maxner notes that Tina Cassidy has agreed that an OSRC member should be one of the representatives on the permanent CPA committee. McCrory mentions that at the next City Council meeting the ad hoc committee membership would be announced. Discussion ensues about OSRC writing letter to Mayor expressing interest in having OSRC representation on the permanent CPA committee. Mann offers to draft the letter. Squibb suggests that McCrory should serve as OSRC representative on ad hoc and permanent CPA committee. Remembrance for Sylvan Menezes Maxner explains that Department of Transportation would be purchasing benches as part of harbor walk project and they would be included in bid process with the contractor. She is waiting for DOT representative to confirm that the state agency is budgeting for benches and if a plaque would be installed that could contain language honoring Sylvan Menezes. Dunne mentions that once the Committee is sure about DOT's intentions for benches, she will contact Menezes' widow about appropriate language for bench plaque. Semi - Annual Report Mann describes his presentation of Committee's semi - annual report at recent City Council meeting where he summarized OSRC projects, noted the Committee is down two members, and mentioned Eagle Scout interest in OSRC projects. Other Business Maxner notifies Committee that Kate Newhall from the City's Planning Department has taken a new planning job working for Newburyport. She adds that Newhall's vacated position will be filled in Beverly. Mann suggests that OSRC should compile ideas for Eagle Scout projects. Maxner notes that Eagle Scout Gabe Buchsbaum is working on his natural history signage (i.e., at Sally Milligan and other areas). Maxner states that a tee -pee but has been constructed in Sally Milligan that could be a potential Eagle Scout project where scouts would drag but construction material to the street so Public Works department could chip it. Discussion ensues about a for sale sign at the lot at Sally Milligan Park off of Jewett Road that OSRC members have seen and if the parcel is buildable and if it should be added to the Sub - Committee list of interest for open space. Open Space & Recreation Committee December 5, 2012 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 4 Brewster mentions another potential Eagle Scout cleanup project where a tree fell during a recent storm at Bald Hill, which could be hazardous since it is located at site in a precarious position. Maxner agrees to contact the Grounds Division to see if that can be sawed up and removed. Maxner updates Committee about Bathing Beach Lane access and notes that she has not heard from B. Munroe. Discussion ensues regarding transfer of B. Munroe's projects since Committee members have heard that he plans to retire. Mann notes that Bathing Beach Lane is an owner unknown situation that needs to be added to the appropriate list and mentions that parcel has a great deal of value without a lot of cost for the City to acquire. He suggests that 27X could be another Eagle Scout project to flag trail and complete trail loop with a boardwalk bridge to prevent erosion (this would require Conservation Commission approval). Coffey offers to research what happened to Maple Avenue near Jubilee Yacht Club and she has plans that show where the road was located. Mann refers to 1947 maps found on the GIS site relative to the Ancient Highway. The Committee schedules a holiday potluck event on January 23 and the next OSRC meeting on January 2nd Discussion reiterates potential Eagle Scout project to be discussed by Dunne with troop leader to clean up but at Sally Milligan as well as other scout projects include finishing trails at Tanzella Hill and YMCA that would have to be flagged by OSRC members for scouts to do the work. Coffey motions to adjourn, seconded by Brewster. The motion passes 7 -0. Meeting adjourns at 8:45 p.m.