HomeMy WebLinkAboutDraft Minutes- 120924 December 9, 2024Planning & Development Department
367 Main Street, Hyannis, MA 02601 – Phone: 508-862-4678
Town of Barnstable
Open Space Committee
Formerly Land Acquisition and Preservation Committee (s ee Town Council Agenda 2023-196)
www.townofbarnstable.us/OpenSpaceCommittee
Agenda
Notice of Meeting as Required by Chapter 28 of the Acts of 2009, amending MGL Chapter 30A
DATE December 9, 2024
TIME 5:30 p.m.
LOCATION Selectmen’s Conference Room, 2nd Floor, Town Hall, 367 Main Street, Hyannis
The meeting will be televised live via Xfinity Channel 8 or high definition Channel 1072. It may also be accessed via the Gov ernment
Access Channel live stream on the Town of Barnstable’s website:
http://streaming85.townofbarnstable.us/CablecastPublicSite/watch/1?channel=1
CALL TO ORDER AND INTRODUCTION OF MEMBERS
Chair Malakhoff calls the meeting to order at 5:30 PM with an introduction of members:
Also in attendance is David Anthony, Director, Asset Management; Kyle Pedicini, Assistant Director, Planning & Development; G rayce
Rogers, Property Manager; and Genna Ziino, Administrative Assistant.
Marie & Steve Rizzo, Donald and Deborah Reynolds from Cummaquid.
NOTICE OF RECORDING
This meeting of the Open Space Committee is being recorded and broadcast on the Town of Barnstable’s Government Access
Channel. In accordance with MGL Chapter 30A §20, I must inquire whether anyone else is recording this meeting and, if so, to please
make their presence known.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
November 4, 2024 – Doug moves to approve. Cate seconds. All in favor.
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION
New Business
• Pathways Project update – Grayce Rogers, Asset Management
Lev says he and Farley and others were part of ad hoc committee looking into taking care of pathways around town. Role has been
absent in town for a while. Gives Grayce USB with hi-res photos of logos.
Grayce says project was left off around 2014/2016 (friends of cape cod pathways). Sharing AmeriCorps placement looking at variety
of projects, one is pathways. Looking to redo exercise from 2014 which is take an inventory of pathways. It’s been discovered that
the process involves a lot of private easements, and they are looking to reconfigure to be able to complete the path. Looking to
Lev Malakhoff – Chair X
Farley Lewis – Vice Chair X
Elizabeth Lewis
Douglas Payson X
Elissa Crowley Absent
Anne Rowland X
Tracy Pratt
Cate Gulliver X
Vacant
update trailblazing, signage, kiosks that were implemented a decade ago. After inventory of trails in winter/spring, and then go to
key stakeholders and ask for feedback—OSC is one of those stakeholders.
Lev says Ann Canedy had send letters to Town Manager Mark Ells about it—including Flint Rock Road. Deeds show that that way
does exist. Other concern is safety concern at Cape Cod Community College, no safety features of crosswalk/light. John Cox, Cape
Cod Community College president was in support of these upgrades.
David Anthony says Tom Larosa one of town attorney s has this in the mix because ancient ways can be complicated. They’ll continue
to bird dog that issue. Thinks it would be town engineer who creates letter for the crosswalk —David Anthony will work with
planning. Kyle says request has been made to (sent November 26) MassDOT for these improvements.
Doug says Harwich/Chatham has been aggressive in signage directing to where trailheads are. Doug says public is unaware of
network of trails and public access. Grayce says county just gave her a bunch of signs to be implemented as part of this upda te. Liz
Lewis arrives at this time. Doug says paths should also connect to sidewalks and not just roads. David Anthony says sidewalk
requests come up frequently but are a challenge and take a lot more than is expected in terms of development and maintenance. He
says will take it under advisement as they come up with this plan.
Lev states that as part of NEMBA (North East Mountain Bike Association) he worked with the College to direct pathways onto trails
and approached state to create trail but are hoping those can be included in the update. Grayce says they’ll be reviewed.
• Trail Condition Reporting – Dave Lafreniere, NEMBA
Lev introduces Dave. Presents process NEMBA uses that may be helpful to Town of Barnstable. Advocates for preservation for open
space and promote cycling on Cape Cod. May be familiar with projects they’ve done: wv conservation area walker point deck; picnic
pavilion; trayser boardwalk; adaptive trail loop w Spaulding rehab; 4 mile trail that rejuvenated trails around the College that were
lost there; walks through more projects and activities. Comprehensive trail mapping done by their GIS dept. Point of tonight’s visit is
to present Cape-wide crowd sourced trail reporting system. Started out w FB group —introduced them to trailforks which has an app
people can use to report trail conditions and more for maintenance. Will provide name of trail, status, photo, location data. NEMBA
monitors that system and will decide if they need to dispatch someone out there. Users can subscribe to particular region so when a
report is made of that area, you’ll get an email notification. Trail data underlaying the system is critical—NEMBA mapping shows 160
miles mapped in TOB and that’s a lot to maintain. Implemented in April of 2023 and since then, 562 “house calls” of people se nt out
to remedy problems on cape cod. Fixed 140 in Barnstable and have 27 open reports in Barnstable. In some cases, they need to seek
approval from the town before dispatching. In Mashpee they have certain agreements of some trails they are allowed to dispatc h
and some they aren’t. Lev walks through the NEMBA page: trail reporting: how to report a problem on trailforks button: sends to
tutorial. Walks through John Jenkins trail report. Dave says it looks like a chainsaw project. Their volunteers have insurance through
their organization so no liability concerns. Shows walker point report—this is something they would consult w town about. Danforth
trail report. Would like to coordinate to get reports closed. Want to raise awareness that this is available. Farley asks who monitors
this. Dave Lafreniere does every morning but it’s publicly accessible. Farley asks if there are any issues w liability with town. Dave
says they don’t encourage regular users to go out w a chainsaw. They have million-dollar liability limit to insure their volunteers.
Doug asks if there was a major incident, what’s the protocol. Grayce says town has reporting system—David Anthony says it’s a work
order system through DPW. There’s also a report button on the app where citizens can report. DPW is the muscle, Grayce is the
administration. Challenge has been how to put in request for tree against any one of 100 things that hav e come up in 24 hours, so
things get triaged in terms of priority. Dave says NEMBA resources are free and they want to coordinate. David says the idea of
clearing for a particular use is tricky. David says we have to see how we can interlace this with work order system and with GIS
(which is very insulated for a reason). There’s a process and sometimes that process just takes a long time.
Doug asks Grayce about GIS mapping—it’s a public safety issue right? Yes, a big part of the town’s mapping is for public safety.
They’re implementing trail networks and it’s significant. Dave asks what they’re using for their source? He thinks even unofficial
trails should be mapped in case of medical emergencies —is new GIS inventory including that? Grayce says there’s a certain process
they follow and GIS is much more in-depth and they are only including mapped trails. David says that’s why there’s an effort to close
a chunk of those trails—how they got there is irrelevant but they’re there. It’s a work in progress. Until a road is accepted by the
town, it is a private road. Grayce says conservation is also working on re-blazing official trails for safety. David says OSC is more than
mountain bike trails—how does this all jive together? In asset management they have a lot of land to manage—want to make sure
this advisory committee is supported in its role. David asks what OSC expects from them and how they s upport the committee. Lev
says he thinks are no mountain bike trails in Barnstable—there are trails that some mountain bikers like to use. Trying to take
advantage of resources NEMBA has to keep the trails as resources for all. Farley thinks the more path opportunities you offer
people, the more opportunities you have for trouble. She thinks most people who want to go walk in the woods want a secure,
nicely designed, signed trail to follow—not a path. Wants to discourage random trail making. Discussion of illegal motorized vehicle
use ensued.
• Open Space and Recreation Plan Update Scope – Planning & Development
Kyle Pedicini presents: the Town is looking to get consultant, have made $50,000 funding request through Community Preservation
Committee. And seeking 20k grant from state. CPC approved request and referred to TC and it will be heard in January. Presenting
scope of work—includes stakeholder interviews. Asks if we could designate a representative to sit on committee to evaluate RFP
responses. Hoping to have plan done by end of August. Liz says regarding the review of action items of last OSRP. Kyle says for this
update, the first step is looking at that. Won’t be full rewrite but will follow up on action items from last plan. Farley re iterates would
like a short report this time. Committee is for RFP, once it’s put out it will be Lev who sits on the committee. No objections.
Old Business
• Update on Centerville Cranberry Bog: Anne says 2 parties are still in conversation
• Update on Cummaquid Woods: Marie Rizzo says since last meeting, have walked property at 87 Oakmont with trustees OK
and BLT and compact were there too. Found that there’s a trail at route 6 end of land, is primarily used by dirtbikes. An
offer of 800k was made on cobb trust land. Asking price was $850k and $800k was not accepted. She’s spoken to Lindsey
Counsell, CPC chairman, and he’s still interested in property. The group is still doing fundraising and haven’t given up.
Farley says at last CPC meeting, property is part of enoch cobb trust so it’s part of that —they really want every last dollar for that
purpose. Also historic aspect as it’s the last enoch property.
• Update on outstanding Conservation Restrictions
Lev has no updates.
• Update – Pathways update including walking library, NEMBA path project, and Geocaching
• Report from Tracy Pratt regarding Santuit Preserve
Tracy is not present. Dave and Lev walked out there w Tracy—Mashpee has some concerns w fish ladder. Concerned about impacts
of motorcycles through that area.
• Report from Farley Lewis regarding Community Preservation Committee Open Space applications
Farley says LOI received from Barnstable Land Trust requesting 1 mil 350k in support of 30 and 31 crockers neck road, 10.62 acres,
Cotuit high ground golf course. BLT is trying to get grant money to offset. Moved on to full application status.
• Report from Town Council Liaison Kris Clark:
Kris Clark is not present
MATTERS NOT REASONABLY ANTICIPATED BY THE CHAIR
PUBLIC COMMENT
ADJOURNMENT
Cate moves. Doug seconds. All in favor, none opposed.
The list of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the chair, which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items liste d may be
discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law .
Documents Used at this Meeting
Letter submission from Kyle Pedicini: Barnstable - Request for Crosswalk on Route 132 at the YMCA