HomeMy WebLinkAboutDraft Minutes - 120825 December 8, 2025
Planning & Development Department
367 Main Street, Hyannis, MA 02601 – Phone: 508-862-4678
Open Space Committee
Minutes
December 8, 2025 at 5:30 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER AND INTRODUCTION OF MEMBERS
Chair Malakhoff calls the meeting to order at 5:30 PM with an introduction of members:
Also present is Kyle Pedicini, Assistant Director, Planning & Development; Polly Plucinski, Property Manager; Kris Clark, Town Council
Liaison; and Genna Ziino, Administrative Assistant.
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
• October 20, 2025 – Cate Gulliver moves to approve the minutes. Doug Payson seconds.
Vote:
Aye: Lev Malakhoff, Doug Payson, Anne Rowland, Cate Gulliver, Dave Gorrill
Nay: None
Abstain: Farley Lewis, Liz Lewis
• October 27, 2025 – Cate Gulliver moves to approve the minutes. Dave Gorrill seconds.
Vote:
Aye: Lev Malakhoff, Doug Payson, Anne Rowland, Cate Gulliver, Dave Gorrill , Farley Lewis, Liz Lewis
Nay: None
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION
New Business
• Open Space & Recreation Plan – Kyle Pedicini says the public meeting on the 19th went well. Staff went through all public
comment received during the open period, and distilled the edits into two documents. The group discusses the public
meeting.
Mr. Pedicini walks through possible edits from the document entitled “OSRP Edits Part II” and asks for feedback:
1 through 11: No feedback.
12. The group discusses whether they could completely eliminate chemicals and request to say “eliminate” instead of
“reduce.” Mr. Pedicini will make the change.
13. Dave Gorrill would like to add walking trails. Mr. Pedicini will make the change.
14. Chair Malakhoff would like to change “passive” to “open to the public.” Mr. Pedicini will amend.
Member Present Absent
Lev Malakhoff – Chair X
Farley Lewis – Vice Chair X
Elizabeth Lewis X
Douglas Payson X
Elissa Crowley X
Anne Rowland X
Tracy Pratt X
Cate Gulliver X
Dave Gorrill X
15. Doug Payson thinks they need to restore the pond too, as part of it. Mr. Pedicini will include something about water
quality. Dave Gorrill says it’s needed at other ponds too. Mr. Pedicini says this was about the recreation asset as opposed to
a natural resource.
16 through 22: No feedback.
23. Doug Payson would like to add a connection between the Hyannis transportation center and the rail trail. Mr. Pedicini
will add.
24. The group has an issue with the wording of “waypoints.” Chair Malakhoff thinks trail name signage would help. Mr.
Pedicini will amend it to, “Add waypoints and/or trail signage…”
25. No feedback.
26. No feedback.
Chair Malakhoff walks through his requested timeline edits for the document entitled “Action Plan Responsible Parties
Markup.”
1.2: The word “coordinate” should be replaced by “update” or “create.” Mr. Pedicini will change it to update.
3.1: Every year
4.2: Every year
6.11: Year 2, 3, or 4
8.7: Middle years
14.9: Sooner timeframe. Mr. Pedicini add it on first 2.
14.11: Periodic every 2 or 3 years. Councilor Clark asks if it’s worth asking the Town Manager if it can be included on the
back of town census. She will put in a question.
14.13: Sooner, 2-4 years
Chair Malakhoff asks regarding low priority, could it be changed to Priority 1, 2, and 3 instead of “low.” Mr. Pedicini will look
into whether it can be changed, but it may be part of the state requirement.
Councilor Clark heard that Steve Robichaud suggested an annual meeting about the plan—coming together with water
districts, BLT, stakeholders etc. Mr. Pedicini says they have a couple existing objectives in the plan about coordinating
review and implementation.
Chair Malakhoff says on the unique features map, it might be nice to include scenic vistas. Mr. Pedicini says it might be a
GIS layer issue, so it gets tricky. The group discusses whether it’s viable to try and identify scenic vistas, because there are
numerous issues. Chair Malakhoff says by the January meeting they can button it up.
Page 70 – Chair Malakhoff wants to give recognition to Lindsey Counsell: the Centerville Wildlife Conserve is named the
Lindsey B. Counsell Wildlife Sanctuary.
Mr. Pedicini says the next step will be the Recreation Commission, Conservation Commission, and Planning Board for a vote
of recommendation.
Chair Malakhoff shows an article (document entitled “CCTimes-Sandwich_OakRidgeFuntrack”) about a youth bike riding
area that was created in Sandwich. He thinks they could do something similar at Hathaway’s Pond. Chair Malakhoff will
send the link to John Gleason.
The group discusses that one discussion item from public comment was the option of including requirements in
development agreements that developers must include open space within the development. Chair Malakhoff says rooftop
public space is another idea—they could have a policy or program of incentives for rooftops to be made public if suitable.
• Maintenance of trail blazing: Farley Lewis submitted a proposal to Brendan Williamson, the coordinator of the midcape
AmeriCorps group. She hasn’t heard back, but this is the month they accept proposals. She requested to have them review
and update trail blazing in the pathways section of the trails. She asks the group, when they have time, to walk and see
what needs to be done on the Red Trail or the loops that come off it. In terms of colors of blazing, Chair Malakhoff says at a
prior meeting, it was suggested to use a white blaze for long distance instead of red. Sandwich has asked NEMBA to update
trail blazing, so maybe white blazes could be used for the whole cape.
Chair Malakhoff and Councilor Clark met with some others about pathways routing updates. Councilor Clark is helping
navigate the town’s acceptance of the realignments based on new info rmation and new routes. Hopefully it can come
together at the same time to have AmeriCorps help update blazing. Doug Payson says where it goes on roads, it would be
good to have some type of wayfinding.
Old Business
• Potential property acquisitions: None
• Update on outstanding Conservation Restrictions: Farley Lewis says the Mill Pond CR application was scheduled for
November 20. The CRs for Harju and Prince Ave have been completed for local signature and were passed by Town Council.
A plan for the CR area for 230 Old Colony Road is being created and subsequent to a Planning Board approval, will be
recorded at the Registry of Deeds. The closing for the Smith’s Creek CR will be scheduled once the Land Court provides the
documents. The Cotuit Highgrounds CR was granted to the town.
• Update: Pathways update including walking library, Trailhead Signs, and Geocaching: The Chairman will be pursuing the
Walking Library in coming meetings.
• Report from Tracy Pratt regarding Santuit Preserve: None
Report from Farley Lewis regarding Community Preservation Committee Open Space applications : Farley Lewis says
Barnstable Land Trust’s Woodland Bog CPA fund request was approved on November 6. A n application was received from
Planning for $4,200 in Open Space Recreation funds for 30 hiking trail signs. Councilor Clark says the first read for Town
Council is on Thursday, with a vote on January 8. This Committee could send a letter in support. Doug Payson moves that
the Committee send a letter of support for the trail signage. Liz Lewis seconds.
Vote:
Aye: Lev Malakhoff, Doug Payson, Anne Rowland, Cate Gulliver, Dave Gorrill , Farley Lewis, Liz Lewis
Nay: None
• Report from Town Council Liaison Councilor Clark: Councilor Clark says at the last Town Council meeting, she and Craig
Tamash were reelected as Vice President and President, respectively, and liaison assignments will be assigned soon. There
are four new councilors.
MATTERS NOT REASONABLY ANTICIPATED BY THE CHAIR
PUBLIC COMMENT
ADJOURNMENT
Farley Lewis moves to adjourn. Dave Gorrill seconds.
Vote:
Aye: Lev Malakhoff, Doug Payson, Anne Rowland, Cate Gulliver, Dave Gorrill , Farley Lewis, Liz Lewis
Nay: None
DOCUMENTS USED AT THIS MEETING
• October 20, 2025 and October 27, 2025 minutes
• Document entitled “OSRP Edits Part II”
• Document entitled “Action Plan Responsible Parties Markup”
• Document entitled “CCTimes-Sandwich_OakRidgeFuntrack”
Respectfully submitted,
Genna Ziino, Administrative Assistant
Further detail may be obtained by viewing the video via Barnstable Government Access Channel on demand at
www.town.barnstable.ma.us