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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDraft Minutes - 081026 August 10, 2026 Planning & Development Department 367 Main Street, Hyannis, MA 02601 – Phone: 508-862-4678 Open Space Committee Minutes August 10, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. CALL TO ORDER AND INTRODUCTION OF MEMBERS Also present is Alice Marcus-Krieg; Open Space Planner and Grants Coordinator; Genna Ziino, Administrative Assistant; and Kris Clark, Town Councilor. 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 • June 8, 2026 – Cate Gulliver moves to approve. Tracy Pratt seconds. Vote: Aye: Lev Malakhoff, Tracy Pratt, Cate Gulliver, Dave Gorrill Nay: None Abstain: Farley Lewis TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION New Business • Fall Walking Weekend Planning – October 15-17, 2026 – Chair Malakhoff explains that walks will be accepted soon for the event. He would like more outside groups to become partners for the event , so would like to generate ideas for contacts within local organizations. The Chairman would like to do a demonstration day with the Nordic walking group. The group brainstorms: NEMBA, the mycology group, Mass Audubon, the Appalachian mountain group, the Sierra Club, Geocaching, Sandy Neck, Gil Newton, and Dave Scandurra who leads foraging walks. Liz Lewis arrives as this point. Dave Gorrill will talk to the mycological group. Alice Marcus-Krieg will speak to Mr. Scandurra, and the Tree Warden about whether there’s a tree expert available to discuss old growth species. Chair Malakhoff thinks double booking walks is fine. He would like to revisit the media plan. The Chairman will check with DPW if the bike trail could be usable or if there are concerns. Doug Payson arrives at this point. • Woodland Bog Connector Trail Concept – Chair Malakhoff shares an image entitled “WoodlandBog- potential_connector_trails” and shows a potential change to the red trail. It involves crossing a bog and conservation land to the southeast and north of Parker Road. The biggest challenge would be crossing Bridge Creek. It’s an already-disturbed area, but it would require a 15-foot-long bridge placed over the creek, which requires permitting and studies and design etc. It is being discussed amongst various parties. The Chairman spoke with NEMBA about how they could help, and they Member Present Absent Lev Malakhoff – Chair X Farley Lewis – Vice Chair X Elizabeth Lewis X (late) Douglas Payson X (late) Anne Rowland X Tracy Pratt X Cate Gulliver X Dave Gorrill X Vacant said they’re available and have trained and insured trail creation people. They also have maintenance efforts to provide, to avoid the cost to the town. Chair Malakhoff says to stay tuned for progress. • Open Space Committee Annual Election – Cate Gulliver moves to keep the same officers. Tracy Pratt seconds. Vote: Aye: Lev Malakhoff, Farley Lewis, Doug Payson, Liz Lewis, Tracy Pratt, Cate Gulliver, Dave Gorrill Nay: None Sharon Harrison would like to have some sort of training for new members . Chair Malakhoff would like to showcase the walking library during Walking Weekend. Alice Marcus-Krieg will reach out to staff to see if it will be ready to be showcased by September. She says the Transit to Trails program will hopefully start in the fall through Conservation—she will touch base about it. • Open Space Committee 2027 Meeting Schedule – There are no concerns. The Chairman says the town is doing maintenance on the elevator starting in September until at least December, so those meetings will be on Zoom. The Zoom link will be on the agenda and the website. Councilor Clark adds that Gordon Starr has resigned as a Town Councilor. Old Business • Potential property acquisitions – None • Update – Outstanding Conservation Restrictions – None • Update – Pathways update including walking library, Trailhead Signs, and Geocaching – Chair Malakhoff says NEMBA coordinated with Conservation to do 4.5 miles of trail trimming in West Barnstable. The Chairman says there was outreach to Americorps, but they did not respond. The Chairman would like a yearly report about what maintenance the town does. • Report from Tracy Pratt regarding Santuit Preserve – Mr. Pratt relays that he asked DPW about getting trails on the Barnstable side cleaned up and mowed, and they were on it immediately. • Report from Farley Lewis regarding Community Preservation Committee Open Space applications – Ms. Lewis says they didn’t meet last month. Back to June 15, there was a discussion and vote to spend up to $4,000 in CPA admin funds for the appraisal, title, and survey work for the open space acquisition of 65 and 75 Olander Drive, Hyannis. Kelly Grant says those parcels sold on the private market unfortunately. But BLT has two new projects coming before CPC. Councilor Clark says Lindsey Counsell retired from his role as CPC Chair, and the new chair is Steve Robichaud. • Report from Town Council Liaison – None MATTERS NOT REASONABLY ANTICIPATED BY THE CHAIR PUBLIC COMMENT ADJOURNMENT Doug Payson moves to adjourn. Dave Gorrill seconds. Vote: Aye: Lev Malakhoff, Farley Lewis, Doug Payson, Liz Lewis, Tracy Pratt, Cate Gulliver, Dave Gorrill Nay: None The list of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the chair, which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed 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 • August 12, 2026 minutes • Document entitled “WoodlandBog-potential_connector_trails” Respectfully submitted, Genna Ziino, Administrative Assistant Further detail may be obtained by viewing the video via Barnstable Government Access Channel on demand at www.barnstable.gov