HomeMy WebLinkAboutDraft Minutes 111323 November 13, 2023
Planning & Development Department
367 Main Street, Hyannis, MA 02601 – Phone: 508-862-4678
Open Space Committee
Minutes
November 13, 2023 at 5:30 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER AND INTRODUCTION OF MEMBERS
Acting Chair Farley Lewis calls the meeting to order at 5:33 p.m. She welcomes Lev Malakhoff to the Committee and congratulates
Councilor Kris Clark on her reelection to Town Council. In response to whether she will continue as Liaison, Councilor Clark says
council leadership and assignments will be discussed after the new councilors are sworn in.
Also in attendance is 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 2, 2023 – Doug Payson moves to approve the minutes. Anne Rowland seconds.
Vote:
Aye: Farley Lewis, Elizabeth Lewis, Doug Payson, Anne Rowland, Lev Malakhoff
Nay: None
Abstain: Elissa Crowley
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION
New Business
• Recap of Walking Weekend – Farley Lewis
Farley Lewis recaps that the Fall Walking Weekend was a mixed bag of participation, with good turnout for the walks by Doug
Payson, Barnstable Clean Water Coalition, and Barnstable Land Trust . She thanks all who were involved.
Old Business
• Update – Outstanding Conservation Restrictions
Farley Lewis says Harju, Amaral, and Prince Ave are still at the state level. Barnstable Land Trust is trying to get on the next Town
Council agenda on November 16th for a first read of the Wheeler CR. BLT is not sure if they will be pursuing grants for the herring run
protection but are considering it. They have not yet cleared up the private way ownership situation. Barnstable Clean Water CRs
were approved by Town Council but the town still needs to approve.
• Update – Pathways Project and Loop Trail
Lev Malakhoff shows a presentation of Cape Cod Community College’s pathway updates. NEMBA has worked with the college to
develop the forest loop around the campus. They have installed clear signage around campus, and each trailhead has a sign with a
name, blaze, allowable users, and the NEMBA logo. Lev Malakhoff offers to do a trail mapping session at a future meeting and
Member Present Absent
Ann Canedy – 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
Lev Malakhoff X
explains that there is an app called Trailforks that shows a profile of each trail with a difficulty rating system. He explains that the
path crosses Route 132 where there is less traffic but no crosswalk. He suggests this Committee approach the state at some point
about installing a crosswalk there because it’s a state-owned road. The group discusses the nearby crosswalk and other potential
locations. Doug Payson suggests contacting their state representative about it. Lev Malakhoff also explains that he talked to Alicia
Messier of GIS and she referred him to BLT to get maps updated. The group discusses which entity has ownership of updating the
maps. Councilor Clark explains that she spoke with Janet Milkman of BLT to ensure that when town data is used for BLT’s maps,
there is an acknowledgement on the map—it is collaborative.
• Report from Tracy Pratt regarding Santuit Preserve
Farley Lewis says the Santuit Committee is waiting for an update from Grayce Rogers about the next meeting and the member
contact list. Larry Ginsberg has been appointed as the Mashpee representative. Lev Malakhoff says he visited the site to see if
there’s potential for a traverse trail that would allow for the staircase to the fish ladder to be closed. Doug Payson believes the
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe would need to be involved because that ridgeline is sacred. Lev Malakhoff is hoping to do a site visit
with Dan Kent, who could be the liaison.
• Report from Farley Lewis regarding Community Preservation Committee Open Space applications
Farley Lewis provides an update from the October 16 meeting: the CR for the Mills property in Mashpee will be forwarded to Town
Council for final review and approval, but it is hung up in legal right now. The Wheeler Road grant application seems to have a legal
issue with grant criteria so it’s on pause.
• Report from Town Council Liaison Kris Clark
None.
Farley Lewis also relays that Chair Canedy sent a letter to Conservation requesting Emmett Rockwell’s Eagle Scout project be added
to an upcoming agenda.
MATTERS NOT REASONABLY ANTICIPATED BY THE CHAIR
Lev Malakhoff relays that NEMBA ended up paying for the sign for the Trayser Trail boardwalk, with thanks to Lev’s neighbor for
donating the design work. There had been discussions with DPW but after back and forth, NEMBA decided to pay for it themselves.
After suggestion, Lev Malakhoff says he can put up the same sign at the other side of the trail, the Bragg’s Lane entrance. The group
discusses electric bikes and motorized vehicles.
Doug Payson says a landowner near Hot Bottom Trail requested a sign to deter people from inadvertently walking into their
property instead of turning to follow the trail. Lev Malakhoff will provide a green arrow and “entering private property” sign to Doug
Payson.
Lev Malakhoff is interested in discussing how this Committee can recommend the town acquire parcels to complete the pathways
network. Because this Committee is not allowed to enter into executive session, they can’t discuss this topic without the risk of
upsetting property owners. He is curious about a solution. Councilor Clark will look into options.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
ADJOURNMENT
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 .
Doug Payson moves to adjourn. Elissa Crowley seconds.
Vote:
Aye: Farley Lewis, Elizabeth Lewis, Doug Payson, Anne Rowland, Lev Malakhoff, Elissa Crowley
Nay: None
DOCUMENTS USED AT THIS MEETING
• Lev Malakhoff’s PPT presentation, entitled “CCCC Pathways Update”
Respectfully submitted,
Genna Ziino, Administrative Assistant
Further detail may be obtained by viewing the video via Channel 18 on demand at http://www.town.barnstable.ma.us