Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutDraft Minutes 010824 January 8, 2024 Planning & Development Department 367 Main Street, Hyannis, MA 02601 – Phone: 508-862-4678 Open Space Committee Minutes January 8, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. CALL TO ORDER AND INTRODUCTION OF MEMBERS Chair Ann Canedy calls the meeting to order at 5:31 p.m. Also in attendance is Kris Clark, Town Council Liaison (late) 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 December 11, 2023 – The minutes are not completed yet so Doug Payson moves to postpone. Cate Gulliver seconds. Vote: Aye: Ann Canedy, Farley Lewis, Liz Lewis, Doug Payson, Elissa Crowley, Anne Rowland, Tracy Pratt, Cate Gulliver, Lev Malakhoff Nay: None TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION New Business • Geocaching – Lev Malakhoff Lev Malakhoff wanted to include this topic as an educational opportunity for members and the public. He explains that the activity has an educational component of things you’ll see in the area, and caches seem to be hidden in areas of historical significance or places of beauty but they aren’t impacting natural resources. He introduces Cassie Medeiros, a geocaching enthusiast who has been directly involved with Barnstable Land Trust’s geocaching efforts. Ms. Medeiros walks through a presentation entitled “Geocaching 101.” The presentation provides an overview of her personal experience geocaching, geocaching in general, and geocaching specifically on Cape Cod. Town Council Liaison Kris Clark arrives at this point. Ms. Medeiros explains that anyone can join the Facebook page she created called C ape Cod Geocaching to get involved. People can also download the app (Geocaching) or use the website. She passes around some materials for the group to view (entitled “Geocaching 1,” “Geocaching 2,” “Geocaching 3,” and “Geocaching 4”). The group discusses geocaching. Councilor Clark suggests adding something about geocaching on the Open Space Committee webpage, and a link to contact Lev Malakhoff or Ms. Medeiros about donations. Genna Ziino will look into this while Lev Malakhoff and Ms. Medeiros work on language to include. Councilor Clark suggests including a geocaching class in the Spring Walking Weekend. Farley Lewis will coordinate with Ms. Medeiros. The group discusses potentially releasing a new cache for the date. 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 Old Business • Update – Outstanding Conservation Restrictions Chair Canedy reiterates that CRs without grants/deadlines have been outsourced. That includes Harju, Amaral, and Prince Ave. • Update – Pathways update including NEMBA path project Farley Lewis has no updates. Lev Malakhoff says the Eagle Scout project has made no progress. They are awaiting a decision from Conservation because of an ongoing mapping project. Lev Malakhoff explains that maps exist already in outside apps but the town was not interested in those when offered. He would like to talk about mapping at an upcoming meeting. Councilor Clark says she had a conversation in passing with Tom Lee, Chair of the Conservation Commission and he mentioned that they’re making sure any CR or deed restriction was reconciled with its proposed use to ensure they don’t miss any inadvertent restrictions. There is some due diligence that any changes wouldn’t violate the acquisition terms. Chair Canedy believes there is no proposal to expand trails— the project is to make existing trails safer. Councilor Clark and Doug Payson will discuss appropriate next steps and possibly a meeting with the Town Manager. Chair Canedy recommends looping in Alicia Messier about the status of the GIS mapping project. Lev Malakhoff offers an update about a trail signage project in West Barnstable: the Spaulding Adaptive team provided a grant to put in signposts for trails for walkers and adaptive mountain bikes. NEMBA (after getting permission from Ed Hoopes of Conservation) put out the posts for the signs a couple months ago and since then, 10 or 11 have been cut down by disgruntled people. There is an ongoing investigation and hopefully there will be a resolution soon. • Report from Tracy Pratt regarding Santuit Preserve Chair Canedy has not yet asked about the chain of command for the Santuit Management Committee, but she plans to. Tracy Pratt doesn’t have anything to report. He has a request to send to Mashpee. Chair Canedy requests he follow the chain of command. • Report from Farley Lewis regarding Community Preservation Committee Open Space applications Farley Lewis has no update. Their next meeting is in two weeks. • Report from Town Council Liaison Kris Clark Councilor Clark will stay on as this Committee’s Town Council Liaison. She requests Farley Lewis confirm a date for Spring Walking Weekend by the next meeting. Farley Lewis will connect with Genna Ziino about this. Councilor Clark explains that Town Council voted to appropriate money for COMM to research properties for future water use. Chair Canedy feels a priority needs to be identifying properties for effluent discharge on the north side—it should be in the Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan. The group discusses sewering. Councilor Clark suggests that this Committee revisit the Open Space and Recreation Plan evaluate if any traction has been made. Genna Ziino will send around a copy of the Open Space and Recreation Plan to all members and Chair Canedy will add that topic to an agenda. She suggests the Committee review the plan and then decide if Elizabeth Jenkins, Director, Planning & Development should attend a meeting. Councilor Clark also says Liaisons have been asked to report to Town Council on what their committees are doing. MATTERS NOT REASONABLY ANTICIPATED BY THE CHAIR PUBLIC COMMENT None. ADJOURNMENT Lev Malakhoff moves to adjourn. Tracy Pratt seconds. Vote: Aye: Ann Canedy, Farley Lewis, Elissa Crowley, Tracy Pratt, Liz Lewis, Lev Malakhoff, Cate Gulliver Nay: None DOCUMENTS USED AT THIS MEETING • Cassie Medeiros’ presentation entitled “Geocaching 101” • Cassie Medeiros’ documents entitled “Geocaching 1,” “Geocaching 2,” “Geocaching 3,” and “Geocaching 4” 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