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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDraft Minutes 121123 December 11, 2023 Planning & Development Department 367 Main Street, Hyannis, MA 02601 – Phone: 508-862-4678 Open Space Committee Minutes December 11, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. CALL TO ORDER AND INTRODUCTION OF MEMBERS Chair Ann Canedy calls the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Also in attendance is 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 November 13, 2023 – Chair Canedy requests an addition: “Regarding the Barnstable Clean Water CRs, the town attorney still needs to approve.” Lev Malakhoff requests an addition: “He explains that the path crosses Route 132 at the YMCA driveway where there is less traffic.“ With those additions, Doug Payson moves to approve. Tracy Pratt seconds. Vote: Aye: Farley Lewis, Elizabeth Lewis, Doug Payson, Anne Rowland, Tracy Pratt, Lev Malakhoff Nay: None Abstain: Ann Canedy, Cate Gulliver (neither was present at the November 13 meeting) TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION New Business • Chair Canedy relays the Committee’s recent correspondence: o Kelly Barber of Barnstable Land Trust was nominated for numerous awards for her advocacy. Chair Canedy wrote a congratulatory letter and Ms. Barber replied her thanks to the Committee. o Chair was copied on an email to Chairman Tom Lee of the Conservation Commission from the Friends of Centerville Cranberry Bog. There was a proposal to build a chain link fence around a property at 1246 Bumps River Road. Neighbors were concerned about impacts to wildlife and this group alleges the installation was not in conformity with the conditions of the decision. They are asking for a site inspection and further discussion on Conservation Commission agenda. Chair Canedy does not know the results of the letter or any updates. Anne Rowland will make inquiries to involved parties—the Chairwoman asks her to give an update at a subsequent meeting. o Chair Canedy wrote a letter to the Conservation Commission requesting they consider the Eagle Scout project that was presented to this Committee. Darcy Karle, Conservation Administrator, and Tom Lee, Chair of the Conservation Committee responded that they were not in a position to do anything yet because they considered 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 their maps insufficient for the project. Frank Merola of NEMBA has responded and has attempted to address the concerns through the Committee’s public comment, but has been unsuccessful . Chair Canedy plans to follow up and suggests she may have to go further up the chain. • Update on NEMBA path project Lev Malakhoff says the sign that NEMBA’s Cape Cod chapter funded has been installed at the kiosk next to the blacksmith shop on 6A to provide trail information. Doug Payson says he walks those trails almost daily and is seeing new people and has gotten positive comments. Lev Malakhoff says the design is available to use for other trails too if there is funding for it—the sign is about $140 and a kiosk of the same design (4x4 with plywood on each side) is another $100 of materials. NEMBA doesn’t have funding for th e other side of the trail. Chair Canedy will ask David Anthony and DCR if there exists any grants for signage for similar places. • Update on website change to Open Space Committee – Genna Ziino Genna Ziino informs the group that the Committee’s web page will be changed to Open Space Committee from Land Acquisition and Preservation Committee tomorrow. There may be a few blips during the transition. Ms. Ziino will look into whether there have been any Walking Library updates. Chair Canedy will send Ms. Ziin o a list of documents (including Santuit maps and Santuit Preserve Management Plan and minutes) that are missing from the website so they may be added. Old Business • Update – Outstanding Conservation Restrictions Chair Canedy explains that with the new administration, this process is changing at the state level. CRs that are prioritized (e.g. ones that carry state grants or tax credit deadlines) are being handled in house. All others (including Harju, Amaral, and Prince Ave) will be given to outside vendors. She’s not sure yet what the impacts of that will be. Liz Lewis reports that the first reading for Wheeler was done at Town Council but not the second. • Update – Pathways Project and Loop Trail Doug Payson joined the volunteer group that completed the trail and commends the NEMBA group and the Nordic Walkers Group (2,200 members) had 2 volunteers there too. Doug Payson also updates that he nailed a directional arrow and private property sign to two trees along Hot Bottom Trail to help keep walkers on the trail. • Report from Tracy Pratt regarding Santuit Preserve Tracy Pratt provides an update that Mashpee has corrected a number of safety issues: they corrected a washout on an upper trail and built a bridge over a stream crossing that had previously had only a piece of lumber. He was not notified. Chair Canedy relays that Grayce Rogers of Asset Management provided the minutes from the September 6 Santuit Committee meeting. Ms. Rogers also informed the Chairwoman that there are no upcoming meetings planned for the Santuit Preserve Committee, but Ms. Rogers walked the trail with Americorps and DPW and found some safety issues. They removed a tree that was across a trail. Tracy Pratt was not notified. Chair Canedy will check on why Tracy Pratt wasn’t notified and will suggest doing so. • Report from Farley Lewis regarding Community Preservation Committee Open Space applications Farley Lewis has no updates as there was no meeting last month. • Report from Town Council Liaison Kris Clark Kris Clark is not present and there is no update. MATTERS NOT REASONABLY ANTICIPATED BY THE CHAIR Chair Canedy asks if there are any speaker requests for upcoming meetings. Inviting the new town councilors is discussed. Barnstable Land Trust’s First Day walks are discussed, and it is suggested that Chair Canedy ask BLT to include the new colle ge loop trail. Chair Canedy will find out more information. PUBLIC COMMENT None. ADJOURNMENT Doug Payson makes a motion to adjourn. Cate Gulliver seconds. Vote: Aye: Ann Canedy, Farley Lewis, Elizabeth Lewis, Doug Payson, Anne Rowland, Tracy Pratt, Cate Gulliver, Lev Malakhoff Nay: None DOCUMENTS USED AT THIS MEETING • November 13, 2023 minutes • Letter from Kelly Barber entitled “Letter from Kelly Barber October 2023” • Letter to Chair Lee entitled “Ltr. To Con Comm Chair Lee_10-03-23” • Response from Chair Lee entitled “Response from Tom less re NEMBA project dec 2023” • Santuit Pond Preserve Committee Contact List • Santuit Pond Preserve Minutes 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