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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDraft Minutes 081224 August 12, 2024 Planning & Development Department 367 Main Street, Hyannis, MA 02601 – Phone: 508-862-4678 Open Space Committee Minutes August 12, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. CALL TO ORDER AND INTRODUCTION OF MEMBERS Acting Chair Farley Lewis calls the meeting to order at 5:30 PM. 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 June 10, 2024 – Doug Payson moves to accept the minutes. Cate Gulliver seconds. Vote: Aye: Farley Lewis, Liz Lewis, Doug Payson, Elissa Crowley, Anne Rowland, Tracy Pratt, Cate Gulliver, Lev Malakhoff Nay: None TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION New Business • Open Space Committee Walks Lev Malakhoff suggests the idea of recurring walk opportunities for the Committee. Doug Payson adds that it would be helpful to be familiar with more properties, especially when it comes to CRs. The group discusses different day/time options. Genna Ziino adds that Jim Kupfer, Interim Director of Planning & Development, requested to limit the number of members to avoid quorum issues. The group discusses whether to include the public. Councilor Clark agrees that avoiding quorum is a safer path. Lev Malakhoff asks for the logistics of site visits. Councilor Clark explains that if there is a reason for a site visit then there is a posted agenda and minutes are taken. Councilor Clark suggests checking with the Legal Department whether walks without deliberation would be allowed. Genna Ziino will check in with staff. Doug Payson says Chair Canedy asked him to photograph the intense ATV/motorcycle destruction on Mary Dunn Road. He believes Chair Canedy will be writing a letter to the EPA because it’s state property. He will send photos to Genna Ziino. Marie Rizzo says Cummaquid residents would be happy to help however they can. Councilor Clark suggests this Committee send a letter to the Town Manager to contact MA Fish & Wildlife, and include that the community is willing to volunteer services to help monitor violations. 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 • Fall Walking Weekend Farley Lewis informs the group that the event will be held October 11-14. She will work on collecting walks and will send a save the date. Councilor Clark suggests having the schedule set by the September meeting and starting promotion by October 1. Old Business • Update on Centerville Cranberry Bog Anne Rowland checked in with a neighbor: he said nothing has changed and the situation is at a standstill. Farley Lewis says Chair Canedy hadn’t heard anything but had contacted the Legal Department about needing a policy for 61 As and Bs. • Update on Cummaquid Woods Marie Rizzo of Save Cummaquid Woods provides an update. Since she attended the June OSC meeting, the water commissioners held two meetings where the topic of 153 Oakmont Road was discussed. The Prudential Committee, who would be funding the purchase, decided to proceed with applying to CPC. At the July CPC meeting, there was discussion about purchasing 87 Oakmont as well, and the Committee decided to move forward with having the properties appraised. That is still in process with no timeline. Their group has also been in contact with Mark Robinson of the Compact of the Cape Cod Conservation Trust, who is in support and has entered into an agreement. The group discusses whether there could be individual site visits to the area. Ms. Rizzo also mentions that Save Cummaquid Woods is applying to become a nonprofit to become a recognizable organization and to allow them to fundraise. • Update on outstanding Conservation Restrictions Farley Lewis says Wheeler was closed and recorded. Prince Ave and Harju were approved by the state but need to go through Town Council again for approval. Also, if the CRs change significantly they should come before this Committee again. Amaral has hit a legal snag. The group discusses how they can help move it along. Councilor Clark will check with the Legal Department to see what they recommend before the September 5 Town Council meeting. • Update – Pathways update including walking library, NEMBA path project, and Geocaching Lev Malakhoff reviews a letter (entitled "Letter - Pedestrian Safety Improvements at Route 132, YMCA, CCCC Driveway") Chair Canedy sent to Mark Ells and John Cox, President of Cape Cod Community College. He adds that he had a site visit with the Vice President of the college, and they discussed potential trail and sidewalk opportunities. Farley Lewis says Chair Canedy received responses that Mark Ells would forward the letter to DPW, and that John Cox is in support. The group discusses the need for a safe crossing there. Lev Malakhoff reviews a letter (entitled “Letter – Barnstable Main Trail in Cummaquid”) Chair Canedy sent to Mark Ells about the layout and ownership of Flint Rock Road. Lev Malakhoff discussed the issue with Lindsey Counsell, Chair of CPC, who said this will likely need a title examination. If it’s private property, the town could pursue easements to keep it public, abandon it, or reroute it. Lev Malakhoff provides an update on geocaching. He is still working on a proposed cache in Hathaway’s Pond that he is hoping can be part of Fall Walking Weekend. The Committee also received a draft geocaching guideline (document entitled "DRAFT_GeocacheGuidelines 031324"), which he suggests the group review and plan to discuss feedback at the next meeting. The group discusses that there should be a single staff designee through which to apply for geocaches. • Report from Tracy Pratt regarding Santuit Preserve Tracy Pratt says the pond is weeding up badly, as usual. The town has been in to mow but the big bog still needs mowing. Another problem is how to deal with the old cranberry weirs that are on Santuit Pond and will eventually drain into Lovell’s Pond. The Committee talked about it at the last site visit but it hasn’t gone any further, so he plans to bring it up again at the September 10 site visit. He has no update on the fish ladder. Farley Lewis relays that Chair Canedy asked Tracy Pratt that for any issues on the preserve, he email the entire Santuit Committee with Chair Canedy cc’d. She feels there is an ongoing communication gap. • Update on Open Space Plan Farley Lewis explains that it’s the 2018 plan that needs to be updated, and she’s not sure where it stands. Genna Ziino will check with Planning & Development staff to see if there is funding to hire an outside contractor to facilitate the update. Lev Malakhoff asks about the timeline for updating. Councilor Clark suggests that through Chair Canedy, the Committee request a schedule from staff to address the plan, which needs to be refreshed every 7 years or so. There needs to be a review of action items to identify what’s been accomplished and what needs to be modified. • Report from Farley Lewis regarding Community Preservation Committee Open Space applications Farley Lewis updates the group that there were two meetings on July 15. There was an annual public hearing and there was discussion that there had been enough focus on open space and now historic or housing should be given more funding. The group discusses the Affordable Housing Trust. • Report from Town Council Liaison Kris Clark Councilor Clark says Town Council meets once in August and then they’re back to twice a month for the rest of the year. She adds that she has brought up the Chapter 61 A and B issues to Mark Ells but it’s in limbo until there is a permanent Director of Planning & Development. She also raised to Mark Ells the desire and need to evaluate private properties in town for purchase for municipal water. She encourages this Committee to work with staff to evaluate the OSRP and the action items related to water. MATTERS NOT REASONABLY ANTICIPATED BY THE CHAIR PUBLIC COMMENT ADJOURNMENT Doug Payson moves to adjourn. Elissa Crowley seconds. Vote: Aye: Farley Lewis, Liz Lewis, Doug Payson, Elissa Crowley, Anne Rowland, Tracy Pratt, Cate Gulliver, Lev Malakhoff Nay: None DOCUMENTS USED AT THIS MEETING • June 10, 2024 minutes • Document entitled "Letter - Pedestrian Safety Improvements at Route 132, YMCA, CCCC Driveway" • Document entitled “Letter – Barnstable Main Trail in Cummaquid” • Document entitled "DRAFT_GeocacheGuidelines 031324" 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 . 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