MINUTES
Open Space Committee August 31, 2005 / 7:30 pm
Present: Judy Brainerd, Glen Collins, Laura Freeman, Sue Haley, Sue Horton, Katelyn Merrill
and Dave Read.
Approval of Meeting Minutes
MOTION: Dave moved and Glen seconded to approve the August 8, 2005 meeting minutes.
APPROVED.
Land Acquisition:
Harmes’s Way: Mr. Fletcher called Judy to say that he had someone offering $50K to purchase the lot on Harmes’s Way to use as a private beach. The Audubon was interested in this property. Discussion ensued with respect to the advantages and reasons why the Audubon should be encouraged to purchase this property.
Open Space Management:
Wiley Park Bridge & Grant Application
Judy met with the BOS to discuss the Wiley Park Bridge and the grant application. The BOS were supportive of the bridge and the grant application. The BOS suggested contacting Cape Associates for a bridge design. Cape Associates came up with a bridge design that they estimate will cost $14-$17K to build. Cape Associates suggested talking to the Building Inspector about the accessibility issue. The Building Inspector feels the bridge does not have to be handicap accessible.
Katelyn spoke to Sheila about the grant application. Sheila suggested submitting two applications: one for the bridge and one for general purposes such as signs, doggy mitts etc. Bill Clark, the person in charge of the grant thought that was a good idea. There was general consensus that two grant applications will be submitted. The grants will require matching funds. Discussion ensued with respect to where the matching funds will come from. Katelyn has begun doing some sign research i.e. interpretative signs that are vandalism proof .
Old Business:
Open Space and Management Plan
Katelyn and Judy have put in a lot of work on this – it continues to be assembled and tweaked.
New Business:
Pathways Day
The Town is sponsoring two Pathways Walks on Sunday of Columbus Day weekend. Katelyn is planning both walks. The morning walk will be along the marsh and flats of First Encounter Beach to discuss shellfishing and aquaculture. The afternoon walk and discussion “Shellfish in a nutshell” will be at the Salt Pond. Sue Haley also offered to lead a walk on Friday afternoon through the SECA property.
1651 Forest
Sue Haley commented that there is not much to report on the 1651 Forest at this time.
Conservation Commission
Glen reported that the Conservation Commission approved the Ocean Beach project at their public hearing last night. Discussion ensued with respect to the ocean beach project. Glen noted that several revetments have been proposed on the bayside beaches and commented that the Commission is developing an overall plan to address erosion on the bayside beaches.
Next Meeting: Our next open space meeting will be September 28, 2005 at 7:30 pm.
MOTION: Sue Horton made a motion to adjourn. Sue Haley seconded. APPROVED unanimously.
Adjourned at 9:14 pm
Respectfully submitted by Laura Freeman
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