March 26, 2013 Open Space Committee minutes
Present: Phil Gryzb, Jim Samdahl, Doug Williams, Kelton Burbank, Kim Houde, Deb Cary, Karen Rossow
Absent: none
Meeting began at 7:30 pm
Bridge: Doug to confirm with ConCom on March 27th that what he is planning is what they want relating to plantings around bridge site.Will put in blackberries, willow, football-sized stones, organic soil and mulch. Doug and Kim organizing work party which will involve the garden club and some members of ConCom and some of us. Cost: basically none, everything donated. Transport: some trucks within group. Just need a date…a Saturday before or after Memorial Day. Possibly include preserving the bridge wood.
OS&R Plan Update update: We just need 2 more letters then Karen sends document to state for review. Assuming it’s approved by them, just needs finishing touches and then it’s complete.
Smith farm update: Tom Sullivan from Princeton Land Trust and Wachusett Meadow utilizing students from UMass Amherst to detail information regarding site composition. Working with the landowners to assess the value. Tom and Deb have conference calls with Charlie Wyman every two weeks and Deb will keep us informed. State approved funding grants to help communities preserve open space.
Minutes from February 19th and the Public Hearing approved.
Trails: Deb says that the Nimrod Club is encouraging trails through their land which would connect to Thomas Prince trails. No kids wearing bunny ears or those popular animal head hats allowed. Mid-State is main trail in town but new ones connecting green areas are sought. We want more information regarding allowed uses on MIMS sanctuary. Area around there has lots of unofficial trails. Deb will look into it. Watershed protection areas are more sensitive but possible areas for trails. Also the land with pre-existing trails on it that is owned by Worcester and Fitchburg.
Trail Summit idea: Doug will make little map that we can distribute to people, email or pick up and they return them to us, then he has a computer program that can overlay all the data. A group of us will assess and possibly hold a trail summit later.
Next meeting will be on May 7th at 7:30.
Meeting adjourned at 8:50 pm.
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