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April 2, 2019
Open Space Committee Minutes                                                                            April 2, 2019
Present: Rick Gardner, Deb Cary, Karen Rossow
Missing: Kelton Burbank

Meeting began at 7:05 p.m.
  • Minutes from March were approved.
  • Landowner Information Session:
  • Deb is working to contact all of the Princeton Landowners that we were unable to contact for the meeting last November.
  • Article for Redemption Rock News summarizing our meeting should appear in the April newspaper.
  • Trail Around Princeton (TAP) update and Trails Committee Update
  • Karen and Rick made plans to walk Goodnow Park on April 7, provided that Cary LeBlanc or Laura Gal can join us.
  • Further work on Gleason Road project has been assumed by the Trails Committee. Justin Griffin and Jessie Banning are leading this effort.
  • Further work on East Princeton trails from LSF has been assumed by the Trails Committee. Phil O’Brien and Pat McGowan are leading this effort.
  • Kelton has promised to prioritize talks with the Goodnows and the Clearings Team to try to get permission to use those trails.
  • Next meeting of the Trails Committee will be on April 25.
  • Princeton Hikes! Program:
  • Last two hikes went well, still a lot of participation. 25 to 30 people joining us now.
  • Council on Aging first hike at Wachusett Meadow went well with ten people participating. Deb welcomed the group to the Sanctuary. Next hike will be April 25 at Peabody-Metcalf PLT property.
  • Survey of Princeton Hike Participants was completed with 50 responses. Survey results were very positive. Actions to be taken are:
  • Continue with current scheduled hikes twice per month
  • Add in easier/harder options where useful
  • Add more hikes at different times and days to encourage people who have had problems
  • Do more to publicize website resources
  • We will therefore be looking for people to lead additional hikes. Karen and Chris are both interested in doing these and Rick will add more as he can. Deb will lead a hike on May 22 at 6PM on Bullock Lane.
  • Calamint Hill Conservation Area Trails:
  • NOI for the east side trails and the wetlands will be re-submitted by Rick this week. Once DEP approves the NOI, the ConCom will issue Order of Conditions, and then a Water Quality Statement needs to be filed. This costs about $100 and a public notice is required. Rick will see this through.
  • Voted: to approve a spending money for the Water Quality application Fee.
  • Trails Committee is taking over work for this project:
  • West Side Trails: Bruce, Ed and Steve
  • Wetlands Bridges: Justin Griffin and Christian Henderson
  • East Side Trails: Chris Stevens plus others
  • Work has started on West Side trails and will continue this spring. Justin and Christian have been down to check out the bridging needs.
  • Rick mentioned that Brian Keevan is looking into use of ConCom funds (from Four Corners) to pay for some of the wetland bridge work. Not certain that money can be used for this.
  • Conferences
  • Karen will plan to attend the Open Space Conference in April.
  • Deb will be attending the AMC trails conference at Wachusett Mountain on June 1. Others are invited.
  • Rick will attend the November Mass Trails Conference. Others may as well.
  • Princeton Land Sales
  • Of the 11 parcels that the town is looking to sell, we had questions on 4. Rick visited each and took some photos.
  • The property on South Calamint Hill Rd: Small triangle adjacent to Ruth Krag Trust property. Rick will plan to walk this property to see if there are trails that would be helpful.
  • The property on Ball hill Rd just south of Calamint Hill Rd: Not much value. The property is wet and bounded by two private homesteads.
  • The property on Hubbardston Road, just west of Ball hill Road: This is interesting in that it is across the street from MA Audubon and is labeled on some maps as ‘Hubbardston Road Park.’ Rick will see if there is any known history with this piece. Doesn’t look very useful.
  • The property behind the Quick Stop in East Princeton: This is of interest because we believe a cart path from Hobbs Road between Hillis property and East Princeton goes through this parcel. Rick will check the maps and perhaps suggest that the town sell the property but only to a conservation agency (DCR).
  • Summary of work to-do
  • Deb contact leftover owners from Landowner meeting.
  • Rick trails committee meeting and continued work with Concom on CHCA trails.
  • Rick invite Laura Gal and Cary Leblanc to Goodnow Park walkthrough.
  • Rick update trail documentation to add info on restrictions.
  • Rick check out town parcels and summarize findings for report to the town.
  • Next meeting:  Tuesday May 7 at 7PM in the Small CR.
  • Meeting adjourned at 8:18 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Rick Gardner