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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOpen Space Comm. 01/09/20Town of Mansfield dtF i ' `_' E C Yl'Open Space and Recreation Committee Mint tds OFFICE January 9, 2020 21328 3014130 A II: 0U" Present: Diane Simms, Chair; Allen Bryer; Perry DiMascio; Sharon Ffiedait3; Rebecca Foster. [ a i_i 1. Meeting Called to Order The meeting of the Town of Mansfield Open Space and Recreation Committee was called to order at 7:00 pm. Rebecca Foster was introduced as anew member to the Committee. Ms. Simms said there would be another Mansfield Walks on. the World War II Trail January 11, 2020. 2. 2019 Accomplishments: The Committee reviewed the accomplishments of 2019: • Insure town -owned trails are walkable and enjoyable. Mr. DiMascio said good work was done by DPW with the parking at Marie Streese area and.the tree safety issues but there is still more work to be done. • Ms. Friedman said the Committee should identify where the needs area • Mr. Bryer said trail markers, signs and the kiosks are an on -going issue. • Ms. Gonyer said her intern is working on a trail grant to GPS the trails for new trail maps. • Ms. Friedman said she has done signs with NRT and would be willing help with the trail. marking and, because the markers are missing on the trails, Mr. DiMascio suggested the markers be placed higher on the trees. Ms. Gonyer said she has trail markers and Ms. Simms said she will be in touch with Ms. Gonyer, Ms. Friedman and NRT about getting the trails marked: Ms. Friedman asked going forward, how would the Committee make sure the trails are free of hazards. Ms. Simms said as a 2020 goal there needs to be an on -going trail management plan, to include how often and by who the trails would be walked, when maintenance would be done, how the maintenance will be funded, and clarify the responsibilities of DPW; she said the Conservation Department would need,a budget to hire outside contractors for the heavy maintenance of the trails. Ms. Gonyer read a letter she sent to the town manager regarding trail ''management, parking issues, equipment and budget issues. She will meet with Mr. Dumas and the Finance Committee. Ms. Gonyer said she has started to develop a trail managementplan. Ms. Simms 1 asked what the Committee's role would be in looking at the plan. Ms. Gonyer said the Committee would make sure it is the type of maintenance they want and if it is enough. She said the plan would include an annual assessment for routine maintenance and assessments on a case by case basis. Ms. Simms said last spring each committee member picked an area to walk and assess the area. She asked if Ms. Gonyer would consider it the responsibility of the Committee to do the assessments. Ms. Gonyer said this responsibility would be written into the plan; she said it would mainly be done by staff. Ms. Gonyer said she would have a draft of the Trail Maintenance Plan for the Committee to review at the February meeting. Ms. Friedman said one of the things to possibly bring to the town is Community Preservation. Ms. Gonyer suggested the Committee educate themselves on this subject before discussing it. 3. Draft 2020 Goals: • Preparing and executing the trail management plan; • Collaboration with town committees and certain community organizations; Ms. Simms said Keep Mansfield Beautiful does not have a liaison. Ms. Foster said she.would be the liaison. Ms. Gonyer suggested one of the 2020 goals should be a collaboration/out-reach with the. schools. Ms. Simms said the Masterplan will age off and CRAAC should be removed. NRT and Keep Mansfield Beautiful will be kept and communication with the Recreation Commission will be through staff only, The schools will be added; Ms. Gonyer will be the school liaison and Ms. Simms will help with the high school. Ms. Foster will also help with the schools and said she would like to be the liaison if there is ever a daytime pre-school program. Mr. DiMascio left the meeting at this time. Ms. Simms said a 2020 goal would be to execute other pilot programs and regular oversight of objectives from the 2016 Open Space and Recreation Plan. Ms. Gonyer will re -distribute the goals/objectives section to the Committee. Ms. Simms said there should be a semi-annual review of the objectives and goals of the Open Space Recreation Plan. Ms. Gonyer said this is a seven year plan and will be re-evaluated in 2023. Ms. Simms outlined the 2020 goals: • Prepare and execute the Mansfield Trail Management Plan; • Continue collaboration with town committees and certain community organizations; • Enhanced community outreach; 2 • Execute pilot education projects; • Semi-annual oversight of objectives from the Open Space Recreation Plan; • Collaboration with schools. The following will be removed: • Masterplan • CRAAC • Recreation Commission will be with staff. • Remove the bullet points from the Mansfield Trail Management Plan. 4. OS&RC Website Updates status: The webpage was reviewed by the Committee; Ms. Gonyer will continue to work on the site. 5, Conservation updates; Ms. Gonyer will meet with Lou Andrews and Colin Cauldwell about the trail maps; she would like to begin doing the maps through the town but still collaborate with NRT to update the. maps. Ms. Simms asked about National Lumber. Ms. Gonyer said this is a parcel of land along Francis Avenue and Maple Street adjacent to Corporal Hardy Conservation Area and National Lumber, over the course of time, has encroached in this area with a 7,000 sq. ft. asphalt parking area on town property since the early 1990s. Ms. Gonyer said she js waiting to hear back from Town Counsel. She said we may not be able to do anything because of the statute of limitations and whether or not there is a Conservation Restriction on the property. She said if there is Conservation Restriction, National Lumber can't purchase the property so it will then become a legal issue. She said Town Counsel is talking with National Lumber's attorney. Ms. Gonyer said the land is owned by the Water Department but Town Counsel thinks it still has Article 97 protection under Attleboro Water Protection District. 205 Otis Street: Ms. Gonyer said this was a potential encroachment — grass mowing. She said the issue was addressed verbally. Ms. Simms said there is another encroachment Issue; various businesses are using an area for parking but it is an access point to the Judy's Lane portion of Great Woods. This will be added as an agenda item for the next meeting. Community Gardens will be added as a future agenda topic. Sign verbiage: Ms. Simms said she was concerned that all the comments the Committee wanted on the signs never seemed to make fruition. Ms. Gonyer said Mr. Healey, Chairman of the Conservation Commission, said no to putting "Do" and "Don't" language on the signs. He 3 said the signs should use the language "Prohibited". Ms. Simms said if there is certain language we should or should not be using for the signs we need some guidance. 6. Approval of previous minutes: Approval of October 28, 2019 minutes: Motion to approve the minutes as corrected by Ms. Simms and Mr. Bryer was made by Ms. Friedman and seconded by Ms. Foster. Motion passed 3-0-1. Ms. Gonyer reminded the Committee that MACC will be holding their annual conference; she said if anyone is interested in attending to let her know because the town will pick up the cost of any seminars. 7. Adjournment: Motion to adjourn made by Ms. Friedman and seconded by Ms. Foster. Vote: 4-0 PASSED C Chair b13Db� Date 0