HomeMy WebLinkAboutOpen Space Comm. 09/30/2019Town of Mansfield
Open Space and Recreation Committee Minutes
September 30, 2019 EG
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Present: Chair Diane Simms, Allen Bryer, Perry DiMascio, Christopher George, Recorder ,`tr i 5
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Guests: None
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The meeting of the Town of Mansfield Open Space and Recreation Committee was called to order at 7:02 pm by Chair
Diane Simms.
Ms. Simms says Ms. Gonyer has taken this on but is unable to be present tonight. She hopes that a new fifth member
can take this on. She asks Mr. George about advertising openings on Boards. Mr. George informs her that advertising
can be done through Facebook.
-Item Tabled
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Ms. Simms says she'd like to talk about what is appropriate for the Town to take on. She says that Mr. Andrews of the
Natural Resource Trust is maintaining the kiosks and supplying the flyers. She says they're all trail properties under the
management of Conservation Commission and is the responsibility of the Agent. Ms. Simms says she expressed interest
in being the one to drop off maps. Mr. DiMascio says it's her department but it doesn't necessarily have to be her. Ms.
Simms says she's hoping to meet with Ms. Gonyer tomorrow.
Ms. Simms asks if anyone has anyone objections to this. Mr. Bryer says it makes sense.
-Item Tabled
Ms. Simms asks if they feel capable of identifying sites for water access. Mr. Bryer says that Ms. Gonyer had some sites
that she has recommended. Mr. DiMascio says in his notes that it should be a priority to have water access. Ms. Simms
says in regards to existing areas. Ms. Simms says that the concern was surrounding clearance.
Ms. Simms lists off the bodies of water available in Town. She says there's one that Ms. Gonyer has personally gone
through and cleaned up. She says she doesn't consider the bodies of water big enough with access for canoes. She says
someone told her that years ago kids used to go swimming in Corporal Hardy. Mr. Bryer says there has been times
where it can dry up and people see the condition of it.
Mr. Bryer says Sweets Pond has the best parking lot. Mr. DiMascio asks about Bungay Lake. He says he doesn't know if
there's open space there but they should look into accessibility. Mr. DiMascio says if something became available then
that's something they should use for open space.
Mr. Bryer says there is a layout of water resources. He lists Greenwood Lake, which is Bungay Lake, and provides details
from the Master Plan Steering Committee. He says the most glaring thing is that it doesn't mention anything about
Mansfield Access. He lists Fulton and Kingman too. Ms. Simms asks about parking at Kingman. Mr. Bryer says it's a
difficult road to park on. Mr. Bryer lists Whiteville pond that is surrounded by residential homes. Mr. DiMascio asks
about Cabot Pond and says there's an entrance on the southern side. Ms. Simms says she thought about part of that
development was to gain access to Cabot Pond. Mr. DiMascio says he's unsure but believes he heard that in this meeting
but that the challenge would be parking. He says it's similar to the Robinson Pond which is a part of the Wading River.
Mr. Bryer says a problem with water access in Town is having a means of getting to them and this is why connectivity is
key. He says it'd be great to evaluate Sweets Pond and Canoe River. Ms. Simms says she spoke to the Canoe River
Aquifer Commission about water access. Mr. Bryer asks to what degree Mansfield connects to the Norton Reservoir.
Ms. Simms asks if there's anything that they didn't talk about last time. Mr. Bryer says that these spaces are important
things to the community that adds value to the Town. He says they promote a sense of community and opportunity. He
says that having a plan to maintain it is key. Ms. Simms says there should be something apart of the plan for
maintenance.
Mr. DiMascio says he was hoping to speak with Ms. Gonyer tonight about progress with the Department of Public
Works. He says he will talk to Ms. Gonyer.
Mr. Bryer says he hasn't heard back from the Recreation Commission yet. He says this may be due to one of his
questions regarding rating the parks. He says he will reach out via email during this week.
Mr. Bryer says the Master Plan Steering Committee has met and they have the draft of the Existing Conditions Report.
He says one section of that report is Open Space and will serve as a conduit of information going back to the Open Space
and Recreation Committee. Mr. Bryer asks if there's a boat launch on Sweet Pond. Ms. Simms says she knows where it
used to be but doesn't think it's viable anymore. Mr. DiMascio thought that's what could be not what existed. Mr. Bryer
says an aspect of it was water resources in Town and being able to access it. He says humans are attracted to those
types of features. He says there's definitely a focus on the Open Space for the Master Plan update.
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Ms. Simms and Mr. Bryer discuss timing of the all -day Master Plan session. Mr. Bryer explains the process for that day.
He breaks down the composition of the Master Plan Steering Committee.
Mr. DiMascio says he spoke with the Granddaughter of Marie Streese and that she's expressed concern about parking in
the area. He says she was questioning that if it's passive recreation than how much is the parking impacting the area.
Mr. DiMascio says she thought it would be important to raise this question here. Ms. Simms says she'll confirm with Ms.
Gonyer in regards to this. Mr. DiMascio asks if there should be a limit to parking spaces when land is deeded for passive
recreation to avoid future problems. Mr. Bryer says this is a big discussion. Mr. Simms asks if this is pertinent as there
are so few large parcels left. Mr. DiMascio says there are some big parcels still available and he can think of a few. Ms.
Simms says she'd like to know what all the other deeds say. Mr. DiMascio says he's unaware of any provisions on the
property deeds. Ms. Simms says in some cases the Town has purchased the land and in other instances it was gifted.
Mr. Bryer says that they need to start thinking about an important question is, as the Town grows, some conservation
property might not be accessible today but other properties may be accessible with bigger parking areas. He says they
need to be defined when doing anything under the charge of Conservation or do they look at in the column of passive
recreation. Mr. Bryer says that it's great from people donating land but, a lot of the time it's from people avoiding taxes.
Mr. DiMascio says that the Town looks into that deeply to see if the open space is viable for donation. Ms. Simms says
that Streese is the only property she didn't schedule a summer walk for; due to the lack of parking.
Mr. Bryer says no matter how populous the Town becomes none of the areas will be stressed. He says they should
recognize that some conservation land is purely for conservation like preservation and not necessarily for passive
recreation. He says that brings honesty to future policies. Mr. DiMascio says it would be nice to identify those areas and
consider them taboo areas. Ms. Simms says this is a plan for a future agenda and has talked to Ms. Gonyer about
creating a list for them like this.
Mr. DiMascio asks if there's anyone checking for abandoned parcels of value. He asks if there's anyone that could scour
the assessors map to see who abuts property with potential because if the Town owns it then they could do whatever
they need; in terms of boat access and parking.
March 25, 2019
*Motion to approve the minutes from March 25, 2019 made by Mr. DiMascio, 2nd by Ms. Simms.
Vote 3-0 PASSED
August 26, 2019
*Motion to approve the minutes from August 26, 2019 made by Mr. Bryer, 2nd by Mr. DiMascio.
Vote 3-0 PASSED
*Motion to adjourn at 8:08pm made by Mr. Bryer, 2nd by Mr. DiMascio. Vote 3-0 PASSED
Signature of Chair
Date Approved