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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOpen Space Comm. 08/26/2019Town of Mansfield Open Space and Recreation Committee Minutes August 26, 2019 RECEIVED TOW'H CLERKS OFFICE Present: Chair Diane Simms, Allen Bryer, Sharon Friedman, Perry DiMascio, Katelyn Gonyer; Consi"41 ii 1Ageht, A 8: 23 Christopher George; Recorder, Guests: None wg- MANSF IELD MASSACHUSETTS The meeting of the Town of Mansfield Open Space and Recreation Committee was called to order at 7:00pm by Chair Diane Simms. Ms. Simms informs the Committee that Mr. McCluskie has resigned from the Committee. Mr. DiMascio says Mr. McCluskie had responsibilities. Ms. Simms says he was responsible for Keep Mansfield Beautiful and The Great Woods Trails. Ms. Gonyer says they've tailored the letter to incorporate the action already taken. She says she met with Jay Beckett for two full days. She says he was able to get a tree specialist in for two days and was able to prioritize certain areas for cleaning. She says they worked mostly at Marie Streese. She displays before and after pictures. She says she needs to walk the trails again to view the specific trees that have been taken care of. Mr. DiMascio asks if it's loom or over soiled in the area (of the Marie Streese Sign). Ms. Gonyer says it's probably gravel underneath the topsoil. Ms. Simms says it's much easierto park in that area now. Ms. Gonyer displays a picture of the cleaned parking lot area. Ms. Gonyer shows a sign that was moved to the other side of the street for Mill Pond. She says DPW will move the sign back. Ms. Gonyer displays pictures of areas the DPW has managed. Ms. Gonyer says they've cleaned around the stable bank of Mill Pond. She says this could be a good area for launching into the pond. She says Mill Pond will need a lot of work in regards to trail markers. Mr. DiMascio asks if work is continuing. Ms. Gonyer says this phase of work is complete. She says she still needs to walk to the trails and verify the safety issues. Ms. Gonyer says this winter they're planning on writing a land management plan for all the trails which should help with widening and aesthetic based items. Ms. Simms asked on the status of Great Woods. Ms. Gonyer says they walked the red trail and that the parking lot has been regraded. She says they're having people take off the trail head signs. She says they've also had some dumping issues in the area of Kalnins. Ms. Gonyer says the only other trail she didn't walk was Plymouth Street. Ms. Simms says most of that is NRT. Ms. Simms asks what the next steps are with Mr. DiMascio being a contact with DPW. Ms. Gonyer says she will have a log over email; in talking with Mr. Beckett. She says if it's something already outlined in the OSRC plan, and then she can work on it with Mr. Beckett. She says anything beyond that she'll communicate it with Mr. Cook. She says that Mr. DiMascio can be liaison as needed. Mr. DiMascio agrees to this. Ms. Simms provides an update on the Conservation Commission. She states that Ms. Gonyer provided an update on the trespass issues. She overviews the conversation Ms. Gonyer had with the Conservation Commission at the last meeting. Mr. DiMascio says they should do deer resistant plantings. Ms. Gonyer says they're looking at tall plantings around 5 feet tall for the first corner entrance of the fence of VAM reality. Ms. Simms says the Conservation Commission has approved the funding for the Trail Booklets. MEMINIM Ms. Gonyer says she's talked to Nancy Wall at Family Fun night about Fulton Pond. Ms. Gonyer explains the current project at Fulton Pond. She says the island itself will be the Garden Club and areas on the side will be Keep Mansfield Beautiful. Ms. Simms asks if there is any overlap with Keep Mansfield Beautiful. Ms. Gonyer says they're not focused on natural areas. Ms. Gonyer asks if the Committee would like her to outreach to them. Ms. Simms says she doesn't want to put anything else on Ms. Gonyer. Ms. Gonyer asks who maintains the Rail Trail. Ms. Gonyer says it depends on the section of the trail. Ms. Simms says the parking area by the airport has had flowers installed in that area. Ms. Gonyer explains how the Rails to Trails is more of collaboration with the County and Airport Commission. She says it's a Town project. Mr. Bryer asks if it's under the jurisdiction of the DPW. Ms. Gonyer says she believes it's just that main entrance. Mr. Bryer says that DPW changes the trash bins and fill potholes. Ms. Simms says Ms. Gonyer doesn't need to research this; she was just curious. Ms. Simms asks if dumping should be on the signage. Ms. Gonyer says yes. Mr. DiMascio asks if that is under Disposal of trash or yard waste. Ms. Simms says yes. Ms. Gonyer says based on the minutes from October, the Committee was looking to have the signage be more positive. Ms. Simms asks what positive message they could add. Ms. Friedman says instead of just "No, No, No," they should have a yes on the sign. Ms. Gonyer says they could put two columns; one labeled with activities good for that trail and one with activities prohibited. She says there is a lot of open space on the signage for them to add something positive. Mr. DiMascio says terminology for the positive could be, "Encouraged Activities." Ms. Friedman offers, "Take only pictures, leave only footprints." Or "Enjoy your hike!" or "Enjoy your walk!" Mr. Bryer says he's impartial to adding any positive message to the signage. He says people may misunderstand. Mr. DiMascio says that they could misconstrue bird watching for hiking. Mr. Bryer asks if having a picnic is a passive activity. Ms. Friedman offers, "Look around, see nature's beauty." Mr. DiMascio offers to add, "To protect those who are using it." Ms. Simms says she was actually thinking of shortening it. Ms. Friedman says they could add, "To protect these natural areas, please..." Mr. DiMascio asks about hunting. Ms. Gonyer says that this is a general sign for all areas. Mr. Bryer asks if it would be unprofessional to say, "For all to enjoy these natural assets. Do and Don'ts." He says then they could label the "Do and Don'ts." Ms. Simms likes this idea. Ms. Gonyer says she'll use "Do and Don'ts" and rework the signage. Ms. Gonyer says she found language that says, "Please enjoy and respect this area." Ms. Simms asks if "trail bicycle" is too specific and asks where bicycles are allowed on the trails. Ms. Gonyer says she doesn't know currently. Mr. DiMascio pulls information from the previous minutes. Ms. Gonyer says it needs to say, "No unauthorized motorized vehicles." Ms. Gonyer says that she doesn't know of a general provision surrounding bicycles and the trails but will research this information. Ms. Gonyer asks forthe "Dos" Ms. Simms says, "Hike, Bird Watch, Stay on Trails" Ms. Friedman says, "Enjoy Flora and Fauna." Mr. DiMascio would like hunting to be addressed. He says only one trail allows hunting and the others should clearly say, "No Hunting." Ms. Gonyer says she does have a bunch of "No hunting" signs that will be posted separately. Mr. Bryer says he finds the separate "No Hunting" signs are more impactful. Item Tabled Item Tabled Mr. DiMascio says this should be a priority to keep an eye out for something that has water access. He says that another priority should be land that abuts land with access. Ms. Gonyer provides the comment section from the Open Space survey from 2016. She says water access is on the top of the comments. Ms. Gonyer says they should gather ideas for about four different spots. She says every spot will be different in regards to zoning that they should start now. She asks the Committee to think of what an area need to be successful for water access does. Ms. Gonyer says that Mill Pond is a great spot but the problem is pulling in and out of the area. Ms. Gonyer says the Conservation Commission does have congruency of land is a part of their checklist when overviewing land. Mr. DiMascio asks if kayaking is more intrusive than fishing. Ms. Gonyer says that kayaking destroys the ground from dragging. Mr. DiMascio says if property comes up for sale that is congruent with land that has water access than it should be considered. Mr. DiMascio says they should be able to come up with some access points and then develop those points. Ms. Gonyer says it's a cross between looking at deeds and talking to people who used to kayak. Ms. Simms says they re not looking to solve the problem right now but she'd like to advocate for it to be on the Master Plan. Mr. Bryer says his view, from this committee; it's something they should look at it. He says it'll be a failure of this Town not to consider this a priority. Ms. Gonyer says that coincides with the Strategic Plan in 2015-16. Ms. Simms says when she thinks of fishing that they need to keep the toxic algae down. Ms. Gonyer says August is the month for algae bloom and that everyone is having issues with it. She says she has posted laminated signs from the DPH pertaining to this issue. Ms. Simms says she'll leave this item as a future agenda item. She asks if the Committee agrees that this will be a part of the Master Plan Vision. The Committee agrees with this. Mr. Bryer says a big aspect of this will be advertising the availability of the trails and any future activities. Mr. Bryer says this was already presented during the stakeholder meeting forthe Master Plan and that ADA compliance is number four on their priority list. Ms. Gonyer says they do have a breakdown of ADA compliance and areas that in progress of being ADA compliance. She says if you use state funds, then you have to adhere to ADA compliance. Ms. Friedman says an item could be to identify a trail as a sensory trail. She says another trail could be for wheelchairs or another trail is improved for those who use assisted devices. Ms. Gonyer says there are trails they could advertise that have direct access to a particular area. Ms. Simms asks if Ms. Gonyer could better document what it takes to access a trail. Ms. Gonyer says yes and there are design standards for ADA compliance that she'll follow. Ms. Gonyer says she likes the idea of a sensory trail but asks if they should make it a goal. Ms. Gonyer says that maintaining existing parcels should be their highest priority. She asks if they'd like to keep that as a goal for the Master Plan. Ms. Simms agrees to this. Ms. Simms pulls the information from the previous three topics to compile the vision and then overviews them. Ms. Simms says this will be on the agenda for the next meeting and by then Mr. Bryer will have attended the Master Plan meeting. Ms. Gonyer says they've met with the consultant for the Master Plan. K Item discussed under Committee updates. June 24. 2019 *Motion to approve the minutes from June 24, 2019 made by Mr. Bryer, 2nd by Ms. Friedman. Vote 4-0 PASSED August 5, 2019 *Motion to approve the minutes from August 5, 2019 made by Mr. DiMascio, 2"d by Mr. Bryer. Vote 4-0 PASSED *Motion to adjourn at 8:36pm made by Mr. Bryer, 2"d by Mr. DiMascio. Vote 4-0 PASSED Signature of Chair Date Approved