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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOpen Spce Comm. 04/23/2018Town of Mansfield p,�. OVIEO Open Space and Recreation Committee Minutes,'"; CL1'KS OFHCE April 23, 2018 s A g: 1A3 2ata "liv I Present: Colin Cauldwell, Chair; Dr. Aaron Roth, Co -Chair; Sharon Frie pn-SlItLeLyn Gonyer, Conservation and Environmental Planner. S S 1. Meeting called to order at 5:40 pm in Meeting Room 3 A/B. Review the findings of the visit to Memorial Park, Rails for Trails and the Plymouth Street Complex: Dr. Roth said Memorial Park is going through a major upgrade but, the Rails for Trails is going well and the Plymouth Street soccer complex looks great; his only comment is to wait to see what happens when the vegetation starts coming in. Mr. Cauldwell said the World War II Veterans Trail, with one parking lot with four spaces, could use more parking; he noted the parking lot is always full with people parking across the street. He said improvements need to be made at the access point to the lot, such as paving and pot hole repairs, especially on the west side of Fruit Street. He explained last year the trail was driveway -coated and now the yellow middle line and the quarter mile markers need to be re -added. Mr. Cauldwell said he is on the Recreation Department's April 24`" agenda and he will make these same--comments-at their meeting. Dr. Roth asked about the extension of the Rails for Trails into Norton. Ms. Gonyer said she has been working with Norton Conservation Agent Jennifer Carlino and an ANRAD has been done to outline the wetlands on both sides going into Norton. Mr. Cauldwell asked about funding and Ms. Gonyer said there are grants but she has not seen any design plan. Mr. Cauldwell said the trail is in very good shape with minimal trash, with the exception that dog waste is not being properly disposed of. He mentioned there is a lot of graffiti on the pavement and the bridge railings. He said the bollard on the south side of Lincoln Road no longer has a lock, which would prevent people from driving into the area. He suggested more trash cans and signage to remind people to clean up after their dogs and the graffiti be removed from the bridge and pavement. Mr. Cauldwell commented the Airport should remove the old silt socks because they inhibit the movement of critters. He said when he was on the Conservation Commission, once vegetation had been restored, the removal of all flagging and siltation controls was to be done prior to the request for the Certificate of Compliance. He said Memorial Park is in excellent condition and noted a new playground has been added and looks to be well used. Mr. Cauldwell said the park at Hutchins Fields, adjacent to Pratt Street, is in good shape and the parking is excellent. Mr. Cauldwell said the parking area is adequate but it needs to be regraded. He said there is some unused equipment on the site, such as blocking sleds and, on the flag football field there is a pile of gravel that has been pushed up against the wetlands. He said the perimeter fence at Hutchins Fields needs to be repaired because there is a hole it in and kids are using it has a short cut. He recommended that unless the equipment stored there is necessary that it be removed and the fence be repaired. Mr. Cauldwell said there is yard debris that has been left along the fence line on the Pratt Street side. 2. Plymouth Street drainage and snow storage: 1 Mr. Cauldwell asked if field drainage was still a problem. Ms. Gonyer said there is still a concern and she and Richard Alves, Town Engineer, have been looking at the issue. She said the town is doing some maintenance and will be addressing the drainage. Mr. Cauldwell said this is complicated by the fact DPW uses this area for snow storage; he noted if it was not used for snow storage, it would almost be adequate. Ms. Gonyer said sheet flow is more of a problem and will need to be reconfigured to slow the water down to prevent it from entering the wetlands. Mr. Cauldwell asked about the irrigation system at the Plymouth fields; he said the fields appear to be very wet after watering and believes they should be monitoring the system more closely. He said the snow storage is also impacting the wetland. Ms. Gonyer said a better area can be designated for the snow storage. Mr. Cauldwell said DPW was told they must designate an area for snow storage and surround it with siltation controls; he noted they did this for one year only. Mr. Cauldwell asked if they intended to expand the area in the back. Ms. Gonyer said they are planning to expand the fields but a wetland crossing would be required and there is a potential vernal pool. 3. Attendance: Mr. Cauldwell said he tried to get more participation from members of the Recreation Department and he will bring this up at the Recreation meeting tomorrow. Ms. Gonyer said she believes they can go to an "at large" member in the absence of a Recreation member. 4. Draft of scope of work for proposed improvements to the Corporal Robert Francis Hardy Conservation Area: Mr. Cauldwell said this area was devastated by the winter storms and there are fifteen trees down across the trails, with one oak tree leaning across the trail. He said this is water protection land and asked if they might pay for the removal of the trees; if not, he asked if the Conservation Commission could find the money for a contractor to remove the trees. Ms. Gonyer said they should tackle the tree issues now and she and Mr. Cauldwell will walk the area to get an inventory of the trees that need to be removed. She asked if the whole parcel should be done or just the trees already down on the trails. She suggested the amount allocated for the removal of the trees not exceed $3,000.00. 5. Discussion of encroachment onto Town -owned Conservation land will be put on the May agenda. 6. Ms. Gonyer reminded everyone of Clean-up Day April 28`h from 9 am to 11 am at Fulton Pond and Kingman Pond. She said all abutters have been notified. 7. VAM: Mr. Cauldwell asked if Ms. Gonyer had talked with VAM. She said she received an email that VAM has deeded rights to the drainage swale and basin. Mr. Cauldwell said they have the right to clean the swale and basin but NRT owns the land. He said they came to an NRT board meeting to ask permission to do the work but NRT has not heard back from them. 8. Approval of February 26, 2018 minutes: Dr. Roth made the motion to accept the minutes of February 26, 2018 as amended. Ms. Friedman seconded the motion. Motion passed 3-0-0. 9. Poison Ivy: , Ms. Friedman asked what could be done about all the Poison Ivy and if there was a specific treatment. . Ms. Gonyer said Mill Pond and the Streese property Ms. Gonyer will talk with Mark Cook from DPW need to be treated. Mr. Cauldwell said Great Woods needs to be done also. 10. OSR Plan update: 2 Ms. Friedman asked about the OSRP. Ms. Gonyer said the plan has already been accepted by the state. She said the document should be updated as the committee makes their recommendations. 11. Adjournment: Ms. Friedman made the motion to adjourn at 6:40 pm. Dr. Roth seconded the motion. Motion passed 3-0-0. Next meeting will be May 21, 2018. Signature of Chairman Date 91