HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-06-15 ad Hoc Open Space and Recreation Planning Task Force MinutesTown of Reading E
Ad Hoe Open Space & Recreation Planning Task Force r h~~'
Employee's Lounge
June 15, 2000, 7:30 PM - (non)Minutes 2001 Sia' 2b P 3; 32
Attendance: Kim Honetschlager, Chair, Nancy Eaton, Claire Bolger, and Cathy Martin
Absent: Ron Boucher, Camille Anthony, Gladys Montgomery Jones and Rick Schubert;
and Karen DeFrancesco, Conservation Administrator.
Also Present: None
A quorum was not present, so no votes were taken. Meeting requires five members for a
quorum. The committee consists of nine members although only eight have been
appointed. If you cannot attend a scheduled meeting, please contact Kim or Karen to let
them know.
Cathy submitted school population figures, which will be forwarded to Rick for his
section of the report. Kim submitted the Ipswich River Planning for Growth "Vision
Statement" (grant with N. Reading, Wilmington and Burlington). The group reviewed
what public access we had participated in to include in Section 6. Such activities include:
Open Space & Recreation Survey, public meeting which resulted in the Ipswich River
Vision Statement, our open public meeting at the Senior Center (mainly attended by
recreation folks); also public/committee input that will be generated when this draft
' report is circulated; Town Meeting discussion and vote on Marion Woods acquisition;
meetings on adopting Marion Woods Land Management Plan; School Committee
meetings individually and before CPDC and Conservation regarding wetlands and
recreation fields at the new school site off Dividence Road.
Claire is still working on getting accessibility reports back from recreation committee
members and will produce in table format for the Plan. Kim said she would check
whether conservation area site notes had been distributed to everyone.
Nancy reviewed the tax title property list and showed assessor plans with parcels
highlighted. Discussed with Kim creating a town wide map showing relationship of these
parcels to currently owned open spaces for use by the selectmen in deciding assignment
of parcels. Peter has placed this item on the Selectmen's agenda for September 12.
Discussed need to conduct site visits and prepare notes, take and present photographs for
this meeting. Group also discussed value of selling land to abutters when it creates
regulatory nightmares for conservation. Nancy reviewed issues with Sledge Woods,
Harvest Road, etc. and possibilities for the Saugus River drainage basin. Discussed
possibility of joint transfer to conservation and recreation or conservation and DPW for
drainage for certain parcels. This committee should be prepared to vote on each parcel
and present report to the Selectmen before their September meeting.
(New thought: Should we invite Selectmen along to do these site visits so they have first
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hand experience and not just a photograph to go by?)
Minutes were not reviewed, but the last meeting minutes should be adjusted to fix writing
assignment section. Cathy Martin is doing Section 4F.
Section 6B. We reviewed survey numbers and percentages. Cathy has crunched
numbers and Gladys prefers to do writing section on her own. Figures showed a much
greater dissatisfaction level with recreation facilities for youth but the satisfaction level
for adult space remained constant between the 1995 .survey and the 2000 survey. On the
conservation side the quality and quantity percentages remained about the same for the
two surveys. The group theorized as to the reasons behind this. Some felt there was an
increased awareness of the residents. Some felt answers might be reflective of residents'
thoughts about development, traffic, visual aesthetics and not overburdening the budget
on cost of services.
Discussed SCORP - State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan -and whether there
was a current plan and whether and how the town had input into it. Claire will check
with Wayne and the Recreation Committee.
Kim will take the lead in drafting Sections 6 A and B. Cathy will lead on Section 7 B
with Claire handling the recreation needs section. Nancy and Cathy will jointly work on
a draft for Section 8. Karen can e-mail these sections from the 1995 plan if people want
them to use in electronic format for revisions.
Discussed date for a next meeting. Kim will circulate a request from folks for their
availability and vacation plans and whether a change in the meeting night would generate
better attendance. As an alternative, discussed not meeting in July if members would
write their draft sections and circulate for review and comment by others. Everyone is on
e-mail except Ron and that would allow members to work at times best suited to their
schedule but allow the work of the committee to proceed.
Once Kim has received input on everyone's schedules, she will set and notify the
committee of meeting dates.
Group adjourned at 9:45 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy L. Eaton, Secretary pro tempore