HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-01-20 ad Hoc Open Space and Recreation Planning Task Force MinutesTOWN OF READING
Open Space & Recreation Plan Task Force
Minutes of January 20, 2000
Attendance: Kim Honetschlager, citizen, Richard Schubert, CPDC, Claire Bolger,
Recreation, Nancy Eaton, Conservation, Ron Boucher, Reading Open Land Trust,
Catherine Martin, Finance Committee, and Gladys Montgomery Jones, citizen; Karen
DeFrancesco, Conservation Administrator.
Absent: Camille Anthony, Board of Selectmen
Review: Acting as interim chair, Nancy Eaton called the meeting to order. The group
discussed best meeting day and decided on Thursday evenings. Eaton then reviewed the
history of writing the 1995 plan and showed the open space Action Plan map with
existing protected parcels, those protected since the approval of the 1995 plan and areas
still in need of protection. The group discussed update requirements for the 2000
revision. Members were requested to look over the existing report and decide which
areas they would like to be involved with revising and updating. The prior report is
available in AmiPro or PageMaker files which should make modifications easier.
Mapping: Kim Honetschlager volunteered to work on mapping in the GIS format. She
took the disk with MassGIS data on it and Eaton's working Action Plan Map.
Organization: It was moved, seconded and voted 6-0-1 to elect Kim Honetschlager as
Chair. Unless someone wants to act as scribe, it was suggested that members rotate as
recording secretary.
Charge: Eaton then reviewed the charge to the Task Force from the Board of
Selectmen.
Time Line: Eaton suggested that the draft plan be ready by November to send to the
various boards, committees, commissions and agencies for review. Any comments from
those entities will need to be reviewed and the Task Force will need to decide on what if
any changes to make. The Board of Selectmen will then have final approval. It is
important to have the plan in approved form in order to qualify for Self-Help and Urban
Self-Help grant funds. Since the 1995 Plan was approved, the Town has received two
Self-Help Grants, one for Sledge Woods Conservation Area for $60,000 and $250,000
for Marion Woods.
Survey: Eaton reviewed how the survey was conducted last time and the Task Force
looked at the attachments in the plan showing the questions and tabulated results.
Discussed whether to use the same questions for control purposes, additional or different
questions. State has no specific requirements for questions but demographic information
` is important. Discussed distribution through water or electric bills. Gladys Montgomery
Jones volunteered to see if the light department would fund survey, distribute and receive
results with payments. We also need to find out deadline if the survey is distributed with
the water bill. Talked about direct mailing to every household, posting on the town web
site and printing in local papers. Discussed collection techniques: at March elections,
drop boxes around town, Town Hall parking lot mailbox, return with water/electric
payments, e-mail. Members will actively think about survey questions, distribution and
collection methods for the next meeting.
Goals: Discussed need to frame survey questions with goals in mind and the group
should think about that before finalizing questions. Eaton offered to present at the next
meeting on what had been accomplished since the approval of the current plan. New
goals should be reflective of community survey. The plan should reflect the
community's ideals, not any one group. Gladys Montgomery Jones suggested we have
fewer goals in the revised plan and objectives under them.
Marion Woods Conservation Area: Eaton notified the group that the Conservation
Commission and the Community Planning and Development Commission would be
holding a joint meeting on Thursday, February 24, 2000 at 7:30 pm at the light
department conference room on three issues: 1) Scenic Roads hearing for installation of
sewer line; 2) Conservation filing for installation of the sewer line; and 3) land
management plan for Marion Woods Conservation Area required before Self-Help grant
monies are paid. Task Force members were invited to attend.
Eaton reviewed tax title parcels and getting this group to support transfer of several of the
parcels to Conservation. She noted that three long time conservationists needed to be
honored by dedicating open space areas in their memory: Norton Nickerson, Jim Biller
and Cliff Proctor.
Update: Soils do not need to be updated. Eaton said the historical information does not
need to be updated but we may choose to do so. Gladys Montgomery Jones volunteered
to work on the historical and housing aspects. She also volunteered to be a point person
on survey analysis. Group discussed which census to use. Suggested Camille Anthony
might be appropriate person to solicit official data from Town Hall. Agreed federal
census was too outdated to be relevant. Discussed when local census information will be
available. Eaton volunteered to update the inventory information. Catherine Martin
volunteered to help with graphics and putting survey results into graphs and charts.
Eaton suggested each member go back to their respective boards, committees and
commissions and ask for input on how to make the plan better and what information to
include.
Resources: Gladys Montgomery Jones suggested we could solicit funding from
corporate and volunteer sources (REI, light department, Walmart, cell phone companies,
etc.) for funding implementation of future plans or printing and distributing updated
- Open Space & Recreation Plan. She also suggested that the Historic Preservation Trust
might be a funding source on the argument that the plan is an historical document.
Maps: Two copies of Action Plan map were given and other members requested copies.
Administrator will get additional copies from engineering.
Next Meeting: Thursday, February 3`d, 2000, 7:30 pm at the Berger Room (if available).
Action Items for next meeting: Figure out what our projected budget needs will be, cost
of plan printing and distribution, mapping supplies (paper and ink). Develop questions
for survey and potential goals. Review plan and choose area to work on.
Motion was made, seconded and voted 7-0-0 to adjourn at 9:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
NLE signature
Nancy L. Eaton from notes of Karen DeFrancesco, Conservation Administrator