WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=Bf5TJnl9U88

Part: 1

1
00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:22.160
Um, so I'm standing in for Bill because he's driving. Um, and he'll join. He'll sit back in when he's on actual uh solid ground. But I will open the meeting for the open space committee. It's

2
00:00:22.160 --> 00:00:42.640
Wednesday, June 17th at 6:04. And so we have calling to order and then citizen queries. I don't see any citizens on the line, but does anybody have any citizen queries that they've heard about that they are responsible for bringing forward?

3
00:00:42.640 --> 00:01:02.399
>> Nope. >> All right, then we will move on to the open space committee meeting minutes. Thank you so much, Satie, for sending those out. Thank you, Mike, for putting them together. Um, does anybody have any comments or questions on the meeting

4
00:01:02.399 --> 00:01:21.119
minutes? Hearing none, then um shall we vote to approve the meeting minutes? >> Make a motion to accept the June 2nd, 2026 Open Space Committee meeting

5
00:01:21.119 --> 00:01:38.720
minutes. I can second that. >> All right. Everybody in favor? >> I >> I. >> Anybody opposed? >> All right. The meeting minutes have been

6
00:01:38.720 --> 00:01:56.640
approved. Um the next on the agenda is to review the edits to the action plan. So Satie, shall I hand it over to you? >> Sure. I can um share and we don't have to like necessarily go through each

7
00:01:56.640 --> 00:02:11.680
thing, but I just thought this could be like an opportunity if if anyone had things they wanted to talk about um while they went through it um since the last meeting. Um I know Kristen and I were going through it today and adding

8
00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:28.959
things to the potential funding column and we could talk about that a little bit. Um but yeah, I think it's pretty similar to where where we left it. Um just added things in the um

9
00:02:28.959 --> 00:02:45.200
in the accessory columns. Um but yeah, I don't know. Does anyone have anything they want to discuss at the moment? >> Just say thank you for filling in the funding column. I didn't have any clue where to begin there. So I appreciate

10
00:02:45.200 --> 00:03:01.280
that from you and Kristen. Yeah, that was that was all Kristen. >> We definitely just started and it's not done thoroughly by any means yet, but um you know there's not a the state has

11
00:03:01.280 --> 00:03:17.120
done a great job, as you guys probably know, with um trying to make it easier for towns to apply for grants. And so kind of bundling everything into this one-stop um community, one stop. And now they

12
00:03:17.120 --> 00:03:33.599
have this particular environmental and climate which is the eco onetop. So the way the portal works is you just put your project idea in with a letter of interest and then they give you comments back like oh this sounds like it would

13
00:03:33.599 --> 00:03:49.680
be a good candidate for the park grant or the land and conservation. Some of the grants are not in the eco onetop and I have to admit I haven't really dived into that yet. Um, so anyway, there's there's definitely more specificity that

14
00:03:49.680 --> 00:04:05.200
can be filled in related to potential funding, but in many cases it was seeming to me like um it's either, you know, a one-stop opportunity and then they'll tell you where to go with

15
00:04:05.200 --> 00:04:18.959
the grant. Um, and that's those are annual fiscal fiscal year state grants for the most part, the onetop program. There's certainly federal grants that I haven't really um some of you guys might

16
00:04:18.959 --> 00:04:36.560
know more about those than I do. Um and and then Mike, I think your comment in there was it it does seem like a number of the objectives and action items are

17
00:04:36.560 --> 00:04:54.880
people power, right? like time, committee work, staff work, um sort of sorting through information that we have, but just organizing it. Um and that's hard to fund outside of

18
00:04:54.880 --> 00:05:10.880
funding time, which is, you know, certainly resources in terms of um municipal staff is um a question that could be considered. and then I'll stop talking in a minute that my one other thought as Satie and I

19
00:05:10.880 --> 00:05:28.960
were looking at this is there are ways to access um technical assistance through the regional planning agency which is you guys know cuz we're using their help with this project but um some of the things like mapping or um you

20
00:05:28.960 --> 00:05:44.400
know reviewing zoning like things like that that are sort of in the category of planning or mapping or other um sort of assessment technical assistance like we're going to ask them to help us with

21
00:05:44.400 --> 00:06:02.400
a you know a bike pedestrian count out on Plum Island turnpike. Like those are things that we have some um technical assistance time built into a fiscal year. So that really just requires, you know, advanced planning on what the

22
00:06:02.400 --> 00:06:17.759
project is and then coordinating with the staff at the regional planning commission. So that's I put that in a funding category even though it's kind of there's no money required. It's just um coordination in terms of technical

23
00:06:17.759 --> 00:06:35.280
assistance hours. So that's what we started doing and I as I said it's not complete yet but it's a start. >> Yeah, it looks really good and um I mean should we consider

24
00:06:35.280 --> 00:06:56.400
do we even add in like volunteer hours as a funding source or do we just stay silent on that in that column? >> Yeah, good great question. Um I I don't know. I think some of those are sort of the NA

25
00:06:56.400 --> 00:07:14.240
is a placeholder for for time, right? So maybe it would be more accurate to identify that it is, you know, there is a value to volunteer time. For sure. >> Yeah. I imagine that we'll get some feedback

26
00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:30.720
on those as well from Marramac Valley and from the state when we give them this. Hopefully they'll maybe we could specifically ask them also. So yeah, this is awesome. Thank you so much for filling in these three columns here

27
00:07:30.720 --> 00:07:47.280
to advance the ball. Yeah, I didn't really review the timing um so much. I don't know how much talking you guys have done about that. >> I Yeah, I kind of just took a stab. So,

28
00:07:47.280 --> 00:08:02.639
I would I would encourage um review of that column. Um >> should we just go should we just review it right now kind of like we did on the last call? I feel like it will go really quick.

29
00:08:02.639 --> 00:08:19.120
>> Yeah, that sounds good. >> Okay. I also see that there's um a comment in here from Kristen. So, we should tackle that one too in terms of whether there's overlap. We might need to refine some wording um on a couple of the objectives. >> Yeah,

30
00:08:19.120 --> 00:08:36.800
sounds good. Do we want to start with the objectives first and then go through them? >> To the timing. >> Yeah. So, okay, Kristen, I see your comment in here in row 20 for um objective 3.1 and it seems similar to

31
00:08:36.800 --> 00:08:52.560
2.2. And so, that means if you read it that way, that means everybody else who reviews this will also read it that way. So, let's change the words and let's make sure we really do believe that they're separate. So, 2.2 was to review properties to identify parcels that can

32
00:08:52.560 --> 00:09:08.800
contribute to meeting the needs identified in the plan. um it was more in terms of preservation and protection and so maybe we should rephrase this to talk about the preservation and protection of scenic views and natural areas.

33
00:09:08.800 --> 00:09:24.560
So that was like one objective and then the one in 3.1 was which parcels like could enhance existing which are already used as existing open spaces but they need some

34
00:09:24.560 --> 00:09:40.160
enhancements and we should like target those to actually do enhancements on existing spaces. Is that different enough? seems different enough that we should keep them as two separate objectives, but maybe we need to say it more clearly.

35
00:09:40.160 --> 00:09:55.040
>> Or do we need to add like a a difference between the two in like a a developed undeveloped kind of way, you know, like um like like Great Meadow. I I know it's not perfect, but it

36
00:09:55.040 --> 00:10:11.279
exists. It's known as an open space area. It needs more as opposed to maybe in 2.2, to maybe that's parcels that haven't been um built up yet. I guess what I'm trying to maybe trying to say.

37
00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:27.040
>> Mhm. >> Is that the difference between the two? Possibly. >> Yeah. >> I don't want to say existing and non-existing because they're both for town exist, you know, town owned parcels, not like future acquisition.

38
00:10:27.040 --> 00:10:49.120
>> Yeah. Yeah, how about I just put in parentheses not yet protected preserved. So I'm kind of writing in that 2.2. Um, so is the is the point that there's an

39
00:10:49.120 --> 00:11:05.279
open space parcel that isn't permanently protected? Is that because I guess I just I think the reason this struck me was there not a ton of town owned parcels. So the, you know, reviewing them to

40
00:11:05.279 --> 00:11:24.160
identify parcels that could contribute. I guess I just don't really understand this one. So maybe someone can explain it a little more. Like are we talking about uh I mean you mentioned Great Marsh or Great Meadow. So that's

41
00:11:24.160 --> 00:11:40.560
I mean I don't think there's any threat of development there. It's already protected. I don't know what classification >> under the 3.1 that parcel I think Mike was saying that's the 3.1 where like what could we do to enhance an already existing protected space?

42
00:11:40.560 --> 00:11:56.399
>> Oh, okay. >> And so 2.2 is and I think that the genesis of this one was like do we not really feel like everyone has a good grasp as to where are the town own properties? Have we reread them? Are any of them like adjacent to something that's preserved that we should actually

43
00:11:56.399 --> 00:12:12.000
preserve them? And so if there aren't that many, it could be a quick review, but it also could be a quick checkbox and then we could all like know what's out there. >> Isn't there a list in this plan? We we have a list of the town owned parcels a

44
00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:28.079
spreadsheet as part of >> Yeah. So let's look at them on a map and see if they're next to anything and like how they might contribute like are they worthy of putting a conservation restriction on them. >> Got it.

45
00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:47.839
Yeah, maybe it can just be said the way you just said it, which is determine if town owned parcels need additional protection for, you know, scenic and natural area

46
00:12:47.839 --> 00:13:14.639
objectives or something. But yeah, it's good to I mean I like I like putting in tasks that are doable and have value. I guess I mean that's like I could think of you know their town own parcels out

47
00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:32.399
in the salt marsh. So there could be like we could be thinking about restoration, right? Like you know that's been a conversation that's been floated around about um municipally owned parcels that are

48
00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:50.240
providing services as open space. They're not developable at all. all the town's not intending there's no threat but there's I don't know where what category that would go in like to do you know ditch remediation and salt marsh

49
00:13:50.240 --> 00:14:06.320
restoration activities on a town owned salt marsh >> which category would that >> that's enhancement so that would be 3.1 like just protection is 2.2 2 enhancement is 3.1.

50
00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:21.680
>> So we're talking about conservation restrictions on town owned parcels. >> Yeah. Or like donate if it's next to green belt, do we like donate it to green belt or something? Or do we, you know, come up with some kind of partnership? So what any the whole full suite of like how could you protect a

51
00:14:21.680 --> 00:14:41.279
parcel from getting developed in the future? >> Yeah. Yeah, that that's help that helps me. Thank you. And goal two is the protection

52
00:14:41.279 --> 00:15:00.399
realm and then goal three is the sort of stewardship maintenance. So there's the distinction there. Yeah. Yep. >> Okay. Cool. So, did those edits just come through on

53
00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:16.800
your I can't see that screen because it's on a different screen. Did those edits just come through on 2.2. Does that look like it answers the mail? >> Review town owned properties to identify any person that could benefit from initial or additional protection to meet the preservation and/or

54
00:15:16.800 --> 00:15:35.120
protection needs identified in this plan. >> Okay, that came through. Good. >> Looks good to me. So then let's re let's tweak 3.12 to make sure it also says what we wanted to say. Review and shown own properties

55
00:15:35.120 --> 00:16:15.680
that are already functioning as practical open spaces. So we can tweak it later and identify enhancement opportunities. It would be good in that um

56
00:16:15.680 --> 00:16:32.399
process of reviewing to maybe end up prioritizing too >> cuz that's something I always think about and run into. Like any trail I walk on, I'm like, "Oh, we want to do

57
00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:49.639
that." And I'm like, "Oh, I want to do that." And then there's, you know, like eight little projects that all could be great. But if there was a plan that, you know, had some thoughtful priorit prioritization, I think that would be great.

58
00:16:53.759 --> 00:17:17.760
>> That makes sense to me. >> Yeah, I like it. I don't know. Kristen, did you have any other comments on the objectives themselves? >> I don't think so. >> All right. >> And obviously I lost steam on the

59
00:17:17.760 --> 00:17:35.880
funding column. I ran out of time. >> That's fine. We can we can keep working on it um this week and next week. >> Yeah, I thought it I mean it's looking really good, you guys. That's really is. Thank you.

60
00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:56.160
>> Getting there. >> All right, Satie, you want to run us through the the timing? >> Sure. >> Rale? >> Yes. So, as you can kind of see, a lot of them were ongoing. Um, but I can just start with goal one.

61
00:17:56.160 --> 00:18:12.000
Um so developing communication within town leadership um I thought that initiating that communication could be kind of a priority in phase one and then

62
00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:28.799
you know once it's established we can you know we don't have to focus on ramping it up as much we can just kind of keep it consistent. Um so I thought that would be a good thing to start off with. um identifying and pursuing funding to

63
00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:43.600
support um acquisition, development, maintenance of open space and facilities. I thought that could be, you know, something we're always doing, always looking for funding. Um um investigating local sources of

64
00:18:43.600 --> 00:19:02.600
funding mechanisms. I thought again that could be something that we kind of start with. Um, if we find something that works for Newbury, then great. We can use it for the rest of these items, the funding that we find. Um,

65
00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:18.160
2.1 ranking criteria. Establish a ranking process to prioritize properties to protect. But that could be ongoing. we can do sort of a yearly maybe annual check-in with revamping the list and

66
00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:35.200
seeing what needs prioritizing in the next year. Um do we um should we tweak that wording of 2.1? Um

67
00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:50.400
because it says based on the natural resource mapping unless like scenic is automatically included with natural resource mapping because we I think we want to have a ranking process. I wasn't I was thinking like of course there's water protection, there's you

68
00:19:50.400 --> 00:20:07.200
know farmland protection, but then there's also scenic view protection. And so does everybody consider that natural resource mapping would including scenic views or maybe I should just put in parenthesis. Maybe you just say open space mapping and then you that's that's your point is

69
00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:26.160
you want to rank between scenic farmland all of that. >> Yeah. Okay. Good. So, >> I sort of feel like, sorry, I feel like that's if you're developing criteria,

70
00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:42.720
um, just develop it for the town, right? And then, you know, then you've got it, then you can use it. But I sort of feel like maybe that's a phase one or maybe that has a, you know, you do

71
00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:58.720
it, you develop the criteria and then you've done it. So, there's some kind of end. Yeah, maybe like you know developing that criteria could be phase one and then doing the >> using it. >> Yeah, using it as a yearly or or ongoing

72
00:20:58.720 --> 00:21:16.960
thing, periodic thing. >> Yeah, I agree. Phase one seems like it makes sense. And welcome Jim Douly. >> Hey, I finally made it. Sorry about that. >> No worries. No worries. We're uh >> we're on to the action item agenda where

73
00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:35.080
we're reviewing the columns that Kristen and Satie have been hard at work on. >> Yeah, I saw that clean copy looks great. >> Awesome. So, do we feel good about 2.1 everyone

74
00:21:35.919 --> 00:21:50.720
>> about? >> Yeah. Yep. I like it. You're including both phase one to develop it and then we'll just keep using it and we might tweak it because the prioritizations might change across 10 years. For sure it will. >> Yes, sounds good. >> All right. >> Um can I Satie I'm sorry. Can I

75
00:21:50.720 --> 00:22:06.720
interrupt because I know I'm going to have to um hop off in a couple minutes. Um just one comment about this is it'll be interesting once you go through the timing and you know everybody feels good about it. It would be interesting to sort by phase, right? And see how many

76
00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:22.640
you actually end up with in phase one and make sure that's a reasonable, you know, it feels reasonable. Then you might be able to like move things around a little bit. Um, obviously it's it's a, you know, it's a best guess, right?

77
00:22:22.640 --> 00:22:38.000
because things will come up to shift timing all the time, especially with open space acquisition where you have an opportunity to do something and you know maybe it's not your highest priority but you still have an opportunity. So anyway, that's my last comment about

78
00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:53.679
timing. And then before I have to hop off and get ready for um the planning board meeting tonight, I just want to say um I am, you know, Sadi has updated me about the conversations with MVPC about

79
00:22:53.679 --> 00:23:10.960
really getting a little bit more uh support from them, not just like edits and review and comments, but like actually, you know, the polishing stuff that I know you've been talking about. Um, so I think that's a great idea. I I

80
00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:27.600
said to Satie, like, you know, we're at a good point with the fiscal year, like use up the hours we have in fiscal year 26 in terms of technical assistance, and then we can see what we have starting July 1. But we also can maybe talk with

81
00:23:27.600 --> 00:23:43.919
them about like a small contract like if if they feel as though um it's more time or if we feel that we want to keep some of our technical assistance hours for like other you know other tasks then we

82
00:23:43.919 --> 00:23:59.280
might be able to come up with some small contract. So, I've I've thrown that question out to MVPC, to Kay, Emory, and Hannah. Um, and we'll follow up on that and see. It just might be something we

83
00:23:59.280 --> 00:24:15.440
can try to, you know, assuming they have time available and we'll have that conversation with them next week. But, thank you. Um, Christina, I know you've been having those conversations with Sadi, so we want to support that. >> That's exciting. That's exciting. Yeah.

84
00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:32.760
We'll use up the hours and it's exciting that there's even a potential to like get a few more hours with them. So, great. Thanks for the update. >> Yeah. Great. All right. I'm gonna hop off. Thank you guys. >> Thanks. Have a good day. >> See you soon. >> In a little bit.

85
00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:49.520
All right. Um, so 2.2 two um review town on properties to identify any parcels that could benefit from initial or additional protection to meet preservation and protection needs

86
00:24:49.520 --> 00:25:05.440
identified in this plan that could be ongoing. Um >> so I kind of thought that Christine especially the way Kristen just said that it's a really short list. So should we just do that in phase one? Yeah, I think >> like we'll bust it out because those

87
00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:21.360
might be parcels like if we were just to I mean it see feels like Chris Kristen knows what the parcels are and I don't know. So she probably knows already like there isn't any opportunity here. So I feel like all of us just need to come to that understanding really quickly as well. So we just know that there's no

88
00:25:21.360 --> 00:25:36.559
lowhanging fruit hanging out there that we're missing. >> Yeah, that I agree totally. >> Good thinking. All right. Um, collaborate with regional land trust to support outreach to local land owners and complete conservation

89
00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:52.320
acquisitions on lands most suitable for land trust ownership. Um, maybe this would depend on um on 2.1 or sorry 2.2 but um I thought that that

90
00:25:52.320 --> 00:26:12.320
could be ongoing as well. What do you guys think? feel like things can always be re re-evaluated as time goes on. Okay, cool. Um, all right. Support Parker River Clean

91
00:26:12.320 --> 00:26:26.880
Water Association, PI Rivers Partnership, and partner organizations to protect water resources and important waterershed lands that support water-based recreation. Um, I think that's definitely ongoing. They're always doing, you know, different initiatives. So I think it's good to be

92
00:26:26.880 --> 00:26:47.480
involved with them throughout the plan time span. Um incorporate public access whenever possible. Um I yeah I put phase two just because um

93
00:26:48.640 --> 00:27:04.480
I I don't know. I think this would actually be better to be ongoing kind of just as as needed. um like whenever I think it's kind of like a planning board focus. So, um whenever

94
00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:20.799
whenever projects come in that have um open space that could be publicly accessible, um it would be good to collaborate with the planning board and you know, yeah, I wonder if we make that as needed or like as

95
00:27:20.799 --> 00:27:35.760
and I don't know if there's a difference between ongoing and as needed, but it's not like we're doing it all the time. It's like we're doing it only on as opportunities arise. Is there >> Yeah. like applicable or something or like Yeah, like as needed. >> Yeah. >> Okay.

96
00:27:35.760 --> 00:27:52.880
>> Can you remind me what OSRD st stands for? I feel like that's in the zoning regs, but I can't remember and I want to type it out. >> Yeah. Yeah, it's open space residential development, which is a special kind of subdivision that has like I think it's 50% open space that's publicly

97
00:27:52.880 --> 00:28:07.360
accessible. >> Thanks. >> Yes, problem. um uh acquire land or rights that will facilitate trail connections to local parks and wreck areas as well as connect

98
00:28:07.360 --> 00:28:23.520
and complete existing trail networks. Um so yeah, this sounded kind of complex to me. So I thought that you know after we've done kind of the listing and assessing of all the properties um we

99
00:28:23.520 --> 00:28:38.399
can then you know in phase two figure out like what are we going to do with all of these if if we are going to do something um and >> and I would note with that one which I think we've mentioned before like as the

100
00:28:38.399 --> 00:28:53.520
but the B2B the border to Boston Trail starts you know there's an opportunity there to look at the linkages and so on and the reality is that will not you know the construction of that

101
00:28:53.520 --> 00:29:21.600
will not happen before 2029. Yeah. >> All right. Um, review town properties that are already functioning as practical open spaces and identify enhancement opportunities, noting what role each parcel could play and prioritize the list of opportunities.

102
00:29:21.600 --> 00:29:37.840
Um, I thought that could also be something we do in phase two is it's a bit more complicated. Um, and it will help to have those other um listing tasks done first.

103
00:29:37.840 --> 00:29:55.120
Um, if that makes sense. Um, all right. map existing public open space trails to identify gaps and potential future trail connection and linkage projects including the border to Boston Trail. Um I thought that would be

104
00:29:55.120 --> 00:30:10.399
good for phase one because I know that the border of Boston Trail is actively you know >> right >> being mapped out as we speak. So, um I think collaborating with with that committee would be good. Um and you know,

105
00:30:10.399 --> 00:30:27.360
brainstorming for future linkages. Um >> yeah, and just Sean is not on the call, is he? No, >> I don't think so. >> Yeah. And you know, we are actually because of some of the design delays that are things beyond our control on

106
00:30:27.360 --> 00:30:45.200
the border to Boston, we're starting to compile like a whether you call it a wish list or just a broader list of things that we can do in the meanwhile. Um so like you know there could be certainly bandwidth there to uh

107
00:30:45.200 --> 00:31:02.240
start on something like that. Exactly. >> Good. >> That's great. >> Um um assess properties including review of the barriers

108
00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:18.240
to enjoying open spaces and share the information with appropriate stewards of those properties to help support efforts to reduce the barriers. Um feel like that's an ongoing process. I feel like barriers can come up um over time, so it's good to monitor that.

109
00:31:18.240 --> 00:31:35.679
Um create opportunities for wide demographic to enjoy protected natural areas in Newbury. Um I thought that I put phase one and ongoing here too because um I thought that was some something we could you know start and really ramp up in phase one but then you

110
00:31:35.679 --> 00:31:52.080
know keep it going as as time goes on. Um improve access to water-based recreation across the town. I put phase three. Um I was just thinking about, you know,

111
00:31:52.080 --> 00:32:07.760
things that we have going on in phase three and so far we don't have a lot. So um I I don't recall that being a huge priority on this uh on the public survey. Um so

112
00:32:07.760 --> 00:32:23.519
I don't know. I was thinking that maybe we could kind of assess in phase one and two and then, you know, take some action in phase three. I don't know how people feel about that, but um

113
00:32:23.519 --> 00:32:40.720
yeah, it's true. I guess I'm trying to figure out if we um because this is actually improve. So this is like doing something >> right >> is like identifying the needs

114
00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:56.559
>> that's true >> should we >> it should go earlier >> I don't know should we break it into two or should we like identify the needs in phase two and then I don't I guess you know what I feel like

115
00:32:56.559 --> 00:33:13.679
be hard to it's a good goal it's like a stretch goal to actually come up with a a need, come up with the funding source, come up with whatever the design is, hire a contractor and do it in the next 10 years. But I do feel like we should we

116
00:33:13.679 --> 00:33:30.559
should dream big. >> Yeah. And start start the process earlier maybe like if we start it in phase three, then you know we'll be way down the line by the time the plan is like the plan's time span has completed. >> Yeah.

117
00:33:30.559 --> 00:33:47.519
So should we just enhance this one 3.5 and say like identify opportunities and commence improvements in access to water-based recreation and do like phase two to phase three. We could like have both listed. >> Yeah, I think that's a good way to

118
00:33:47.519 --> 00:34:02.480
address it. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Maybe we'll identify some of those too in our ranking list of existing own spaces too. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> All right. Um,

119
00:34:02.480 --> 00:34:18.240
>> I had a woman call me the other day because we have an access on the Rowley River and, you know, she she was saying she wanted to launch a canoe and she didn't understand why the municipal ramps wouldn't just like offer that

120
00:34:18.240 --> 00:34:32.720
service for a fee. Like, hey, I want to come I'm from out of town. I want to launch my canoe today. You know, not a boat. you know, I know like boats are different, but like she's like, I can't believe that I couldn't go like launch a canoe from like a town boat ramp, you

121
00:34:32.720 --> 00:34:49.280
know, and and she's like, you know, towns can make money off this. And I was like, that's a good point. I don't know why municipalities do that residentonly kind of situation, but um I don't know. It just happened yesterday, so this made me think about it. >> Yeah, Mike, that gets me thinking about

122
00:34:49.280 --> 00:35:05.520
just like even at the Parker River, the town the town ramp and all that. If I want to put my kayak in there, let's say, like I I honestly avoid going down there just because I know there's a lot of boat traffic and I'm sure people do put their, you know, canoes and kayaks in and you used to have Fernolds across

123
00:35:05.520 --> 00:35:22.480
the street and the other >> the other place that closed down, but uh, you know, it would I could see some kind of improvement there, you know, being defined so that just there's a little more clarity about, you know, not getting in the way of

124
00:35:22.480 --> 00:35:43.359
the uh trailers that are coming and going, >> right? Parking is probably the underlying issue in those instances, right? That's probably more of it than the uh direct. >> Exactly. Yeah. No, that's true for out oftowners and stuff. Yeah. >> All right. I like how you rephrase this, Christina.

125
00:35:43.359 --> 00:35:58.400
>> Yeah, that sounds good. >> Um, regularly monitor existing town held CRS. Um, yes. I think um

126
00:35:58.400 --> 00:36:17.839
I think the cons is legally obligated to monitor CRS. Um, so um yeah, I don't know. I I assumed that

127
00:36:17.839 --> 00:36:34.640
like the OSC would start becoming more involved in that process, but I didn't know since, you know, it's already happening. I wasn't sure if that was like a top priority for our committee, but >> are you sure it's happening?

128
00:36:34.640 --> 00:36:48.720
>> No, >> I don't think it is at all. I don't know that it's ever been done. >> Okay. >> I mean, I you know, and that's not targeting new. I I really only know of like two municipalities that have

129
00:36:48.720 --> 00:37:05.280
dedicated resources towards monitoring properties that they hold conservation restrictions on, you know, and they have like an open space person on, you know, on their um as an employee,

130
00:37:05.280 --> 00:37:22.960
you know. I think a lot of times staff either don't have the knowledge or experience to do it or it's not a priority in their jobs descriptions, you know, for municipal employees. So maybe somebody has, but town holds a

131
00:37:22.960 --> 00:37:36.880
conservation restriction on one of our properties and I've never seen a report or anything. So I just assume it's not happening. >> Okay. So for when just cuz

132
00:37:36.880 --> 00:37:53.040
I don't know um monitoring a a CR would mean like a municipal staff person maybe someone maybe the conservation agent maybe someone from the conservation commission I'm not sure

133
00:37:53.040 --> 00:38:09.119
they would go out to the property and just ensure that the owner is Why? >> By all the rules of their of their restriction basically, >> correct? You know, or >> working with the land owner if the land

134
00:38:09.119 --> 00:38:26.000
owner was looking to do something, you know, to make sure it fit. Um, sometimes things require approvals, sometimes they don't. You can do it without approval depending how it's written. Um, Tom doesn't hold a ton of them. So, like,

135
00:38:26.000 --> 00:38:42.720
you know, I don't I want to it's not it's not our business to tell somebody to add to their job, but it always struck me as odd that, you know, the state allows municipalities to hold restrictions fully knowing that,

136
00:38:42.720 --> 00:38:59.119
you know, there's so much on municipal employees plates that more often than not this part of it's not going to happen. you know, >> uh cuz we just you just don't know. You don't know if something's being violated. You don't know if there's an encroachment. You don't know, you know what I mean, if nobody's like acting on

137
00:38:59.119 --> 00:39:15.680
it. >> And that could be a committee or board members role to to monitor. It it could be, you know, um I think on, you know, on behalf of, you know, if the holder is the conservation commission, you know, um there's no reason why

138
00:39:15.680 --> 00:39:34.520
another uh you know, committee's member or something like that couldn't be the one conducting, you know, that visit. Um and then running it back through, you know, whether it's the select board or the conservation commission, whoever might be the one named on that document.

139
00:39:34.640 --> 00:39:50.640
>> Okay. You can use you can use volunteers to do that. It doesn't have to be a staff person, you know, doing that. So, >> okay. >> Yeah. I don't personally know the status

140
00:39:50.640 --> 00:40:13.760
of Newber's CRS, but um maybe we should prioritize that a little bit higher. Um >> probably I'm not I'm not uncomfortable. Phase two. What do you guys think? >> You mean keeping in the timing? You mean?

141
00:40:13.760 --> 00:40:28.800
>> Yeah. In terms of the timing? >> Yeah. I mean, again, it it's not happening anyways. So, >> right. We could we could wait another three years. So, >> given all the other stuff, I think it makes Yeah. Keeping it in phase two. >> Yeah.

142
00:40:28.800 --> 00:40:45.760
>> Okay. I just tweaked it a little bit. So, see what you think cuz I feel like we should probably find out the conservation commission agent if there's a job description and it actually includes this in it. So, I don't want to like usurp anybody. So, I feel like this

143
00:40:45.760 --> 00:41:03.359
is the conservation commission's job, but actually we should identify. So, maybe that should be part of it unless it's already identified. So, I don't want to put it in here that we haven't identified whose responsibility it is. if it actually is written down somewhere. Uh, so maybe how about support the

144
00:41:03.359 --> 00:41:19.599
appropriate town art. Yeah, I can also like look into it and talk to Mason and see if, you know, it's him or the Conscom specifically or like

145
00:41:19.599 --> 00:41:35.920
who who would we be supporting kind of. I can just ask him, see what he says. >> Okay. All right, good. So, we can tweak this as we go. >> Sounds good. Um, 3.7 development management plans for town own conservation wreck and otherwise

146
00:41:35.920 --> 00:41:52.000
protected open space areas, identifying responsible parties, regular maintenance, potential enhancements, factoring in climate resiliency. Um, again, I thought this was something that would come later in the process because

147
00:41:52.000 --> 00:42:08.240
we would have to do those um, uh, assessments first. Um, and then like we would start with assessing all the properties and then, you know, we would

148
00:42:08.240 --> 00:42:23.520
know that in the future we were going to be develop developing management plans. So, um I don't know. Phase three felt like a good place for that for that task. That could be kind of like, you know,

149
00:42:23.520 --> 00:42:38.560
we've done some projects. What do we still need to do? What do we need to do for the future with the next open space plan? Um this could kind of prepare us for that like next set of years down the

150
00:42:38.560 --> 00:42:56.480
line. Yeah, I say you just keep on going and we'll stop you if we disagree with what you've got. How about that? >> Sounds good. All right, home stretch. Uh, identify open space properties that could benefit and accommodate the inclusion of educational materials to

151
00:42:56.480 --> 00:43:12.880
increase public awareness. Duplicate the information on the town website. Um, I know that that's been kind of um that was stressed in the public survey results. So, I thought phase one would be good and it's kind of, you know, in the grand scheme of things,

152
00:43:12.880 --> 00:43:30.480
it's kind of an easier one. Um, develop a method of ongoing communication with the public to continue to receive feedback during the implementation of the plan. Again, phase one, I thought that would be good because once we establish that um flow of communication, then we can um

153
00:43:30.480 --> 00:43:45.920
use it to help us throughout um the implementation of the plan. Um, create a map showing public open space trails and post on the town website. Again, kind of similar to 4.1. So, I put phase one. Um, host events, guided

154
00:43:45.920 --> 00:44:01.760
walks, and educational programs. Increase awareness of new open spaces. Look for create opportunities to collaborate with other committees and boards on events. Um, I thought that could be ongoing. Um, so that we keep that keep that collaboration going throughout the plan. Um, create a public

155
00:44:01.760 --> 00:44:16.800
facing inventory of the status of town owned and non-towned public open space areas in their ownership. Update as needed. Um, thought that could be phase one so we can have that as a reference throughout the implementation. Um, in partnership with local land

156
00:44:16.800 --> 00:44:33.040
stewards, create and disseminate information regarding open space and recreation resources in the town. again ongoing um meeting annually with other town committees to identify initiatives that can support the further protection of farmlands and historic lands and educate

157
00:44:33.040 --> 00:44:48.880
about open space interact goals to build consistency in local decision-m ongoing that's always going to be an important you know important task for our committee um I definitely want to you

158
00:44:48.880 --> 00:45:05.440
know emphasize communicating with the other town departments and committees. Um, produce an annual report for select board and town meeting. That's like we did that recently. It's like not a huge lift at all. Um, and it's good for the

159
00:45:05.440 --> 00:45:21.440
public to know what we're what we're doing. Um, identify and reach out to local nonprofit public or private groups working towards preservation of or enhancement of open space in our areas in the town. ongoing um collaborate with town department of

160
00:45:21.440 --> 00:45:36.319
public works and other relevant town boards departments to review the potential for bicycle and pedestrian accommodation for existing future open space areas. Um I think that was pretty heavily stressed in the public survey. So I put phase one so we can maybe get

161
00:45:36.319 --> 00:45:55.119
some changes by phase three. So yeah, those are that's everything in the timing column. Um, and yeah, Kristen talked a little bit about the funding column. Um, we're still working on it, but yeah, I think most of these are

162
00:45:55.119 --> 00:46:13.040
from the Eco1top grant. Um, so yeah, and um, yeah, this is just like kind of a snapshot of what's available right now. like these these could change, but I think we just have to, you know, show

163
00:46:13.040 --> 00:46:30.079
that we've done a little bit of thinking about where we're going to be getting the funding for all of these tasks. So, so I have one more objective that I'd like to add and it's about water quality. And so it's, you know, water water-based recreation was a big focus

164
00:46:30.079 --> 00:46:44.640
in the SCRP for the state of Massachusetts and they said like we're we're finding like this is what we're going to spend some of our money on over the next 5 years. And so I think that Plum Island is a huge draw. And so

165
00:46:44.640 --> 00:47:02.319
um Parker River is a huge draw and are there any other big water bodies that are used for recreation? I guess and the tributaries going to the Parker River. Um, but I'd like to just put something in here that says something like identify

166
00:47:02.319 --> 00:47:18.880
or um, yeah, identify potential ways to study water quality impacts to improve water-based recreation opportunities in the town or something along those lines. >> Yes, I think that would be really good

167
00:47:18.880 --> 00:47:35.920
to add. I don't think I think we all agree that that's very important. >> So in this document I can't insert I don't know maybe I can insert a row. Let's see. Oh no I can insert a row. Insert one row above. Okay.

168
00:47:35.920 --> 00:47:51.839
>> Would you put it in four goal four or you like there's >> I was going to actually like >> Okay. Hm. I was thinking enhance our public open spaces by improving water quality, but tell me if you think it >> No, I was I guess I was sort of seeing

169
00:47:51.839 --> 00:48:06.160
it as Yeah. No, I think that's fine. You could there's an educational aspect to it and an awareness and involvement and stewardship, you know, where >> it's a form of being a steward of the water, right? Like like but I think

170
00:48:06.160 --> 00:48:23.359
either place is fine. So, >> yeah, I think two I think three is 3.6 sex is a good place to start with that one as well. >> Yeah, >> it's going to Yeah, it's kind of like action. Probably the results of some of these findings then will turn into an

171
00:48:23.359 --> 00:48:53.920
objective under four eventually. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> What did I say? You said something along the lines of identify potential ways to stutter to study water quality impacts to better enhance water-based

172
00:48:53.920 --> 00:49:17.680
recreation. I think was the end. Identify potential ways to study water quality impacts. >> I did write it down, Hunter. Yes. You already kind of sad. >> Well, I know. We're just We're I'm trying to remember what this woman said to me and how I how I recorded.

173
00:49:17.680 --> 00:49:33.680
>> You could read it and you forgot. >> What's wrong with your head today, Dad? >> See what I see what I get to deal with. >> Oh my gosh. No. You no slack over there. >> Night with me. >> You just graduated kindergarten yesterday and he's already running the show.

174
00:49:33.680 --> 00:49:49.680
>> Hey, stand that way. Move. My last day of kindergarten. >> Exciting. >> Yay. >> Lost my first juice. >> Oh gosh. >> Maybe you could join the committee in the fall.

175
00:49:49.680 --> 00:50:07.680
>> Okay. >> So cute. Um I have something I must say. Um, apparently the planning board meeting can't start

176
00:50:07.680 --> 00:50:24.400
because we are having this meeting right now on the planning board Zoom account. >> Oh boy. >> Oh, okay. >> So, I I'm so sorry, but I think we have to end um within the next four minutes or next six minutes.

177
00:50:24.400 --> 00:50:39.680
>> Yeah, we should probably do two minutes to give you time to like re, you know, to open it back up. I I promise. I checked with our IT person and I said, "Will this be an issue?" He was like, "No, not an issue. We've done it before." And I was like, "Okay, >> no worries. No worries." >> Kristen just called me and said she's

178
00:50:39.680 --> 00:50:55.359
getting a message that she can't start her meeting. >> Yeah. All right. So, let's um let's vote to put the other items on a future agenda and to collaborate um uh not collaborate before that meeting, but

179
00:50:55.359 --> 00:51:11.440
just to um advance the ball. uh if anybody hasn't finished their incorporation of comments from MVPC and we'll have to find our next meeting date in the future and we can vote to adjurnn.

180
00:51:11.440 --> 00:51:27.920
>> I'll I'll second that. >> All in favor to adjurnn. >> I sorry I'm so sorry you guys. Thank you for >> No worries >> meeting for the hour that we were here. Um, I'll be in communication about a

181
00:51:27.920 --> 00:51:31.119
next meeting date.