Then uh I'd like to officially open the meeting. Today is the 12th of May and this is the Newberry Open Space Committee. Um we have this is a little earlier start for us. Um and typically
we'll start off with any guests or citizens. So if they're coming in, we can introduce them and see if we could see what they would like to talk about. >> All right. Do you want to do like just roll call? I feel like we can all see
our names, but Christina Hoffman. >> Sure. Michael, sorry. Mike Bill Hoffman, Christina Hoffman, and from the town of Newberry, we have
>> um Satie Woodward, assistant planner. >> Hi, Kristen Grubs, planning director. >> Sorry. >> And Sean M. >> There he is. Hey, Sean. >> I made it. Okay. >> Nice job. >> Is Is that it, Satie?
>> Um I think that's it for committee members. And yes, there's a guest um if if we want to invite him to >> um provide a query. >> Yeah.
>> All right. So, there's no citizens and so um so did so I guess I've missed the last two meetings, but I've seen the minutes. They're extremely helpful. I think the last one, uh, Christina, you got to
transcribe. Um, has everybody, uh, had a chance to review these meeting minutes and is there any comments? >> Just thank you for doing that last meeting. I appreciate that very much. >> No problem. No,
>> they look good to me. >> Okay, then if everybody agrees, um, I'd like to move to accept the minutes. Okay. Second. >> Second. >> Okay. >> Both of them, the March 24th one and the
April 21st one. There's two sets. >> Is that what we're moving to approve? >> I'm good with that. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> And was that last meeting was the first set wasn't approved. >> Is that why there was two? >> Uh I it was my it was my fault. I had
not sent them out in time to give enough people to review. So, we approved the April 7th, I believe, but um we hadn't approved the March 24th. So, there's those two. >> Okay, great.
All right, thank you. Um so, then um so the next on the agenda is um confirm sending out narrative to Marmac Valley. So, how do we stand with that right now?
Um, so yeah, I wanted to I wanted to just ask everyone if um I know we had talked last meeting about um everyone has like this last period to submit any more comments and then um we
can send it to Kay to do more of a like a literary, you know, fine tooth comb review with, you know, talking about voice and um making everything cohesive. So I think um I just wanted to confir use this meeting to confirm with everyone that
that is that everyone's done their due diligence with the with the narrative and is ready to send it over to K. >> Okay. Anybody else have any thoughts on that? Yeah, I think that um I know that section four we put our
final refinements in and I just put a few refinements in um sections one and two as well their suggestions. So um you know maybe you could just take a look at those SD and see if you agree or don't agree. One
of the like concepts that I was that sort of jumped out at me was um you know really focusing in on the fact that this was an update to a plan from 2010 and I just wasn't sure if
um that was necessary to kind of go back to that concept because the plan there's like a new set of regulation or new set of guidance documents and this is like a new plan and so I almost feel like just calling it an update to the 2010 almost doesn't do it justice. And so I wanted
just sort of like the town of Newberry, you know, open space committee prepared an open space and recreation plan and just sort of like let like not keep referring to the 2000 plan. And part of my rationale for saying that is that I don't know where we've landed on the action plan. Um, but if like we look
back at the old action plans and we didn't do anything on it or like we haven't made a lot of progress on it, then I'm just like a little I don't feel obliged to keep referring back to it. and I don't want them to look at it either. So anyway, that was just my
thought process. So we can you can I'm totally can be overruled. It just jumped out at me. >> I agree with that. um I can change that language and I think hearing you say that this I think it would be good to mention you know the
update to the requirements from DCS um just to so that you know the public looking at these in a series maybe um >> yeah information yeah from the 2025 the 2025
DCR like don't even say that those were updated just be like the 2025 five, you know, DCR reg, you know, guidance book as well as all of our great information the town has been putting together over the last few years. I liked all those documents that you referenced in there. >> Awesome.
>> Okay. So, take a look, see what I did. Okay. And other than that, uh, do we I think I think Jim had said he had wanted to update some things in his section, but I think everyone else kind of felt
good. Um, and I do want to add the green belt maps. I I keep meaning to do that, but I haven't. Um, I am planning on doing that before I send it to K. Um, >> did they get you the updated versions yet or not yet?
>> Yeah, they look great. Um, >> it doesn't look like um Jim maybe got a chance to get in and make his changes because he had some yellow highlighted text in there that was like key things that he was maybe going to work on and they're still highlighted in yellow in
dark yellow. So, I'm just not sure that he had a chance to do that. But, I say we just send it off anyway. I would maybe not hold off on it. Oh, Bill, >> I'm back. I'm trying to stop the sound because I can't see you guys.
I thought you were raising your hand. >> No, I'm sorry. I'm trying to like not be blinded. Sorry, not to interrupt here, but I I'm working on getting blinds for this new my new office space, but they're not in yet. >> Sorry.
One one thing that can be updated in section five that I worked on and really I've I've just been waiting since time keeps you know moving on is uh importing an updated chapter lands list because
that that changes every April I think. Um, so just depending when we were ready to do the final, I would ask the assessor for, you know, the most recent list and if there are any changes, I would just, you know, add or subtract from that list. But, uh, I didn't, you
know, as the calendar kept flipping with the plan, I just didn't see the point in continuously updating that section. Um, I don't think there'll be many other updates. I mean, that's data for you, right? as soon as you put it
together is there's a a new set out there. I'm just thinking from the green belt side of things. We have one or two projects in the pipeline in Newbury, but not don't really know the definitive end date yet. So, little things like that could get changed as as we're ready to
like submit the final, but um otherwise I feel pretty good about section five as well. We were just talking about um the chapter lands list. Um yeah, so I appreciate that you were thinking about putting that in right at
the last minute because it does change slightly year. So >> yeah, and I think the table I have in there was 2024. Um so just even that is already, you know, out of date. Um >> but I do have that kind of lingering in the back of my mind. you know, once
we're ready like to submit, I could get the most current list from the assessor pretty quickly. >> I think the enrollment's in the fall, so I I think we can, you know, if we any at whatever point we'll we'll get it. Yeah.
goes. >> Um, and yeah, I can connect with Jim to talk about his um his edits um before I send it to K. Is that what you're saying, Christina?
>> Yeah. I mean, you could just let him know you're sending it to K. And even if you wanted to do something in parallel, I feel like it's time to send it to K. >> I agree. Okay, cool. And I was thinking um
yeah, I'll definitely send it to her either um tomorrow or Thursday of this week. Um cool. And they know that it's coming. Did you you guys talked to you talked to
them, right? You told us we >> Yeah, we have so Kay originally allocated um I think it was 10 hours to review the draft and so with the first review we have 4 and a half hours left
but we also have MVPC LTA hours that haven't been allocated to the OSRP so we have more um there might not be enough um for all the way through to the and with the action plan review and everything,
but we um get new the hours get replenished uh July 1st. So, if we do end up making it to that point and she hasn't finished the review, we'll get more hours with her. >> Great. >> Great.
>> So, yeah. Um >> great. Um so, what about um section six? I know that and the action plan. I know Mike and Martha did some work on that while I was away.
A little bit of that update. Um come together and >> where can we help? >> Um actually Kristen um did a draft which I think is really great. She spent some
time last week. Um, and I just like a few minutes ago before the meeting uploaded this her draft to the uh Google folder with I think I put it in the OSRP draft. It's
like its own document. I figured um you all could review and um uh leave comments or put edits like suggested edits um if you'd like. >> So, can I chime in?
>> Yeah, go ahead. >> Okay. Um, so what I did last week post town meeting was celebrate and then I I had to dogs sit at my sisters. So I brought the open space plan with me on Thursday. And it was
actually, I will say, uh, very enjoyable. When you have time to dig your teeth into this stuff, I find it really rewarding. That's why I'm a planner. But I also just want to say you guys um just kind of reading through
the whole narrative and then looking at the survey documents, looking at like different documents of brainstorming and I read through some minutes and I read the workbook and just kind of got my head around the whole thing. And I do
feel like we're getting close. You guys are doing a lot of work. Um, so what I did specifically was focus, as Sadi had sort of asked me to, um, was focus on that section six and the link to section
7. So, I I did have to really review the workbook to like remind myself what that analysis of needs really is and that, you know, again, how they're how it's linked to the action items cuz I feel
like the documents I saw that are the action plan in development that you guys have already, you know, gotten together make a lot of sense to me. But I I did sort of step away from that to focus on
that analysis of needs and thinking about how exactly they want that done in the workbook. So I looked at, you know, some how some other recent towns have written that section six up. Um so they really want it short. They don't want it
longer than five pages. I think what I've drafted now is like three and a half. They've parsed it out. You've all probably reviewed it more regularly than I had, but there's sort of three sections they ask. One is natural
resource protection, the next is outdoor recreation, and then the final is like management, which is sort of not land management, but like sort of management of the planning document and the action plan, like more administrative
management for implementing the plan. Um, so I drafted something up. I have no like ownership of it. Happy to have people edit, suggest, see if it makes sense to
you in terms of a summary of um, you know, all the work that's built up to where you are, your deep dives in your sections, but really thinking about, you know, the needs, right? It's like what has been uncovered by the research for
the narrative and the public input including the work Mike that you and Martha you know have been working with Satie on and looking at the old plan seeing what hasn't been accomplished well is it still a need have the needs
changed so just really thinking about it um and trying to summarize in as simple and straightforward and short a way as possible. So, take a look at that. Satie, put it in the drive. See what you think. Again,
totally happy to get any input on it. And you guys, you know, are the experts at this point. So then the way the workbook says is like build that into your action items, right? So when I was
thinking about that, I was thinking, okay, let's keep it in these three buckets that the workbook says we should be thinking about it in. Natural resource protection, open space, recreation, and then the MA sort of
management stuff. So, the draft action plan that I've started working on and Satie and I have been reviewing this week is taking all the brainstorming documents that you guys had already started and just kind of like dumping it
into the structure of those three buckets. So, right now the action plan is a spreadsheet. It has four columns. I think that's what you know K suggested. Yeah, thanks.
I think you know the old plan had like a lot of columns. There was just like so much content. It wasn't that simple to take a glance at and understand. But um so actions, who's the lead and
who's supported, timing and potential funding. mostly as you'll see there's like blank in the three columns on the right. So all that this is right now is an attempt to
again with the needs structure driving you know how it's organized. just dumping in action items that have been identified through the public meeting, through any discussions, my own thoughts, looking at the old plan,
bringing forward what um you know, Mike and Martha and Satie identified as still needing to be done, kind of just chunking it in here. So still messy. But again, I think I
guess the request I would suggest for all of you is to look at that analysis of needs, the section six, think about that and then see if this makes sense in terms of a way to organize the actions.
Um, I have no ownership of goals, objectives, actions. Like I haven't I haven't reviewed my notes from college to think about like what's the difference between a goal and an
objective and an action item. So totally interested in any input on that. But again, just sort of bringing items in, putting it in the category that matches what we've said our needs are
as a start. Um, so one thing also to think about when you're looking at this would be what's missing like what do you know from your section 4, section 3 or you know the mapping that is omitted
from this brain dump of action items. Um, and then just think about like if there's big gaping holes or like small things that you don't want to you know lose track of like a particular property
item or something getting it in here and then as you know it gets formatted um I think it will be an effort to sort of fill in all the blanks and potentially resort you know
the sorting hasn't happened yet. Um, outside of those big chunks. So, >> I've just talked a lot. I'm sorry. >> No, that was fantastic. And when I was looking back at I think the town of Hudson's plan, they had a very similar
approach and I really liked it. To me, it it organizes things very well. And by you just doing this brain dump, putting this in here too, it'll give us a really really helpful and really good starting point, how to add and prioritize and and
organize it. Um the the column I guess um what is it? EC D and E. So the timing and and potential funding source. What would that be for the town of Newberry? The timing is one thing I
know, but the funding source what you would put there. >> Yeah. I mean, I think what they're I mean, same I had that question, too, because there's only so many, right? Like grants,
private, you know, how many funding sources are there? But I guess um and maybe this is a question we can kind of get some input from MVPC on um because I think some of our potential funding sources
are actually going to be action items, right? And until we maybe take some of those actions, we don't necessarily have a funding source. But to the extent we can put in a particular um you know the land grant, the park grant, the you know state grants that
are available um for a particular match. Maybe there's some other creative funding sources. I don't I haven't thought of yet. Um >> I mean that is point of doing this is so we can start identifying and going for
more funding sources and get more active even within the town >> um to generate funds. So is it possible we could just do like TBD to be determined or >> I'm sure >> that'll we can explain that in a way
that makes sense. Um >> it can't be the only town >> Yeah. with an open space plan that doesn't have clear funding paths. I assume >> no. At least I hope we're not the only one. You know, >> I know
I don't know. >> We're going to put in partnering with, you know, regional land trusts in every column. >> Yeah. Right. >> Um Yeah, I that's it's a good question, Bill. I I think we'll need to figure out
cuz maybe maybe there's a way to not have that column and just sort of have a separate category of, you know, all of our work needs to lead towards sorting through the best way to establish, you know, sustainable funding sources for
our actions. Yeah. I don't know. >> Um, >> this is so helpful though, Kristen. Like this is just what we were talking about on the last meeting that we needed to do and so I'm Satie. Well done. wrangling Kristen to actually do it and like read the whole thing and, you know, pull it
all together and like really simplify the massive table that was there. We were like, "No, no, no. It could only be a few columns." And so, just thank you. Thank you. Thank you for >> putting that together. And I actually can't find it. So, could you just go back, Satie, and show me where which
folder it's in? There's an action plan folder, and then there's an OSRP draft folder. And >> I put so I put the I put a PDF of the Oh, maybe I didn't upload it. I'm glad I did. >> Okay, good. I'm not crazy. I was like I
thought it would be in the action plan folder or in the drafts folder, but I didn't see it in either. And if and if these documents that are in the action plan >> Okay, I see it now. It just popped up. >> Yes. >> Okay, awesome. And I figured I figured
it would be okay for now to do um a PDF to avoid um things getting deleted by accident. >> Yeah. The 2010 one was so vast and farreaching. >> Yeah. And I know this is kind of this is like the same format kind of with the
columns, but I think it's >> I think it works. the way it's organized is so much more like understandable with the brain just like looking at it instead of trying to comprehend like how vast it was the last time. >> Um, and the way it lines up with the
summary, you can kind of, you know, get the summary and then if you want to look at more of the details, you have the table, but >> it aligns a lot more with the narrative and everything. So, I think um I mean I'll let you guys obviously you're just seeing this for the first
time, but um what Satie and I were talking about was well, let's say check it all out. Obviously, spend as much time as you have or or want to. Um
one big question is what's missing? like what things just don't you see that you know you've all talked about and or just have identified in the sections you've worked on or whatever it is. Um,
maybe those could all just come to either we can figure out a way to share this document so you can get in there or you could just like make your bullet list, send them to Satie and then she and I can like chunk them in to the
places we think make sense. That's sort of one maybe piece of homework potentially. Um after we do that then I think the next task is harder right
which would be sort of making sure it's organized right in terms of what level or the object you know the broader goals are big but then the sort of like next level is more of a question mark to me in
terms of objectives action items it's pretty easy to get. You know, you can have any specificity you want in an action item, but it's kind of that middle organizing range that I was getting a little just confused on. And
you know, brain power working together, I think it's achievable. But like when I look at this first goal, objective one, you know, it goes up to I, right? A through I, like that's a lot of things. Maybe there's a way to like, you know,
chunk it out into even smaller groups of items. Kind of thinking about those questions. Um, who's the lead and the support? I was really trying to think about something that I think Mark Mike and Martha and
Satie and I talked about a little, which is it's it would be great if this plan isn't just telling another committee you should be doing that, right? And I know David Powell's talked about that with all of us. Um, and I agree like it's
it's hard to tell Greenbell you have to do something or tell the historic commission this is your job or whatever. So really trying to in terms of simplifying like what are the things that that we as a planning department and an open space committee and the
wreck committee you know they're an active player here even though we're doing the bulk of this you know writing I think they're absolutely you know super active and we should make sure that they're um identified as a lead on
the things they want to be lead on. Um, but if there's a way to keep kind of an eye on that in terms of like simplifying the actions we say we're going to do, I think that's a way. There's a lot in our town's master
plan that covers everything. Like a lot of this stuff is in our master plan, but it's in the master plan. it's up to the master planning, you know, committee and the select board to kind of be the lead on it. So, I just don't think this
particular plan has to cover everything, right? Like it it really is a way to um hone in on the mo the biggest priorities. Um and then what I'd say about timing is just
10 years is kind of a long time in some ways. So I I think a one to threeyear time frame is probably the way to think about like short, medium, long, just like 1 to 3 years. What do we what's what should we do in the first 1 to 3
years? Medium long. I don't think it has to be more specific than that where we say like in 2028 we're going to do this like things can change. We we don't know for sure, you know, where the town will be in two years. Um, we can be a little
broader with that timing thing from my perspective. >> Okay. >> Yeah, that sounds sounds great. And and that that's definitely some good punch list items for us to go through and take
that on. That would be great. >> So, you just want individual like lists from us instead of commenting directly in the document? Is it Did I hear that? >> I think >> um if that makes sense. Yeah, I you guys talk about it, I guess.
>> Yeah, I mean I I'm happy to do whatever keeps it the most clear and organized for you Satie with and Kristen for that matter for trying to incorporate it in if it's easier to get individual, you know, emails from us with comments. >> That's great.
>> I think Yeah, I think that'll work. Okay. >> I'll add them in. Yeah, I guess >> I think though what's missing is like in easy to do by email, right? Like what what's what are some bullets of things that are missing
>> that sort of next like organizing. I think we should talk about the best way to it. It's probably would be hard to do that in a group writing way unless I would suggest
maybe like sitting around in person, you know, with a big piece of paper or whatever, computer, whatever. Um, that might be easier to do al together. And I I know Zi said you guys have talked about sort of a real workshopping
meeting like that as being a possibility. >> Yeah. I mean, it does seem like if once we go through this and read everything that you've added there, it's almost like we need someone to just kind of take a lead on it and just try
take a first stab and then go to the group like, well, this is how I interpreted my this is an objective or this is the these are how I broke it down. I mean, without seeing the work that you already did. >> Yeah. >> I mean, maybe it's already in there. We don't need to do that. But um I'm trying to think in my head the best way to
organize it. And it seems like there's like one or two people that took a lead on it and then brought it back to the group and then we could kind of come to a consensus. Seems like that's the model we've been using anyways, right? Everybody kind of takes their homework, goes home, works on it a bit, and then
comes back for review. We could also maybe divvy it up like everybody take the action item of adding any add anything that you know that is a priority that you want to make sure is listed in the table and then maybe we
divide and conquer like one person takes goal number one, one person takes goal number two, one person takes goal number three, like a first cut and then we all get together and review it. Um or maybe >> I don't know. I haven't read. >> That's a great way to do it. Like one or
two people, you're not a quorum, so you can you can work on it in between bigger meetings. >> Yeah. >> Mhm. >> Yeah, that sounds fine. I mean, I'm definitely happy to go through what you
did, Kristen, and um take a stab at it, for sure. Okay. So, what will happen is first you'll all just just so I understand um first you'll all review and then send me anything that you think
is missing and then I'll end edit put everything in and then um and then do you all want to meet on your own to to workshop it or do you
want do you want to like do one a one to two person editing situation just so I just so I understand >> yeah I mean can't we work on this outside of a meeting for start let's say set a date everybody review it by say in
a week or so and then add anything you can incorporate comments and then send it out to whoever's going to try to organize it >> um like Kristen suggested and then try to have that done for the next meeting.
Um I know I guess you guys talked about more meetings until we get this done. Um I mean I don't know to have all that done and incorporate in two weeks might be a little tight on my schedule, but um
you know I'm open to see what others say. I mean I feel like we can send this what we have to Marmac Valley already without this section though, right? I mean, that was kind of the consensus. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I would just wait, you know, centered one through five or whatever
and >> Yeah. Let's get those wheels going and then um in parallel we'll bang this out. >> Yeah. If anyone has like experience with the sort of goal, objective, action item
just like like I mean I was going to look at AI but I haven't done it yet. Just to think about it and then you know and then maybe that'll come after you get it get your eyes on it. Um uh
>> yeah. Yeah. I think once we go through it, we'll we'll have a better idea what we're up against. I I mean just looking at these 10 12 rows looks good. >> And were was it defined at all in the workbook yet or no? Did they say that
this is how it needs to be laid out >> or are we did we like kind of grab something from 2010 and now we're like making it work here or is this is it laid out right now using terminology and in a way that the workbook requires?
Um, this is the format that Kay provided. So, I guess I I don't know if it could be like if this spreadsheet columns and could be slightly different like we were just talking about the
question about funding sources. Maybe for us that doesn't make sense to itemize the funding source. But um but I think this is consistent with the revised workbook. >> It says, yeah, it says um
um the auction plan itself should be formatted into a year a table with a year-by-year timetable established to accomplish specific objectives. So I think timing is is required. The goals and objectives should be listed in some sort of priority order with a responsible party identified to implement each and where possible a
funding source for accomplishing the task. So I think I think what we have here is kind of the standard of what's required. >> Well, you know, for instance, I guess I wonder if we I kind of like how Hudson broke it up into different tables. It
was like goals, actions, and objectives, but you know, so we should maybe look at some other formats of how to do it. Um, of how to like break it up just so we don't have 1.1.8, which is hard to even say. And I
think that there are ways to simplify that for sure. Um, so we can do that. I did pull up AI >> and I feel like it's it lays right out, right? the goals are broad long-term outcomes um that you aim to achieve over a longer time frame. It's like what are
we trying to accomplish? And then um the objectives are specific. They're measurable steps and then the action items are like concrete tasks you have to take to execute the objectives. But I'll say that I I wonder if we can even
take out some of the um action the lowest level there, the action items to just simplify this a little bit. So we don't have 1.1I.
>> You know, like if you look at Hudson's, they've got >> a goal to facilitate implementation of this plan and they've got an action is pursue funding opportunities or build the town's capacity, but they only have like A and B or A B CD. >> Yeah. I mean, we can just like
>> delete this and just have it be A B CDE E. Yeah, >> yeah, there's like lots of ways, right, that we can sort of >> wind that down. I like that. >> Um, >> yeah, >> it's like a good starting point. But I also think that
>> we might not need to list. We might have like maybe we add in a few more objectives and a few less >> um action items. >> Like we could regroup them. And maybe that's what you're talking about, Kristen, is like regroup these to have more >> objectives and fewer action items.
Yeah. >> Okay. >> Because I there's a there was definitely a range of things that like in the documents that I was reviewing like it's there's sort of a broad range, right? There's like this property needs to do
this like a very specific or there's improve stewardship of all town owned lands. So yeah, that's exactly what I'm talking about, Christina, is like I think there are different ways to to sort it and be
really real to Newberry. Um, but just it doesn't like it should be somewhat consistent. Like I don't think you need to get down to like a real nitty-gritty level unless that's really the goal, right?
>> Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. Okay. >> Yeah. I was actually looking at that in the Hudson plan too and they actually have like a map that shows like pinpoint call out saying you know build a boardwalk here by such and such. I'm
like yeah like we're not I don't think we're there yet. So I think that's a great example of some getting too far down in the weeds maybe. And so I like your idea of kind of like pulling it back because that's the data that we have from you know from our survey. Um,
>> and we talked a little bit about that, Bill, at the last meeting that we will probably have a map. >> Um, >> yes, I think it's >> going to start getting our plan first. >> I think it's one of the required maps, but yeah, I think um map. Yeah, I'm looking at it.
>> Yeah, that'll be something MVPC can can provide once we're once we're solid with our plan. >> Did you guys talk about action items to be on the map? We have not. >> No, I think >> Okay. >> Yeah, I think that that's like we
wouldn't have the conversation about the map until we finish refining this table. >> Okay. >> One thing I want to mention um that I talked to Satie about is it's um the the
information you've gotten from the recreation committee was really good. Um, one thing that is missing and what I saw that at least what I've seen that they provided is um, a look at the Massachusetts
SCORP. I forget what SCORP acronym outdoor recreation something state >> comprehensive. Yeah. >> Uh, that's all I know. >> Yeah, it's definitely There we go.
Recreation plan. So they the workbook is very clear that you should have some connection to how your goals fit in to their goals. So I think that's something that should go back to the rec committee um to work on a little bit more and
there might be some more objectives and actions. Not a lot. Like I don't think it has to be any big thing, but someone needs to read that Scorp and just think about like how to bring Newbury's goals in into the context of the state's
goals. >> So I don't know I don't know if anyone is connected to folks on the rec committee or Satie and I can reach out to them. I guess I'd be curious to look to see what the SCORP says because um we've had
this conversation a couple of times. The recreation committee really works on like organized sports in the town and open space recreation could could mean like a little bit something different that maybe isn't
under the purview of the recreation committee but really actually does stay within the open space committee. Um, so I'd be curious to see what it talks about and if it really is talking about like open space and trails, you know, it might be that in some towns
recreation the only open spaces are like, you know, the tennis courts and the basketball courts and the, you know, and whatnot. It's like actually open things, but we don't have that situation. We have like a ton of open space. And so the recreation commission doesn't really focus on that. They just focus on the organized fields. It's
almost like the reverse of probably some other towns across the Commonwealth. I'm so happy to get their input. Yeah, and I agree. We could just like weave if they had any other things that they wanted to weave in, but I feel like it should be focused on more related to
open space as opposed to their typical purview of organized sports. But totally happy to have you dive into the squirt and like see it could. Yeah, that would be the easiest is just to
kind of add some things in ourself and it may be I haven't looked at it. So I I think you're right like I think you're identifying that there are distinctions between what the priorities are going to be in this plan and um again it doesn't we don't have to cover
everything but um just having going through the exercise of looking at that Massachusetts plan and thinking about how to bring it in. So yeah, maybe that's a start as we just all kind of dive into it oursel a little bit.
>> Okay. >> Yeah, I'm happy to take a look at it. >> Okay, >> Sean, I want to hear I can see your brain thinking. Do you have any reaction or what are your what are your thoughts? Uh, I mean just two things just popped
into my head uh while while Christina was talking and uh one of them is uh playgrounds. I mean to my mind that's like the the ultimate recreation thing. Um and it's not organized at all. So, uh
that's one area that I would see is going to probably pop out of that score plan. I'll I I'll take a look at it as well. But uh and also I was just reminded uh the uh rail trail 2 in Newbury has a a
really cool section where people are just growing plants uh you know in these little garden areas and uh the trail has uh uh like murals and stuff like that. Um, I guess that's what I was thinking
that could fit into that uh category without, you know, but it was clearly not it's not really uh I mean there has to be the the open space to support that sort of thing, I guess, but it's not really open space. I guess I agree with that as
well. Anyways, that's that's what popped into my mind about that. Yeah, I I mean I do think I I know because I've been working with the board of Boston committee, which obviously there's crossover between this
committee and that committee and the rec committee, but I do feel like the folks involved in the rec committee um anyway, there's just overlap, right? But I think it to the extent we know this
plan isn't gonna be everything, but like yeah, like mention the trail work that's happening and how that can continue to be supported because it brings the benefits of people being in outdoor spaces and thinking about, you know,
Central Green as a property started out as soccer fields, then it became a basketball court, then there became buildings and bathrooms. rooms. Then there became a, you know, it's growing and changing. Where does that where do we want that to be in 10 years? Is there
going to be an all accessible walking trail? Is there going to be a landing to get in the river down, you know, at the um little island area? Could there be, you know, water access? Just Yeah.
thinking, yeah, a property like that has a lot of um opportunity to incorporate answering the needs that have been identified by this planning process, which is people want to get outside. They want better maps, they want an
opportunity to educate themselves, like just yeah, working it all together. Um, >> and that's where maybe the lead the lead and support columns get sorted through a little bit when you identify some of
those overlapping goals and objectives. >> Okay. >> Tat which is the most recent version of the SCORP, what year it is, what year it was um issued. Um, yeah, this one's 2023, I'm pretty sure.
I don't know how long it lasts. >> I think it's a fiveyear plan. I think that's the most recent one. >> Thank you. >> I could be wrong. Maybe they turned theirs into a 10-year plan, too.
Things are going in that direction. Okay, that link works. I got it from your PDF. I wasn't sure if it was going to work in the PDF, but it does because every time I searched for it, it only gave me the 2017 version >> and yours looked newer than that. So, I got it now. Thanks.
>> Okay, so we have some pretty good action items for ourselves. Um, and uh maybe um which let's see we could nail down some a time frame for that some dates um
want that probably makes sense right so I don't want to jump too far ahead what else yeah I guess before we start talking about a public meeting we'll finish on talking about developing this action
plan reviewing the score Um, I guess when you guys were talking about the last meeting, were you talking about doing meetings every two weeks or do you want to shoot it out to a month? >> Um,
I mean, we could set we could meet in a month, but we could I feel like there's a lot of review and and stuff to do in between this time. So maybe we could set deadlines in in between.
>> Yeah. Um, like I think we could um I could ask you all to review the this draft of the action plan and but from a week from now, like next
Tuesday, you could send me anything that's missing, any comments you have, anything you found within the score that needs to be included and then I can incorporate everything that you've sent me within a week and get it back to you.
Um, so that'll be two weeks out from now >> and then you all wanted to review again after after I've incorporated everything. That could be another week and then I could send it to
K, but she might not review have a chance to review. >> Well, we're going to send Yeah, we're going to send out sections one through five now, right? Yeah, that's yes, that that'll be this week. Um, >> so she might not be able to review the action plan. >> I think that's reasonable for us to
review it. Um, let's see. Yeah, because you take Fridays off. So, yeah, I think um to have try to have it done by the 19th that review Christmas action items and make sure that add anything that
um that we want included. Mhm. >> And then um you want a week to incorporate that. You said >> 26th >> and then um between the 26th and the 2nd. Um
it does seem like yeah, we're getting out to a month for review and incorporate that. So maybe we'd just try to have that squared away by by the next planned meeting. That
does seem reasonable, but at the same time um people should be reviewing the score. Um and then if we want to add anything um that should be incorporated as well. So maybe we'll try to review the SCORP as well. Try to get all those
comments to you by the 19th I guess. >> Okay. Is that enough time do you think? I don't want people to rush, but I want to keep it moving as well, which I know you all do. >> Yeah, I'm good with that.
>> Okay. >> Yeah, cool. And I'll I'll uh clue Jim into all of this as well. >> Yeah, quick email of Jim would probably be great. >> Um you guys, I'm gonna hop off, but um thank you. It's
nice weather out. There's a lot going on. Totally appreciate all of you working hard on this. And um yeah, I'm really excited. Off it goes to K. We get that in shape. We work on these sections, pull it all
together, public meeting, I don't know, July, August, and then off it goes. >> Can I just ask one question before you go, just in case? >> Yes. um you know the answer uh and it's just and you might have said this Satie
so if you did I'm sorry if I missed it but um when do those hours that we have with MVPC when do they expire? Like when do we need to use them by? >> Yeah. So um 4.5 hours are sort of what we've already
dedicated for her help on this project. Um, and I know she's we've emailed recently, so she can fit that in. I think that'll probably pretty easily get taken up by reviewing the narrative. Um,
and maybe she'll need more time, which we do have some more time probably. There's one other project we're potentially trying to save some hours for, a transportation project, but um, so that's till June 30th. And then July
1st the new aotment starts. So um she also said she probably could do uh you know like 10 or 12 hours I think like this in June but she has a lot of other things going on as
well. So I don't think she really has more time than that anyway. Um, so I do think really probably keeping her focused on the narrative review while we work on the action plan stuff and then
July one we can pull her more into the action plan and sort of the overall that's kind of does that answer your question? >> It does. Thanks. >> Okay. because I think um
uh it'll be helpful to have her um with the sort of overall packaging as well, but I think we we definitely can save have hours for that in fiscal year 27 after July 1st. >> Okay. So, we really have six weeks to
get her the action plan to finish up the action plan to get it to her. >> That's a good goal. >> Okay. I mean, it's for the whole she'll have time in the whole fiscal year, but like starting July 1 is when she'll have more time.
>> Yeah. No, I think we're all anxious to get it done. Like we're if we see Yeah. Okay, good to know. >> Besides the public meeting, the other big thing is sharing with the other boards and committees, right?
So that's something just to keep in mind as conversations about when the public meetings going to be are. I mean it's part of it's part of the process of that final public review includes making sure
that cons and select board have time to um review that final draft plan. And do in your mind is that after the public meeting, our final public meeting, then we incorporate their comments from the public and then send it off.
>> We've had a lot of discussion on >> it. It'll be interesting. We I think we need like a schedule that everybody could comment on because we back and forth and back and forth and back and forth on this. So >> I question what you're asking. >> I asked I asked Kay, I asked Melissa. Um
they're both kind of like it's up to you, you know, and I'm just like I wish you had a more definitive answer, but um I think what you have, Christina, makes sense. That schedule you wrote up. Um I think and Kristen, I don't mean to keep
you longer than you intended, but um I um I think and you know, we don't have to get into it now. can, you know, do what you just suggested, like have a have a schedule and if someone um someone wants to change it, we can we can talk about it. But um getting the
action plan decay she reviews and then having the public meeting, getting all that feedback, writing about it in the in the narrative and then sending it to boards committees, getting their letters of approval or, you know, incorporating
any comments they have and then sending it to um DCS. Um, so I think I'm not sure if that's what we talked about, but that's just what I've been picturing in my mind. That makes sense to me. I haven't I
haven't looked at the answer to that question according to the workbook, but um I think when you get your final sort of sign off letter from the select board or whoever you have to get it from, I
forget, you want it to be done, right? Like you don't want to go out to the public again after that. So I I feel like that's probably the last step before it gets sent off to the state. >> And I think No, I think that there's a
draft version that goes to the state and they give us some preliminary feedback and then we send the final version to the town's boards and then they give us the letter. So, I feel like they are going to get it twice. >> Yes. And I think I Yes, I think that's true. And I also just wanted to point
out I uploaded all of the all of the information that I've gathered around the approval process from different places. I made a folder titled approval process in the Newberry folder, Google folder with K's email
with her full details, Melissa Cryan's email with the the guide book page that talks about public comments and Christina your um your schedule so that you know when it comes time to to do to
be you know scheduling the public meeting and everything we can we can kind of all look at all the resources cuz it once so >> that'll be helpful. Thank you. >> Check that out. >> Yeah.
Um >> Okay. >> Uh can I just say something real quick here? Uh while I still got uh everybody on the meeting here. Um I just wanted to correct the record. Uh over the last couple of meetings, I think I've been
mentioning that we need an open space plan in order to get that mass trails grant that we're working on for the borders to Boston committee. I did speak with Amanda Lewis and it turns out that's not true. Uh we don't need one. It's probably a good idea to have one anyways, but just want to make sure
everybody's aware of that. >> That was that. >> Thanks for checking on that. Awesome. >> Yep. No problem. Uh Anyway, >> good news. Yeah, thank you, Sean. >> No problem.
>> It's helpful. >> Great. >> So, when's the next when's your next meeting? Did you guys just decide that? >> So, based on the timeline we're talking about, if we did if we did it, we could probably do our review the action item and
everything if it's compressed down and that would be the second our typical meeting. Um well >> is next week the third the third third Tuesday of the month. >> So if people we could do it the 9th that
would be kind of an accelerated schedule. So be a month from now really. >> Does the second not work for folks? Does the number for you, Bill, or Mike or >> the week of the second is better for me
than the week of the ninth. >> And same with the following week, the week of the 16th. The week of the 9th is the leadup to uh our largest event of of the year, which opens Thursday night, Friday. Um so that that's just a tough
tough week. >> I can make the second work, too. Um Yep. Okay. >> I can make this second, too. I'm all set. >> Me as well. >> Right.
Uh, same time, same place. Well, how did this time work? I know it was a little is 6:30 the time or how did it work for folks? So,
>> yeah. I mean, it's like a it's seven's easier, but I can do 6:30. It's just sometimes a little rush, that's all. But it's also I know Mike, you've got stuff with kids and stuff, too. So, I don't know if that works. >> Yeah, I think 6:30 is the earliest. I know I said in my email I could do 6 and
then uh I was running in the door at quarter 6. Um, so Bill was too. >> Yeah. So 6:30 is about the would probably be the earliest for me as well. >> Yeah. I I haven't even had lunch yet, Mike. So I'm I'm running this when I get to go have my
lunch. >> And maybe we should we do seven. >> Yeah. >> I want people to be scrambling. >> Do we want to do in person switch off? >> I kind of like Zoom myself, but it's up. I mean I I'm more than willing to, you
know, alternate. We can do Zoom if it's easier for people. >> It is. >> June 2nd, Zoom. Okay. >> 7 o'clock. Okay. Got it.
>> June 2nd, 7 p.m. Zoom. Got it. >> Okay. >> All right. And uh we're going to uh get back on uh the uh the new section by the 19th.
>> Yeah. Section six that Kristen wrote. Um the auction plan and the SCORP if if you'd like. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> So yeah. So by May 19th
um May 19th will be the deadline for comments to me for an initial round of comments and then I will incorporate them by May 26th and I will give you I'll send you all the documents to review again and then sorry
what did we decide for after that step after the 26th? Well, we said I mean I volunteered to try to organize everybody's stuff. I mean, it sounds like you're already going to be doing that, but we'll be reviewing it and maybe making some suggested. Um, but I'm happy to work on
that with somebody else, too. >> Okay. So, >> to have that done by the second. >> Okay, sounds good. >> Yeah. So, I mean, we can uh do uh ad hoc uh meetings and what have you.
I I really haven't had a chance to look at this, so that's >> Yeah. No, that's Yeah, I just was working on it >> today. Um, yeah, I think groups of two can work together outside of the public
forum, but if it's three or more, it would have to be a public posted meeting and everything, which which could happen in between if if you guys would like to do that. Um, I can definitely set that up. Um, but yeah, it would have to be two
>> two people. I think getting more than two people in one place over the next four weeks probably not going to be that easy anyway, >> right? So, >> just saying. >> Yeah. Um Yeah. So, yeah, if one person wants to
work with Bill, I don't know. You guys, you can figure that out over email if you if you'd like. Um >> for the >> take a look at what we got. Let me know. >> Yes. Okay. Um, good.
>> So, um, are we good on that? >> Yeah, that all makes sense to me. Does anyone else have questions or >> Okay, great. So, on the, um, agenda, we did have set up next public meeting or discuss ideas or format. Um, I'm
wondering, we could we we could go down that now or we could shove that to next meeting. Seems like we kind of have >> Yeah, I was thinking shelving it might be okay because I I feel like Yeah, I didn't think I was going to have so
much. I I didn't I hadn't anticipated having this action plan draft and everything. So, I was like, maybe we should, you know, add something else to talk about, but I feel like this was really good and and productive um with with Kristen's great boost there. So,
um, yeah, if we want to wait to talk about that until it's more relevant in our timeline, then that sounds good to me. >> Okay, I agree with that. Anybody Everybody agree with that? >> Yes. >> Yep. >> Okay. Y wonderful. >> All right, great. Any other uh committee
member updates? Anything else going on? >> I'd like to say Christina did a great job at the uh town meeting representing the old space again. That was I mean I told her afterwards she's like a professional when she does it. It was pretty flawless in my book.
>> Yes, I agree. Thank you for stepping up to do that, Christina. That was awesome. >> Agreed. And thank you. >> Yeah, thank you very much. Awesome. >> No problem. >> Good job. >> Great. >> And um that's it. We have our meeting
date set. So I think uh I think that's a wrap. Good. Anybody? >> I can um make a motion to close the meeting. >> I'll second it. >> Okay. I'm in favor. >> I
>> I thank you all. Always good to see you. I'll see you on the