Open Space, Natural Resources, and Trails Committee

By City Clerk at 4:03 pm, Aug 24, 2022 Amesbury Open Space, Natural Resources, and Trails Committee MEETING MINUTES June 22, 7:00 p.m. Present: John Lopez, Conservation Agent; Rich Hucksam, Stephen Thiel, Pascal Rettig, Councilor Peter Frey, Jonathan Sherwood, Chair 1. Call to Order: 7:05pm 2. Minutes from May 25, 2022 meeting: Continued to July Meeting. 3. Public Comment: N/A 4. Communications: • City had established an email for OSNRT. Since new email system put in place that Chair can no longer log into. J. Lopez to follow up with Amesbury IT. • July 27 meeting will be in person per City regulations. 5. Chair's Report • Deer Island Improvements: Essex National Heritage Area grant for signage. A. Ferguson and J. Sherwood meeting with City Archivist on creating sign. DPW has not replaced fencing or other work. Tragedy of family members’ death last weekend is a reminder that good management includes adequate signage to warn people of dangers. Safety signage is handled as separate signage in multiple languages. Conservation Commission to discuss safety signage with Mayor for all properties where it’s needed; will report back to OSNRT. What body should be responsible for safety signage? Lakes & Waterways? Harbor master? Board of Health? It’s not listed for any of these entities. Emergency Management Group? • Locke Hill Lane Open Space: Cons Comm voted to recommend accept care, custody & control of open space. Still needs City Council approval to accept deed. First reading at June 28th meeting, will be voted on in September. • N. Wheeler inquired about whether potential development proposal for Cynthia Lane should be referred to City. Parcels are mapped as priorities for Natural Resilience. 6. Referrals: None at this time 7. Ongoing Projects • Required Protected Land Criteria (Rettig + Johnson-Hall) – Continued to July meeting. • Land Management and Planning – J. Sherwood to explore potential to use MIMAP. • 2020-27 OSR Plan – EOEEA Conditional Approval provided City makes requested edits. A. Cleveland was to follow up with BSC regarding whether they were contractually obligated to make requested edits. J. Sherwood to follow up with A. Cleveland. • Native Plant Recommendation Letter for AES Building Committee - Continued to July meeting. 8. Other Business • Discussion on needing administrative support for Chair. V. Johnson-Hall offered assistance with creating and posting agenda to relieve Chair of that administrative duty. V. Johnson-Hall is not here for Aug – October meetings but can pick up in July and again starting in November. • Public review session for Heritage Park – July 8 at 10:30am virtual meeting. 9. Motion to Adjourn 8:04 S. Thiel 2nd P. Rettig. All approved.