Open Space, Natural Resources, and Trails Committee

Amesbury Open Space, Natural Resources, and Trails Committee MEETING MINUTES By City Clerk at 11:16 am, Oct 27, 2022 September 28, 7:00 p.m. This meeting was conducted under the "Executive Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law G.L. c. 30A, Section 20, signed on March 12, 2020. Present: J. Sherwood, Chair, R. Hucksam, M. Hogg, P. Rettig, J. Babbin, J. Lopez, Amesbury Conservation Agent. P. Frey and V. Johnson-Hall absent 1. Call to Order 7:00 pm 2. Minutes from August 31, 2022 meeting: Move to approve: P. Rettig 2nd M. Hogg. Approved 4 yes, 1 abstain (Babbin) 3. Chair's Report: Welcomed new member Jim Babbin, representative from Conservation Commission on OSNRTC 4. Public Comment: N/A i 5. Communications: • Items sent from City Council for information but not for recommendation: • 2022-100 Free Petition Order to Conserve Certain City-owned Properties on Cynthia Road • 2022-116: Order to Authorize the Mayor to Accept and Expend a $200,000 Grant from MA DOT for the Point Shore Bike Project • 2022-120: An Order to Authorize the Mayor to Accept and Expend a Grant in the amount of $134,400 from the MA Dept of Conservation 6. Referrals: None at this time 7. Ongoing Projects • Land Management and Planning – Documentation (Sherwood): J. Sherwood updated regarding emerging opportunity from City to use grant monies from MA OEE for purposes of implementing land and resource management recommendations from the Land and Resource Management Working Group earlier in 2022, including compilation of baseline documentation for the City’s natural assets and the development of long-range management plans for the City’s natural assets. The City has brought this to the City Council in September and will reconstitute the Working Group again once approved, to help advise the procurement and management of consultant services (the Working Group had members from OSNRTC, Con Comm, and Lakes & Waterways). P. Rettig indicated interest in helping with this effort. • 2020-27 OSR Plan – NEW EOEEA Conditional Approval – J. Sherwood provided update that BSC had been able to respond to almost all of the Commonwealth’s feedback regarding our 2020-2027 OSR. City has requested that this Committee assist with responding to comments on Section 5: Inventory of Open Space and Recreational Land. R. Hucksam, M. Hogg, J. Sherwood, and J. Babbin volunteered to review sections by the end of the month. Sherwood will send out assignments, to follow. 8. Motion to Adjourn 8:45: H. Hucksam; 2nd M. Hogg. Unanimously approved.