Open Space, Natural Resources, and Trails Committee

By City Clerk at 9:23 am, May 30, 2023 Amesbury Open Space, Natural Resources, and Trails Committee MEETING MINUTES February 22, 2023, 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. Attending Committee members: J. Sherwood, Chair, V. Johnson-Hall, R. Hucksam, J. Babbin, P. Frey City of Amesbury: A. Cleveland, K. Pearl Agenda 1. Call to Order 7:04 2. Minutes from December 7, 2022 meeting. Moved, seconded, and approved. One abstention. 3. Chair's Report – New Conservation Agent - A. Cleveland introduced new Conservation Agent Kassandra Pearl. She comes from a conservation background (SE Land Trust of NH). Went to school for environmental science; natural science background. 4. Ongoing Projects a. Land Management and Planning – Update - (Sherwood and Johnson-Hall) - this was a goal of the Open Space and Recreation Plan. City was able to redirect ARPA funds from the Commonwealth to do management plans for Amesbury’s conservation lands. i. Contract with Mass Audubon Extension Service for land use management Planning - Mass Audubon will be creating a general Policies & Principles document aimed at a high-level description of best management practices for habitats found on Amesbury’s open space lands. Mass Audubon will then create management plans specific to Woodsom Farm, Battis Farm & Powwow Hill, and Town Forest. ii. Contract with Merrimack Valley Planning Commission for enhanced GIS/MIMAP services - City has contracted with MVPC to enhance Amesbury’s MIMAP with information about parcel protection status, add ability to add additional information that will inform land management. 5. OSRP Revisions - J. Sherwood completed the revisions that EEA required in order to finalize Amesbury’s Open Space & Recreation Plan - inventory of CIty-owned open space & recreation properties, e.g., which was a considerable amount of effort to re-work to the state’s standards. One outstanding question that City needs to answer. We may want to work with the City to refine assessor’s land use codes for conserved lands. 6. Po Hill Trail – The trail was flagged and lightly cleared in December. P. Frey and J. Sherwood have walked it. Great alternative to steeper trails that are there. Some areas are too steep so trail will need more switchbacks, and address angle of trail to prevent erosion. J. Sherwood will conduct Doodle poll to find date for group site walk. 7. Motion to Adjourn at 7:57pm unanimously approved. Minutes unanimously approved May 23, 2023 by OSNRTC. Minutes compiled by Vanessa Johnson-Hall, OSNRTC Secretary