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 April 26, 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, R. Hucksam, P. Rettig, M. Hogg City of Amesbury: K. Pearl Agenda 1. Call to Order 7’:04 2. Minutes from February 22, 2023 meeting. With 2 abstaining, as absent from 2/22/23 meeting, minutes were postponed until May 2023 meeting. 3. Communications – Kassy Pearl shared email from an Amesbury resident Betsy Doucette, 5 Bay Street Amesbury that had come in to her mailbox, regarding the mowing of trails at Battis Farm. In particular, she was concerned that the walking trails around the perimeters of the active fields had not been mowed in 2022 and were only kept clear by virtue of regular use. Field and edge growth, however, made passage of these trails challenging as the season progressed. Ms. Doucette noted that the current management plan for Battis Farm restricts mowing at Battis fields between May 15 and August 15. She requests that the management plan be amended to allow for the regular maintenance of the perimeter trails by mowing. As Battis Farm is under the care and custody of the Conservation Commission, OSNRTC approved forwarding this communication to the Conservation Commission for disposition. Retting moved, Hogg seconded, unanimous vote. 4. Chair's Report – None at this time 5. Referrals – None at this time 6. Ongoing Projects a. Land Management and Planning – Update - (Sherwood) – i. Contract with Mass Audubon Extension Service for land use management Planning – Bill Giezentanner Mass Audubon is currently drafting 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. Draft should be in hand for review at May meeting. 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. Status – MVPC will work with Amesbury Assessor’s office to update parcel codes in database, in order to more accurately reflect current uses. iii. Committee discussed other possible uses of the balance of state grant funds that will not be used for management planning with Mass Audubon,  with a focus on use for trail management planning. Sherwood will explore options. 7. Po Hill Trail – The trail was flagged and lightly cleared in December. Light attendance only for site walk held in March 2023 (Sherwood, Pearl, Steve Ridgley/LGIA). Sticking point is the lack of any kind of trail standards for Amesbury, to guide development of this new trail. Standards will also need to address proposed/restricted uses/users, as standards differ for different uses and user groups. Rettig noted that the dissembled tent site along the trail still appears to be there; material was never removed by the City. Next step is communication of recommendation to Conservation Commission. Sherwood will draft recommendation for review at May meeting, including trail standards and proposed uses. 8. Motion to Adjourn at 7:57pm unanimously approved. Minutes unanimously approved May 23, 2023 by OSNRTC. Minutes compiled by Vanessa Johnson-Hall, OSNRTC Secretary