HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-01-04-GCC-min
Minutes of the January 4, 2024 Meeting of the Greenways Corridor Committee
Members present in person: Keith Ohmart (chair), Alex Dohan, Eileen Entin, Yifang
Gong, Bob Hausslein, Bobak Moshiri, Stephen Perkins
Members present virtually: Mal Crawford,
Non-members present in person: Mike Tabaczynski
Non-members present virtually: Susan Kenyon
The minutes of the Nov 6, 2023 meeting were approved unanimously.
Reports/Updates
Keith, Yifang and Eileen met with Jessi Chen recently. Jessie is a Board Member of
CAAL. She has offered to promote ACROSS Lexington via a blog that she manages for
the CAAL community. This will involve creating an on-line interview with Keith.
Proposed Route 8 – Concord Ave project – The Judy Record Fund has approved a
grant funding the land management portion of this project. Funding is still needed by
Conservation to cover the cost of boundary surveying. Susan mentioned that the Rick
Abram’s Fund may also be able provide funds if needed, subject to approval by the
Trustees.
Proposed Route 9/Concord Ave./Waltham St. Bob reported that a site visit with Dave
Pinsonneault failed to materialize and we have missed the window to install the posts
for the season. This will be revisited in the spring with approval anticipated.
Proposed Route 19/AGM/LVB Connector. A meeting has been arranged with Karen
Mullins for next Monday to approve creation of a new route through the wooded parcel
behind Harrington School. She is going to arrange for the Exec director of Lex Housing
Authority also to meet up on Monday.
Proposed Waterstone Connector. Route 19. Mike, Stephen, and Keith met via Zoom
with Karen and Carol Kowalski earlier this fall. Carol subsequently provided
introductions to the appropriate people at MassDOT and MWRA, with the expectation
that much can be carried forward without her involvement. Karen provided wetland
surveys of the area near Waterstone. Mike provided the new map. Keith will reach out
to MWRA first and once received the approval, will reach out to Mass DOT. We have
the Town support so this looks good. $35K was secured when the Waterstone project
was approved by the town for trail connections and that should cover most of the costs
of surveying wetlands.
Proposed Route 4/Wright Farm/Simonds Brook/Paint Mine:
The new proposed trail connection to the end of Rangeway will need to wait for
Conservation that have earmarked it for FY2026 for permitting and approval.
Memorial Bench Proposal:
Conservation has a policy for bench installations on Conservation property that include
requirements regarding maintenance and durability of memorial or bench. Idea is to
make a list of locations and go to conversation with the list to determine if Conservation
is on board.
Concept/Rationale of the Bench proposal are the following:
Promote the installation of benches along ACROSS routes as an amenity to
ACROSS users of all ages.
Encourage the use of ACROSS Lexington by a wider spectrum of users by
providing resting points.
Provide an opportunity for a more reflective appreciation of Lexington open
space beyond just passing through.
Provide conversational meeting places.
Create awareness by having people who dedicate a bench walk a part of the
route and show the bench and their memorial plaque to others.
One option would be to create a How To guide to memorial bench opportunities along
ACROSS Lexington routes including:
List of recommended locations for installation.
List of bench types with estimated installation cost.
Contact information for Town Department responsible for location selected.
List of local contractors.
Steve’s comment that the creation of a guide should not be GGC centric but made
available to the Town in general.
Another option is for GCC to submit funding application to the Community Endowment
of Lexington, Dana Home Fund, or others to install one bench annually for ___ number
of years.
And yet another option would be to create a proposal for CPA funding to install ___
benches.
We need a couple of people from the committee to volunteer and work offline to flesh
this out and then go to DPW and Conservation. Keith asked for volunteers to reach out
to him.
CLC has been creating interpretive signs for various Conservation properties.
Information plaque can be another way to create interest in the routes. The signs cost
around $1K to produce with additional monies for design cost and any input required
from environmental and other consultants.
Destination Information Sign. Magic (MAPC) workshop. No upfront cost. The
supplier can produce it for $16 a sign. Signs can be in the perimeter of the town to
advise people how far they need to walk to reach their destination in the town center.
The new sign can use the ACROSS logo and and provide a simple directional
information. We need to specify that destinations are via ACROSS routes.
All are encouraged to look at the proposal sent by Keith and send your suggestions to
update the proposal before the next meeting.
Ongoing Business
Brochures:
The proposal is to wait until the next meeting after talking to Karen to see if we can
receive approval to proceed with installing Route 19. Sentiment is that we will likely
need to reprint the present brochure in any event. Keith will send the brochure costs
and details to everyone and we can decide at the next meeting.
Adopt a section of the Bikeway:
Bob’s request: Spring clean cleanup on the bikeway to pick up the trash in late spring
was started several years ago. It evolved to include garlic mustard pull and there are
40-50 volunteers now clearing 5-6 miles of the bikeway at one annual spring event.
Trying to get someone who adopts a part of the bikeway that shares the path with
Across Routes. Bob is looking for volunteers to adopt these parts by people who walk
rather than bike to pick up the trash. Contact him if interested.
Route signs:
It was decided not to use I and O route stickers in the past. The issue is people who
take part in the ACROSS Challenge are now looking for the missing letters. It was
decided to use the I and O stickers for marking the next two routes. Keith confirmed that
we also have letters Q, R and S on hand.
Meeting adjourned at 5:25 pm
th
Next Meeting scheduled for 4-5.30 pm on Feb 8 at the Parker Room.
Minutes by Bobak Moshiri