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Home My WebLink About1997-09-02-MBS-min.pdf -I CrVt AA Greenway Project Steering Committee Meeting Tuesday, September 2, 1997 Attendees:Harvey Bingham,Pat Doherty,Ione Caring,Brian Gilbert,Fran Ludwig,Nell Walker, Gerry Whiting, David Williams Missing who have shown interest: Dick Canale, COA--?,Jerry Van Hook Name(Nell Walker): Name proposed is the Greenway Project. Vision(Brian Gilbert): Create an arboretum along the bikeway Consider first what we have there now. What is its vegetation?What is needed for management and maintenance?What are the educational opportunities for users and school students?Consider the entire Lexington portion of the Minuteman Commuter Bikeway(MMCB)or Jack Eddison Memorial Bikeway,and adjoining historic and conservation areas. Purposes(Mast Gilbert). Src project plan in the proposal. Briefly' • preserve heritage of MMCB • develop management plan to maintain it • involve community Project duration(Brian Gilbert): We have one year to complete the work. Possibly the final report should be completed by next September 1998. Build on prior work:Project plan starts from existing documents.Town engineers have map of the bikeway with abutting land uses. Brian will check with Frank Fields about what is available.Betty Eddison may have materials Jack Eddison collected in preparation for bikeway original proposals. Harvey Bingham will ask her. Budget (Brian Gilbert): We applied for$4500 grant. We got$3800.Lexington Garden Club contributed$500 and the Friends of the Minuteman Commuter Bikeway pledged$500. Another$2000 is in Brian's budget. We can use volunteer in-kind hourly match for use to help get work done. That is outlined in the grant proposal. We'll get some reimbursement at the end of the year from the state. The point is to get volunteer support. Cost to maintain the bikeway George Woodbury has requested this from Brian Gilbert. Scope of issues(Nell Walker): some issues may appear small,such as weeds behind Buckman Tavern. We need to look at the big picture: noxious weeds,Norway Maples and roots. Vandalism(David Williams): Public art was vandalized. We could try to restore them. We would like to have an endowment that would encourage funding donations. Consider a 'Toll day' Real estate values(David Williams): People are seeking to move to Lexington because of the schools and the bikepath. They consider this positively Survey Day(Brian Gilbert): We might have a 'day"to survey the detail of the bikeway Committee responsibility(Brian Gilbert): This committee responsible for helping plan the various sub-committees. We need a consultant to pull together information and prepare the report. Information sources mentioned by various folks include: • Site analyses collector • School annual leaf project—all kids in sixth grades gather and identify materials.Press these in wax paper. Could this be done several times a year? • Garden Club could help identify and possibly tag specimens. 1 of 2 r Names of some experts: • John Frey could do the overall planning. • Bert Reusse could do site maps. • Dw•Harriegton could contribute ornithology • Charlie Weyman(David Williams) • Bill Sturn is a COA activist,publicity,and frequent user of bikeway(Harvey Bingham) • Lynn Wilson is good event organizer(David Williams) • Deborah Knight is excellent writer(Fran Ludwig) • Tony Siesfeld could be meeting moderator(David Williams). • Tom Silio could handle the flarwand*fauna. 1r) ( 4 [Tom Siliq'is giving a walk Tuesday October 7 at 9:30 of Paint Mine and Hennessy Meadow] Mini-ecologies(Harvey Bingham): important to identify local microecology examples such as the lady-slippers west of Hartwell on the south side. Ferns west of Westview in the wetlands on the north side. Also the mixture of the loosestrife and pampas grass south of the beaver dam. Roles(Brian Gilbert):David Williams asked what his role should be?Some possibilities are: • Long term planning • Fund-raising • Knowledge of wetlands Bikeway Stewards(Harvey Bingham): Invite the Friends of the Minuteman Bikeway Stewards to next meeting. They have good awareness of their portions. Harvey will contact them. Education event(David Williams): planning for an afternoon education event in the spring takes many months. Get it on the calendar early We need an event person to pull that together Issue summary. (Brian Gilbert): • Existing plantings • Maintenance • Vandalism • Invasive plant control Plan for future(Brian Gilbert): Some topics to include are: • Maintenance plan • Implementation plan • Road crossings of bikeway plantings and clear sitelines plan o Reelation to other Lexington committees(Brian Gilbert): We need joint meeting of stewards of MoilBW and of conservation areas. So far,we have no inclusion of planging committee and recreation committee Conservation areas(David Williams): Marilyn Newby has a'list of maintainers of the various conservation areas. Adjoining conservation areas to the bikeway include: • Great Meadow • Cataldo reservation • Parker Meadow • Meagerville Keep Betty Eison advised of this committee's actions, as she is the selectman advocate for the bikeway Next meeting: September 23, 1997 7:30 pm at DPW building. Invite stewards of MMBC and conservation areas. Minutes submitted by Harvey Bingham 2 of 2