HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-11-27-GCC-min Greenways Corridor Committee
November 27, 2017
Ellen Stone Room, Cary Hall
Lexington, Massachusetts
Members Present: Mal Crawford, Alex Dohan, Eileen Entin, Don Grant, Bob Hausslein, Susan
Kenyon, Keith Ohmart, Mike Tabaczynski
Other Attendees: John Baron, David Rothstein
Votes: Minutes of October 23, 2017, meeting: Approved
Reports/Updates:
• The new Route B signs are in.
• Mr. Rothstein came to comment that he does not think it is a good idea to have bikes on the
walking trails on conservation land, particularly the ACROSS routes. Discussion of walk-
ing/biking safety followed. He was directed to the Conservation Department, as GCC does
not make the rules for conservation land use.
• Mike, Keith, and Susan all attended the Trails conference. It was Susan's first time, and she
focused on how to disperse information - maps, digital, paper, format, etc. There are many
varied options, and people are using all of them. Mike looked into wetland permitting, and it
looks like GCC will need to be more formal than in the past with applications. And we are do-
ing a good job with signage - there are other systems, but he didn't see any that were better.
• Discussion about moving the GCC meeting day - agreed to move meetings to 4th Thurs-
days, beginning in January. Keith will send a schedule.
• Open Meeting Law update - we do not need to submit attachments of meeting documents
with minutes; include them inline when necessary.
Current Business:
• The "scoping meeting" with Karen Mullins, Carol Kowalski, Phil Hamilton, Michelle Ciccolo,
and Keith and Mike has taken place. Town Staff needed more background on route planning
and potential permitting requests to be able to adjust staff time and budget needs. Also,
Town entities, including GCC, need to be careful about complying with regulations so devel-
opers can also be held accountable. Mal noted that permitting protocols don't always work
for trail building as they are designed for development/construction. Another meeting with
Conservation will be held to outline the work projected for 2018. This will most likely include
the Brookhaven/DCR area, Wright Farm, and Hayden Woods, which has been funded but
not yet permitted. Also, Carol does have some funds for updating and reprinting the bro-
chure. We'll try to get it ready for Patriot's Day, and begin work in January. Including Route J
will be decided later on.
• Areas that require "shoulder season" maintenance include the Coppersmyth Way trail to
Bridge School, and the Spring St entrance to the Shade St trail. There are a few other areas
that are small enough to be left off the list. Part of the trail between Valleyfield and Waltham
Streets needs reconstruction, but that is a different issue.
New Business:
• A review of future route options was mostly confined to discussion of Route J, and how to
make that work sooner rather than later. A general agreement was reached to include West
Farm, Sutherland Woods, and Liberty Heights, with a stretch to include some Arlington
streets. A segment along Peacock Farm Rd will be left out at the present time. A scouting
walk will be scheduled. Wright Farm was also discussed.
• For the upcoming meeting with Karen Mullins and Phil Hamilton a potential order of projects
was drafted, including the Bridge/Coppersmyth boardwalk, Hayden Woods, and the
DCR/Brookhaven work. In addition, a new trail at Arlington Great Meadows is being consid-
ered.
Pending Items:
• Pelham Rd connection
• PR - social media, trail signage
Next Meeting: December 18, 2017, 4:30-6:OOpm, Ellen Stone Room
Future meeting dates: to be confirmed - tentatively Jan 25, Feb 22, Mar 22, Apr 26, May 17*,
Jun 28, Sep 27, Oct 25, Nov 22, Dec 27. Note that we voted to meet on the fourth Thursday of
each month (except when we change that) beginning January 2018.
Respectfully Submitted by
Alexandra Dohan, Secretary