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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976-06-18-MMNHPAC-min.pdf e Condensed Transcript of tt MINUTES l. MINUTE MAN NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK ADVISORY COMMISSION **# THIRTY-THIRD MEETING *## 18 June 1976 Respectfully Submitted by: 1 hg p 7, c ( f G_c•' ( , ! i.�e/•_6 ,Janice M. Richter Secretary to Superintendent Minute Man NHP Approved: 1 ni j 1 favid L. Moffitt r Superintendent Minute Man NHP .041 4 The thirty-third meeting of the Minute Man National Historical Park Advisory Commission was held on Friday, 18 June 1976, at the North Bridge Visitor Center in Concord, Massachusetts. The following members were present. MEMBERS REPRESENTING James DeNormandie Mr. Morse (Chairman) and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Katharine S. White Town of Lincoln Lucy M. Richardson Town of Concord Donald E. Nickerson Town of Lexington NATIONAL PARK SERVICE David L. Moffitt Superintendent Janice M. Richter Secretary Katherine F. Abbott Laborer Michael A. Rivetts Laborer Mr. & Mrs. Wesley P. Wilmot Concord, Mass. Dr. E. Donlan Rooney Lincoln, Mass. ALSO: Jason Korell, Editor Minute Man Publications i s AGENDA 18 June 1976 1. Superintendent's Report 2. Review of National Park Study Committee Report 3. Old Business 4. New Business $ In the absence of Chairman Morse, Mr. DeNormandie called the meeting to order shortly after 2.00 p.m. He introduced the members of the Commission and the Superintendent. Since there were no corrections in the minutes of the last meeting, they were approved. Visitation Visitation through the end of May had shown a net decrease of 13%; however, this figure was distorted by the heavy visitation experienced on 19 April 1975. Allowing for that a more accurate figure would be a 13% increase. Through the end of May last year 438,337 visitors came to the Park - through the end of May this year 382,402. The legitimate figure would be the 13% increase. Comparing May 1975, with May 1976, a 12% increase was evident. Security Concern has been expressed by the Governor of Massachusetts over groups who may have ill-designed notions about historic sites; on account of this, security has been strengthened. Certain measures have been taken and cooperation exists with the Concord & Lexington Police Departments. The Statue and the North Bridge are under 24-hour surveillance. A similar degree of security for the entire Park is not possible on account of money. Mr. Moffitt expressed confidence that the valuable resources and historic houses were protected. Mr. DeNormandie inquired if good support had been received from Washington. Mr. Moffitt stated that Washington is sensitive to the needs at Minute Man and when contacted a positive answer had been received in five minutes. 1 $ Visitor Center The Battle Road Visitor Center is in full operation. Dedication ceremonies took place on 8 May. A pleasant time was had by all and an opportunity available to thank all the people who had been helpful in the past in carrying out the programs of the Park. Mr. DeNormandie asked if any problems existed. Mr. Moffitt went on to inform those present that the air conditioning , system was not working at all stating that this was a very bad situation. Problems have occurred with the contractor and the sub- contractor; mechanical and sometimes very complex problems; parts to be ordered. The possibility of closing the center has been discussed with the Regional Office. Apart from this the facility is a successful operation. Visitation started rather slow but has increased considerably. Route 2A has signs; improvement is required insofar as directing people and getting them to visit the center. Good crowds have been arriving. The living history programs, musket firing programs have been moved to the Battle Road Visitor Center in order to relieve congestion both at the North Bridge Visitor Center and the North Bridge Unit which is surrounded by a residential area and inconvenience has been created for people in the area in the past. The Superintendent was of the opinion that there is an improvement. Special programs at the North Bridge Unit prolonged the turnover in the parking lot. Service to the visitor is much better at the new facility. Mrs Richardson expressed the hope that the air conditioning matter would be resolved. Mr. Wilmot asked how many people were allowed in the visitor center. The visitor center has two one hundred seat auditoriums, plus accommodation for perhaps 100 people in the lobby and 50 persons in the fibre-optics program. Altogether about 400 persons could be in the building and it would not be overcrowded. Mr. Moffitt admitted that heavy visitation had meant that no visitor was getting the most out of the facility. This had occurred only on several days when a lot of buses had arrived at the one time. Mr. DeNorniandie noted that the facility was adequate 95% of the time. 2 Colonial Living History Program In cooperation with the Concord School System a new program was made available this year. A colonial kitchen garden has been developed by the Captain David Brown foundation; the students are experiencing the same problems as did colonial farmers with weeds, rodents et cetera. The garden is being watered using water from the river. The children are clothed in colonial outfits; a very positive response has been received from the school system. Mrs. Richardson inquired as to the age of the students and was told 4th, 5th and 8th graders. Mr. Moffitt mentioned that the tools on display in the conference room were those very tools in use in the program. The handles had been made in the woodworking shop of the high school - the metal parts were made in Saugus Iron Works by a colonial blacksmith. The program has been a learning experience. A portion of the Major John Buttrick house has been developed into a Colonial Living Interpretive Center (CLIC). There are all sorts of reproductions of colonial artifacts, toys, costumes etc. The program has proved to be most successful. Other school systems are involved also. Mrs. Richardson inquired about paint for the Major John Buttrick house and was informed that it was scheduled to be painted this summer. Personnel Changes are occurring in the Park. The Chief Ranger transferred to Gateway NRA in New York last April. Mr. Chester Hamilton will be the replacement and will report for duty on 5 July. He comes from Prince William Forest Park outside of Washington D.C. Administrative Officer Abell has been transferred to Ozark National Scenic Riverway in Missouri. The Superintendent went on to say that this employee would be missed badly as he was an extremely helpful person who had carried Minute Man through some hard times and was one of the best Administrative Officers that the Superintendent had ever worked with. No replacement is expected until the end of August. Mr. DeNormandie asked if a new man would be selected from the service. Mr. Moffitt replied that a qualified person would probably be transferred to fill the vacancy. 3 4 Personnel (Continued) Cynthia Kryston had been offered a transfer to Boston but she turned it down as she felt she had a big job at Minute Man. The Superintendent observed that he was watching the staff come and go and that he recently had celebrated his 14th anniversary with the Park Service. Training At this point the Superintendent introduced two young people presently working in the Maintenance Division. Kathy Abbott and Mike Rivetts are majoring in agriculture and park management at Stockbridge College of Agriculture. The Superintendent thought it would be a good idea for Mike and Kathy to attend the meeting and see that there are other things, going on in Parks other than watching the grass grow, cleaning floors and picking up beer cans. Mr. DeNormandie took the opportunity of welcoming the students to the meeting. A training session for interpreters has just been completed. This took place at the Battle Road Visitor Center. Seasonal employees from Minute Man participated as well as seasonals from other areas, Saugus, Salem, Cape Cod and Boston Metropolitan area. Representatives from historic houses in Concord, Emerson House, Alcott House, Harrington House also attended. This session provided an opportunity for an exchange of ideas. Mr. DeNormandie thought that this would be an appropriate time to mention that Superintendent Moffitt had spent a couple of days with three rangers working on conservation land in Lincoln. He had gone down one day and went over the land, noting the possible problems, and the following day a discussion took place with the three boys, the conservation office and Mr. DeNormandie. This time had been greatly appreciated and everything was in hand. Mr. DeNormandie noted that the conservation employees had experienced one or two rough moments but on account of the advice given by Mr. Moffitt they were prepared to handle the situation. 4 0 Vandalism Mr. Moffitt reported that a frightening thing is occurring in the Park both from the financial standpoint as well as the philosophical, that is, vandalism, which has dramatically increased. Signs have been destructed. Battle Road signs cost )50 each and six have been lost since January. The superintendent said that over the last five years the media has stressed environmental protection and it had seemed that the young people of the country were giving some kind of leadership. Unfortunately, the gross littering that the superintendent has observed recently is being done by young people. The parking lots are being locked up at night. This procedure had been abandoned three or four years ago because no _ problems had been experienced. Cases of broken beer bottles and dope paraphernalia have been found in the parking lot lately. At the Battle Road Visitor Center the lights were broken and thrown in the pond. Damage amount to $400 - senseless vandalism. Mr. Moffitt stated that the town ordinance against drinking alcoholic beverages is now being enforced. Mr. DeNormandie mentioned that Lincoln cemeteries are subject to vandalism also. Fifty feet of split rail fence at the Park had been turned into splinters. It would be another week before Lexington's law regarding drinking alcohol would go into effect. Mrs. White noted that since the state legislature in Vermont had passed the law on returnable bottles a definite improvement was evident in that state. Mr. Wilmot asked if the trouble-makers were local people. Mr. Moffitt replied in the affirmative. Several persons had been caught breaking and entering one of the historic houses. Lexington Police is handling this. 5 7 I Master Plan A revision to the Master Plan was scheduled for the 1977 fiscal year which will begin on 1 October. No money is available for the revision and unless there are some changes this will not be accomplished. Perhaps our own resources or those of the Regional Office can be used in this regard. Miss Abbott asked how often the plan was revised and was told normally every five or seven years. Mr. Rivetts asked if a copy was available at the Park and the superintendent informed him that a copy was available. Mr. Moffitt expressed his disappointment over the fact that the Master Plan revision would not be done. There are still a lot of valid plans in the Master Plan but many need to be re-evaluated because of transportation needs and technological advances in mass transportation - changes in roadways, etc. The Development Ceiling has been reached. Three million dollars has been spent and much more is still to be done but it is necessary to go back to Congress for more money. This is the reason we need to have a Master Plan revision. At this point, Mrs. Richardson raised the question of purchase of a lot on Bartlett Hill Road in Concord. Mr. Moffitt explained that this lot is outside the boundary of the Park and to consider buying the property the Secretary of the Interior would have to change the boundary. Secondly, the acreage ceiling is 750 acres. Once acquisition is complete we will be very close to 750 acres. Mr. Moffitt mentioned the news release, a copy of which had been mailed to the members of the commission. The land acquisition program is rapidly being completed. Nine properties remain to be acquired. Active negotiations are under way with all nine of these property owners. Hopefully, eminent domain proceedings will not be necessary; however, if negotiations are not successful the service would resort to eminent domain. Mrs. Richardson inquired as to the location of the properties. Mr. Moffitt replied that they were in Concord and Lincoln. All property has been acquired in Lexington. Mr. DeNormandie asked if anyone had refused to negotiate. Apparently, two of the nine have refused to negotiate or to allow an appraisal. These persons have been notified that the service will exercise the right of eminent domain. Mr. Moffitt was unable to divulge the names of the people involved. 6 a Mr. DeNormandie asked how many houses were involved altogether. Mr. Moffitt thought that there were approximately 300 residential parcels. Many people have a life occupancy agreement. Some have chosen 5, 10 and 15 year options. The superintendent explained that it is 25 years or life. Congress will not permit more than 25 years. Mrs. Richardson asked who decides what life expectancy is and was told insurance company tables. Mr. Nickerson commented that one thing was certain. Property owners would be paid off in dollars that would be worth 10 cents. Mike Rivetts asked if the 750 acre ceiling was just for historical parks. Mr. Moffitt explained that recommendations were made to Congress when Parks were authorized. Mr. DeNormandie said another factor was relevant too. Minute Man and Cape Cod were the first National Parks in heavily settled areas. A completely new concept had been embarked upon and the reason for the acreage limitation was to protect property owners. In Mr. DeNormandie's opinion Congress would be perfectly willing to change the boundaries given adequate reasons but it would have to be an Act of Congress - it has to go through a bill and then hearings and finally passed and signed by the President. Mr. Korell asked if it was true that the Park had acquired properties that were not part of the original Master Plan. The Wayside came under this category. Mr. Nickerson mentioned that acreage had been deleted in Lexington. Superintendent Moffitt noted that adjustments of the boundary lines , had been made over the years. Now that the Park has been established the boundary lines cannot be changed except by the Secretary of the Interior. One reason there was a long wait for establishment of the Park was the uncertainty of the Route 2 situation. Referring to Mrs. Richardson's concern over the proposal to build a modern house on a particular lot in Concord Mr. Wilmot drew attention to the fact the the new visitor center was modern and asked what people did in colonial times (in reference to the malfunctioning of the airconditioning at the new visitor center). The superintendent had expected to have recommendations from the Board of Selectmen from the National Park Study Committee wich had been appointed by the selectmen. This Committee was formed to make recommendations to the selectmen on park policies, park regulations and the relationship of the town with the Park. A copy of the report was mailed to each member of the commission. 7 4 Mr. Moffitt stated that the recommendations of the National Park study Committee were not necessarily those of the Board of Selectmen. Mr. DeNormandie suggested postponing discussion until some word was received from the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Moffitt was anxious to have the opinion of the commission on closing hours for the Park. A discussion ensued on the hours which would be appropriate for opening and closing the Park. Mr. Nickerson made a motion that the Park should close at 10 p.m. and open at 6 a.m. Mrs. Richardson seconded the motion. Mr. Moffitt thanked the commission for its recommendation and promised due consideration. A regulation would be written and made ready for public review. The Park Service would make the ultimate decision. Mr. Wilmot asked who would enforce the rules and regulations with regard to opening and closing of the Park. Discussions have taken place on this matter. Signing would be the most effective way and quite an expensive project. At this point, Mr. Moffitt mentioned that the Towns had always been most cooperative and no doubt they would help enforce the regulation if it was put into effect. Mrs. White noted that the greatest amount of vandalism was occurring at night. Mr. Moffitt answered that there was also a safety problem involved. On 19 April 1975, some 30 cases of falls and twisted ankles had been reported. Two tort claims were initiated. One was from a man who had left his bicycle at the North Bridge. It was removed on orders from the Secret Service but because the Park did not take normal precautions to secure the bicycle at the maintenance barn this claim was valid. The other tort claim involved an automobile accident but negligence could not be proved on the part of the government. A short discussion ensued between the members about the report submitted by the National Park Study Committee. Mr. Moffitt was congratulated on the manner in which he conducted the dedication ceremony for the Park on 8 May 1976. Mrs. White seconded Mr. DeNormandiets motion. Mrs. White was interested in the film festival. The superintendent said there would be several films. One is entitled "To Keep our Liberty" which is presented at the Battle Road Visitor Center. Other films have come from other Parks. , w 4 Mr. DeNormandie brought up the subject of the r^solltion been adopted some time ago favoring a northern alignment for Route 2. It appeared that the Park Service was reluctant to take a stand on this. Mr. Nickerson recalled that many years had passed since he had , gone into Boston with Mrs, White to discuss the Route 2 question. Mrs. White had been on the Planning Board for Lincoln when a very detailed study had been made. Here the members discussed the pros and cons of the alignment of the proposed new road. Mr. DeNormandie had recently met with the Governor and Secretary Salvucci and the latter stated that a decision would be made after 1 August. Mrs. Richardson asked if the opinion of the Advisory Commission would carry any weight. Mr. DeNormandie replied in the affirmative saying that the Park's relationship to the situation was very important. Clear advantages could be seen for Lincoln but that town could not be the controlling factor. Safety considerations would be of prime importance. Mr. DeNormandie said that the Park can never be completed in accordance with the Master Plan until Route 2A is closed to heavy traffic - the only solution would be another road adequate to serve commuter traffic. If all the roads in the North Lincoln area were shut off it would mean that residents would come out ' through present Route 2. The only way would be service roads 1 and takings and developments are so devastating to the community. If the Park does not want to take a stand it would be more difficult to say the Park is important. Mrs. Richardson asked how Mr. Nickerson felt in this regard. Mr. Nickerson replied that he was somewhat withdrawn from the subject although he is interested in the problems presented. Mr. DeNormandie said that it did affect Massachussetts Avenue in Lexington. When the members talked about having another meeting to discuss the various subjects that had been brought up,Mr. Moffitt cautioned them on the time required in order to publish the Notice of Meeting in the Federal Register. The meeting adjourned at approximately 3:50 p.m. 9.