HomeMy Public PortalAboutBikeways 10/8/21 PacketBrewster Bikeways
Meeting Minutes for September 10, 2021
Date: September 10, 2021
Time: 12:00 PM
Location: Zoom meeting
Members Present: Joseph Sullivan, George Bausch, Susan Riseman, Rick Scannevin
Absent: Eric Levy, Greg Wright
Guest Speaker: David Whitney, Select Board Liaison to the Bikeways Committee
Meeting:
1. Call to Order: Meeting called to order at 12:02 PM
2. Declaration of Quorum: Quorum present with 4 of 7 members attending, one vacancy.
3. Meeting Participation Statement: Read by Chairman Sullivan.
4. Public Forum: No comments received, no public attendees.
5. Review of Previous Meeting Minutes: Postponed until next meeting.
6. Update by Select Board Liaison: Select Person Dave Whitney reviewed the Select Boards position
on several ongoing projects in Town.
1) Millstone Road: Residents along the road don’t want a bike lane, they also want
narrower sidewalks and road structure. The next meeting will be late October or early
November to discuss new design changes.
2) Linnell Trail Extension to Beach: The Select Board is aware that the crossing of Rt. 6A is
an issue. As the Town is actively pursuing purchasing the Sea Camps property several
Town projects are on the back burner. He mentioned possibly having beach access
through the Sea Camps.
3) Millstone Housing Project: They would like to see walkways connecting the
development to the future sidewalks on Millstone Rd. with possible future public bus
service made available.
4) Strategic Plan for Brewster 2022-2023: On hold due to the Sea Camps negotiations.
7. Status of Posting of Previous Minutes: Rick Scannevin said he had dropped off hard copies of
several meeting minutes with the Town Clerk to have them scanned into the record.
8. Bike Month Events: September is Bike Month in Massachusetts. Several ideas were talked
about including: having a group ride; handing out bike lights and a possible “ride along” with
Brewster Police Department representatives. The ride is scheduled for 9/19 with a rain date of
9/26.
9. DPW Update: The new Superintendent of the Brewster Department of Public Works was not
able to attend the meeting and will be rescheduled. The Bikeways Committee is concerned with
the status of the Complete Streets Program here in Brewster.
10. Bikeways Plans for 2022: We would like to see a water bubbler installed on the Rail Trial. We
already have one (DCR), just need a location and hook up. Linking the 2 schools with a decent
trail/ path is still on the table. We need to study just how accessible Brewster’s infrastructure for
cyclists. For example, there is no easy access to the Drummer Boy Park.
11. FYI: There is a Town sponsored Open Meeting Law training session online on September 26.
More info is on the Town’s website.
12. Matters not Anticipated: Rick voiced concern over the amount of parking spaces the vendor and
his customers occupy at the Rt.137 Rail Trail Parking area. People come to sit and eat their lunch
that are not using the trail causing others who want to ride/ cycle to have to go to another
location. We discussed searching for a Brewster Police officer to be on the Committee to
replace the retiring George Bausch. The Committee would also like to invite the Select Board
Liaison, Dave Whitney, to attend more meetings.
13. Next Meeting: The next meeting is scheduled for October 15, 2021. It will be another Zoom
meeting.
14. Adjournment: Meeting was adjourned at 1:04 PM
15.
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Town of Brewster
2198 Main Street
Brewster, MA 02631-1898
Phone: (508) 896-3701
Fax: (508) 896-8089
Policy #58
Adopted January 28, 2019
TOWN OF BREWSTER PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT POLICY
INTRODUCTION
The Town of Brewster:
Is committed to open and honest communication with residents, businesses, employees,
and visitors.
Recognizes that municipal decisions are improved by engaging residents and other
stakeholders as appropriate.
PURPOSES
This policy’s purposes are to:
Ensure the Town of Brewster facilitates public input into decision-making.
Promote a well-informed community.
Improve the quality and responsiveness of municipal decisions.
Create an environment that encourages community participation.
Forge a bond of trust and accountability between Town government and the public.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT DEFINITION
Methods through which members of the public become more informed about, and have the
opportunity to influence, government decisions and projects.
TYPES OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Public Information/Outreach: Characterized by one-way government communication to
inform residents and others about a public issue or policy matter. Examples include press
releases, video-recorded meetings, and presentations.
Public Consultation: Characterized by two-way communication; includes public officials
inviting individuals to express their views or recommendations about proposed public
actions and decisions. Examples include public meetings, community outreach meetings,
surveys, and listening sessions.
ROLES
Decision-makers should:
Seek to gain a sound understanding of views expressed by the public.
Consider public input as part of the decision-making process.
Explain the rationale for decisions.
Office of:
Select Board
Town Administrator
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Town of Brewster
2198 Main Street
Brewster, MA 02631-1898
Phone: (508) 896-3701
Fax: (508) 896-8089
TOWN OF BREWSTER PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT POLICY
The Public should:
Become as informed as possible about the issue under consideration.
Recognize that multiple factors, including public input, will shape municipal decisions.
APPLICATION
Public engagement:
Should be integrated into planning for new policies, programs, capital projects, fee
changes, and services at the earliest feasible point or at a pre-regulatory stage as
appropriate.
Should take place if significant changes to or elimination of an existing program, project,
or service, are proposed.
May be necessary at multiple points in certain more consequential government activities
such as coastal retreat projects, road projects, or parcel purchases.
Should include public review at the 30% design stage in projects where engineering or
other designs are being developed, with design elements identified that were made as a
result of any earlier public input.
May take place in response to a community-initiated request.
May include discussion of options, as well as points of consensus and disagreement.
Will be enhanced by posting notices of engagement activities at Town Hall, on the Town
website and social media, and other locations including local cable television.
May be enhanced in some circumstances by use of a facilitator.
May be enhanced in some circumstances with voluntary notification of abutters.
RESPECTFUL PUBLIC DISCUSSION
For public engagement to be effective, discussion should be conducted in a respectful and safe
manner by all participants.
___________________________________ ___________________________________
___________________________________ ___________________________________
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Office of:
Select Board
Town Administrator