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HomeMy Public PortalAbout20190716 - Trail Coordination and Management Committee - Meeting Minutes1 TOWN OF HOPKINTON TRAIL COORDINATION AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE Tuesday, July 16, 2019 7:30 PM Town Hall, 18 Main Street, Hopkinton, MA – Lower Level Meeting Room MEETING MINUTES Meeting called to Order @ 7:30 pm. Members Present: Ken Parker, Jim Ciriello, Peter Lagoy, Dave Paul, Chuck Dauchy, Jamie Wronka. Member(s) Absent: Dan Terry Citizens Present: Mike Boelsen, Trail Steward Nancy Peters, Member, OSPC Lindsey Baumer, Resident, Blackthorne Circle Doug Nixon, Resident, Blackthorne Circle Larry Papagni, Resident, Blackthorne Circle Valerie Whitehouse, Resident, Blackthorne Circle Sean Kimball, Eagle Scout advisor Ethan Ritterbusch, Eagle Scout candidate [1] Review and Approve Meeting Minutes of June 25, 2019 The Draft Minutes were discussed. Mr. Dauchy noted that Item 3. Trail Mapping, Paragraph 2, should be revised to read that Ester (Diabane) produced one (1) map showing Town-owned properties. The properties were color- coded by use. Four (4) different sizes of that map were displayed¿ Mr. Dauchy noted that Item 5. List of Land for Trails should read that Ester (now) has a list of open space owned by land trusts and homeowner’s associations. That information was not available when she produced the earlier map of Town-owned properties. Mr. Dauchy noted that Item 6. Trail Development Priority should read “...Berry Acres [to Center Trail] is the #1 priority for a trail to be developed”. A motion to approve the draft minutes as amended was made by Mr. Ciriello, seconded by Mr. Parker and approved unanimously. Ms. Wronka abstained from voting. 2 [2.b.] Public Comments/Concerns: A discussion was held with Ethan Ritterbusch, Scout Troop 1 about his proposed Eagle Scout project to develop two new trail loops off the existing Hughes Property trail. Mr. Ritterbusch and Mr. Lagoy presented preliminary sketched plans of these proposed trails and photographs of the area. Mr. Ritterbusch said there are some parts where the existing trail crosses wetlands. Mr. Ritterbusch agreed to install at-grade wood footbridges at those crossings. Mr. Lagoy walked the proposed trails with Mr. Ritterbusch on July 12th and with abutters on July 14th. The paths of the proposed trails were flagged during their July 12th site walk and adjusted after the July 14 site walk with abutters. The trails to be built will be shown on a plan before work on the trails begins. Mr. Ciriello and Ms. Wronka noted that as depicted on the proposed plans, portions of both proposed trails are located on two properties [R30 2 A (Rear Joseph Road) and U25 38 0 (South Barn)] that are under the care, custody and control of the Conservation Commission (HCC). They advised that permission from the HCC is required before any work can be performed on those parcels. Further, since the proposed westerly trail is within the 100-foot wetland resource area, Ms. Wronka and Mr. Ciriello advised that a Minor Project Exemption will be required from the HCC before work can begin on that trail. Mr. Ciriello advised Mr. Ritterbusch to contact Don Macadam, Conservation Administrator to discuss his proposal and present his proposed plan at the July 23rd HCC meeting. A Minor Project Exemption will be requested for this work. Ms. Baumer, Ms. Whitehouse, Mr. Nixon and Mr. Papagni, abutters on Blackthorne Circle, expressed their concerns about the route of the southerly trail loop on the Town owned parcel known as South Barn. They believe the proposed trail is too close to their abutting properties. They said they can see the proposed trail from their properties and are concerned about privacy and security. Mr. Lagoy noted that the proposed trail loop is layed-out to take advantage of the existing terrain and to loop around an erratic on the South Barn property. The final trail layout will be flagged. The abutters will be provided with the final plan and can walk the planned trail before construction. Ms. Wronka asked that trail markings be placed along any trail that is built so users know the boundaries of the trail. Mr. Boelsen noted that the HCC has four (4) different color Open Space trail markers that could be used. Several abutters asked what clearing would be done to create the trails. Mr. Ritterbusch stated that there will not be much clearing on the South Barn loop. More clearing would be done on the western loop. Mr. Ritterbusch said that clearing will be limited to invasives, brush and 3 saplings to open the trail for walking and running. Mr. Ritterbusch agreed that no mature trees or shrubs will be removed. Mr. Lagoy noted that the clearing will be similar to what is done by HALT (the Hopkinton Area Land Trust). HALT standards are to clear a 6-foot +\- wide path and maintain a natural (undisturbed) base. Mr. Ritterbusch proposes the trails be improved by clearing only what is necessary to allow three (3) people to walk or run side-by-side. The trail surface will be the existing natural surface. Mr. Lagoy noted that the South Barn loop is shorter than the Welzell trail loop off of the Center Trail. Mr. Ritterbush stated that the trail work will be done on weekends with ten (10) or fewer volunteer scouts and one or more adults from Troop 1. He will work on the westerly trail loop first. He will advise the work parties to be mindful and respectful of the abutting properties. He will advise the committee of his planned work schedule when known. [2.a.] Public Comments/Concerns: A discussion of mowing on the Hughes Property and Town easement from Deer Run was discussed. The committee agreed to develop a plan for this mowing. [3.] Progress of Trail Mapping/Trails List/List of Properties with Trails: Mr. Parker continues his work on trail mapping and on developing a list of trails on Town owned property and, property owned by HALT, Sudbury Valley Trust (SVT) and Homeowner's Associations (HOA's). The list(s) will also include property where HALT and SVT hold Conservation Restrictions. He has done a substantial amount of work on this item and will continue. Mr. Dauchy is working on mapping with Mr. Parker. [4.] Priority Trail Development Project: The committee scheduled a site walk for July 26th at 2:00 p.m. to walk the existing Center Trail Extension to Chamberlain Street and the REC property between Chamberlain and Whalen Road to evaluate the best routes for trails in this area. This has been identified as one of the first trail extension projects. Connecting the trail on Berry Acres to Center Trail has also been identified as one of the first trail connection projects. The committee will meet at the HHS Field 13. The committee anticipates that a representative of REC Hopkinton will attend this sitewalk. [5.] Update on trail developments in town and future considerations: Update on ConCom meeting on developing standards for Bridges and Wetland Crossings: Mr. Lagoy and Mr Ciriello will work on standards and completion of a Notice of Intent (NOI) to submit to the HCC. The NOI will include standards and scopes of work for routine and emergency trail work activities in wetland resource areas. A discussion of tick and poison ivy control was held. The committee agreed to evaluate the possibility of tick and poison ivy control. 4 A discussion of funding for trail maintenance was discussed. Mr. Lagoy will look for information of what other towns and trail organizations budget or spend for routine and emergency trail management and maintenance. A discussion of possible items for CPC funding was discussed. The committee agreed to continue those discussions. A discussion of Open Space Development Grant was discussed. The committee agreed to continue discussion of applying to a grant. A discussion of agenda Items for Following Meetings was discussed. It was agreed to include the same items as this meeting. The committee agreed to the following meeting dates; July 30, August 13 and August 27. The meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m.