HomeMy Public PortalAboutVision Planning Committee -- 2023-02-06 MinutesTOWN OF BREWSTER VISION PLANNING COMMITTEE - `-
MEETING MINUTES
Monday, February 6, 2023, at 3:30PM--
Hybrid Meeting
Sharon Tennstedt, Vice Chair, convened the Brewster Vision Planning Committee in person with members: Amanda
Bebrin, Suzanne Kenney, Patricia Hess, Andi Gesner and Alex Wentworth were present. Fran Schofield was absent. A
quorum was determined.
Also present: Peter Lombardi, Kari Hoffman, Jon Idman, and Ellen Murphy
The Chair read the Recording or Taping Notification: This meeting will be conducted in person and via remote means, in
accordance with applicable law. This means that members of the public body may access this meeting in person, or via
virtual means. In person attendance will be at the meeting location listed above, and it is possible that any or all members of
the public body may attend remotely. No in-person attendance of members of the public will be permitted, and public
participation in any public hearing conducted during this meeting shall be by remote means only.
To submit public comment or questions to the Vision Planning Committee, please email: brewplan(co brewster-ma.eov.
• Review and approval of October 31" meeting minutes
Amanda made a motion to approve the October 31" meeting minutes, Suzanne seconded the motion, a roll call
was taken, all approved, Sharon Tennstedt abstained, she was absent from the meeting. October 31St meeting
minutes were approved.
• Recognition of Hal Minis' service on the Committee including Chair
Sharon Tennstedt stated that Hal Mini, who recently resigned as Chair and a member of the Committee
contributed an enormous amount of time to the planning effort. Sharon gave the Committee an opportunity to
share their thoughts and experiences working with Hal. They each discussed the positive impact Hal made as a
member and the Chair of the Vision Planning Committee.
• Vote — Committee Reorganization: Chair, Vice Chair, Liaison to Pond Property Planning Committee
Sharon informed the Committee the Committee Chair is vacant and asked the Committee for nominations.
Patricia made a motion to nominate Sharon Tennstedt as Chair of the Vision Planning Committee, Andi
seconded the motion, a roll call vote was taken, and Sharon unanimously was appointed as Chair of the Vision
Planning Committee. There now being a vacancy in the Vice Chair position, Patricia nominated Amanda as Vice
Chair of the Vision Planning Committee and made a motion, Andi seconded the motion, a roll call vote was
taken, and Amanda Bebrin was appointed Vice Chair of the Vision Planning Committee. The next vacancy was
for Liaison to Pond Property Planning Committee, Andi made a motion to nominate Suzanne Kenney as the
Liaison to the Pond Property Planning Committee, Amanda seconded the motion, a roll call vote was taken, and
Suzanne Kenney was unanimously appointed as the Liaison to the Pond Property Planning Committee.
• November 2022 Town Meeting De -brief (joined by Town Manager, Peter Lombardi)
Sharon recognized Peter Lombardi, Town Manager who will de -brief the Committee on the November 2022
Town Meeting and talk about how to move forward. Peter informed the Committee that the Select Board had a
follow up meeting from the November Town Meeting in December where they discussed next steps on several
related items that were voted on. Coming out of the process the consensus was the concerns brought to Town
meeting around the LCP regarding the Wing Island Boardwalk and The Drummer Boy Park Master Plan update.
The Select Board will focus on the concerns expressed for the Wing Island Boardwalk before they address the
Vision Planning Committee and the LCP. The Select Board pledged to bring the ideas of changing or improving
access to Wing Island and seek a conservation restriction on Wing Island to the May Town Meeting. He
informed the Committee that the Town received a citizen's petition to hold a special Town Meeting on three
articles that are related to Wing Island Boardwalk and the Drummer Boy Park Master Plan. He indicated the
meeting will be held on March 6th and suggested the VPC be in a holding pattern until after that meeting. Peter
Lombardi also informed the Committee that a public forum will be held on February 9th. The public forum will
be informing the residents of the citizen's petition and the Special Town Meeting as well as providing an
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opportunity to solicit feedback. The outcome of the meeting will determine if an article(s) will be brought to
Town Meeting in May. Sharon informed the Committee that after the public hearing the LCP was handed over
to the Select Board and therefore it is out of the hands of the VPC. The VPC will need direction from the Select
Board for next steps. Peter reminded the Committee that the vote taken at the November Town Meeting was
to send the LCP back to the VPC. The Committee expressed their disappointment in the meeting and feedback
for the LCP. Amanda suggested the Committee take some time to discuss how the plan will be implemented
when the time comes. The Committee agreed they need sufficient time and waiting until the Fall Town Meeting
would provide time to work out a plan. Jon suggested a more even hand approach handling the actions, keeping
the content in but having fewer actions articulating in a more general way. Patricia asked if the actions were
written in a more general way would the LCP have to go to the Select Board again for approval. Jon confirmed
that it would have to be approved by the Select Board and require a public hearing again because it would be a
different plan. Kari suggested that if the Select Board is presenting articles for the Spring Town Meeting should
the Committee wait until after the Spring Town Meeting to start the process. She indicated that resolutions
from the Special Town Meeting on March 6" will be discussed at the Spring Town Meeting. She also highlighted
education, not only how Town government works but how the LCP fits into the process.
Kari questioned the appointment process for the Vision Planning Committee and if the members need to be
reappointed. Sharon suggested the Select Board review the current Committee charge in order to bring it up to
date in terms of the Committee's focus. Peter Lombardi indicated that the Select Board will debrief after the
March 6th Special Town Meeting. He agreed either at the debrief or the next Select Board meeting, it makes
sense to review the current Committee charge. Sharon made a motion for the Select Board to review the
current Committee charge within an appropriate time, Amanda seconded the motion, a roll call vote was taken,
and the Committee unanimously approved.
Discussion of Recommencing Activities on a Draft LCP
After the March 6th Special Town Meeting the Select Board will debrief and discuss the warrant articles that will
be brought to the May 1st Town Meeting. The Committee will wait to hear next steps from the Select Board.
Sharon mentioned the summary papers may need to be updated given they were written over a year ago and
may be outdated.
Discussion about Filling Committee Vacancy/ies
Sharon informed the Committee that in addition to Hal Minis resigning, Fran Schofield also resigned from the
Committee, therefore there are two vacancies. The vacancies will be posted on the Town Website. Peter
Lombardi informed the Committee the Select Board has a formal policy on filling Committee vacancies, which
includes an application process. He stepped through the process for the formal appointment. It was decided to
wait until the charge is updated before the vacancies are posted. Jon stated typically an odd number of
Committee members works better and should be included in the charge. He indicated in his experience with ad
hoc committees such as this one, members continue to serve until the charge of the Committee has been
completed and suggested that also be considered in the updated charge. Sharon suggested if and when the LCP
is adopted will the Select Board be responsible for the implementation in their strategic plan.
Discussion of Committee's draft report for the Town's 2022 Annual Report
Sharon provided background on the draft report and indicated that it will be included in the Annual Town Report
available at the Spring Town Meeting. She informed the Committee that all edits are due on February 17th if
anyone has changes, they would like to include, please submit to her no later than February 14th otherwise we
will assume it is complete.
Discuss potential next meeting date/s
There will be no meeting until after the Special Town Meeting in March, possibly after the Spring Town Meeting.
Jon informed the Committee all meetings will be in person starting in March.
Matters Not Reasonably Anticipated by the Chair:
Amanda provided an update on the Bay Property Committee. In December the consultant team joined and in
January the first public outreach event took place on the pool. It was very well attended. Residents provided
support for the opening of the pool. More information will be coming out in the spring.
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Kari updated the Committee on the Pond Property Committee. Public outreach will start in the spring. Focus is
on access due to limited parking. A kayak trip is sponsored by Massachusetts Audubon Society and the Brewster
Recreation Commission and Department. There is also a video of the property that will be launched in the next
couple of months.
Sharon informed the Committee that the Town Clerk sent out an email on the new state required Ethics on-line
training course. All must take the training, even if you recently took a course.
Suzanne made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Patricia seconded the motion, a roll call vote was taken, and the
meeting was unanimously adjourned at 4:39 pm.
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