HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-9-13ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF NONVOTING TAXPAYERS
Minutes of meeting 10 A.M., SATURDAY, September 13,2-014, at
4 Fairgrounds Road
1. Attending: Howard Blitman, David Brown, Lucas Fischer; ,Susan
Matloff, Steve Meader, Bill Sherman, Jay Strauss, and Tony-) Walsh
- -- a quorum. Also present Peter Kahn, Holly Wilson and Matf
Dwyer, plus our guest Transportation Planner Mike Burns.
Members absent: Lou Bassano, Roger Ernst and Don Green.
2. Materials distributed at the meeting: From Mike Burns 3 Power -
Point print versions of planning documents "In -Town Multi -Use
Path," 9/12/14 "Milestone Road and Old South Road Traffic," and
"Capital Requests — FY 2016;" and from Matt Dwyer representing
the Monomoy Civic Association (MCA) "Statement of Concerns"
[about new hospital proposal]. [Electronic versions of these 4
documents were distributed 9/14/14 to all ACNVT members.]
3. ACNVT Chair Howard Blitman called the meeting to order at
10:00 a.m. The proposed agenda for the meeting was approved.
The minutes of the August 30, 2014 meeting were approved.
4. After introductions of ACNVT members including prospective
new member Peter Kahn, the Chair spoke of being contacted by
Ellen Roman. Matt Dwyer spoke then of being in the same MCA
and distributed MCA's Statement of Concerns after a lengthy
summary of its contents. He noted that 60 MCA members attended
and voted unanimously for the document (though MCA is not
"monolithic" in supporting it). Mr. Dwyer also said that the
Martha's Vineyard hospital with 90,000 SF was smaller than the
100,000 SF proposed by NCH. He spoke of a retention basin that
could impact the Wyer's Valley site.
5. Returning to the agenda, Mike Burns spoke first of the Planning
Office's Capital Requests — FY 2016, earlier presented to the
NP &EDC's Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee.
Highlighted were the proposed Prospect Hill improvements and
Milk Street path extension to connect with the Hummock Pond
path. Other bike and pedestrian initiatives included streetscape
improvements near the Stop & Shop and ReMain -aided in -town
bike racks and bollards.
6. In the first phase of the In -Town Multi -Use Path, the '/4 mile along
the old railway causewaybefore joining lower Orange Street is to
be constructed. Surfacing of the path is a compromise between
esthetics, maintainability and minimized runoff, eg, chip -seal on
asphalt (3/4" aggregate chip seal). Width is to be 10', the same as
most of the recently built paths. Local and state approvals are
pending. Federal funding of 80% of construction cost is hoped.
7. Responding to Sue Matloff's concern about need for a Tom Nevers
path with events etc, Mike indicated that it's in a 5 — 10 year range
plan, like a Wauwinet path. Peter Kahn added concern about the
limits of the Sparks Avenue sidewalk.
8. Mike then turned to the area of Milestone and Old South Road
(OSR). Park `n Ride has proven successful: no time limit on 2 FG
parking for it. About 80 on- street in -town parking spaces have
been freed up, not yet year- round.
9. Responding to Sue's question about traffic impacts of OSR
projects on Valero and Glowacki land, Mike spoke of Richmond
Group traffic studies based upon overhead videos of current traffic,
analyzed with proprietary algorithms. New projects will attract
traffic but net island traffic increase is tied to population increase.
Improvements planned (irrespective of Wyer's Valley siting) for
the Milestone Rotary plus new roundabout for Fairgrounds /OSR
intersection will ease impacts. Tony urged that the pavement arrow
for turning left around the Rotary be placed to avoid mistaken
clockwise travel. Mike noted that past accidents at a roundabout
were tied to driver impairment. The Town has applied to
MassWork for funding.
IO.Those projects are not linked to NCH plans, nor is the planned
Prospect Hill path. Mike cautioned that the Stop & Shop project
will lead to less available parking next Daffodil Day due to
construction.
11.Howard proposed that two letters of recommendation be sent to the
BOS, one in support of the transportation initiatives presented by
Mike Burns, and one on the proposed upgrade of the hospital. On
motion of Howard, duly seconded and unanimously passed, a letter
will be written to the BOS recommending those transportation
initiatives.
12.Upon motion of Tony Walsh, duly seconded and passed (with one
member Bill Sherman opposed), a letter will be written to the BOS
supporting construction of a new hospital but to be sited on the
Prospect Street property, including Mill Hill Park if available, but
not at the Wyer's Valley site out of concern for the underlying
aquifer. The recommendation is also to express opposition to the
scale of the new hospital proposed by NCH. The letter will not
include relevant biographical background of ACNVT members.
Bill explained that he supported use of the Wyer's Valley site.
13.Upon a second motion by Tony, seconded and duly passed
unanimously, our Chair is authorized to speak on behalf of the
ACNVT at the 2015 ATM in conformity the position voted with
respect to the upgrade and siting of the proposed new hospital. The
Chair is also authorized to designate an ACNVT member to speak
in his place.
14. The meeting was adj ourned at 11:18 a.m.
Re sp ctfully ssubmi d,
7�
Bill Sherman, Secretary
Draft minutes e- distributed 9/19/14. Minutes adopted 6/27/15, posted
7/11/15 and hard copy submitted to Town Clerk 8/ 18/15