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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRight-of-Way Minutes - July 19, 2011 (Draft)_201402041507104017 TOWN AND COUNTY OF NANTUCKET ROADS AND RIGHT OF WAY COMMITTEE DRAFT MINUTES July 19, 2011 CALL TO ORDER Chairman Allen Reinhard called the monthly meeting to order at 4:00 PM on Tuesday, July 19 in the Conference Room of the Town Building at 2 Fairgrounds Road. In addition to Mr. Reinhard, the following Committee members were present: D. Anne Atherton, Sylvie O’Donnell, Bert Ryder, Lee Saperstein, John Stackpole and Harvey Young. Also in attendance was Joe Marcklinger, a member of the public. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The motion to approve the draft Minutes of June 21 was made by Mr. Stackpole and seconded by Mr. Ryder. The motion was adopted unanimously. ANNUAL REORGANIZATION MATTERS Chairman Reinhard welcomed Mr. Ryder to the Committee, as well as reappointed members, Messers Nat Lowell and Saperstein. Election of Officers: Mr. Stackpole moved that the Committee continue with the same officers and nominated the followed slate: Chairman, Allen Reinhard Vice Chairman, Harvey Young Secretary/Treasurer, D. Anne Atherton The motion was seconded and adopted by acclamation. Vision and Mission Statements: Mr. Saperstein moved that the current Vision and Mission Statements, recently reviewed, modified and adopted by the Committee, be adopted once again. The motion was seconded by Mr. Stackpole. It was reiterated during discussion of the motion that public access is a GIFT, and Mr. Reinhard commented that this was especially apparent in viewing historical aerial photographs of the island, available online, which clearly depict the amount of development that has taken place, as well as the vast acreage that has remained open and accessible by the public. The motion was adopted unanimously. ROW VISION STATEMENT The vision of the Roads and Right of Way Committee is to preserve access to Nantucket's public and private lands, including our harbors, coastline, ponds, moors, conservation lands and historical sites. Access is one of the greatest gifts the Town of Nantucket can protect for our current and future citizens. DRAFT ROW Committee Minutes, 7.19.11 2 ROW MISSION STATEMENT Our mission as the Nantucket Roads and Right of Way Committee is to review any issues concerning the status of access over public and private roads, rights of way, abutters ways, proprietors roads, footpaths, and any other ways throughout Nantucket Town and County and to make recommendations to the Board of Selectmen/County Commissioners to ensure and improve public access over them. PRIORITIES FOR COMING YEAR Extensive discussion ensued in regard to priorities for the coming year. Suggestions included the following, but no final decisions were made: · access down First Way, as a matter of public safety · sidewalk on Prospect Street, also as a matter of public safety; “something needs to be done;” perhaps the Committee should make a recommendation to the BOS; the need for a sidewalk and bike path are linked · footpath and bike path on Washington Street/Orange Street Extension; the duck pond needs to be dredged; there used to be a “nice” path here; the suggestion was made that this could be a project for CPC funds; ACTION  Mr. Reinhard will follow up with Ken Beaugrand of the CPC Committee and Transportation Planner, Mike Burns · restore the old railroad bed as a foot path; this would involve open space AND historic preservation, a suggestion made by Mr. Saperstein · publication of “History of Roads and Rights of Way of Nantucket;” this also could be a CPC grant request; only a modest amount would be needed (under $5000) SURFSIDE AREA ROAD TAKINGS: UPDATE The ballot question on this matter was defeated by 34 votes on June 14. The property owners in the Pochick-Clifford area, where “giant puddle” is, collected funds for road-repair work, with the Surfside Association also contributing. About $60,000 has been raised to make some improvements which have been “nicely done,” according to Mr. Reinhard and included some drainage work. SCONSET FOOT PATH MANAGEMENT PLAN Chairman Reinhard gave an update to the BOS update on July 6. He outlined the progress made to date: the Sconset Civic Association is working on signage; we had met with DPW re path maintenance; path has been trimmed and mowed about three or four weeks ago; John Smith has been very helpful. The Committee will ask Sconset Civic Association to report back to us about signage. The BOS has accepted a pedestrian easement at #67 Baxter. Therefore this pubic access/egress spot is in need of a sign. ACTION  Ms. Atherton will send a communication to Ms. Marianne Felch, the President of the Sconset Civic Association, informing her of this matter. DRAFT ROW Committee Minutes, 7.19.11 3 PUBLIC WAY MONUMENT INSTALLATION: PHASE II Mr. Saperstein reported that, thanks to Messers Reinhard, Neil Paterson, Joe Marcklinger, Frank Holdgate and Dave Visco, the second phase of the Public Way Monument Installation Project has been completed. Mention was made that North Beach Road changes names where it hits Bathing Beach road and turns into Jefferson. This spot is another candidate for marker. Apparently this area is NOT wide enough for a map and parcel number: In order to determine if it is a public way, the deed will have to be pulled. ACTION  Mr. Marcklinger volunteered to search the deed. Access in this area would be much easier than going up Cobblestone and down the steps at Steps Beach. NEW BUSINESSES, AND POSSIBLE UPDATE OF ITEMS ON ATTACHED PROJECTS AND ISSUES LIST Points made during the discussion included: · CPC funding: the Committee has a full $50,000 as of July 1; we need to direct how it should be used; a question was raised about the $100,000 of CPC monies previously appropriated for “public access” and how it has been spent · Ms. Atherton suggested that a comprehensive inventory should be developed of possible access point that the Committee should be paying attention to; “we need to know what we don’t know;” apparently this is difficult to do; we rely on surveyors, and others; Mr. Marcklinger will ask his surveyor colleagues about how the Committee could go about compiling such a list · is there a role for Ms. Bissinger-Poor, a title researcher, here? perhaps she could do some research for us; the point was made that the Land Bank has taken this on, as part of redoing their map; the current one dates back to 2007; the map will identify north-south and east-west trails and the paths that lead to them · encroachments: Mr. Marcklinger suggested that encroachments could be handled by regulation, as part of the “sign off” when the property changes hands; right now nothing seems to be remedied by the sending of letters; tie a finding of the absence of encroachments into the building permit; the property has to be “encroachment free;” this led to a discussion of **encroachments on pedestrian walkways,** and the Committee agreed to add this to the priorities list; an inventory of such encroachments, especially in the downtown area should be done ADJOURNMENT Having reached the end of the agenda, the Chairman adjourned the meeting at 5:36 PM. The next regular monthly meeting of the Committee is scheduled for 4:00 PM on Tuesday, August 16 at 2 Fairgrounds Road. Respectfully submitted, D. Anne R. Atherton Secretary 8.14.11