Minutes 2005

Royalston Open Space Committee

Meeting Date: December 14, 2005
Members Present: Aaron Ellison, Elizabeth Farnsworth, Beth Gospodarek, Dean Lisiewicz, Christine Beckert Long
Others present: Vyto Andreulinas
Chair: Aaron Ellison
Clerk: Christine Beckert Long

The meeting convened at 7:30 p.m. at town hall.

Minutes: The committee unanimously approved the minutes of November 10, 2005.

Open Spaces:
(1) Aaron gave the Select Board a bulleted list of to-do's based on the committee's August 11
memorandum regarding properties of unknown ownership.
(2) Aaron reported on the November Quabbin-to-Cardigan (Q2C) meeting, specifically, that the
northern tier of Massachusetts and the southern tier of New Hampshire will be the first focus of the initiative.
Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust will proactively contact landowners.
(3) The committee adopted the criteria codes below, based on the Open Space Plan goals,
to use as it evaluates open space priorities. These criteria are not listed in priority order.

Q1 Q2C priority parcel
Q2 Q2C supporting parcel
BC Biomap Core parcel
BS Biomap Supporting parcel
LW Living Waters parcel
LS Living Waters Supporting parcel
CP Connectivity Parcel, one linking to other protected land
AG Agricultural parcel (open field or farm)
WH Wildlife Habitat
SV Scenic View
RT Recreational Trail
RU Other Recreational Use
WF Waterfront
WL Other Wetlands
HC Proximity to Historical and/or Cultural resources

(4) The committee began listing priority parcels, with codes. (The committee also noted the value of consulting with Noah Siegel and Matt Hickler regarding some of those details.) Chris will research the ownership of these parcels.

Community Preservation Act: Aaron reported that the Conservation Commission is excited about pursuing the CPA. Kim will make a presentation to the Historical Society and Pattie to the Historic District Commission.

Town issues:
(1) Vyto reported that the Zoning Bylaw Review Committee will be hiring a consultant to
begin the bylaw review. The committee plans to hold numerous public meetings during the process.
(2) Beth will ask Building Inspector Geoff Newton to inform the committee and the Historical Society
when buildings are about to be condemned.

Public Outreach:
(1) The committee examined the landowners' options brochure, with 900 copies printed at a cost of $93.50 by Fieldstone Press, which gave the committee a 50 percent community service discount.
Committee members will stuff the brochures into the next tax bill, probably in January.

The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

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