Royalston Open Space Committee
Minutes
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Meeting Date: July 9, 2009
Members Present: Aaron
Ellison, Patti Carrier, Jack Morse, Christine Beckert Long,
Kim MacPhee
Chair:
Aaron Ellison
Clerk: Christine Beckert Long
The
meeting convened at 7:30 p.m. at town hall.
Open Space and Recreation Plan Update:
The committee provided copies of the updated Open Space and Recreation Plan to the Royalston Selectboard, Planning Board, and Conservation Commission, and to the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission and the North Quabbin Landscape Partnership. Letters of review from these groups are due by August 1, after which the plan and letters will be sent to the state Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Community Preservation Committee:
Because new Selectboard member Jack Morse will be that board’s representative to the CPC, the committee appointed Christine Beckert Long as our representative. By consensus, the committee agreed that our nominations for priority projects will be creating a riverfront park in South Royalston and closing a gap in a snowmobile trail.
Open spaces:
Aaron reported that Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust is coordinating efforts by the state, The Trustees of Reservations and the town to preserve 62 acres near the center of town. The goal is to have all parties in agreement by a September meeting of the state board that reviews such plans. The plan requires the town to accept a conservation restriction on abutting land it owns, but the town has at least two questions: Will the plan put future pressure on the town’s use of the transfer station land? Does acceptance of a conservation restriction require just a vote of the Selectboard or a town meeting vote?
The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.