Royalston Open Space Committee
Minutes
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Meeting Date: September 8, 2005
Members Present: Aaron
Ellison, Elizabeth Farnsworth, Beth Gospodarek, Kim MacPhee,
Patti Carrier, Tom Musco, Christine Beckert Long
Chair: Aaron Ellison
Clerk: Christine Beckert Long
Others present:
Vyto Andreulinas
The meeting convened at 7:30 p.m. at town hall.
Minutes: The committee unanimously approved the minutes of July 14, 2005.
Internal
Matters:
(1) Beth will arrange to have the map cabinet and maps installed in Whitney
Hall.
(2) Aaron reported that a resident is proceeding with a plan to sell the town
a small parcel along the Millers River in South Royalston for $1. That resident
is also talking to an abutting owner about doing the same thing.
(3) Aaron reported that the Quabbin-to-Cardigan initiative (Q2C), spearheaded
by Mt. Grace Land Conservation Trust and the Society for the Preservation
of New Hampshire Forests, is applying for a federal Forest Legacy grant, one
that stands a good chance of success because it is the first multi-state proposal.
Q2C reps want to meet with the Open Space Committees of Royalston, Warwick,
Orange and Northfield; Aaron will find out the details.
(4) Elizabeth urged committee members to support the "Save Tully Lake"
initiative by visiting the website, donating money, attending meetings of
that group and of the Athol Planning Board (APB), and writing letters to the
APB and to newspapers.
Community
Preservation Act: Chris submitted an outline of key advice from the report
"Adopting the CPA," developed by the state CPA Coalition. The committee
tentatively decided on the following points:
(1) Chris will coordinate the work over the coming months but will likely
not be the key point person.
(2) The committee will make a broad appeal for public support and will aim
to present the proposal at the annual town meeting in May and at the state
election in November. Kim, however, recommended that a go-ahead decision wait
until the Zoning Bylaw Review Committee finds out if the town has won the
full grant (see below, "Town Issues") because she has reservations
about pursuing both the CPA and zoning revisions in the same year.
(3) The committee will seek to unify key town boards behind the CPA. The Select
Board has already expressed interest. Aaron will liaise with the Conservation
Commission, Tom with the Planning Board, Beth with the Historical Society,
Pattie with the Historic District Commission, and Kim with the Zoning Bylaw
Review Committee (particularly in regard to the affordable housing component
of the CPA, since the town does not have a committee dedicated to housing).
The committee will seek to identify someone in South Royalston to represent
the historic preservation interests of that part of town.
(4) In these early stages the committee will use as an information handout
the document "CPA-An Overview for Royalston," prepared by the CPA
Coalition,
(5) The committee will early on hold a meeting or work out another mechanism
for soliciting ideas about possible CPA beneficiary projects in the four categories
of open space, recreation, historic preservation, and affordable housing.
(2) Aaron reported that there is about $14,000 in the Conservation Fund, which
is under the control of the Conservation Commission. Aaron will follow up
with Glenn and the CC about the two committees jointly proposing a town bylaw
that would dedicate the proceeds from timber sales to this fund. The committee
agreed to hold off for now on investigating how that fund or another might
be used as a destination for open space acquisition donations and/or voluntary
tax bill check-off donations.
(3) Aaron will meet with the Board of Assessors about the tax status of properties
with a conservation restriction.
The meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.