HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-12-07 400 Great Pond Road Steering Committee Minutes 400 Great Pond Road Steering Committee
Minutes of December 7, 2022
Present: Richard Vaillancourt,Jim Stanford, Jean Enright, Willie Vicens, Steve Foster, Ron Rudis,
Jerry Brecher, Norma Lochmann, Peter Boynton,John Simons
Absent: John Weir (excused absence)
Call to Order 6:00 pm
Pledge of Allegiance
Public comment: none received
Introductions: All members introduced themselves.
Status of Property at 400 Great Pond Road: Steve Foster, Facilities Director, reviewed an
assessment of the property and what has been done since the town acquired the parcel.
Review of Conservation Restriction (CR): Jean Enright, Planning Director, provided an overview
of the restriction. Essex County Greenbelt Association hold the CR. The restricted area totals
3.03 acres +/-, which spans to property line of the adjacent 476 Great Pond Road. The CR
specifies that retention of the restricted area in its existing natural and open condition will
protect and preserve the watershed of Lake Cochichewick—the primary source of public
drinking water supply for the town. Further, the retention of the restricted area will protect and
preserve the scenic vies, enjoyable by the general public, of and from Lake Cochichewick, its
shores and Great Pond Road, which areas are designated as "distinctive" and "noteworthy"
landscapes under Massachusetts Landscape Inventory.
A question was raised as to whether the CR restricts recreation activity for the town.
Short-term plans: A site visit for the committee is being planned for 12/16/22 at 8:30 am.
Potentially create a survey to be published for the public to provide input. Invite the public to a
meeting to provide input to the process. Create a website to provide updates to the public.
Provide email addresses for those members that do not currently have town emails. A generic
Committee email should be established and placed on the website.
Next steps: Meeting cadence will be twice monthly starting in January until March/April. A
proposed meeting schedule will be presented at the next meeting. Next meeting will be
12/19/22 at 6:30 pm in the Select Board Meeting Room. Invite Town Counsel to address any
Operations and Maintenance the Committee should be aware of, review in detail the CR and
allowed Uses, and advise on the Open Meeting Law specific to the Committee.
400 Great Pond Road Steering Committee
Minutes of December 7, 2022
Appointment of Officers: A motion was made by Peter Boynton to name Richard Vaillancourt
Committee Chairman. The motion was seconded by John Simons. The vote was 10 —0,
unanimous in favor.
A motion was made by Peter Boynton to name John Simons Vice Chair. The motion was
seconded by Norma Lochmann. The vote was 10—0, unanimously in favor.
Adjournment: A motion to adjourn was made by Peter Boynton, seconded by John Simons, and
the vote was 10—0, unanimous in favor.