COCHITUATE RAIL TRAIL TASK FORCE
MINUTES OF MEETING
JANUARY 16, 2008
Members present: John Griffith, A. Richard Miller, Karla Sangrey, Josh Ostroff, Dave Camacho, Karen Patterson Greene
Alternate Members present: Peter Henry, Matt Daniels, Harry Newell
Advisors/visitors present: none
Chair Karla Sangrey called the meeting to order at 7:06
1) Minutes of December 18th
Reviewed minutes from December 18, 2007; several spelling corrections and other language refinements were offered and accepted. On a motion by Josh, seconded by Dick, the minutes were approved by all those eligible to vote, others abstaining. Josh complimented the members for maintaining up to date minutes.
2) CSX update
A) The title search report is available but not yet electronically. Josh confirmed that spurs along the ROW were not included in the original title search. Selectmen voted to research title to the rail spurs, 4 maybe 5 parcels of land, to be furnished in a few weeks. Town Counsel is reviewing the encumbrances. Josh has asked Counsel to evaluate ownership of the railroad bridge over Route 9. Josh also reported that the spur on the west side of the Chrysler Road development property is an easement and not railroad property and that future use of this for a trail is not likely worth pursuing.
B) A draft Request for Quotation (RFQ) for an appraisal was circulated. Josh proposed changes and will provide feedback to Martha White for revisions. Josh believed a more up to date version was available from Martha. Dick said that 10 years ago, a review of railroad property in Natick was done, but the file was not with the Planning Board when Dick last checked. Dick said that Jim O’Connor and Anthony Romano are two qualified appraisers and suggests asking them how they would proceed with the appraisal.
C) Josh has spoken with a CSX representative. CSX will repair the culvert and the ties over the Route 9 Bridge.
3) Project Need Form (PNF)
Josh has spoken with Eugene Kennedy of the Framingham Planning Department. Karla circulated a description of the rail trail bridges, complete with photographs. Dick offered to help obtain more accurate mile markers. Jon Gelchinsky (not present) has prepared a narrative to be forwarded to Dick. Someone is preparing maps showing Right-of-Way with significant points of interest. Karla is interested to get these maps onto the website. John Griffith is updating the text. Rich Ames is providing GIS support. Pat Reffett is providing traffic counts. Josh will pull the PNF together after others have provided their input.
4) Outreach
A) Harry Newell provided a draft of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) updated from the version by John Adelmann from a year ago. Comments on these FAQs included the following and Harry was going to work on another revision.
1) Potential loss of tax revenue and unduly biased language; are studies or surveys available for reference?
2) The wording of statements about potential crime, a sensitive issue.
3) Josh suggested a sentence such as “Your feedback is welcome if you are not satisfied by the answer to your question.”
4) The email address may or may not be active on the website. Josh suggested to check with Martha or Maureen Flemming.
5) Litter language revisions.
6) Dick suggests that credit be given to sources for the original FAQs; were they borrowed from others such as Dick Williamson or Bill Williamson?
7) The cost paragraph is another sensitive issue. The $30,000 per mile estimate is too low and sets expectations too low. Language about how the community will determine cost through design process would be more appropriate. Costs may also be dictated by environmental conditions. Josh suggested breaking out the potential costs as Purchase, Build, and Maintain.
8) Proposed Question about “Can I use the trail” and trespass issue.
9) Suggestion for a better linking to local towns with trails.
10) How can I find out more? And development of an elist server. Do we have this capability?
11) TIP: Town has continued the process
12) Transit issue – bus?
B) Spring Public Meeting on May 8th. The date was selected to avoid the next couple months when budget discussions will be foremost. The Library Meeting Room has been reserved for this event. We expect this meeting to last about 2 hours. Josh sees engaging the community as the primary objective at any stage of this process. Karen is leery of giving the impression that we are closer to a real trail than we really are. Karla called for a champion for this meeting, and Josh suggests a task assignment. Four members volunteered to be part of the working group: Dave, Karen, Dick, and Josh. The goal of this
working group is to have a proposed program recommendation for the next CRT task force meeting. Josh suggest three broad agenda items for the spring public meeting:
1) Update for community
2) Q&A comments from the public.
3) Identify issues in collecting public opinion such as surface, features, parking
Dick suggested Craig de la Pena give an educational presentation at the public meeting.
C) Town Administrator’s Newsletter published quarterly. We should ask her to mention the CRT task force planned public meeting in May for the end of March newsletter.
5) Outreach to other committees: Karla has considered this issue and created a draft letter for discussion, a letter that would be addressed to other committees. The CRT task force reviewed the letter. The purpose of the letter would be to make other committees aware of our purpose and how our purpose intersects with the objectives of those other committees. The top 3 addresses would be the Conservation Commission, the ZBA and the Planning Board, but others such as the Board of Health, the Safety Committee, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, the Finance Committee and the Building Inspector might also be included.
Karla will circulate the letter for feedback.
6) Update on other regional issues: Dick suggested that the list of addresses for the proposed outreach letter might be expanded to include the Mass DPW, DCR, Framingham BPAC. Dick describes a DCR funding opportunity for Open Space related projects although the funds might not be made available until summer 2008. The deadline for proposals was February 24, 2008. Josh requested additional information in writing, and Dick offered to email the URL.
The price per mile of rail bed was apparently under $100,000 for the southern end of the Bruce Freeman Trail in Sudbury, although the negotiations are ongoing and are connected to a hazardous materials spill.
Dick offered to provide information on a Natick trail to connect to South Natick and another trail around the cemetery.
7) Warrant Article for April 8th Town Meeting: Josh wanted the committee to vote to sponsor an article not seeking action but the opportunity to present a 10-minute report. A motion to sponsor the article was made by Karla, seconded by Dave and unanimously approved.
8) Future meeting dates: Feb 20 at 7:00 p.m. is set as the next meeting. Wednesday, March 19 is proposed as the following meeting.
9) Other business
A) Asked for volunteers for Task Force Clerk; idea was proposed that the responsibilities for taking minutes be rotated among members, three months at a time.
B) Dick described other trail projects in Natick for the group’s interest, including the Henry Wilson trail on the East end of Fiske Pond. The consensus was to take no action at this time.
10) Karla motioned to adjourn, seconded by Dave. Meeting adjourned at 9:29 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Matt Daniels
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