COCHITUATE RAIL TRAIL TASK FORCE
DRAFT MINUTES OF MEETING
NOVEMBER 27, 2007
Members present: John Moran, Dick Miller, Karla Sangrey, Josh Ostroff, Jon Gelchinsky, John Griffith
Alternate Members present: Peter Henry, Matt Daniels, Harry Newell
Advisors/visitors present: Jill Miller
Chair Karla Sangrey called the meeting to order at 7:05
1) Minutes of September 24th and October 24th
Reviewed minutes from September 24, 2007; several spelling corrections and other language refinements were offered and accepted. On a motion by Karla, seconded by Josh, the minutes were approved by a vote of 3 out of 3 eligible to vote, others abstained. Reviewed minutes from October 24, 2007; comments were offered and reviewed. On a motion by John, seconded by Peter, the minutes were approved by vote of 5 of 5 eligible to vote, others abstained.
2) Summary of BOS meeting Oct 29th
The charge of the CRT task force has been extended and amended. The appointments of members are good through July 2008. After that, 1 and 2 year BOS appointments will likely be made. This would be an opportunity for people who want to quit the task force to do so. Appointments by other committees would not expire. The abutter report was accepted by BOS. Short update on CSX was nothing new. Title Search is still in progress to be followed by town valuation of the property. Granite boulders have been installed at entrance points to the right-of-way (ROW). Gates at some entrances to ROW are fastened with wire ties, not locks. There was a suggestion to have these gates locked as no padlocks had been installed. CSX may be coming out to inspect the ROW and
evaluate repairs, especially repairs to a drainage culvert near the Navy Yard field. At the BOS meeting, Karla talked about the CRT task force continued mission of outreach to abutters, design support, website, maps, FAQs, and outreach to the community beyond the abutters. At the BOS meeting, Josh talked about his conversations with EOT undersecretary Tom Cahir about rail trail issues and similar issues in other communities and the possibility that the State can help with negotiations or funding. Josh wondered whether the communities could do anything to help the state.
3) CSX update
A) Title search
The title search not complete yet, but expected very soon.
B) Request for Proposal (RFP) for appraisal
Waiting on results of title search to take any action on RFP; however, the RFP is ready to go out. The appraiser will review CSX method as well as consider alternative valuation methods.
4) Project Need Form for Mass Highway
A Project Need Form (PNF) was previously filled out by Framingham and Natick, and was worked on by Martha White and Lily Pollans. The PNF was returned by the Mass Highway Department (MHD) to the towns with deficiencies cited, but the PNF has sat untouched since February 2007. The CRT task force might be able to help advance the PNF in conjunction with Pat Reffett’s office. The goal would be to get a number for the rail trail project, a number that would be referenced in future applications. Karla suggests that a small subcommittee would work on the PNF. Josh notes that technically it would be a task assignment and not a subcommittee. Three volunteers, Jon Gelchinsky, Josh Ostroff and John Griffith volunteered for the job. Karla will scan the paperwork for the next meeting. Pat Reffett should be copied on this effort as well.
5) Outreach
Josh suggests that we continue to keep the public engaged but don’t want to compete with the upcoming town election and potential override vote. The idea of a late April or early May outreach event was mentioned as well as a newsletter. Jill wondered whether there is a Friends of the Rail Trail group in Natick. There was general discussion of why the CRT task force should not be in the position of advocating for the trail, outreach yes, but part of CRT task force credibility is related to impartiality, regardless of any members personal leanings.
FAQs on website need updating. John Adelmann did them originally. Harry volunteered to pick up this task. Newsletter recently completed. For the next issue (before May 1), we will want to add appraisal information. Karla will develop a contact list from all her meetings. The question of how to explain money pool issue to public was discussed, mitigation money from mall versus funds raised through taxes. The perception is that the public does not understand that there are CRT-related funds set aside from mall development that are not part of our local property taxes and that this money needs to be spent within five years on a rail trail related task or within 7 years on some open space issue.
6) Conceptual Design Development
What can we do despite limitations in our mission and limitations imposed by the reality of potential long term negotiations with CSX? Karla says that we need to educate ourselves, try to get an idea about what we want as a baseline wishlist, from surfaces to lighting, begin to compile a file of design possibilities enroute to eventually having a 25% design. Josh advises to ask the town boards and the public to weigh in on the process so that we can be most efficient in presenting out survey data when it is time to hire a design consultant. Jill suggests looking at the Minuteman trail system with three different surfaces in one small stretch of trail. Dick questions why we are not looking at other systems, asking what worked and what did not, says that we need to get out and see other trails.
Peter says we should prepare a list of questions to answer before we visit other systems, sort of a questionnaire or checklist. This was followed by an animated discussion of the proper way to proceed with funds that have been allocated. Josh suggests that maybe we invite a DCR representative to the next or future (January) meeting of the CRT task force.
7) Future meeting dates
Confirmed December 18th meeting date and suggested January 16th for future meeting subject to email response on members schedules.
8) Other business
Karla said that the website has been updated with minutes and new charge and newsletter.
Josh suggested it would be a good idea to send a representative of the task force to meetings of Conservation Commission and Planning Board to provide them an update. Karla said she would pursue this.
On a motion by Josh, seconded by Karla, and approved by all, the meeting was adjourned at 8:43.
Respectfully submitted by Matt Daniels and Karla Sangrey
| 
