Mansfield Parks Advisory Committee 

Minutes for March 2, 2005

Members present:    Sue Craig, Jean Haskell, Jaqulyn Perfetto, Jennifer Kaufman.

I.  The meeting was called to order by chairperson Sue Craig, at 7:45 pm.  The minutes of 2-2-05 were accepted.

II. Continuing Business

A. PAC member recruitment continues and the Committee on Committees has been contacted.

B.  PAC reports:

1. Management.    Dunhamtown Forest management schedule  was reviewed and approved.  Eagleville Preserve’s land management plan was reviewed by Jean and Jennifer who had visited the site in February.  Assignments were made to visit sections of Schoolhouse Brook Park for it’s land management plan review at the April meeting.

2. There  were no park updates.

C. Parks Staff Reports

1. Natural Areas Volunteers, J. Haskell.

a. Official registration of volunteers continues.  Three  site reports were completed and returned.

b. Plans continue for the volunteer recognition event of April 6.  Perfetto moved and Haskell seconded that PAC order two plaques for the service awards.

c. The spring workday schedule was announced and advertised, with 9 workdays.

d. Sue will organize volunteer training dates for the summer butterfly count, due by March 30.

2. Friends of Mansfield Parks, S. Craig.

a. Nature center proposal surveys will be emailed soon.

b. Winter env. ed. programs are going well; spring schedule has been announced.

c. Sue will email info about the family activity guide for the Q-S grant proposal due in April.

3. Development, J. Kaufman.

a. Work continues on the Online Trail and Plains Road projects with Kristin Schwab.

b. The Commonfields grant proposal was submitted.

c. No new acquisitions to report.

d. The possibility of a new bond referendum for open space was discussed.  Perfetto moved and Haskell seconded that PAC supports the Advisory Committees and Parks staff efforts to prepare presentations for the Town Council about a new bond referendum acquiring open space, but that past and future acquisition must also be paired with land management funding. The motion passed.

4. PAC should submit a new name for the Plains Road park at the April meeting.

III. Other parks-related Town business.

A. Perfetto moved and Haskell seconded that PAC supports the comments of the Conservation Committee’s minutes of Feb. 22, 2005 regarding PZC File# 1214-2, Smith Farms Development.  PAC considers the proposed open space and trail as not usable by Mansfield public as a potential park, and that any land given to the Town as open space should also have a land management endowment.  The motion passed.

B. Perfetto moved and Haskell seconded that PAC supports the comments of the Conservation Committee’s minutes of  Feb. 22, 2005 regarding PZC File# 1225-Dorwart Family Trust.  The motion passed. 

IV.  Future Agendas.  April 6, Volunteer Reception at 7:00 pm, Schoolhouse Brook management plan review.  June 1.  October 5.

Respectfully submitted,

Jean Haskell,  PAC secretary

March 2, 2005