Town of Mansfield

Parks Advisory Committee

February 7, 2007

Mansfield Community Center Conference Room

7:30 pm

 

Members Present: Julianna Barrett, Jean Haskell, Susan Harrington (Chair), Tom Harrington, David Silsbee, and Kendron Silsbee.

 

Town Staff: Jennifer Kaufman

 

  1. The meeting was called to order at 7:32 pm.
  2. Tom Harrington serving as secretary.
  3. Approval of minutes: no minutes were available from last meeting. Discussed the need for written minute available within 48 hours.
  4. Opportunity for public comment: no public citizens were present.
  5. New business: Signs and banners for the Little League at Southeast Field were discussed. The league wants to be able to leave the sign up for the whole season. Julianna Barrett made a motion to “allow Mansfield Little League to display sponsor banners for the duration of the regular season [to be defined] at Southeast Park.” Motion was seconded by Jean Haskell. Motion passed unanimously.
  6. Continuing business: The committee is still working on trying to attract more members. The drainage problem at Dunhamtown Forest has been fixed by a Boy Scout. We are still waiting on a management plan for Merrow Meadow. Susan Harrington will be doing this when spring arrives. Porter Meadow has been turned over to the conservation committee. Deerfield Lane Open Space land management plan was submitted. David Silsbee motioned to accept the plan as written. Seconded by Julianna Barrett. Motion passed unanimously.

 

The Boy Scouts will be camping out at fifty Foot. It was discussed whether or not the BSA could help with the drainage problem at Fifty Foot.

 

FOMP programs have not been getting large enough numbers to run.

 

April 4th will be the annual volunteer recognition day prior to the next committee meeting. UConn will be honored for their help with the parks. A workday schedule was produced.

 

Jennifer Kaufman is working with Greg on subdivision trail monitoring. Susan Harrington is working on the final IPANE report for 2006. David Silsbee will be working on the management plan for Schoolhouse brook Park, including the Larkins and Morneau properties. Kendron Silsbee will be working on the plan for the Torrey property. The Eagleville Community Garden was discussed, but, no action was taken. David Silsbee will be working on the Dunhamtown Forest with respect to the addition of the Sibley property.

The possibility of getting together a nature center was discussed. It was decided to hold a more complete discussion at the next meeting. Board members asked if they could invite other interested parties to this meeting. Some member felt that the committee should put together a concept plan. No decisions were reached with respect to the nature center process other than the discussion for next meeting of the committee.

 

Jennifer Kaufman reported on the possibility of making a handicapped accessible trail around Bicentennial Pond. A question was raised about the possibility of this due to the rather steep slopes around parts of the pond. No decision was made.

 

7. Meeting was adjourned at 8:45 pm.