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News/Events - Meeting Minutes

Members Present: Mrs. Donna Chisholm, Chairman, Mr. William Limbacher, Vice Chairman, Mr. Donald Walter, Dr. Nico Afanasenko and Mr. Thomas Yardley

Members Absent: Mr. Robert Vogel

Others Present: Ms. Laura Harbottle, Town Planner, Mrs. Patricia Vinchesi, Town Administrator, Mrs. Donna Bangert, Beautification Commission

See Sign-in List for names of others present at this meeting.

Location of meeting: Selectmen’s Hearing Room, Town Hall

Mrs. Chisholm called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA: Mr. Walter moved to accept the agenda as written. Mr. Limbacher seconded the Motion and the vote was unanimous.

Old Business, New Business, Correspondence, Administrative Items, Updates
Conversation with the new Town Administrator, Patricia Vinchesi

Mrs. Chisholm introduced the new Town Administrator, Mrs. Patricia Vinchesi, to the Board. Mrs. Vinchesi stated she is trying to meet with all the Boards and Committees to introduce herself. She said that that she will continue to have Development Review meetings. She asked the Board if they had any questions or any issues that she could be helpful with. Mrs. Chisholm stated that she had met separately with Mrs. Vinchesi. She said one of the things they discussed at the meeting was that some of the Departments are not interfacing properly. She said she is hoping this is resolved in the future as far as getting memos back on time etc.

Mrs. Chisholm asked Mrs. Vinchesi if Ms. Harbottle should be the one handling the flood grants. She said it takes up a lot of her time and wonders if another department should handle these. Mrs. Vinchesi asked Ms. Harbottle how long she has been handling the grants. Ms. Harbottle replied about three years. Ms. Harbottle stated that Mr. Kalishes, Conservation Agent, might be interested in doing them. Mrs. Chisholm said she feels that Conservation should handle them. Mrs. Vinchesi said she is looking at the mission of each Department and that she would discuss the issue with Ms. Harbottle further.

Mrs. Chisholm thanked Ms. Vinchesi for coming to the meeting and wished her luck in her new position.

Discussion – Support for Potential Improvements in Cole Parkway

Dr. Nico Afanasenko addressed the Board. He showed them a preliminary plan of ideas to improve Cole Parkway. His general concept is to improve what he feels is the Town’s best resource. He wants to be able to get people to use and enjoy public land. He stated he would like to ask for CPC support. His idea would be to expand the park to the south of the bandstand creating more green space, clean up the view of the harbor and connect this area to Front St. He stated this is an ambitious project and may have to be done in phases. He feels the parking lot should be redesigned to allow for multiple uses of the property. He would also like to improve pedestrian safety as well as traffic flow. Dr. Afanasenko said he wanted to officially bring this to the Board to gain their support.

The Board discussed the plan. Some of the things they talked about were short-term parking spaces close to the merchants, the south entrance/exit being two rather than three lanes and how to tie this into CPC funding. Dr. Afanasenko stated that he would like to keep moving forward with this project. He asked the Board for their advice on how best to do that and whether the Board would support the project.

Ms. Harbottle said that there are a few different people working on improvements and redesign of Cole Parkway. She feels it may be a good idea for Mrs. Vinchesi to appoint a coordinator so that everyone is working together under one plan. Ms. Harbottle and Mr. Limbacher mentioned that any plan should go before the Board of Selectmen. Mrs. Chisholm suggested that Dr. Afanasenko speak with the merchants for their input.

Dr. Afanasenko said he would like to put in a preliminary application for CPC money. He understands that the entire project would not be funded with CPC money and asked what other avenues he could look at for funding. Ms. Harbottle suggested the names of a few grants that he could look into.

Mr. Limbacher suggested Dr. Afanasenko meet with Mark Patterson, Harbormaster and Mark Stewart, Conservation Commission to ask them where they are with their plans. He also suggested that Dr. Afanasenko speak with Selectmen John Danehey, liaison to the Planning Board, to ask him his thoughts and then speak with the merchants. Mr. Limbacher stated that after these meetings, Dr. Afanasenko would have a better idea of where he is going and what he wants to propose to CPC.

Dr. Afanasenko asked the Board if he has their endorsement so he can approach others with this as a Planning Board project. Mrs. Chisholm stated that the Planning Board doesn’t oversee parking in town so an endorsement wouldn’t mean anything. Mr. Limbacher said he wouldn’t be able to endorse anything until the particulars were worked out. Mr. Yardley suggested that the Board doesn’t have to endorse a plan however, as a Board, they could recommend a committee be formed to address the design of Cole Parkway. Mrs. Bangert, Beautification Commission, stated that she is glad this is being addressed and would be happy to be involved with it. Dr. Afanasenko concluded by saying that after he speaks with more people, he will request this item be put back on the agenda to update the Board on his progress.

Stormwater Regulations

Ms. Harbottle said that she has made the changes to the Stormwater Checklist/ Application that the Board had discussed prior. She said she would also be making changes to some of the language in the Stormwater Regulations at the request of Mr. Duggan, Zoning Enforcement Officer. Ms. Harbottle stated that although the Board did not close the Public Hearing, due to the newspaper article, people might feel that the Public Hearing was closed and she thinks the Board should close this one and open another Public Hearing.

MOTION: Mr. Limbacher moved to close the Stormwater Regulations Public Hearing. Dr. Afanasenko seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.

Motion to Adjourn: Motion duly Moved by Mr. Walter. Seconded by Dr. Afanasenko and voted unanimously to adjourn at 9:01 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Maureen Galvin
Secretary
Planning Board

Dr. Nico Afanasenko, Clerk

Date Approved: