The Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission met on Thursday, August 6, in the Music Hall. They reviewed the commission’s funds, the Point Road Bike Path’s status, Grassi Bog maintenance, and other regular business related to maintaining their properties.
The meeting began with the approval of the minutes. Then Chair Norm Hills moved to discuss the MOSAC (Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission) conservation lands acquisition stabilization funds, noting that as of July 21, there was $252,000 and “some change.”
There was discussion between members over what funds could be used for, depending on their source, such as Community Preservation Committee funds being allocated to specific projects already. Member John Rockwell noted money/funding is not necessarily an issue for MOSAC, “I don’t think the money, in terms of what we want to do with money, is our problem. Because we can ask for money, and we’ve been very successful in getting money when we ask for specific tasks.”
Next, the commission continued the ongoing discussion on the Point Road Bike Path and its contract status. Hills said the “contract status is it doesn’t exist right now. There is no contract.”
Rockwell noted engineers said insurance costs ballooned too high and requested the town “adjust fees.” Rockwell noted the commission is awaiting a reply on insurance options, which will then allow them to offer a re-proposal on the contract.
“I think we have enough money to work with. We just need a different proposal to review and approve,” he said.
Next, they moved on to discuss Grassi Bog, which it was noted Hills and Rockwell recently walked. They discovered various invasive trees requiring removal, as well as splotches of knotweed. It was noted that maintenance on Grassi Bog would also trickle into maintenance on neighboring Goldovitz Bog.
Next, Rockwell states the Select Board had entered into an agreement with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, to which a possible violation in the Wetland Reserve Program was detected, requiring an inspection delegated to MOSAC by the Select Board.
The next monthly meeting of the Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission is scheduled for Thursday, September 3, at 6:00 pm.
Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission
By Sam Bishop