The Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission met on February 5 and mainly went over developments on the Point Road Path.
Vice President of Sippican Lands Trust Jeff Doubrava spoke first. Doubrava sought a letter of support from the commission for near the corner of Route 6 and Rocky Nook Lane, on the Rocky Nook Lane side, “kinda meander up towards the back side of the site away from the river and end up at the junction of the site with the Grassi Bog.” This project stems from the desire to connect two conservation regions, Sparrows Mill maintained by Sippican Lands Trust, and Grassi Bog, maintained by Buzzards Bay Coalition. Doubrava explained it would both give visitors more places to walk and offer more places to park.
MOSAC Chair John Rockwell explained this item was not on the original agenda, and thus a decision could not be decided at this meeting. The next meeting of the commission will likely be attended by Doubrava to formally put forth this request.
The commission then approved the schedule of its meetings for the next year, approving it as well as continuing to hold meetings at 6:00 pm.
Rockwell moved discussion to the Point Road Path, specifically to cover material recommended by engineers. “All the recommendations, they all coincide,” he said, referring to gravel and stone-dust popularity. Rather than committing to the whole path now, Rockwell recommended they test it on a smaller portion of trail first.
Member Norman Hills responded, “I don’t think we should be doing anything until we’ve figured out what’s going to be done.” He added, “it’s not going to solve the problem that’s out there.” Member Kitty DeGroot pushed Hills for an alternate next step, to which Hills recommended hiring an engineer to do a cumulative plan of the whole project.
Conservation Commission member Shaun Walsh explained the original grant proposal from 2019, saying “the specs were three inches of gravel for subbase to be topped with three inches of stone dust. Neither one of those materials has been used in the construction of this path.” Walsh went on to say he believes what is being worked on now was not what was originally submitted to vote at Town Meeting in 2019. Walsh added that he agrees with Hills’ desire to seek out an engineer.
Rockwell went back and forth with Walsh until member Tom Friedman said, “this brings us no closer to a solution.” The commission came to a consensus to seek estimates for consultations with an engineer. The commission will need to schedule a special meeting before February 20, as that is the final date to submit for the grant to support further work. Otherwise, they will have to wait a year.
The next meeting of the Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission has not yet been scheduled.
Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission
By Sam Bishop