Update on Driftway Path, Mr. Stewart; Mr. Stewart provided the Members with an expense sheet that reviewed the funding sources and budgeted project expenses. He explained that construction had started on the next phase of the Driftway Trail. He was pleased to report that the contract had come in at $223,000, which he considered a very good price. In addition because of some engineering redesign they were able to eliminate the cost of $35,000 to lower a retaining wall. Thus allowing an additional 250 feet of guard rail to be installed and also allowing for the berm on the corner of Old Driftway and Kent Street to be cut down more giving the people coming off of Third Cliff a clearer view which provides more safety for the bicyclists and pedestrians. Mr. Stewart said the engineering services were approximately $32,000. The design and permitting of the Herring Brook Bridge was budgeted at $35,000. They have $10,000 budgeted for trail improvements which includes handicap accessibility improvements. $20,000 has been set asides for the foot bridge although at this point that is on hold, and there is $11,500 for contingency. He feels that they are in pretty good shape financially. Mr. Stewart did say one thing they are looking at is the 1,400 feet of railing from the transfer station up to Driftway Park which is currently a wood rail. If there is enough money they may change that to a steel rail, it’s not as pretty but it is safer.

Harbor Walk/Marine Park/Driftway Trail Connection Project; Mr. Stewart and Mr. Patterson wanted to inform the Members of a separate project which links to the Driftway Trail that they are currently investigating. A project description was passed out. This would be an elevated trail that would link the Harbor Walk and The Driftway Trail to the Scituate Marine Park. The group is working on a budget and would like to bring the project before the CPC for funding in connection with grant monies.

Open Space with Selectmen and Affordable Housing Trust; Mr. Bulman restated the Board’s desire to do a project in conjunction with the AHT looking at a larger acquisition, namely the Goulston Property on Hatherly Rd. The concept for the project would be a low density senior housing on half of the property, financed with AHT monies matched with CPC monies and for an open space/recreational use on the other half of the property. Its development, but controlled development that meets the Town’s needs not the needs of a developer. Based on the senior housing study done at Central there was a waiting list of 180 people. Mr. Bulman has not yet talked with Mr. Goulston, nor is he sure who should approach him and he does not have a number in mind. Mr. Hallin, speaking for the AHT, is in favor of pursing this idea. He feels it is a good mixed use and would probably get neighborhood support, especially if the proposed project was for 50 to 100 units versus the 250 originally approved for the Poulty development. Additionally, it is an area of town that is lacking in recreational resources.

Mr. Murray commented that every big project like this starts with a very ordinary discussion and it is great to bring it up in this context. He went on the say that because the Selectmen supported funding the AHT he felt they would support this project all the way. Mr. Murray did caution that for any plan to come to success it would require neighborhood support. The mixed use of open space, recreation and senior housing would be the way to go. He’ll furnish some contacts from the Board of Selectmen to the CPC. It was also mentioned that because it would be such a large purchase for the Town it could be a phased project, it certainly didn’t need to be done all at once.

Artie Sharpe/Noreen White – CPC Website and Brochure; Mr. Bulman asked Noreen to come in and update the members on creating a web site that could also be translated into a brochure. Mr. Sharpe explained that the new web site would be separate from the Town’s web site but each would contain a link to the other. He explained the multiple reasons for this. The site would be hosted on their servers because of the technology involved, control over the “up time” (making sure the site is up 100% of the time), and it would provide more flexibility for updates to the site, and it would allow the new site to be more user interactive. Mr. Sharpe went on to say that his company would create a URL specific to the Scituate Community Preservation Committee, separate from the Town and it would be on the search engines as such. Mr. Sharpe gave a quick estimate that the initial start up costs and design would be somewhere between $1500 and $2000, with a yearly cost of $200 for the hosting and the ownership of the name. Anything beyond that i.e.; updates or new pages usually costs $50 and hour. Mr. Bulman asked if it would be possible to have the site up and running by February or March at the latest. Mr. Bulman asked Mr. Sharpe to provide the CPC with a written proposal.

Mr. Murray suggested that Mr. Bulman inform the Town Administrator about this project.

Path Update – Mr. Bulman reviewed the PATH phases (1. was design, 2.was construction from N. Scituate to Hollett St., and 3. was Hollett St. to Hatherly Rd.) he reported that the bids for construction of phase two were opened and the low bid of $245,000 was accepted, which is about $200,000 under budget.

Stacey Weaver of the Scituate Animal Shelter introduced herself. She mainly wanted to listen and understand the types of projects the CPC does and how CPC works with other boards in the Town. Currently the Scituate Animal Shelter owns 5 acres, of which they don’t fully use. She wants to explore any options may work for both the CPC and the Animal Shelter.

7. The Mirachi Property – After review of the Mirachi application for eligibility it was determined that the project is eligible for CPA funding. MOTION BY Mr. McKain, SECOND BY Mr. Wood and UNANIMOUSLY VOTED 7-0 that the Mirachi Proposal is eligible for CPA funding.