MINUTES Joint Meeting of the

Warwick Open Space Committee and
Prospective Members of The Moores Pond Beach Committee



May 25, 2010



The meeting was posted and convened by the Warwick Open Space Committee
(WOSC).

Present (WOSC): Mary Williamson, Chair; George Day, Vice-Chair; Clare
Green. 
For Moores Pond Beach Committee: Matt and Kathy Connelly, Jim
McRae, Fran Prohaska, Dave and Beverly Shepardson, and Glora Varno.



The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. at 19 South Holden Road.
Meeting Minutes:  Clare Green kindly volunteered to take the minutes at
this first meeting.  All preferred to have a rotating secretary take the
minutes at future meetings.



1. Update Re Purchasing the Land


The closing took place on 5/24/10 at Les Black's office. George Day
represented the Town. Neil Chadwick was present.. George circulated a
photograph taken at the closing, and distributed extra copies of the
registered deed to M. Williamson and D. Shepardson. Sufficient donations
were collected to cover the $125 recording fee. An additional gift of
$22 was made to cover the reimbursement of property taxes due to N.
Chadwick at the closing.



2. Water Testing.


The first test of the pond water at the beach was collected on 5/24/10.
M. Williamson distributed an information sheet listing basic facts about
the testing company and the testing protocol. The invoice for testing is
not payable until October. The tests are $40 each, conducted weekly, and
include a technician coming to Warwick to collect the sample. G. Day
reminded the group that if the tests go well for two consecutive years,
the Town can apply for a waiver to reduce the testing frequency to
monthly. The testing period is Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
M. Connelly offered to be the contact person for the testing company
(544-2009); D. and B. Shepardson volunteered to be the back-up contact
(544-1806) Enviro-Labs will test only for E-coli. (See Mass Dept. of
Public Health regulations for testing requirements.)



Action: M. Williamson will contact Enviro-Labs to inform them of the
names and phone numbers of the new Moores Pond Beach Committee (MPBC)
contacts. She will also find out how soon the test results are known
after the test sample is collected.



3. Sheds



The two sheds are now empty. NeiI Chadwick cleaned them out while he was
here over the weekend. He had a campfire to burn some woody debris. The
fire was put out on the evening of 5/24, but it re-ignited itself the
next morning. (This suggests having a policy of no fires on the beach.)



6. Applying For a Beach Permit.



M. Williamson distributed copies of the DPH application form for a
public swimming beach. Fortunately, it is not a complicated form. It is
submitted to the Warwick Board of Health which issues the permit. We
will need to determine whether it is the MPBC or the Selectboard that
signs and submits the application form.



7. Signage



Discussed briefly what will need to be included on the signs posted at
the beach. It is important to keep the rules simple. David Young will
inform us of the text that the Town's insurance company requests be
included - and excluded - for the purpose of avoiding lawsuits. The DPH
regulations are specific about what information is required to be
included on the beach sign. They also specify details of the required
signage when the beach must be closed. The MPBC will work on proposed
wording for the signs.



Action Step: George Day will e-mail to every MPBC member the link to the
Mass. Dept. of Public Health website where the Public Swimming Beach
Regulations are posted.



8. A Celebration



Gloria Varno suggests holding an open ("block" type) party and ribbon
cutting to celebrate the Town acquiring the beach. This would be
scheduled once the following objectives are accomplished: removing the
sheds, installing the required signs, and building a fence or barrier to
keep cars from parking in the space formerly occupied by the sheds.



9. Removal of the Sheds And Gift of Picnic Table



Dave Shepardson is interested in acquiring the sheds. All those present
supported his receiving the sheds because it will be a help to have them
removed from the premises. Because each shed is worth less than $1,000,
the Selectboard is authorized to declare them surplus property, and to
sell them to the highest bidder without a Town Meeting vote. The
Selectboard's next meeting is June 1. Dave will request that the sale of
the sheds be on the agenda. There are holes under the sheds. We will
contact the Highway Department to see if they have some fill available
for leveling the ground.



Removal of the sheds frees up space for a picnic table. Beverly
Shepardson offered to supply one. If the picnic table is stored indoors
in the winter, it will last much longer.



10. Adjournment



The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.



Respectfully submitted,

Mary Williamson, from notes taken by Clare Green



Cc: David Young, Town Coordinator Warwick Selectboard

Warwick Board of Health

WOSC members: Chris Duerring, Mark Maynard, Keith Ross, and Maria
Whitney