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MEETING NOTES
East Boston Greenway Coordinating Council
Harborside Community Center, Conference Room
Monday, June 21, 1999

map of the Marginal to Prescott Segment of the Greeenway
Click to see full map of proposed Greenway

Attending: Tim Abrams, Carolyn Banulis, Christopher Blacker, Valerie Burns, Connie Carbone, Louis Covino, Frank Durante, Dan Eksala, Karen Maddalena, Police Officer Stephanie Morrow, Representative Anthony Petrucelli, Mark Warren, Lauri Webster, Mary Ellen Welch.

1. Introductions and Welcome

After introductions and congratulations and welcoming Representative Anthony Petrucelli, we began the meeting by voting to accept the meeting minutes from the MAY meeting.

2. Goals for the Next Three Years

As a next step in formalizing the Friends of the East Boston Greenway, Valerie asked everyone to read a Statement of Purpose drafted by Council member Mark Warren. The Council then discussed several changes, including naming paragraph II "Statement of Proposed Activities", enabling the organization to engage in activities relating to membership. BNAF will forward the revised Statement to the attorney who is establishing the Friends of the East Boston Greenway. The Council is taking this action in response to a request by TPL with respect to $100,000 endowment.

The term "facilities" has a broad meaning and may refer to a restored marsh, or a bulletin board, etc. The term "personnel" might refer to maintenance staff, teens in the youth conservation corps, rangers or security guards. Council members are worried that agency owners will take advantage of Friends funds. The Greenway Council will invite the Friends of the Public Garden and Friends of Belle Isle to come to learn how those organizations use their funds strategically to challenge public owner. Sometimes their is a written agreement that outlines what is baseline condition, duties and responsibilities and what are embellishments.

3. Management Plan Working Group

Greenway Council members have always stressed how important it will be to keep the Greenway in good condition, safe, attractive and inviting. To meet this goal, the Council will be spearheading the effort to generate the Management Plan. The Management Plan will describe what the Greenway needs to be successful, what each owner can commit to providing, and strategies to cover the gaps. Soon it will be necessary to form a working group of all stakeholders (Council members, City of Boston Parks, MDC, Massport, CA/T Project, Boston Police, State Police, Boston Park Rangers, MDC Rangers, etc.,). The working groups first task will be to develop a scope and select a consultant sometime during the Fall.

The working group will probably meet during business hours, perhaps first thing in the morning or at the end of the day, since there are so many agencies involved. Council members should think about whether they might be able to commit their time to serve on the working group and report back and get direction from the Council at each Greenway meeting. Meetings will probably last for nine months to a year. BNAF will be drafting letters to agency heads.

4. Greenway - Conrail Corridor from Marginal to Porter Street

Construction of Phase I will start on Thursday June 24, 1999. Phase II was supposed to go to MHD’s project review committee in May, but the City of Boston is unsure whether it did go to the committee and will find out. Rep. Petrucelli may help us with any potential logjams.

To date, we have not heard whether the Boston Society of Architects will form a Task Force to look at the East Boston master plan and waterfront development proposals.

5. Greenway - Conrail Corridor/Bremen Street Park

Bremen Street Park is at 100% and there is little chance to impact park design issues, although there are still some outstanding issues: the Donald McKay sculpture (the empty head); concerns about the design of the security building in Bremen Street park; the disposition of the Scolly building; and the pedestrian entrance into Memorial Stadium. The project will not be including the mini-golf (putting greens) in the park. At the last meeting, several neighbors voiced their opposition to the community garden. Lauri summarized comments on the 100% submission . If there are any corrections or omissions, please let BNAF know.

6. Updates:

The CA/T is setting up a public process to write an RFP for the Scolly building. If no reasonable proposals present themselves within the next year or so, the project will demolish the building. The Scolly building is a railroad building with some historical significance and many Council members hope to see it rehabilitated and used in some way that both serves the community and complements the park.

Robert Cummings, the artist has resigned. He has already been paid his fee. The project will look into casting the McKay head. Other art is all set.

Valerie submitted comments on hotel proposals (The Atrium Suites in the bra factory and the East Boston Airport Hotel on the Yebba property) to Thomas O’Brien at the BRA for the hotels’ PDA hearing (copies distributed).

Sal had a meeting with Commissioner Cassazza and Mike Galvin on burying the utilities down Bremen Street in front of the new park. At the next meeting we will let you know the results.

We will need volunteers for the East Boston Greenway Festival in September. Call if you are interested.

7. Other Business:

The Eagle Hill Garden Tour is on Sunday the 27th; meet at the Kougeas Gallery in White Street.

Boston Police will be hosting their annual report tomorrow night at Spinelli’s. Officer Morrow handed out invitations.

END/ccmn699

These notes are written to the best recollection of the authors. Please let BNAF know if corrections are necessary within 60 days of the date of the meeting notes. Contact BNAF@aol.com

BOSTON NATURAL AREAS FUND. INC.(BNAF)
59 Temple Place, Room 558
Boston, MA 02111-1307
(617)542-7696
(Fax)542-0383
e-mail: BNAF@aol.com

Go to other Greenway meeting minutes