2007-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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OTHER MATTERS Report of the (A) The Committee has spent much of its South Cape Beach State Park time at meetings this year with its concern Advisory Committee of the future of the "Park" We do not wan, to see it lost to the Citizens of the Commonwealth. Selectman George To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the "Chuckie" Green addressed the Citizens of the Town of Mashpee "Committee" at our October meeting and stated that the Wampanoag Tribe is a part. The South Cape Beach Advisory Committee ner under the 1993 Memorandum of ("Committee") at its meetings during the year 2007 Understanding(MOU). The Tribe is honor- considered and made various recommendations rela- ing that MOU which was signed by himself, tive to the use and management of the South Cape Part of the MOU states that the Tribe will Beach State Park("Park") and its amenities. participate in all projects under a manage. ment committee which is at WBNERR, TEN ACRE SITE - WAQUOIT BAY Selectman Green assured the "Committee" that there is no plan by the Tribe, and no A legal agreement has been put into place intention, to take over State Park land. between the State and the Town pertaining to the sec- Since the "Committee"'s establishment in tion of Wills Work Road from the easement to the 1977,our goal has been to guide the conser. beginning of the 10-acre site. There are plans to move vation and recreational use of the 'Taff', the entry gate closer to the road. There will be an The paramount goal in all planning objec. agreement as to how access to the site occurs. tives is preservation of its natural scenic Questions over the ownership on the easement were beauty. The development and use of the bought up at the October Town Meeting. A meeting park is limited to sunning, hiking, fishing, with Town Counsel is scheduled for January 2008,and nature interpretation,non-motorized biking, i it will again appear as a Warrant at the May Town and recreational use consistent with the l Meeting. The gate needs to be closed evenings during fragile ecology of the site. the summer. However, it needs to be closed late enough and opened early enough to allow access to (B) The "Committee" welcomed aboard Allan the area. Morris as WBNERR's new supervisor of the South Cape Beach State Park,following HUNTING Joe Souza's retirement. Hunting is not a permitted use of the "Park" (C) The "Committee" was saddened to learn of under the terms of the 1981 "Agreement", but Town the death of former Chairman MorrisJ Bylaws do not prohibit such activity, and thus, the participant in the „ Kirsner. He was a major p P matter is submitted to the Committee for its consid- State obtaining 400 acres in Mashpee by eration each year. eminent domain which became South Cape Accordingly, the "Committee" in 2007 again Beach State Park. He went on to help form considered whether or not hunting should be permit- the South Cape Beach State Park Advisory n Committee and became its first chairman. ted within the "Park" during the 2007-2008 hunting g He served the Town and State honorably in season. The major issue to be determined was this position until his retirement in 2004• whether or not hunting at this time was compatible and consistent with the current use of the "Park". He is greatly missed. (D) Relative to the"Park",there are a number of There were no incidents reported pertaining to planned huntingg durin the 2006— 2007 huntingseason. The facilities that were proposed and p "Committee" voted unanimously to allow hunting for for by the State but have not been imple- the 2006-2007 hunting season. This recommendation mented. They are: to permit hunting is again probational, and will be considered and reviewed each year. As in the past, (1) Showers signage will be posted in all safety zones as well as on (2) Toilet Facilities P Y 3 Wills Work Road. O Changing rooms 158