Visitor’s
Services Board
Meeting Minutes
September 5,
2007 10:00 a.m.
Judge Welsh
Hearing Room
Members
present: Kathleen Fitzgerald, Laurel
Guadazno, Michael Peregon,
Mick Rudd, and
Rita “Hersh” Schwartz.
Member absent: Peter Bez and Rob Tosner (excused absences)
Staff: David
Gardner
Others: Patrick
Eleey, Sharon Lynn, James Mack,
and Barbara
Rushmore.
The meeting was reconvened at 10:10 a.m.
Public Hearing to
receive comments on the design and landscape improvements proposed for the
Waterfront Memorial Park.
Barbara Rushmore
presented her plan to the Board members.
It was detailed as to locations and types of trees; the members read
it. She also had many comments on the
VSB’s proposed plan which had been done by Patrick Eleey of Atwood Group Landscape
Architecture.
Barbara R. said she is very much in favor of
replacing 7 trees at no cost to the VSB.
The trees would be 3 pines, 2 shad, and 2 tamarisk. She went on to detail every element of her
plan and to comment on it. She thinks
replacements for the dedicated trees could be accomplished. Also, she felt that we should have drinking
fountains out on the wharf. We, too,
should urge the Harbormaster to put ladders into the harbor so that if anyone
fell into the water, they would have a way to pull themselves up.
She then went on to elaborate on her proposal
(which had been denied at the April town meeting) for beautifying the Ryder
Street Extension portion of the MPL.
Barbara R. was thanked for her input and plan.
James Mack spoke next and
said that he really likes Patrick Eleey’s proposal and he feels that a good
compromise would be leaving trees where they are. His Beautification Committee was supposed to have a meeting this
summer but he was unable to get a quorum.
Patrick Eleey’s plan had
already been presented and digested by the Board.
Comments from the VSB.
Hersh Schwartz was happy with
the walk-thru of the park. She likes
Patrick’s plan and would like having the walkway where it is. She likes plantings on the bulkhead side and
also feels that we have 8 benches and she doesn’t feel that we need any
more. Too, she likes taking down part
of the fence on Cabral’s end, but wondered how far down the greenery would go
because the restaurant might not like it.
She also likes trees on the Ryder Street area but questions how many we
really need. She further suggested that
if you buy trees in the fall they will be half price. The plan mentioned having several flagpoles but she would like at
least one flagpole.
Michael Peregon
weighed in next; he thinks we should remove the cement bumper stops but put in
a heavy wood fencing along that area.
It would provide safety and would be economical, as well. He is opposed to a cement curb. He also wants ladders considered again. He further felt that instead of two
materials – use only one material to go underneath the benches. It would be simpler to do a boardwalk for
the whole thing.
Laurel Guadazno next
voiced her opinions: The trees are so
large that they shouldn’t be moved and she agrees with everyone’s comments and
would like only one material used for the walkway. We’re all pretty much in agreement.
Mick Rudd said that his
experience on Lopes Sq was that - in the end - there were hard decisions made
about low maintenance and Lopes Sq is very successful. If we can just apply the same success to the
waterfront park, he would incorporate all the suggestions made so far. The bulkhead is part of the park but the
boat ramp is a different issue; it has to remain free for use. He will be meeting on the transportation
feasibility study. It could be
federally funded and the Board of Selectmen (BoS) might not approve the
renovations to the waterfront park because it may be ruined in the future. We should make the waterfront park a goal for
next year.
Kathleen Fitzgerald
said that everyone seems to be in agreement and maybe they’ll be coming up to
the BoS with the big picture. Making it
user friendly and not like a blight on the waterfront will be their main
proposal aim.
Patrick Eleey said that he will make adjustments
to his plans, i.e., using only one boardwalk material will be a savings as
opposed to concrete. The original plan
had an 8 ft wide boardwalk. He would
like to give the planting strips a bigger space – it would mean picking up the
benches and re-anchoring them. He then
continued aloud detailing how he would redo the plan to incorporate all the
suggestions he had received from the Board.
David Gardner said the Board should be cautious
about discussing potential improvements on private property, i.e., Cabral’s
pier, without properly notifying the property owner of the discussion. One of the Board members mentioned that
beautifying Fishermen’s Pier would be presumptuous. Barbara said that it’s not presumptuous – Bobby Cabral wants it
because it adds to the ambience of his property; he liked the idea. Kathleen F. said she will reconfirm with
Robert Cabral - his permission for the improvements planned.
Laurel G. said that the terms “restoration and
refurbish” would be a good choice of words when presenting the plan to the
BoS. Mick R. agreed, changing the
language changes the perception of ripping out.
Patrick will try to have a redone plan to
present to the Board at their next meeting.
Public Statements
None.
Steering Committee on MacMillan Pier
Transportation Center
The BoS
is reactivating the steering committee on the MacMillan Pier Transportation
Center, and Mick Rudd has been appointed by the Chair to be the VSB’s
representative. The steering committee
originally met back in 2006 based on the Feasibility Study dated January 6,
2006, which identified two alternatives – landside and waterside. The steering committee dissolved after a
short time due to a lack of consensus regarding the two alternatives. The reactivation of the steering committee
will pick up where the discussion left off.
Mick Rudd will be the VSB’s representative, and David Gardner will
represent the Tourism Office.
Michael Peregon, expounding on the uniqueness of
Provincetown, said that we have a real road, a real airport, a real harbor,
etc. and he’s been really disappointed with the fact that the town hasn’t
become a real transportation center.
Mick Rudd said he could use a little direction
at this point before going to the meeting.
Basically the proposal that consultants came up with in January 2006
raised the confluence of opportunities in town. The other consideration is that if we are the terminus of all
this bus service and ferry service - they have come to the conclusion that this
terminal has to be on the waterfront.
It would be all be contained in one building – components are combining
transportation services in one building, i.e.,
ticket purchases, etc. so then it becomes very attractive to the state
and federal funding services. The
consensus coming from the Board is that – no, it will not be on the
waterfront.
Laurel Guadazno would rather see a transit
center at Shankpainter Road where the buses current are parked. She felt that it doesn’t have so much to do
with the ferry as with people coming in by bus.
Hersh Schwarz said that originally it was wanted
to have all the buses go into the MPL and that didn’t work but having the buses
go out to Shankpainter now leaves the MPL a far more pleasant place.
Kathleen F. said that we can’t take any more
crowding in the downtown area. Buses
along the waterfront are not attractive.
But it is clear that there is no consensus from the VSB as to where the
transportation center should be located.
Business Summit
David G. said they have received an invitation –
they are seeking the VSB to be a sponsor of the business summit. They are inviting us to be a
co-sponsor. The summit will be held on
October 18th with a social hour from 6 – 7 p.m. followed by the
meeting. The invitation came from the
BoS. Kathleen F. said our previous
chair was a proponent – so this announcement is just to put it on our
calendar? David G. said he needs a
motion.
Motion:
Move that we participate as co-sponsors of the Business Summit.
Motion:
Michael Peregon
Seconded: Hersh Schwartz Vote:
5-0-0.
Art in Windows
David G. said that we do have a display at Logan
Airport of 50 student art pieces from the Art in Windows collection. Bill Schneider had scheduled photo
opportunity at the airport on September 11, 2007. MASSPORT needed to reschedule that date. The photo shoot was intended for the kids
and their parents to get recognition, but was to include the Town Manager,
School Officials and others. We were going to get the ferry service to donate
rides to Boston. Because school is
starting, and the ferry season is about to end, it was thought that
rescheduling the photo shoot would be too onerous at this time.
David G. is looking to the VSB for other ways to
help market the Art in Windows display at Logan Airport and bring recognition
to the kids. Michelle Haynes of Cape
Air will make the art a feature story in her inflight magazine.
Hersh Schwartz said this is her pet project and
she thought perhaps funding a busload of interested kids for a couple of hours
would get us some media exposure.
Laurel G. said a bus to Boston would cost $900. She would rather spend the money on next
year’s projects.
Hersh S. said that Lisa Fox feels that she will
have more costs for her art in windows project. Everyone says, “Yes you can put art in my windows.” but she’s afraid that she will be having
more art than windows. Laurel G. feels
it’s a great project - but - the VSB logo slapped in the middle of the art
should be a “no-no.” We should present
the work professionally and respectfully.
David G. will check to see how the monies for the project were accounted
for in last year’s budget.
Conwell Lumber gave the posters to the VSB at
cost. Laurel said that there’s a grant
available from an art group and the funding source is very pro children.
Motion:
Authorize the present acting director to expend up to $400 for the art
in the windows project.
Motion:
Mick Rudd Seconded: Michael Peregon Vote: 5-0-0.
Hersh S. with David G.’s help will do a letter
for business owners regarding the project and the setting up of dates to
install art.
Mick R. wants to look into a school sponsored
Logan trip to see art at airport.
If the school would like to do a field trip to
Logan Airport to view the exhibit then the school should sponsor and organize
that trip.
Tourism Director’s Report
David G. said that he really doesn’t have much to report at all. Just two things – 1) he has met with Chuck
and Bill is doing an ad schedule for 08.
We are on track and we have 2 remaining ads to be placed on the 07
calendar. Chuck already had directions
on these so there is continuity in the ads and 2) David G. is working with the
town accountant to make sure that funds are being reimbursed for future commitments. Bill has already made his reservations and
we’ve reimbursed him for that; we’re working to see that those funds will be
returned.
Approval of Minutes – August 10, 2007 and August
24, 2007
Motion: Approve the minutes of the August 10th meeting.
Motion: Laurel Guadazno
Seconded: Hersh Schwartz Vote:
4-0-1 ab (MR)
Motion: Approve the minutes of the August 24th meeting.
Motion: Laurel Guadazno
Seconded: Michael Peregon Vote:
5-0-0.
Old Business
Michael P. said that the sign committee has not met for the last few
weeks. It’s in process and we’ll move
it through.
Laurel G., when asked, said that she has no walking tours arranged.
New Business
Discussion
on the amount carried over will be discussed at the next business meeting.
The next meeting will
take place on Tuesday, September 18th at 10:00 a.m.
Adjournment happened at 12:05pm
Respectfully
submitted,
Evelyn Gaudiano
E. Rogers Gaudiano
Approved by_________________________ on
_________2007
Kathleen Fitzgerald, Acting Chair