Opinion: Recreational Path Committee Says Time To Move Forward

A letter to the editor from Gerard Noumi:

The Recreational Path Committee has spent the past three years researching potential rail-to-trail conversion opportunities within Lynnfield. The reports from our committee are posted on the Town website and include our three presentations to the Board of Selectmen.

In our 3/18/19 presentation, the Committee made the following recommendation to the Board of
Selectmen: Based upon all the findings that we have located to this date, the Recreational Path Committee recommends to move forward with the design phase so that residents can see the complete engineering documents. This would allow the residents to see how their properties would be affected.

The Lynnfield Finance Committee voted in favor of the Special Town Meeting warrant item allocating the funds for the final engineering designs. The current timing would allow Lynnfield to take advantage of a $100,000 state grant that has an upcoming expiration date. The Finance Committee's position aligns with the Recreational Path Committee's recommendation as it allows the community to see the final design, and answer further questions about the project during the permitting phase.

No additional action is needed by the Recreational Path Committee as our group already has
recommended to proceed with the final design. At this point the decision of whether or not to proceed falls within our community to leverage Town Meeting, which is the most democratic process of all.

Gerard Noumi