Friends of Webster Trails
June 6, 2011
Board Meeting
Present: Hal Harris, Larry Yost, Craig Pratt, Alisa Kokx, Norma Platt, Dennis Kuhn, Ted Ellstrom, Jeff Darling, Karen Mischler
Guests: Shari Gnolek
The May minutes were accepted as presented.
Ted Ellstrom has resigned from the board. Hal acknowledged his contribution to FWT.
Alisa has volunteered to take over the responsibility of intercepting email to FWT and will copy the board members in on the responses.
Treasurer’s Report: Craig reported the balanced to be: checking $2737; savings $3351; petty cash $139; total $6227. The Ken Lou grant contains $4200. Expenses were $263. Income was $80.
Jeff will send Geoff Kelly a “thank you” and T-shirt for his contribution.
Membership: Dennis reported that are 137 memberships with 50 members renewals due in June.
Rick T. would like more photos of people working on the trail for the FWT newsletter.
The Democrat and Chronicle is looking for Webster stories for the Webster edition.
Hikes: The June hike is in the Arboretum with Carol Brown. The May hike was rained out.
Habitat Report: Habitat volunteers did 2 projects. The first was working on the Bird Sanctuary trail to help with Garlic Mustard eradication and also cutting multiflora rose. The seedling pines in the small meadow were worked on also.
Scout Projects: No update on the Four Mile Creek project.
Trails: Hojack. Peter Elder and the Village Parks and Rec. next meet with Jake Swingley. Peter was asked for estimate on price to complete Phillips Rd. to Hard Rd. He asked FWT to put together an estimate for the surfacing. We proposed a trail 8 feet wide; with stone dust. We are requesting that this surface be extended from Phillips to Klem Rd.
Mr. Elder stated that the DEC is requiring that the cross ties remain in place. Hal spoke with Rails-to-Trails and the Regional Transportation Council and both said that it will probably be a maintenance nightmare if the ties are left there.
Hal and Rick Williams walked the tracks and Rick prepared an estimate. The estimate is for 3000 tons of 0’s and 1’s, 1,500- cubic yards based on 1.7 miles from Philips to Hard and 1.3 from Hard to Klem.
Hal needs a meeting with Jake Swingley and Joe Hurbst as a crucial next step.
Gosnell: The work day involved 15 people. Larry took some of the folks and worked on the trail, clearing vines, branches and stumps. The rest cleared woody plants from the small meadow.
There is a “sign issue.” FWT signs at Gosnell are being stolen and need to be put into concrete.
Drainage pipes need to be put in on the small meadow trail.
Jeff has pipe and he would be interested in trying sloughs.
Whiting Rd: The blue trail is wet and has issues from traffic – boot and hoof prints. Buzz Whitman has done an excellent job of surveying and documenting the “maintenance opportunities” in WRNP. The next workday is planned for July and should include the blue trail.
Jeff will weed whack around the new trees in the parking lot and will purchase enough mulch to put ½ bag under each of the new trees, with newspaper under the mulch as a weed barrier.
The Girl Scouts will help on July 9th.
Four Mile Creek: Larry and Rich have been there with chain saws. Nothing else to report.
Jeff will get a new load of 0’s and 1’s for Whiting Rd. for the July work day.
Volunteer Waiver Form: We have a new form and want everyone to sign a waiver – a fresh start on the forms and FWT will keep a record of who has signed a waiver. The binders with the volunteer waivers should be at work parties. Mark Y. should get a copy of each waiver and they should be renewed annually. Everyone who is working should sign a waiver form. People on hikes do not need to sign a waiver (but, we should have a form so that they can provide their name, phone and email.) There is currently no process for a hike list. (To be continued at the July meeting.)
Webster Village Days: This year the Village Days will be in the gazebo area. FWT will participate.
Shari showed her sign proposed for posting at the work day site a week in advance. Board endorsed her initiative.
Comfort Care wants to have a nature trail.
Hal will take a look at 200-300 foot nature walk (fall to lay out trail.) FWT role will be as a consultant.
Dennis Kuhn has again spoken with Holly Cumberland who owns acres next to FMCP property. It was suggested that the Trust for Public Lands could possibly help to broker some kind of deal with Ms. Cumberland.
Norma will call Gay Mills to find out who replaces Clark Wallace so that someone there can talk with Ms. Cumberland about obtaining the property or a possible easement.
FWT should also get Ron Nesbitt on board regarding the Cumberland property or go to the planning board regarding a conservation easement.
Dennis will call Ron Nesbitt.
Parking Lot for July Meeting: Talk about a hike form (why do we have people sign in, what do we do with the information, what info. to collect, etc.)
Next meeting: July 11 at 7:15 – 8:30 at the North Ponds Lodge.