Dutchess County/Putnam County AT Management Committee
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference
Minutes of 167th Meeting
Monday, November 26, 2001 7:00 PM East Fishkill Library

Attendance: Ron Rosen, Jane Geisler, Jim Haggett, Frank Dogil, Fred Gerty, Mike Arthur, Salley Decker, Walt Daniels (8).

The meeting was brought to order by Chair Ron Rosen at 7:16 PM

Poughkeepsie Journal (approximately) printed our Hunting Season press release!; Dutchess County Planning Federation Newsletter (11/01); AMC/CT October 2, 2001 and November 6, 2001 Meeting Minutes; Bergen Record article 11/6: Tory Tract’s purchase in Ringwood Area; Copy of letter to Don Owen from DEC (New Paltz) re Telergy Fiber Optic Cable (Route 22) accepting input through November 16, 2001; Don Owen’s Environmental Review Trailwide Master List; Mountaineer (Keene Valley) Press Release; 10/16/01 Water Testing Results; Louis Mills Article Reprint re Open Space Protection; Reprint—review of Bob Binniwies’ book;

The following items circulated in the FYA collection:

A reminder Email from Dan Chazin to assist in updating in updating and rewriting the AT guide (esp. adding history, featutures, etc.)

Anyone else want Email only meeting and minutes notification?

1. The minutes of the 166th meeting, October 15, 2001, were accepted without change.
2. Meeting Centerpieces:
• We tentatively scheduled our meetings for 2002, subject to their availability on the Library master calendar. Ron will fax the application to the Library staff soon. The dates are 1/15/02, snow day 1/16/02, 3/12/02, snow day 3/13/02, 4/29/02, 6/17/02, 7/29/02--picnic, 9/23/02, 11/12/02, 12/30/02, snow day 1/6/03.
• We reviewed the goals list from the first meeting of 2001 and set some preliminary goals for 2002 (we will finalize this list at our first meeting next year).
• We then held a small holiday celebration.
3. Other business, short updates, etc.:

1. Acquisitions and Survey update: We need a summary of Hartman’s work. Ron will Email Chuck Blauser to get a list of the tracts surveyed in the last two years, and will ask for updated survey maps as available. We will then compare the information to our list of tracts needing survey and develop a revised list.
2. DOT project update: Jim Haggett reported nothing new—the treadway repairs are still anticipated.
3. Cell tower update: Once again, Jim had nothing new to report.
4. First week of hunting season observation: no one present had any specific incidents to report. YRDC’s PLC crew was able to do some legal boundary posting on segments 267 and 268, but they did make some errors (posting land on the wrong side of Route 22 at Hurds Corners, for example)
5. Water Testing and well-related plans and problems: After some discussion of the most recent results (Wiley and RPH wells tested OK before and after disinfecting the spout; Morgan Stewart tested positive for coliform before disinfection, OK afterwards, and Messerschmitt testing positive for coliform before and after spout disinfection), we concluded that we need a table showing results over time. Ron will ask Michele to determine if she (or anyone at ATC or NPS) can provide us the longitudinal history of the testing results. If not, we will have to research our old meeting records to reconstruct the data. We will then be able to take a look at the somewhat bigger picture to guide our future handling of this problem. We then discussed the options for repair of the RPH well: Michele Miller wanted to know if we had any problem with contracting out the repairs/changes recommended vs. having volunteers do some or all of the work. Given that some of the project requires professional work (extending the casing, acquiring and installing a new pump), it makes sense to us to contract out the RPH well project.
6. Telephone Line at Dover Oak Tree update: Ron has not heard anything new from Verizon since the last meeting. He will Email the main Verizon contact to get a status update.
7. YRDC Public Lands Corps Contract Renewal/Application: YRDC is putting together a new application for renewal of their grant/contract for the next year. They will be submitting for approximately $20,000. We will request modification of the contract so that DPATMC supervisors are notified about work done on a weekly basis (can be done by Email). We will also include more spot-checking by DPATMC during the work season to determine compliance with standards. Their work for the next year will include freshening blazes that have faded out and those that were missed in previous years. They will also finish installing the legal hunting posted signs on 200’ spacing (our evidence is their work this year used wider spacing). Ron will contact YRDC to ask them to use better nails for the signs, such as the longest galvanized roofing nails they can obtain.
8. Fire Closings: Schaghticoke was closed by CT/AMC shortly after the forest fire there went out of control (around November 17th) and this effectively closed our trail there as well. At the ATC Board Meeting on November 17, Pam Underhill issued a trailwide prohibition of open fires and smoking until further notice. It is not known if either ban has been lifted yet.
9. Morgan Stewart Privy status: Mike Arthur reported that the Sentermans had moved the privy, and neither he nor Ron has received a confirmation as to how the former privy hole was covered. We received an Email complaining that the old hole had been inadequately covered and a scout in a troop using the site fell in to his knee. Mike will try to get an update from Doug Senterman.
10. Open Area and Ag Permit Status and Plans: Charlie Dennis has mowed between Hurds Corners Road and Route 22 [on his permit], and he mowed the I-84 overlook on 11/20. Jim Haggett will ask Charlie to submit a bill to ATC ASAP. The Ernie Hasler and Eddie Cook permits need renewal (they expire the end of December). Frank Dogil has received copies of the permits from Michele Miller, and he will contact Hasler and Cook to determine if they wish to renew the permits. Since Jim Haggett will be calling Charlie (re the bill), he will also ask him if he knows who is mowing (haying?) the west portion of the Lockwood tract, and to see if he is interested in picking up all or part of that tract as an addendum to his permit. Ron Rosen will contact the Kings to see if they are interested in a grazing permit on the field(s) adjacent to their grazing fields, and at the same time sound them out on donating a small Right of Way near the Hoyt Road parking lot (presently only a scenic easement) so we can move the trail off Hoyt Road using most of the relocation recently scouted and rough-cut by Jane Geisler.
4. Reports
1. Area Supervisors Summaries:

Jane Geisler reported on the Schaghticoke fire, including circulating some articles and pictures provided to her by Bob Woodin. She noted that the former Ray property is now owned by the Kleins, who have executed a no-build easement on most of the steep cliffs and hillsides with the Dutchess Land Conservancy. Ron suggested that Frank Dogil attempt to make contact with the Kleins as large neighboring landholders. Jane commented that DOT has relocated the Route 22 hiker crossing sign so that hikers don’t turn into Bill Kikillus’ driveway by mistake; she noted that Bill was able to expedite this change through his contacts in DOT. Maintainer Henry Jamin (West Dover Road to top of Corbin Hill) has requested a power weed whacker; we noted it is not NY-NJ Trail Conference policy nor practice to provide such tools to individuals. He could contact George Muller to attempt to use the sickle-bar mower for this area, although it may be difficult to get it to the trail. Ron noted, and Frank Dogil confirmed that Ed Cook’s present Special Use Permit includes a clause requiring him to mow the trail area when the grass/vegetation exceeds 15" tall AND we so notify him. IF he renews the permit we will have Henry contact Ed Cook to do the major cutting work specified in the permit.

Frank Dogil noted ongoing ATV traffic at Johnson Road; he will continue his mapping project to identify the routes on Hammersley Ridge. He will contact Walt to GPS the routes after hunting season ends.

Mike Arthur had nothing to report.

Jim Haggett reported that there is evident ATV activity at Back Court. Working with George Muller, they visited a middle-aged resident in the area who had an ATV in his driveway, but who said he does not use the AT lands. This man said others in the neighborhood also own ATV’s, but didn’t offer any names. Jim has a new monitor, Barry Mark, who attended last year’s monitor training; he will monitor from Route 52 to Interstate 84. Walt indicated that he did not receive paperwork for the appointment, so Jim will resubmit the information to Walt directly. The RPH shelter was closed for the season on November 19th, until April 1st. Jim noted an entry in the RPH shelter log indicating that Herb Hepburn died on October 24th (84 years old). Herb was involved in the early trail building efforts in the area.

Walt Daniels explained that officials at Camp Smith are forcing the closure of at least part of the Camp Smith Trail (at least the lower southernmost half). He does not believe any of the AT will close, but the side trail from the AT to the top of Anyhony’s Nose may be in question; Walt plans to place signs warning users to stay on the trail, as hikers (and others) have wondered off the trail onto Camp Smith lands. The Camp plans to reactive their firing range for gunnery practice given their mobilization this fall. One of the problems is that none of the State Park land has been surveyed, so boundaries are at best vague. Walt also received information from the Putnam Valley Town Historian Steve Anderson detailing the presence of Revolutionary War structural remains on the NPS corridor just north of Canopus Hill Road. The site involves two foundations for buildings that constituted an Inoculation Station, where soldiers were inoculated against smallpox. Walt has arranged for Jim Johnson, regional military historian based at Marist College, to join him and Ron for a field visit, probably on December 7th. Right now noone is talking about closing the trail (the two foundations are about 17’ on either side of the trail). However, we should not "advertise" this site, as Jim is likely to want to arrange for an archaeologist to review the site.

2. Other reports –

ATC Regional Meeting Report: Ron and Walt attended the meeting at Boiling Springs, PA in October. Ron circulated a packet of materials from the meeting. One item of interest is the outline of a powerpoint slide show that ATC is making available for presentations to a variety of audiences. The "slide show" is actually a collection of around ten different shows, on various topics such as The Cooperative Management System, the history of the AT, and the ATC Land Trust. The show can be used with a PC and a video projector, or simply a laptop for a small audience, and the show can be recustomized for specific presentations. Another topic at the meeting was the formation of an Ad Hoc committee to study issues related to Group Use of the AT, and the organizers are planning a meeting at the Scott Farm in PA on December 8th.

Walt Daniels reported on the recent ATC Board meeting. The board passed a policy statement that reiterates the NPS and ATC stand against advertising on the corridor. One interesting discussion involved adding language to the Local Management Planning Guide describing "Desired future conditions" for the trail and trail facilities where appropriate. The board also spent a while reviewing the ATC budget, which needed to be cut to match revenue decreases, and some staff cuts are likely.

5. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 10:00 PM. .

Submitted by Frank Dogil (until the holiday celebration) and Walt Daniels (who picked up for the remainder of the meeting), with post-processing support by Ron Rosen.