Dutchess County/Putnam County AT Management Committee
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference
Minutes of 172nd Meeting
Monday, July 29, 2002 RPH Shelter, East Fishkill (after Picnic)

NOTE: Since this meeting was attached to our potluck supper and picnic, we dispensed with the correspondence, communications, and reports except as indicated below, to our next meeting, Monday, September 23rd, 2002.

Attending: Ron Rosen, Fred Gerty, Salley Decker, Walt Daniels, Sara Ohliger (Americorps/Dutchess Land Conservancy), Chris Lane (YRDC/PLC), Greg Heneka (new volunteer),Bill Beehler (ADK maintainer), Joe Hrouda, Michele Miller (ATC), Mark Hudson (AMC Maintainer), Tim Messerich (ALDHA member, AT museum director), Josh Erdsneker (NYNJTC staff), Jane Daniels, Frank Dogil, Ollie Simpson (ADK Maintainer), Jane Geisler, Pete Senterman, Kerry Borchardt (AMC Maintainer), "Yogi" Bob Morton (through hiker) [count: 20].

The meeting was called to order by Chair Ron Rosen at approximately 7:40PM.

0. The following items circulated (part way around) as part of the "For Your Information" (FYI) packet:

Jim Haggett and George Muller Incident Report -- Kim Lane; Hiker-health article on the Norwalk-like virus that affected 1999 thru-hikers; June 17th Water Sample results: ALL NEGTATIVE! (Way to go Sara!); AMC/CT Trails Committee minutes (June 4, 2002); Letter from Ron Rosen to NYS DOT re Maybrook Multi-modal corridor study; Letter from Leo Maloney, NYS Outdoor Writers Assn. -- thanks for participation; Note from Scenic Hudson & copy of Pok. Jnl. Outdoors article; Thanks note for Great River Sweep (Swamp River project); Pok. Journal article on Stormville area land use (East Fishkill master plan).

The following items were in the  "For Your Action" (FYA) packet:

Verizon Phonebook Photo request: Does anyone have photographs, slides, or JPEG or TIFF digitial images of the AT that you would be willing to have published in the Verizon Telephone Book "Inside Look Magazine" section of the book? Please contact Ron Rosen ASAP if you have any contributions you think they might be able to use; 2003 ATC Grants-to-clubs info (Deadline 9/1/2002).

1. The minutes of the 171st meeting (June 17th, 2002) and this meeting will be reviewed/approved at the next meeting.

2. Urgent business, short updates, etc.:

A. Acquisitions issues: Camp Siwanoy, Starkdale Farms updates: Ron Rosen reported that the Trust for Public Land option to buy Camp Siwanoy had expired a few weeks ago, and the Westchester/Putnam Boy Scout Council had subsequently negotiated a purchase agreement with a private party, ??? Jones from Pawling. The more recent information is that this negotiation, which a few weeks ago appeared to be close to closing, may have fallen through, and that TPL has reopened negotiations to acquire the property (with ultimate transfer to NYS DEC as state forest land). If this property ever does end up in private hands (i.e., the TPL/DEC negotiation falls through or the state cannot find the money to buy the property), then we should acquire full fee ownership of the NPS easements. Also, we may need to acquire a ROW to allow vehicles to get to the well/pump location. Ron asked those present to report any information (even rumors) to him so we can act quickly if necessary.

We have received word from Guy Hasler (who lives adjacent to the Oak Tree on West Dover Road) that Starkdale Farms, the property north of the AT on the west slope of Corbin Hill, is up for sale. We have no further information on the specifics. Ron discussed this parcel briefly with AT Land Trust people during the presidents' meeting last month. Anyone with new or additional information should pass it to Ron ASAP!

Walt Daniels mentioned that New York State OPRHP has completed acquisition of the lands between the Camp Smith Trail and the Hudson River. He noted that the Camp Smith Trail is now opened over its entire length.

B. Brief report on AT Presidents' meeting: Jane Daniels reported on the meeting. Representatives of most of the AT maintaining clubs were present, and issues relating to the future of the ATC were the primary agenda items. Jane's observation from the meeting is that our management committees are way ahead of many of the maintaining clubs in dealing with issues beyond trail maintenance, such as monitoring, land acquisition, etc. Josh Erdsneker described his perspective on the meeting as a new NYNJTC employee, and felt that (as a recent through hiker) that it was very educational to see the "other side" of the AT. Josh detailed the volunteer recognition program that was announced at the meeting by the NPS representatives, involving a four-grade recognition program [pin, patch, cap, and fleece vest] that the maintaining organizations can adopt. Each item has a suggested range of volunteer hours (cumulative) that the local clubs can hone for their own needs. He handed out pins to those present [requirement, 8 hours service]. Ron Rosen noted that one of the main items on the agenda was the ATC strategic plan, and ATC will make changes to the plan (and the planning process) based on the meeting. Ron was subsequently invited to a strategic planning meeting (which he cannot make), and our participation will be requested for later stages as well.

C. Caretaker training: At the AT presidents' meeting, Ron had the idea of creating a new training program for our caretakers (and any others interested). It would involve modules of training lifted from existing programs (especially ridgerunner training) and be offered in our area. Topics would include Leave No Trace, shelter and campsite maintenance standards and issues, and training as "user contact" people. John Wright of ATC has suggested that the training be done as a two-day program, and suggested we start in Spring 2003.

D. Sara Ohliger described her water testing results. Her early information on the July testing round is that one of the wells failed on Total Coliform. For this round, she forgot to bring her spout-cleaning materials, and perhaps that was the source of the contamination. She will do one more regular round of testing before she leaves her Americorps position at Dutchess Land Conservancy. DLC hopes to have her replacement hired so we can have the new person continue testing in September. We gave Sara a round of thanks for her great work for the last (almost) two years!

E. Chris Lane, the Public Lands Corps Americorps co-leader, explained that the PLC has been in the field for three weeks now, and has three more weeks to go. The crew has been putting up No Hunting signs on Depot Hill's boundary where we directed them to go, and they will work on the Nuclear Lake/Pawling Mountain Club boundary next. It was requested that, if they have time after finishing that boundary, that they move to Schaghticoke Mountain and refresh the boundary painting there. Chris did not know if YRDC intended to hire fall crew leaders and members.

3. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:20 PM.

Submitted from memory by Ron Rosen.