Dutchess County/Putnam County AT Management Committee
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference
Minutes of 173rd Meeting
Monday, September 23, 2002 7:00 PM East Fishkill Library Cross Conference Room

Attendance: Ron Rosen, Jim Haggett, Frank Dogil, Pete Senterman, Sally Decker, Mike Arthur, Walt Daniels, Gerry Richardson (8),

0. The following items were circulated in the "For Your Information" (FYI) packet: Packet of results and follow-up from ATC Presidents' Retreat (June); Scenic Hudson Community Events calendar, September 2002; Mountaineers Books partner offer; Hudson River Valley Ramble Trails Festival brochure (September 21-22); Letter from Gerry Richardson thanking us for Group Workcamp participation; August 2002 water testing results (Messerschmitt and Morgan Stewart negative, no results for Wiley [not functioning correctly] and RPH [not clear why not tested]); NYSDOT Maybrook MultiModal Corridor Study Public Meeting; Hiking article from Times Herald-Record 7/16/2002; Dutchess County Planning Federation Newsletter; NYNJTC Annual Meeting packetBincl. Bylaws revisions, Mtg. Agenda 10/27/02; FROGS Fall 2002 Newsletter

Urban & Community Forest Council newsletter "Taking Root"; Pok. Journal Editorial on ATV Laws 8/24/02; News Service Article 9/20/02 re Farm & Wetland Protection Plan (Neil Zimmerman Email)

Scenic Hudson September and October events.

The following item was circulated in the "For Your Action" (FYA) packet: Dennis Kloepping's address and Email [update for Committee members personal reference].

The meeting was called to order at 7:15 P.M. by chair Ron Rosen.

1. The minutes of the 171st meeting, June 17, 2002, and the 172nd meeting, July 29, 2002, were approved as published.

2. Meeting Centerpiece: Discussion of Incident Handling based on dog bite incident last week (9/19):

Through hiker Michael [last name withheld] was attacked by a pair of dogs while hiking on the AT at Stormville Mountain Road. One dog jumped up and bit his pack, and the second dog bit him on the leg through his pants. Within a few seconds a person appeared, perhaps the owner, who was able to get the dogs off of the hiker. It was getting close to dark, and the hiker [who was uncomfortable hiking in the dark as he had sprained his ankle in Bear Mountain Park a few days earlier] declined aid offered by the person.

When the hiker arrived at Morgan Stewart Shelter, he finally realized that there might be major concerns like rabies. He called his mother the next day and told her of the incident. She became concerned, and among other things, got on the NYNJTC web site and used the Trail Condition report form to send a message, describing the incident and asking for help. On Saturday evening Walt Daniels read the messages for info@NYNJTC.org and found her message. Since Walt's daughter was getting married this weekend, he was only able to refer her to Ron [and not handle the message himselfl]. Ron called the mother for details, and found out that her son started feeling ill that day [Saturday] and left the Trail at Kent, CT to seek aid. He had flagged down a State Trooper, who arranged transport for him to Sharon Hospital; at the time of Ron's call the hiker was awaiting treatment at the Emergency Room at Sharon Hospital. . Ron let the mother know the precise location of the incident, and that we have experienced a number of dog threat incidents at that location over the years [principally, the dog Sheba]. Ron attempted to contact Rich Robbins of the Dutchess County Health Department Saturday night, but he was away until mid-day Sunday. The hiker, after calling his mother Sunday morning, called Ron, who arranged to meet him at Sharon Hospital. The hiker gave a detailed written report on the incident, and Ron took pictures of the bite [now almost three days old]; then Ron took the hiker back to Kent to resume his hike. The hiker agreed to check in with Ron regularly for information on the dogs' rabies status, etc.

By Tuesday [tomorrow] morning, we should be able to determine the ownership of the dogs; the plan was for representatives of the Dutchess County Health Department to arrange for the dogs to be kept indoors for another week for observation [to rule out rabies].

At this time, our goal is to determine if the dog Sheba is one of the attacking dogs, and if so, to work with the authorities [including the East Fishkill Dog Control officer and others as required]. We agreed that, if this incident involved Sheba, that we would work with the hiker and his mother to develop a dangerous dog complaint and, as appropriate, to seek legal or judicial action.

[LATER INFORMATION, inserted in the minutes to inform those interested of the further tracking of this case: Neither of the dogs involved was Sheba. The ownership of the two dogs has been determined, the dogs were observed through Monday, September 30th and rabies has been ruled out. Michael has hiked into Massachusetts, and then flip-flopped to Katahdin, where he and another hiker he rejoined in MA encounted severe weather including 90 MPH wind gusts...but they made it up and down the mountain. We have not yet successfully contacted the East Fishkill Dog Control officer to file a formal complaint. Gerry Richardson has checked current hiker registers at RPH and Morgan Stewart, and has determined that others this season have had threatening incidents with dogs at this location, but this is the first recorded bite to our knowledge. We still intend to pursue the complaint, and the hiker's mother says Michael would recommend the attacking dog be put to sleep, noting that had he been a young child he could have been severely injured. While we don't expect this to occur at this time, we will encourage the authorities to issue at least some form of dangerous dog citation to the owners.]

We briefly discussed the incident handling of this incident from a more general perspective. The concerned mother used whatever sources she could find to pursue her concerns about the dogs, and it took her about 24 hours to actually reach a DPATMC volunteer. We may want to provide additional information on the NYNJTC website to ease contacting of our volunteers in an emergency, and we need to check the info available on ATC's web site that would assist an interested party in reaching us. Perhaps we need to develop an ongoing relationship with the town animal control officers, at least for East Fishkill.

3. Other business, short updates, etc.:

A. Acquisitions and Survey update:

1. Parcel near Nuclear Lake along Route 55 (Town of Beekman interest)

The Dutchess County Environmental Management Council took a look at the list of properties that Dutchess County has seized for back taxes and intends to auction this fall, and identified parcels that either the towns or other agencies should consider for public acquisition. This parcel was identified as one that might be of interest to the Town of Beekman or the AT community. The parcel runs mostly parallel to Route 55 part way down the hill west of the AT crossing and the existing parking lot at the top of the hill. Part of the property coexists with the NYSEG Power Line ROW. It appears to be immediately west and down hill from the smaller parcel that was recently developed with a single-family dwelling. Gerry Richardson has done some field investigation, but didn't have enough information to locate the parcel precisely. Jane Geisler reported to Ron Rosen in a phone call that she had checked out the parcel also, and felt that it might be useful for development of trail parking and a side trail to the AT and the Beekman Uplands Loop. Ron and Gerry discussed the parcel in advance of this meeting, and Gerry recommended to the Town of Beekman that they request the parcel be withheld from the upcoming auction at least to allow the Town to determine if it might be interested in acquiring the property. Walt noted that the NPS might be willing to acquire the parcel if it were available at little cost. We decided the property needs further investigation to determine if its topography would permit parking. We feel that without parking the parcel would be useless to us. Mike Arthur and Gerry Richardson agreed to make a site visit later this week to determine if parking would be feasible on the site..

2. Jane Geisler's note to Ron also identified five acres of the Beinert property on Hosner Mountain Road in East Fishkill. This parcel looks interesting, and we need to determine whether it includes the Beinert house. Jane Geisler had noted that the Beinerts had been the first in Dutchess County to sell land for the trail around 1980.. Jim Haggett will make a small attempt about finding out the status before he leaves for a trip this coming weekend.

3. Canopus Hill Road Inoculation Station/Huts: A site visit was held on August 8th with Jim Johnson, Don Owen, and Karen Lutz present, to get a handle on the probably boundaries of an acquisition. It was felt that we need an archeologist to determine the extent of the huts and any other significant features; however, Don Owen was unable to deploy an NPS archeologist. Walt will ask for a Trail Conference volunteer to do the archeology.

B. DOT project update: Jim Haggett reported that the DOT promises something will happen soon, but it hasn't yet. He has been in contact with the project manager, Tom Broadhead, but doesn't have specific dates yet. Jim also noted that there has been graffiti painted on the underpass of the Taconic parkway. Joe Hrouda reported the problem to the East Fishkill police.

C. Water Testing & Water Project Update: Apparently the Wiley well is not working; presumably, the leather is shot. We tentatively scheduled a work trip for Monday, October 7th; Ron, Walt, and Mike said they would be able to help, with a start at 9A.M.. Ron will ask Jane Geisler if she is available also. Ron will contact the Dutchess Land Conservancy to determine when they will have a replacement for Sarah Ohliger on board, and confirm that the new person will be available for our ongoing water testing program.

D. Telephone Line at Dover Oak Tree update: To date, Verizon has not started any work on site. We believe they are working with Don Owen for required clearances from NPS.

E. Public Lands Corps Summer Results and YRDC Fall 2002 plans: Ron circulated copies of two spreadsheets detailing the results of the summer crews, including boundary painting, monument status information, and posting of some "No Hunting" signs. There will not be a separate fall PLC crew, but YRDC plans to deploy some existing youth program participants this fall to complete the hours in the agreement. We discussed the highest priority projects for them to perform, and determined they should either do additional Hunting Boundary Signs and/or work on new Bulletin Boards. The work is expected to occur in October and November. Specifically, they will post hunting signs until we get a bulletin board design. Ron and Walt will meet after the work trip for the Wiley Well to work out the design and layout of the bulletin boards.

F. Alvarez encroachment (Hosner Mtn.) Follow-up: Jim Haggett reported no signs of any work at the site; Bob Gray has passed the contracting managment to Michelle Miller; she is working on it. Allen's Tree Service has been selected to perform the on-site work.

G. The Wiley Well work trip scheduling was handled in item 3C above.

H. Ron announced that Rita Hennessey will be working with federal DOT assistance on Road Crossings Review, with field work in our area scheduled for October 22nd. They plan to survey Route 9D, Route 9, Route 55, and Route 22. It was suggested that they add the Route 52 crossing in Stormville. Walt has pictures of the crossings. Anyone interested in being involved should contact Ron.

I. NPS Presidential Service Award: Ron has been contacted by Rita Hennessey for nominations for a new National Park Service Presidential Service Award, recognizing those volunteers who have devoted over 4,000 hours in NPS-related volunteer efforts. The recognition is based on a speech that President Bush gave in PA recently urging each American to give at least 4,000 hours of service as a volunteer in their lifetime. The initial round of awards was hastily arranged and required a response before this meeting, so Ron had to approximate which volunteers have reached that figure in their lifetime. Ron reviewed some of the available paperwork, including AT Trail Building trip logs from 1980 through 2002, monitoring reports and Trail Maintenance reports, and submitted a list based on this information and appropriate extrapolations to cover the data he did not review. Accordingly, his submitted list included Walt Daniels, George Muller, Jane Geisler, Ron Rosen, Bob Woodin, and Joe Hrouda. If anyone else feels he or she has provided 4,000 or more hours of NPS-related volunteer work, that person should contact Ron for inclusion in a subsequent list; it is expected that this program will continue into the future.

4. Reports

A. Area Supervisors Summaries:

Jane Geisler's written report stated that Bob Woodin has informed her of new posted signs on the Camp Siwanoy Boy Scout property identifying the owner as "Quaker Valley Farms," which Jane identified at Tudor Jones of Pawling. Jane had checked with Ed Hoxsie, who said that Tudor Jones' other place uses the "Quaker Valley Farms" name. Bob Woodin also reported to Jane that the pump at Wiley Shelter is not working well. Hikers are treating water from the surface including the old cistern. It was suggested that we should ask the NPS to obtain a legal Right of Way across the former Siwanoy Rifle Range for vehicular access to the well site for future needs.

Frank Dogil explained that he has been responding to a call Ron received from a Trail Neighbor on Johnson Road, south of Harlem Valley State Hospital, just north of the CMH and Brown properties.. The neighbor has a stone wall in his back yard which may be the NPS boundary, entirely on NPS land, or entirely part of his backyard, and we was requesting that the NPS dismantle the stone wall or allow him to do so, as it seems to be harboring snakes that he would rather not have adjacent to his back yard. All ATC and NPS people that Ron contacted affirmed that, if this wall is on NPS property or is part of the boundary line, that we should NOT allow any removal of the wall to occur. Furthermore, it is possible that the snakes are rattlesnakes, and are protected by NY state law. Frank agreed to visit the site to attempt to locate the actual boundary line. Frank has visited the site, and took pictures, but was not able to find the boundary monuments in the vicinity. He has obtained [this evening] survey maps, and will visit the site again in an effort to pinpoint the boundary. Frank also noted he now has a monitor vacancy, as Alan Ripin has resigned as a monitor.

Mike Arthur reported that Eagle Scout candidate Keith Gordy has done work on West Mountain, including clearing in the vicinity of Cat Rocks and has installed new tent sites at Telephone Pioneers shelter. Most of the road crossing signs that Fred Gerty provided have been installed. He needs some "No Camping" signs for some trouble spots. Ralph Ferrusi has done some trail clearing in the area of West Mountain; unfortunately, Ralph may have unintentionally disturbed some of the rare plants along the blue trail to Cat Rocks, and we need to notify Georgette Weir, the Rare Plant monitor for that site.

Jim Haggett said that he has been in contact with Bob Gray on the ATV incursions near Kim Lane, as well as Jim and George Muller's encounter there with a rather unpleasant state policeman. Bob will send a letter to the identified residents at the end of Kim Lane, and also Bob will be contacting the state police to make them aware of the needs of our monitoring volunteers to be working on boundaries abutting people's back yards while resolving ATV [and other] trail land incursions. Since Jim and George visited the area there have been no further ATV incursions. NPS contract surveyors [presumably from Hartman's firm] are out on Hosner but have not finished installing new monuments. Concerning the RPH well improvements, Jim spoke with Michele Miller and there may be a problem getting money, as the NPS' budgeted funds may need to go to the Robson's well this year. The recent forest fire along the Trail north of Route 301 has left an ugly scar. Fortunately, the Trail may have acted as a fire break preventing the fire's spread to the east of the trail. Much of the mountain laurel in the area has been damaged.

Walt Daniels has been refreshing fire danger posting, as Bob Gray feels that conditions still warrant prohibition of open fires and/or smoking, at least until we receive substantial rainfall. Walt assisted the NPS with temporary closing of the AT during the recent fire in Fahnestock Park. He has been working with NPS to remove a hazard tree at Chapman Road, getting estimates, one at $1200, one at $750.

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

Submitted by Walt Daniels, with brief assistance by Pete Senterman at the start of the meeting and post-processing by Ron Rosen.