Minutes, May 16, 2005

Dutchess County/Putnam County AT Management Committee
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference
Minutes of 190th Meeting
Monday, May 16, 2005 7:00PM East Fishkill Library

Attendance: Jim Haggett, Ron Rosen, Frank Dogil, Jane Geisler, Salley Decker, Walt Daniels, Fred Gerty, Gerry Richardson, Richard, Randy, and Roger Woodin, Joe Cantatore [], Mike Arthur, Pat Collella, Diane Bamford, Al Marotta [14 Zerner Road, Hopewell Junction 226-5220, fmarotta@frontiernet.net ](16)

Bob Woodin missing person report.

Roger Woodin 855-0578

Richard Woodin 855-0320, Cell 591-7044

Note: It was learned immediately after the meeting that Bob Woodin was no longer missing. Many thanks to all those locally, at NY/NJ TC, at ATC, and at NPS who immediately geared up to locate Bob. Another reason to be proud to be associated with the AT!

FYI and FYA items were circulated:

FYA (For your action):

• Appalachian Trail Museum seeking memberships
• As they arrive

FYI items:

• Public hearing notice on small Route 52 subdivision
• Letter of thanks to Greg Rayburn, Chief, Beekman Fire Department
• Report to Don Owen on ConEd’s request to cut “hazard” trees
• Photos of April 14 brush fire near Rt. 55 parking area (sent to NPS & ATC)
• Relocation proposal sent to Don Owen – two short stretches north of Long Hill Rd.
• Poughkeepsie Journal article (2-19-05) “New Locator Technology Saving Lives in Outdoors”
• Breakneck Ridge Trail ranked #1 in 2004 by www.trails.com
• Environmental Reviews schedule dated May 10, 2005
• “Houses Along the Appalachian Trail” from May 6 New York Times
• Duell Hollow roadside clean-up May 21
• Report on repair of Morgan Stewart pump
• Nature Conservancy 2005 hike schedule
• Others as they arrive

• Review and approval of minutes of the 189 th meeting held March 21, 2005. The minutes for this meeting can be found on the web at http://www.nynjtc.org/committees/trailscouncil/at-committees/DP/agenda/index.html. Concerning Mike Arthur’s report: Jerry did not take all the deadfall. In regard to the question of online submission of incident reports, Walt noted one cannot currently file incident reports online. Accepted as published.

• Old Business, short updates, etc.:
• Water Projects status
• RPH well upgraded and Nuclear Lake (Robson house) well has been drilled, two older wells (one in basement) have been capped; project is complete. RPH cabin well underway, nearly complete. Needs final testing of the water, and the new pump is backordered, due shortly. Work being done by Hyatt. Fred asked about management agreement for the Nuclear Lake caretaker. Roof repair is under way now, Pattie has been sent to Denver for NPS training. Jim mentioned that the pump at Morgan Stewart shelter has been repaired. George Muller assessed the problems, ordered the parts, brought them in, and repaired the pump. George also reported a big fire ring near the pump. (Jim)
• Testing – Student Conservation Association (Ron). Discussions have taken place with Pasquale Stroccia, SCA, regarding SCA picking up the Public Lands Corps project originally slated for YRDC which is now defunct. Like YRDC, SCA is a youth organization and NPS is willing to transfer the $20,000 funding to them. The proposal under consideration is to have one project leader with 2 to 4 interns with the project covering a four month period starting July 15. One difference from the YRDC is that local housing will need to be provided. As time and resources permit the project could be expanded beyond boundary work to include construction of additional bulletin boards.

Jane and Gerry have collected water samples, Jane did Wiley and Messerschmitt, Gerry did Morgan Stewart.

• Bulletin Board replacement (Mike, others) - Some work done at RPH (holes and frame, hasn’t been touched for a month). The Nuclear Lake parking lot was discussed. We decided to hold off until after June 2nd for the install location.
• Hiller Brook project (Jane and Pat C.) – Jane gave Pat OK to clear debris from the river, this Saturday. One guy will bring a canoe and having one additional person would be helpful. There are blockages in the Swamp River, small stuff (Probably muskrat source). Will meet Saturday, May 21, at approximately 8:30AM. Pat’s number is 878-9702.
• ATC Regional Partnership Committee meeting (Ron & Walt) - ATC is undergoing a total reorganization. Walt just came back from the Board of Managers final meeting. The Board of Managers had regional representation, the Board of Directors will have national representation and be much smaller. The new group, the Stewardship Council, will have regional representation. The RPC elected officers, and the Stewardship Council will be starting up in July at the biennial meeting. The RPC will act as a “Board of Directors” for the regional director (Karen Lutz). AT Board is gearing up for a completely new web site.
• Boniello property at West Dover Rd. – Walt suggested getting new photos from Cat Rocks and the Telephone Pioneers shelter. Frank was in the area yesterday—they are taking aerial photos and survey work has been recently done.
• Relocation plans (Nuclear Lake, Harlem Valley State Hospital & Long Hill Rd) - Don Owen , Karen Lutz, and archaeologist Mike Owens will be visiting June 2 and 3 rd to review the Harlem Valley review (then this), and then Nuclear Lake. We should contact Ken Lutters to invite him when they visit. We need to fine-tune the plan before they come (make sure we are away from the dump). Will gather May 22 nd 2PM at Askins Road. Walt, Jane, Frank, Jim, and Ron. Jim told about two other minor relocations south of Messerschmitt near Long Hill Road, both near the power lines. Currently the trail parallels the power lines for 130 yards, then pulls away. The relo will get the trail further from the power line clearing, and avoid ATV access to the trail from the power line ROW. The second one is more for aesthetics, and moves the trail away from a view of one of the houses.
• Mitzvah Day 2005 (May 15) – project review. Mitzvah-Ihsan day provided five volunteers. Project completed by noon.

• ConEdison tree removal request (Jim): Jim went out with Con Edison (and the contractor) to review 13 trees that they want to remove near the AT crossing. Some of the trees they had viable reasons for removal, others the only reason seems to be that the trees are tulip poplar and will be big and weak in the future. Con Ed’s cutting last summer included some NPS trees, but there were no boundary trees marked by Hartmann’s work. Walt mentioned ConEd is exempt from a number of state laws (e.g., wetlands rules), but Fred noted that DEC forced ConEd to move some lines installed on state land. The committee recommends that NPS use this request as leverage to complete the ConEd ROW acquisition, otherwise we should say “no”..
• Picnic July 18 th potluck. Diane will do the food organizing, (914) 669-0225, or email at dbamford@pgmgroup.com . Arrive 5:15 or so, eat at 6:00.
• Other items?

• Reports:
• Area Supervisor Summaries:

Jane Geisler wrote to DC Highway Dept. about protecting the oak tree from parking, and hasn’t received an answer yet. Jane talked with the head of the Highway Department, Craig Bentley, and he said boulders aren’t likely to be an acceptable solution. Jane has three new maintainers, and all info has been sent to NYNJTC. Brian Slocum will take over from John Lounsbury, Tom Lint is taking over from Al Fitch, and Martha Lee and Jane Delaratta are taking over from Jack Levin from Hoyt Road to Deuel Hollow brook. Jane has done field reviews with all of them. The Trails Council is meeting on June 2 nd discussing blazing techniques, Jane would like to know more about the reflective blazing materials.

Frank Dogil has nothing new to report.

Mike Arthur is waiting to hear from Bootrax (Steve Norbutt) to see if we can recruit him as a volunteer. Jim sent an email to Alan King in the middle of the last week, he has done 52 to 84 and will do 84 to Depot Hill in the next two weeks. Jim reported a brush fire at Nuclear Lake near the power lines on April 14 th. Pat Robson called Jim, and he checked it out on the Saturday, April 16th.

Jim Haggett mentioned the wetness on the trail near the RPH cabin. Due to the lay of the land and the clay soils, it holds water severely. Tim Messerich’s group would like to do some form of turnpiking for the trail. Walt suggested bark chips before fancier techniques are used. Should use geotextiles as the base.

Walt Daniels is down one more monitor—Ray Barnes retired. Walt just got a note from Dick Redfield (Graymoor monitor), and the shrine is becoming further improved (shed, picnic table, etc.). Walt needs his yearly meeting with Graymoor to discuss this overdevelopment and other issues. Walt has finally received the Putnam county Hartmann maps. We need to order two more sets for distribution.

Other reports: Chair’s report—nothing not already mentioned above.

• Mid-Year reports due in June!!!

• The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 PM.

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