Minutes, July 18, 2005

Dutchess County/Putnam County AT Management Committee
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference
Minutes of 191th (Picnic) Meeting
Monday, July 18, 2005 7:00PM RPH Shelter

Attendance: 35 people signed the attendance sheet

• The following FYI items were circulated:

• Draft Environmental Assessments of proposed relocations
• Response to letter from Jane Geisler regarding request to block parking on West Dover Rd.
• Announcement of RAMAPO ’07, the 36 th Biennial Conference of the ATC that will be hosted by the NY/NJ Trail Conference.

Jane Daniels started with thanking all present for their work on the AT, and welcomed the guests.

Larry Wheelock, Trails Director for the NYNJTC, welcomed all present. Larry mentioned the Bear Mountain major AT renovation now in planning. There was a meeting today with Ralph Odell, representing NY State, trying to get the approvals from the state for the planned route.

Other guests included Karen Lutz, Pam Underhill, and Rita Hennessy; they had to leave early to go to a public meeting relating to Sterling Forest this evening, but said a few words during the dinner hour.

Jim introduced the guests from Pawling Mountain Club as well.

• Review and approval of minutes of the 190 th meeting held May 16, 2005: OK as published. The minutes for this meeting can be found on the web at http://www.nynjtc.org/committees/trailscouncil/at-committees/DP/agenda/index.html. There were no comments or changes made.

• Urgent Business, short updates, etc.:
• Water Project updates
• RPH & Nuclear Lake : Jim commented on the work done on the RPH well (behind our meeting site); the casing was extended, and pump was replaced, and the pad was extended. The wells at the Nuclear Lake house (2) were decommissioned, and a new well installed.
• Testing (Jane & Gerry): Results from the sampling done by Jane Geisler on May 9 and Gerry Richardson on May 16. Jane’s samples from Messerschmitt and Wiley were both OK. Gerry Richardson indicated that the retest (first sampled May 16) at Morgan Stewart shelter collected on July 7 still failed for total coliform. The Dutchess County DOH suggested we chlorinate the well.
• Bulletin Board replacement: Mike Arthur is not present, but we have an eagle scout working on three bulletin boards, including RPH, one at the entrance to Nuclear Lake, and just north of Nuclear Lake. Patty Robson indicated neighbors have been asking what is going on the new bulletin board.
• Funding requests needed ASAP. Major projects, funding, crew, and training, e.g. Hiller Brook project, brochures, etc: Jim noted we have only a few days to get in funding requests in for next year (due approx August 1 st to NYNJTC).
• Findings on Hiller Brook: The puncheon west of Route 22 needs extending, as Hiller Brook is backing up to the trail further. Jane estimates we need 200’ of additional funding. Jim will submit initial information to Larry. Ron mentioned that the DEC permit process needs to be involved—either a new permit or a renewal of the previous permit(s).
• ATC Biennial meeting held July 2 – 4. Jane Daniels commented we all had a good time, about 900 attended (down a bit for July 4 th weekend). The change in ATC’s name, logo, and image officially started at the meeting.
• Relocation plans ( Nuclear Lake, Harlem Valley State Hospital & Long Hill Rd (two small relos at Long Hill Rd)): June 2 nd and 3 rd Karen Lutz, Don Owen, and Mike Owens, an NPS archaeologist, visited to review the route for Natural or Cultural issues. We are now in the 30-day public comment period. We can probably move ahead in September with the work.
• Tim Messerich’s AT Work Crew results (July 8 – 10): Last weekend Tim’s crew put in turnpiking between the cabin and the brook. The work is not done yet; Tim asked to solicit any additional help this coming Saturday at 1PM; they want to extend the project and add finer gravel to the trail bed.
• Volunteer recognition—Jim mentioned the two new patch level volunteers.
• Diane Bamford thanked everyone for bringing food contributions, and Jim thanked Diane for organizing the potluck.

• Other communications and announcements: there is a proposal before the Pawling Planning Board for a large development just south of the West Dover Road Oak Tree. Jim responded to their environmental assessment form, indicating that there are problems with the sections relating to the AT. The Pawling Planning Board will meet August 1 to discuss this development.

• The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 PM

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