Minutes, November 9, 2005

Dutchess County/Putnam County AT Management Committee
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference
Minutes for 193rd Meeting
Wednesday, November 9, 2005 7:00PM East Fishkill Library

Attendance:  Ron Rosen, Jane Geisler, Gerry Richardson, Frank Dogil, Salley Decker, Ian Taylor, Bryce Williams, Jim Haggett

The meeting was brought to order by Chair, Jim Haggett, at 7:05PM.

• The following FYI and FYA items were circulated:

 FYA items:

• NY/NJ TC list of DPATMC maintainers and monitors – Supervisors should update.     

FYI items:

• Notice of Nov. 1, 2005 hearing for subdivision of Orsetti property
• Oct 15, 2005 Mid Atlantic RPC meeting agenda
• Environmental Assessment Finding for Harlem Valley relocation
• Environmental Assessment Finding for Nuclear Lake relocation
• Environmental Assessment Finding for Shenandoah Mountain relocation
• Letter to Pawling Planning Board re: Boniello open land management
• Pictures of AT next to Hiller Brook at height of drought, Sept 23, 2005
• Note of potential addition of 500 acres to Fahnestock State Park near Segment 273

• Review and approval of minutes of the 192nd meeting held September 19, 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.

• Committee topics, short updates, etc.:
• SCA intern project (Bryce, Ian, Ron): Bryce reported on their boundary work to date. They are now working on the Nuclear Lake boundary. Ian reported that there was a large deer stand right on the boundary just east of the Taconic Parkway, near the big boulder on the boundary (near Rockledge Road). Jim will check out the problem. Jim reported that Ian and Bryce will be obtaining and pre-fabbing the materials for three new bulletin boards (to be delivered to Walt’s house Friday). We prioritized the remaining boundary work for them: (1) Corbin Hill near Boniello property and near Starkdale Farms, and (2) Schaghticoke Mountain.
• Bulletin Board replacement: we need to decide where the three new ones will go: Jim suggested that they go near the popular parking areas, such as the Route 55 area near Nuclear Lake, north of Stormville Mountain Road, on Depot Hill, Intersection of Route 9 at 403, possibly at DC Route 20, and northbound at Route 22. We will later prioritize these and determine which locations get the next three boards.
• Relocation plans (Nuclear Lake, Harlem Valley State Hospital, & Long Hill Rd): Jim reported that all four proposed relocations (Long Hill Road is actually two relos) have been approved.  Work can start at any time. HVSH will need quite a lot of work. HVSH will probably need a formal trip scheduled; the others can be done informally with small groups. Frank suggested he can schedule a trip for Harlem Valley with Mid-Hudson ADK. Frank also said ADK can get a crew of youth from the City of Poughkeepsie to help out as well. Jim mentioned that Dan Chazin has a spring deadline for the maps for the guidebook, but Jim didn’t think we would make next spring in time.
• Hiller Brook (Jane, Jim, Ron): Jim circulated some pictures of the brook as it now looks. Jane asked where we can cross the Swamp River, and suggested we check out the options during the winter. Temporarily, Jane and Ollie Simpson have placed about 70 concrete blocks for temporary boardwalk. Ron reported that ATC is willing to use helical pier construction, with work to be done (probably) in 2007’s crew season.

Before breaking for refreshments the Chair made the following comments:
Jim mentioned a person who pretends to be a friend of the Trail, but refuses to become an official maintainer or join the Trail Conference, relayed some negative comments to the ATC.  Jim strongly reiterated that the feedback he gets from the public at large, the NPS, the ATC, NYNJTC, and others is that our volunteers do an excellent job, and he feels those present and the many volunteers they represent should be congratulated for their ongoing commitment and a job well done.

---------   Break for refreshments   ---------

• Water Testing status (Jane, Gerry, Jim): Gerry has been sampling at Morgan Stewart well. It passed in August and failed in October. Gerry talked with Rich Robbins at Dutchess County Health Dept, and Gerry will be going out with a representative of the Department on Monday to test the well using other testing regimens; Gerry will later report on the results. Jim mentioned that DCHD has agreed to test all four wells twice per year (but this has not started yet). Jim has discussed our testing problems with Michele Miller at ATC, asking if ATC could make funding available as a stipend and/or expense coverage for regular testing. Michele thought this might be possible. Jim suggested we should recruit for a person to do the work for next year. Jane will try to do Wiley this month.
• Five year project & funding outlook (all): Jim circulated last year’s version of the ATC project list; we need to submit a revised list by the end of the year. We need to review the Whaley Lake Stream bridge project to determine if it will last to 2007. We need to ask about the work at the Yegella farm (removal or filling of the reservoir foundation)—it should have preceded this program (if not, needs to be added to the list). Also, consider the access road to the Shenandoah Campsite and the removal the garden fence there.
• Parking management at DC 20 crossing (Jane, Jim): Jane has a long range plan for parking; she is still thinking the county can help with delineators for the road edge.
• Boniello property at West Dover Rd. (Jim, Frank, others): See letter of concern (FYI collection) from Jim Haggett to Pawling Planning Board regarding management of undeveloped space. There was a meeting last Monday night of the Planning Board, and we haven’t heard any feedback yet. Irmgard Seidler is at odds with Sibyll Gilbert and the Oblong Land Conservancy on management of the dedicated public lands (she doesn’t trust Oblong to open the lands to the public).
• Highlights of October 15 Mid Atlantic RPC meeting in Boiling Springs: Ron outlined the results of the regional meeting. Sub-committees were established, and most will meet via email and conference calls (not in person). Ron has agreed to be chair of the Corridor Management Committee (also includes external incursions).
• Update on investigation into Rock Wall theft from the Canopus Hill area: Special Agent Pascal and Todd Remaley are assisting Assistant US Attorney M. Baileys in preparing the case for trial.  However, council for the accused has advised his client to avoid charges and pay damages.  Such a resolution is still in process. Ranger Todd Remaley was working on this case, but was temporarily diverted to the Gulf coast after the hurricanes.  
• Hunting season awareness signs: Jim passed out the hunting season signs to the supervisors present.
• Set up subcommittee to review Dutchess/Putnam AT brochure: Prepare for discussion at next meeting. Walt will probably be willing to be involved. Jim and Ron will try to mark up a copy of the present brochure for changes. Ron mentioned that Pete Senterman did the map, which needs the Nuclear Lake access road listed. Jim mentioned that the towns need detailed maps of the trail in their town. Jane mentioned it might be worth putting mileages on the brochure (like the CT brochure).
• Set 2006 meeting schedule:

Jan 16 – EF Library Cross room (snow date Jan 17 – New Hackensack Reformed Church room 11
March 27 – EF Library Alley room (snow date March 28 – New Hackensack Reformed Church room 16)
May 22 – EF Library Cross room
July 17 – annual picnic
September 11 – EF Library Cross room
November 13 – EF Library Cross room

• Reports:
• Area Supervisor Summaries: 

Jane: All activities covered above.
Gerry: Asked about the Liahona Trail on Depot Hill, north of Depot Hill road, about 2 miles from the intersection of Route 292 and Route 55 (comes out on 292 near Camp Liahona, which is like a private park). The trail starts as a gravel road, with a fancy metal sign at either end. The Boy Scout Council said that the Putnam council once owned camp Liahona. There is a Troop 50 in Westchester/Putnam council, and Jim will contact them.
Frank: Nothing to report.

• Other reports: 

Chair’s report: Jim reported that Tim Messerich got some fine stone and stand and added it to the trail near RPH. Last Friday, Jim was at Long Hill Road, putting up no-hunting signs, and he found 10 or 12 bottles in five plastic bags. The bottles contained Robitussin, perhaps to make methamphetamines. One bag had a receipt in it; Jim called Todd Remaley, who checked out the info (the A&P in Hopewell Junction). One possibility is that school kids used Robitussin to get a small high.

• The meeting was adjourned at 10:28PM

Submitted by Ron Rosen with post processing by J. Haggett

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