Minutes, January 16, 2006

Dutchess County/Putnam County AT Management Committee
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference
Minutes of 194th Meeting
Monday, January 16, 2006 7:00PM East Fishkill Library – Cross room

Attendance:  Ron Rosen, Jane Geisler, Salley Decker, Pat Colella, Jim Haggett, Walt Daniels, Gerry Richardson (7).

The meeting came to order at 7:20PM.

• The following FYI and FYA items were circulated.

FYA items:

• Chainsaw safety class registration – class scheduled for Feb 4 & 5
• DPATMC Five Year Plan – any updates?

FYI items:

• Dutchess/Putnam AT Cultural Assessment from NY/NJ TC web site
• Real estate posting of Orsetti property adjacent to 272-22
• NPS Dam Projects for FY2007 – note entry on Nuclear Lake
• Flyer from Piedmont AT Hikers (PATH)
• Announcement that the Register will again be published
• Obituary of James Eigo – did Eagle Scout project on AT

• The minutes of the 193rd meeting, held November 9, 2005, were approved as published. (The draft 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 wrap up (Ron, Walt). Jim picked up all the materials from Constitution Marsh. Walt and Jim did a swap of Bulletin Board materials via Dills so we have the right materials (longer 2x4’s – to be cut in half). We now have all parts except cement and some nails; most are stored at Nuclear Lake garage. All the heavy materials are cut and ready to assemble. Pat volunteered his van to move materials from Walt’s house to Nuclear Lake when we do it. Jane noted that ADK is having a work trip April 29-30, and they could install a Bulletin Board on the east side of Route 22. Sally would like to see their final report; Ron will check to see what we received.  Ron briefly discussed plans for the next year. If we can justify the work, we will consider a Spring crew. Ron will also check with NPS (Rita) to make sure this option exists.
• Bulletin Board replacement (Walt, Jim) In addition to the above, we discussed locations for the Bulletin Boards. We plan to use the three new boards at Route 9 at 403, Route 22 East Side, and a third location TBA. Walt will check out Anthony’s Nose to see if we can put one there, and then we will decide whether one or two should be moved north to Nuclear Lake for storage. Other areas needing Bulletin Boards include Route 55 Parking Area, Depot Hill Road Parking Area (State MUA parking area).
• Hiller Brook (Jane, Jim, Pat): Jane and Ollie Simpson put down 89 cinder blocks to use as stepping stones for the interim. We will begin planning for the new helical pier system. We discussed the possibility of moving the route about 300’ north (up by the DOT parking areas). Ron will check with his contacts at Metro North to see if they would consider moving the crossing and (perhaps) the AT Train Station. The “bypass” route is 2.8 miles when the AT is flooded (Route 22, River Road, West Dover Road, versus 2.3 miles on the trail route).
• Update Dutchess/Putnam AT brochure: Jane Geisler sent Jim some ideas she had. One interesting idea is to somehow put mileage between key points on the map itself. Perhaps a third color would help, but is very costly. Jane noted we should add mention of the difference between the path itself and the NPS corridor (in the fourth bullet of the guidelines); also water sources should be noted. Jim agreed to contact potential sponsors (advertisers), including EMS, Hudson Valley Pack and Paddle, Campmor, and Dicks Sporting Goods. Our crude cost estimate is $6,000. Possible other sponsors are delis, etc. Walt agreed to work on the map, and suggested we not use the Autocad maps that Pete Senterman used the last time (use the current DPATMC technology).
• Regional Partnership Committee (Ron, Walt) Walt noted we have a meeting coming up in March, which would only be a one-day members meeting (not including partners until the fall meeting). Ron will be heading (and Walt is a member of) the committee that will be handling threats to the corridor. Jim mentioned the neighbors brochure. Walt noted that the RPC has been discussing this issue. A generic regional brochure may not work well (too much site specific data).
• Relocation plans (Nuclear Lake, Harlem Valley State Hospital, & Long Hill Rd) Walt noted that the new guide book needs to reflect the relocations IF they will be done in time. The Harlem Valley State Hospital relo will matter (big enough to show up); we need to know which hiking season we expect this relo to be first in use. All short relos should be put on the new map (should be done this spring).  The new route should be open by Fall of 2006. We will schedule work trips starting at the March meeting.
• Water Testing status (Jane, Gerry, Jim). Gerry tested Morgan Stewart today, his wife will drop it off tomorrow. Jane did not get results from the Wiley July sample; we’re note sure if anyone got it.
• Parking management at DC 20 crossing (Jane, Jim). Jane and Jim have done some further investigative work. The current White Oak champion tree is just over 19’ in Columbia County. Jane went out about a week ago, and said the tree is now 20’6” at breast height. Jim passed that info onto Lou Sebesta at DEC. Jane will go out with Lou on 1/26 to officially measure the tree, and it may now be a champion tree. If we get Championship status, we hope to get some better action from Dutchess County on the parking prevention status.
• Boniello property at West Dover Rd. (Jim, Frank, others): Jim believes the project has been approved.
• Update on investigation into Rock Wall theft from the Canopus Hill area: Walt talked with Todd, and he didn’t give much info on the investigation in process—Jim got nothing new since the last meeting.
• NY-NJ Guidebook Updates (also see item F above). Jane asked if we should note intermittent flooding possible for Hiller Brook/Swamp River (with road walk detour until the boardwalk is done presumably in 2007). Walt will work up the text for the update.

• Reports:
• Area Supervisor Summaries: 

Walt Daniels hasn’t had anything happen in his area since the last meeting.
Jim Haggett reports that the Orsetti proposal came before the East Fishkill Planning  Board on December 20th. The 10 acres (originally proposed as three parcels) was revised to two parcels. Jim went to the planning board meeting in November (and action was postponed to December). Jim sent a letter to Orsetti suggesting he donate some of the land to the NPS (the 100’ that is wooded), or at least consider a scenic easement. Orsetti never responded to Jim. In the meantime, a For Sale sign showed up on the parcel. Jim researched the listing, and it is selling for $285,000 for the two-acre parcel. Jim will contact John Myers to see what can be considered.
Regarding the Liahonna trail, the Troop 50 Eagle Project is the Nimham Troop 50 (Hudson Valley Council) in Poughkeepsie (at the Latter Day Saints Church). Jim determined that 330 yards of the trail are on NPS land. There are NPS boundary markers where the trail crosses the corridor. The question is: do we want the trail there. Right now the trail is poorly marked and deteriorating. There is a metal sign on the NPS land at the AT itself. Jim will follow through with the Camp people. We decided the sign should be removed, and we may (or may not) entertain leaving the side trail open. We could suggest that the owners (Mormon Church) provide an easement from the NPS boundary to Route 292.
We discussed the road projects for access to Morgan Stewart and Messerschmitt (the latter is already on the project plan for 2007). We can add the Stewart shelter road for similar work.
Jim got a call yesterday from Pat Robson, she saw two sheriff’s cars at the Route 55 parking lot. Jim called the Sheriff’s office, and determined they were in pursuit of someone. They would like to receive copies of the appropriate trail maps.
Gerry Richardson asked about the chain saw course (February 4 and 5, at Hubbard Lodge). Jim gave him the form, and suggested he fax the form to the regional office ASAP.
Jane Geisler reported that ADK is planning a work weekend April 29-30. The bridge is partially out on the east side of Route 22 in the field (Yegella farm field)—the base got dislodged in the flooding. Jane asked about protecting the oak tree with fencing, but this could only be done near the tree itself.

• Other reports: 

Chair’s report: Jim had nothing else to add. The next meeting will be on Monday, March 27th East Fishkill Library, or snow date of Tuesday, March 28th, New Hackensack Reformed Church.

• Adjournment at 10:13

Submitted by Ron Rosen with post editing by Jim Haggett

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