Minutes, June 5, 2006

Dutchess County/Putnam County AT Management Committee
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference
Minutes for the 196th Meeting
Monday, June 5, 2006 7:00PM New Hackensack Reformed Church – Room 11

Attendance:  Ron Rosen, Jane Geisler, Jim Haggett, Walt Daniels, Gerry Richardson, Ollie Simpson, Frank Dogil, Patty Robson, Alex Vosicky and Chris Sierzega (SCA/PLC) (11).

The meeting came to order at 7:08 PM.

FYI and FYA items were circulated as follows:

FYA (For Your Action) Items:

• Rare Plant Monitoring and Wildflower Identification workshops scheduled for this summer at various New England locations.

FYI items:

• Spring 2006 issue of “The Register”
• Poughkeepsie Journal (May 21, 2006) coverage of ADK trail work April 29-30 directed by Jane Geisler and Ollie Simpson
• Poughkeepsie Journal (April 18, 2006) article on Tim Messerich
• Proposal for four trails in Fishkill (Southern Dutchess News April 6, 2006)
• Some suggested guidelines by NY/NJ TC covering expenditures.  Direct comments/suggestions to the chair.
• April water test results from Wiley and Morgan Stewart

1. Review and approval of minutes of the 195th meeting held March 27, 2006. The minutes for this meeting can be found on the web at http://www.nynjtc.org/committees/trailscouncil/at-committees/DP/agenda/index.html.
2. Meeting Highlight:
   1. Jim and Ron introduced the PLC/SCA interns Alex Vosicky and Chris Sierzega, and those present introduced themselves.
   2.  We will work on setting up priorities in a separate meeting. Those who can will meet at the chateau at Murrow Park at 5:30 on Wednesday, June 14th. SUPERVISORS:  What corridor boundaries in your area need to be done? Schaghticoke Mountain?
   3. Update NY/NJ AT Guide Book (must complete or have a plan to complete THIS WEEK). Read your 15th edition and come prepared to say what is wrong or missing. The conversion from 14 to 15
3. Committee topics, short updates, etc.:
   1. Mitzvah Day project recap. A crew of 7 took out around 450 pounds of glass, cans, and general litter.
   2. Relocation status: Jerry’s relo at Depot Hill road is done; the Route 55 relo is complete. The Long Hill Road job is complete. The Nuclear Lake relo is complete. Harlem Valley was started on National Trails Day, Saturday June 2.  Five people were present on that rainy day. Ron mentioned the possibility of having an SCA work weekend. Possible dates might be June 17th, July 8th, 15th (or the Sundays from the weekends).
   3. White oak & parking at DC 20 crossing: Jane reported that Dutchess County installed parking delineators, and the club did other work on the area.
   4. Hiller Brook: Jim has no new information. It was passable last Saturday, according to Jane. We should send in an update saying “seasonal high water.”
   5. Update Dutchess/Putnam AT brochure: We need to find money; Jim talked with the CT people — their ads are about $100 each. Possible sources: the printer (Marr Printing, and others); EMS, Hudson Valley Pack and Paddle, Dyson Foundation.  Gerry suggested trail mileages on the map. Jim will check with Larry Wheelock to get the budget figure in to the government.
   6. RPC news: Walt mentioned that we are planning to host November 11 and 12, possibly at Graymoor.
   7. Water Testing status (Jane, Gerry, Jim): Morgan Stewart was tested in April and passed (only total coliform was tested). Wiley Shelter was sampled March 21, and was negative (total coliform only). Jane will do Wiley’s next week, and then meet with Alex and Chris to do the following wells.
4. Reports:
   1. Area Supervisor Summaries: 
   • Walt had nothing new to report, other then GPS work for the maps.
   • Jim reported the Peter Hoh (one of our maintainers) helped out Fahnestock chain-sawing near the camping area. Jim completed the Long Hill Road work. This past Saturday (National Trails Day) EMS, headed by Tim Messerich, had a crew out installing rock steps in a badly eroded area just south of Long Hill Road.
   • Gerry Richardson reported on the littering and use of ATV’s on the access road to Morgan Stewart. Gerry has been in touch with Michele Miller to consider the rock installation; Jim will send Michele a note. Gerry reported on dumping on Depot Hill Road, and has had some help with the town to remove it.
   • Frank reported just north of Leather Hill Road, Quaker Valley Farms put No Hunting signs on the wrong property line, an internal easement boundary. QVF took the signs out cooperatively.
   • Jane reported spending a lot of time with Ollie getting ready for a big work weekend on April 29 and 30. Jane and Ollie met the Metro North police person during this preparation; their number is 845-905-3500. At their request, the policeman evicted an illegally camped woman just beyond the swamp river. Ollie ran into a man down by Swamp River illegally camped. The sheriff deputy left a message on the tent (he wasn’t present). During the April 29-30 work weekend, ADK had many workers at Wiley, at the Oak Tree, and a group erected the Route 22 bulletin board. On that day, 50 day hikers were counted on the trail, and there were 20 overnight users at Wiley. ADK ordered 20 locust posts which were deposited next to the DC 20 white oak April 26, and they were stolen before installation at the trail crossing of DC 20. The volunteers were able to get about 8 posts on an emergency basis from a neighbor.
   2. Other reports:
   • Chair’s report:  Jim has nothing new to report.

NEXT MEETING—the Picnic meeting will be Monday, July 17th, at the RPH shelter. Jim said Diane Bamford agreed to help this year as well so far as taking food plans.

Adjournment at 10PM.

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