Minutes, November 13, 2006

Dutchess County/Putnam County AT Management Committee
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference
Minutes of the 199th Meeting
Monday, November 13, 2006 7:00PM East Fishkill Library – Cross room

Attendance:  Jim Haggett, Ron Rosen, Mike Arthur, Jane Geisler, Ollie Simpson, Frank Dogil, Kathleen Schibanoff, Ron Zelinski, Walt Daniels. [7 members, 2 guests]
The meeting was called to order at 7:07 PM. by chair Jim Haggett
0.  FYI and FYA items were circulated:

FYA items:

• Updated 5 Year Project plan
• Meeting mailing list (USPO) – update

FYI items:

• Water test results
• Metro North construction procedure
• Fall “Register”
• RPC discussion papers
•    “Trail Magic” along the Appalachian Trail
•    Structure Creep: Managing the AT Camping Experience
•    Guidance for Locating and Designing AT Shelters and Formal Campsites
•    Methamphetamine Laboratory Identification and Hazards – Fast Facts
•  Project planning time line (David Reus)
• Nuclear Lake Dam Repair and Upgrade project

• The minutes of the 198th meeting held September 11, 2006 were accepted as modified: On page 2, the meeting highlight 5-year plan, the puncheon between old route 55 and Whaley lake stream should be 100 yards, not 100 feet. Gerry Richardson’s name is spelled with a “G”, not a “J”. The minutes for this meeting can be found on the web at http://www.nynjtc.org/committees/trailscouncil/at-committees/DP/agenda/index.html.

• Guest Presentation:  Dover Knolls update by Kathy Schibanoff and Ron Zelinski—we discussed issues such as cooperative anti-ATV possibilities and environmental work that Dover Knolls needs to complete in the next few months.

• Committee topics, short updates, etc.:

A.   Finalize 5 Year Plan (see plan spreadsheet)

-----  Break for holiday season refreshments  -----

B.  Recap of RPC meeting held Nov 11 & 12 (Ron, Walt, et al). The regional meeting discussed a number of interesting issues. Ron and Walt will be circulating eight issues, identified at the meeting, for review by NY/NJ Trail Conference’s three management committees. We reviewed the “Trail to Every Classroom” program that was piloted this summer and will be expanded in coming years. One of the pilot program teachers was Katherine Paulsen from Pawling.

• SCA intern season review (Ron): Chris finished in October, and accomplished maybe 40% of our planned project work. We reviewed his spreadsheet of work accomplished. We need to review the PLC results back for previous years to determine what needs to be done next on boundary maintenance.

Bulletin Board update (Walt)

• 2007 meeting schedule plus plans for celebrating our 200th meeting: Meeting dates for 2007 are planned for 1/15 (snow date 1/16), March 19 (snow date 3/20), May 14, July 23, August 27, and November 5.
• Hunting warning signs
• Update Dutchess/Putnam AT brochure: We may hold it up for the new TC logo and design. Jim has obtained one bid; Walt will get two more bids, estimating 10,000 or 12,000 production size. We are shooting for publication in the February timeframe. We are likely to go with lighter paper, anticipating giving them out in boxes on the bulletin boards.
• Review Maintenance/Monitor reporting procedure, i.e. how can we make it timelier and less time consuming?  (All)

• Reports:
• Area Supervisor Summaries: 

      Walt had nothing to report.

Jim said the I84 field was mowed this fall. The section from Long Hill Road to Canopus Overlook had a lot of blowdowns—Jim notified AMC in writing, and got a response the next day, saying “not today.” Jim wrote another letter asking for a clarification (Nov. 3) and hasn’t heard anything back yet. Jim was approached last week by a lawyer wanting to know if the NPS (or ATC) would like to buy 1.7 acres near Route 84 that is landlocked, or allows a road ROW in to the property.

Ollie Simpson reported that she put a volunteer needed item in the Trail walker, and we have not received any responses yet. We will have funding in 2007 for Whaley Lake stream bridge and reproofing the Telephone Pioneers Shelter. We discussed Gerry Richardson as the new maintainer for part of Depot Hill; Walt will help resolve the appointment with NYNJTC. Completed the Morgan Stewart moldering privy 9/26. Gerry contacted the Town of Beekman for boulders, and they will add boulders when they improve Depot Hill Road. Regarding the parcel that was formerly Howard, above Henkel, Ollie determined that this parcel was the one used as the exchange parcel for the Geller (Colt Estate) parcel. Ollie will determine what interest (1/4 or full) NPS now has in this parcel.  Steve Klauck has removed the Liahona trail signs from the NPS lands, and he will take the lead on the Whaley Lake stream bridge replacement. Ollie will check the land boundaries for the bridge and the puncheon work areas there. Ollie has repainted Pete Senterman’s blazes (Pete has been ill lately); Jim has located a temporary maintainer to cover for Pete and will provide the info to Ollie. Ollie has cleaned out the Telephone Pioneers fireplace. Ron has agreed to run a monitor training in the spring (late March or April); Ollie will work on recruitment of trainees.

Jane Geisler reported that she went to the Pawling Nature Reserve annual meeting; they had a discussion of the piebald deer inhabiting the area (trying to avoid the hunters shooting them)—and it was decided that this was not manageable. ADK is scheduling a work day for the trail on Sat., April 29, 2007; the project may be a moldering privy. The Harlem Valley relo has been opened.

Frank Dogil reported an incursion on Johnson Hill Road. Dover Knolls has been doing significant survey work. The Corbin Hill development is surveying also (the old Meadowheath project).

• Chair reports:
• Funding for upgrades at Nuclear Lake has been secured by NPS, and ATC will handle contracting.
• Ranger Bob Gray retiring at end of year. Todd Remaley will be acting “lone” ranger until October, 2007.
• Rt 55 Corp donation proposal was reviewed by the Committee; general feeling was that accepting the easement would help avoid ATV incursions on the corridor to the South.

• Adjourned 11:45 PM!!!

Minutes taken by Ron Rosen with post editing by Jim Haggett

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