Minutes 2/2/2006

DRAFT Minutes
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference
Trails Council
February 2, 2006

Bob Boysen started the meeting at approximately 6.40 pm with announcing that it was the only meeting he would chair. Present were: Bob Boysen, Sandy Parr, Jill Arbuckle, Phyllis Stewart, John Blenninger, Joe Gindoff, Robert Ward, Larry Braun, Diane Grunthal, Glenn Oleksak, Jane Daniels, Walt Daniels, Peter Heckler, Dennis Schvejda, Maureen Edelson, Pete Tilgner, Suzan Gordon, John Mack, Dan VanEngel, Monica Day, David Day, Chris Connolly, Gary Haugland, Ken Card, Estelle Anderson, Ellen Cronan, Bob Marshall, Trudy Schneider, Jakob Franke, Larry Wheelock, Ed Goodell

Each member present introduced her/himself. The minutes of the December 1 meeting were accepted with one minor correction (Sandy Parr moved to adopt/ Phyllis Stewart seconded).

No additions were made to the agenda, but several announcements were made:

1 – John Mack (Conservation and Advocacy Committee) reported that new map sets of East Hudson, Catskills and Palisades had been published in 2005. Other maps are being prepared and comments and corrections will be needed from chairs and supervisors.

2 – Dennis Schvejda reported that he was trying to get ATVs on the state’s ‘radar screen’. He is preparing a publicity campaign, soliciting write-ins to the Governor, etc. to draw attention to the ATV problem. The aim is to get comprehensive legislation covering point of sale registration, and licensing.

3 – Gary Haugland asked if anybody was available for the NYS environmental meeting in Saratoga Springs on February 25. Jane and Walt Daniels volunteered.

4 – Walt Daniels announced that 8 sections in the trails database had no length.

Trail Approvals:

1 - Ellen Cronan proposed to rename parts of the 19-mile long Four Birds Trail in Farny Highlands. The current trail is confusing, since different names are in use for some of the sections. The proposal called for Split Rock East Trail, Split Rock West Trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail, and Four Birds Trail. The Split Rock sections would get new colors. Following a discussion it was concluded that the landowner/agency should be approached for permission and consultation, and the proposal was temporarily tabled.

2 – Ellen Cronan announced that she was preparing a proposal for a connector trail between the Split Rock Loop Trail and Kinnelon Road Connector Trail.

3 – Ellen Cronan proposed to change the blazing on the Buckabear Trail in the Pequannock Watershed to plain red (currently red triangle on white background). The proposal was approved.

New Business:

1 - The fall 2006 trail maintenance workshop was discussed. Jakob Franke volunteered to look for a location in the Shawangunks to hold the workshop, following a short discussion about how to rotate the workshops. Nothing was settled.

2 - Chair reports:

Bob Boysen (West New Jersey) reported building 3.1-mile of the Warren Trail, which included the construction of 5 bridges. Next year he plans to do another 3 miles of the Warren Trail.

Jane Daniels (East Hudson) reported that they had build 6 bridges in various Westchester County Parks, had organized a successful trail maintenance workshop last fall, and were starting an East Hudson crew in which supervisors acted as crew leaders.

Bob Ward (Metropolitan)reported that they are working on National Trails Day events on both Alley Pond Park, Queens and Staten Island. They now have an active trail crew with Joe Gindoff as Crew Chief.  The Staten Island group was recently honored by the Greenbelt Conservancy at a luncheon given by Partnerships for Parks and hosted by parks commissioner Adrian Benepe. They have been approached by Friends of Pelham Bay Park, for technical assistance.

Walt Daniels (AT) reported that Jim Haggett is the new chair of Dutchess/Putnam AT.

Gary Haugland (Highlands Trail) reported that he had contact with Putnam county representatives, and that there were talks with AMC chapters in Pennsylvania and Connecticut to extend the Highlands Trail and make it a 4-state trail.

Jakob Franke (LP South) reported that the LP had seen several reroutes (NJ Palisades, High Tor). The Old Blue Trail connecting Sams Point and Minnewaska has been reopened, and permission has been obtained from the Nature Conservancy to construct a trail in south Gully, eliminating nearly 3 miles of roadwalking. In April there was a LP meeting in New Paltz with a total of 15 representatives from LP-North and LP-South.

Larry Braun (West Hudson North) reported that 2 chainsaw crews have been established, one for Minnewaska SPP and one for Storm King SP and Schunemunk SP. The Trail Crew put in numerous rock steps on the steep north slope of Whitehorse Mt in Storm King SP. The Stillman trail bridge in Storm King was closed and a detour around it established. In Minnewaska SPP two trails previously maintained by Park Rangers were adopted, a new trail is currently going through OPRHP approval process, and a major relocation is in the works on one of the newly adopted trails. Franny Reese Preserve, a new Scenic Hudson park on the Hudson, in Highland at the west end of the Mid-Hudson bridge, has become part of the NYNJTC trail system.

Pete Heckler (West Hudson South) reported that a section of the 1779/TimpTorne Trail and  a section of the RD Trail had been relocated. A new trail had been built in West Harriman S.P. In Sterling Forest S.P. the TC has adopted the Townsend Trail, which connects the Wildcat Mt. Trail and the Long Meadow Trail. The long awaited final approval of the second half of the Bare Rock Trail appears to be eminent this summer. Unfortunately however, not in time for the Spring (April 22,23) Trail Maintenance-Construction Workshops to be held at Sterling Forest. In addition he mentioned that the prospects seemed good for a trail from Pine Meadow Lake to Rte 202, to the now county-owned horse farm. Pete also mentioned that this might be his last chair report.

John Moran (New Jersey East) reported that they had done a lot of reblazing in the Ramapos and were planning to build connectors to eliminate roadwalks. A new supervisor had been found for the Shore Trail (Chris Connolly), and Bob Jonas was hospitalized and needed surgery.

3 – Jane Daniels requested that the trails on the Fishkill Ridge be designated as part of the Hudson River Greenway. After explaining that we were maintaining these trails, and nothing would change, the motion was approved (Pete Heckler/Bob Ward).

4 – Bob Boysen proposed to adopt the trails in Swartswood S.P. in Newton, NJ, at the request of the park manager. The total trail system is about 8 miles, in 3 separate sections of the park (4, 3, and 1 mi), of which 3 miles is new trail still to be built. The motion was unanimously adopted (Bob Ward/ Sandy Parr) and will go to the Board of Directors.

Old business:

1 – Larry Wheelock brought up the subject of reporting and told he was looking to redesign and improve the forms. “Think outside the box” was his rallying cry to get new ideas. A lengthy discussion started in which various topics related to the forms were touched upon. Electronic data entering, GIS, the purposes of the forms (hours, grants, insurance, recognition). It was finally decided that a committee needed to look into this. The committee consists of: Larry Wheelock, Sandy Parr, Larry Braun, John Blenninger, and Walt Daniels.

2 – Recognition: Estelle Anderson reported that she was working on the patch awards and was contacting every maintainer to find out what their start date was as volunteer. In the future the volunteer database will have this date incorporated.

3 – Jane Daniels handed out folders about the 2007 ATC meeting at Ramapo College, and was asking for volunteers to help with various committees: hikes, excursions, entertainment, workshops, youth program, hospitality (Phyllis Stewart).

Discussion:

Bob Boysen presented tables he had assembled showing the northern and central NJ counties with their membership levels, miles of trails (total and TC maintained), etc. The question he raised was: would we want to adopt new trails in outlying areas like Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex and Monmouth without having maintainers in place? Bob stated his believe that you would not get maintainers before you had trails. Ed Goodell stated that we would not expand for expansion’s sake but that there needed to be some sort of grass roots movement for us to consider going into new areas (my interpretation of his words).

A final short exchange occurred regarding the stapling of blazes: David Day and Pete Heckler are noting that the first blazes in Sterling Forest are falling off because the staples are rusted. It was an experiment doomed from the beginning?

Phyllis Stewart moved to adjourn at 8.50 pm, Walt Daniels seconded, adoption was unanimous.

Submitted by Jakob Franke.

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