Hinesburg Trails Committee
Meeting Minutes
December 14, 2011
Present: Stewart Pierson, Greg LeRoy, Jane Sheldon, Lenore Budd, Cathy Ryan, Jim Goldsmith
The meeting was called to order at 7:10 p.m.
1) Stewart reported that most of the SCHIP grant has been used up on signage. Jane is organizing the financial statements but is waiting for Missy Ross’s final accounting of what has been paid to date before issuing the numbers.
2) The Selectboard meeting on January 9th will review our committee’s mission and accomplishments. As many of us who can attend should do so. Lenore’s draft of the presentation was reviewed and a few word changes were suggested.
3) Stewart reported that the bridge on the Russell Trail that needed repair will require complete replacement, not just one or two boards. Jason and Stewart will work on getting this done.
4) Greg reported on the LaPlatte and Russell kiosk project. Regulations are not an issue since they will not be seen from the road. We need to specify materials, dimensions etc so we can get a cost estimate and take it to the HLT for funding, either partial or complete. If we want to write a grant proposal, SCHIP’s next deadline is January 31. Another funding source may be corporate sponsorship, but we need to check with Andrea Morgante to see if this is appropriate. We also should run the design plan by Andrea. Greg mentioned that the Northern Forest Canoe Trail constructs several kiosks a year. At Lenore’s suggestion he will check into the possibility for us to tag on two to their next order to get the benefit of professional construction and efficiency of cost, as long as their design fits our needs.
5) Stewart reported that the Town Forest Plan will be ready to present at the January Selectboard meeting.
6) Additional project funding was discussed. Lenore will bring up the Lewis Creek parking area cost of $3000 with Andrea to see if the HLT can cover that cost. The State Recreation grant deadline is February 25, which is another possibility.
7) Lenore will liaise with Martha Keenan, the facilities manager at NRG, regarding our suggestions for the design of the trail across their property to CVU.
8) The Russell Trail needs additional HART blazes. One tree that is down across the trail needs to be removed.
9) An upcoming community event will be the moonlight snow shoe hike on Saturday night, February 4th, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Lenore will also try to organize an animal tracking hike sometime in January.
10) A landowner on Pond Brook Road approached Hinesburg Land Trust and VT Land Trust about conserving his 37-acre farm property. HLT asked Lenore to walk the land with the landowner to evaluate trail possibilities. Lenore reported that an approximately one-mile loop trail within the property would be an attractive educational and recreational amenity for the neighborhood and, with the Committee's approval, will write a letter of support for the project."
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jane Sheldon, Secretary