TRAIL COMMITTEE MAY MINUTES

May 20, 2009

 

Present:  Lenore Budd, Colin McNaull, Launa Lagasse, Greg LeRoy, Jason Reed, Stewart Pierson, Martha Keenan

 

Absent:  Jim Frazier

  

1)  April Minutes approved as mailed

 

2)  June 6th Work Day

 

Workers for the three projects, to assemble at Town Hall at 8:30 AM before heading out to the projects.  Goal is to stop work at noon and return to town hall for lunch and refreshments.  Colin is current volunteer for lunch and refreshments.

 

Lenore pointed out the need for photos and a news story for the next edition of the Hinesburg Record.  Colin volunteering now to write the story.  Photos appreciated.

 

Economu Road (Class 4 Road Portion) – Once this project, raking the gravel was underway, three members would peel off for the Russell Trails Bridge work.

 

Colin will be calling Gary Clark so he can contact Mike Anthony, Town Road Foreman, to get town gravel for this project.

 

Jason will coordinate with Mike Snyder, State Forester, who is also on the newly formed committee to develop a formal management plan for the Old Town Forest.  Jason is also on the committee.  

 

Russell Trails Bridges – There are three bridges involved from the entrance on Lavigne Hill Road.  Scope of work involves leveling and planking.  Stewart inviting members to visit this section where the work is needed on Monday evening at 6:30 PM on the 22nd.  Launa will see if her husband, Richard Wright might be able to come to lend his professional expertise to the project. (This took place with Jason, Stewart, Greg, Colin and Richard Wright attending.  Jason going to get pricing on the needed materials.)  Martha will be bringing a jack.

 

Gilman South Entrance Trail Rerouting for Gillespie Copp-Welch & Hinesburg Riparian Forest Trails – Colin and others who are available will head out for this project, hopefully assisted by property abutters to set the new trail and adjust signage.  (New trail path has been flagged and trail cutting and rest of the project may not be completed in allotted three hours.  Still need to walk this line with property abutter.)

 

3)  June 13th hike: Agreement to meet at the Old Town Forrest, Hayden Hill Entrance at 9:00 after stashing some cars on  Hollow Road at a pull off beyond HAPPY HOLLOW at 8:30 AM and then hike one way from Old Town Forest through the Carse land ending up on Hollow Road.  Final directions and car pooling to follow.

 

4)  UVM STUDENTS:  At the June 17th meeting, we will need to plan for a July 15 meeting with David (Raphael) from UVM.  The project will focus on preparing for an early December Town Meeting with a "charrette" to help the Trails Committee plan for “an around the village trail system” in the future.  [Charrettes take place in many disciplines, including urban planning; the charrette has become a technique for consulting with all stakeholders. This type of charrette (sometimes called an enquiry by design) typically involves intense and possibly multi-day meetings, involving municipal officials,  and residents. A successful charrette promotes joint ownership of solutions and attempts to defuse typical confrontational attitudes between residents and developers. Charrettes tend to involve small groups, however the residents participating may not represent all the residents nor have the moral authority to represent them. Residents who do participate get early input into the planning process. For developers and municipal officials charrettes achieve community involvement, may satisfy consultation criteria, with the objective of avoiding costly legal battles. Other uses of the term "charrette" occur within an academic or professional setting, whereas urban planners invite the general public to their planning charrettes. Thus most people (unless they happen to be design students) encounter the term "charrette" in an urban-planning context.]  Wikipedia

 

5) NRG trail:   Now in the hands of David, CEO.  Project proceeding.

 

6)  Colin to send out our Goals and Mission Statement. (Done)

 

7)  Colin to send out UVM Course Information, RM 138 - Park & Recreation Design;

Recreation design methodology applied to the design of public and private recreational facilities. (Done)

 

8)  Stewart to follow-up with Jim Frazier to see if he still wishes to be on the Trails Committee. (Done)

 

9)  Greg Leroy to contact GMP to see if we could get used electric poles for use with Trails projects. (Done; GMP said yes.)

 

NEXT MEETING;    June 17th  Planning for meeting with David Raphael on July 15, 2009 to see how we can use these UVM students to speed the accomplishment of our mission and goals.

 

Respectfully,

Stewart Pierson 5/21/09

Colin McNaull input 5/28/09