Hinesburg Trails Committee Minutes

Updated: 9/18/09, 9/24/09, 9/25/09, 9/26/09

Date:  Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Place:  Hinesburg Town Hall

Time:  7:00 PM

Came to order: 7:04 PM

Adjourned:  8:27 PM

Present:  Bobby Kennett, Cathy Ryan, Lenore Budd, Jason Reed, Launa Lagasse, Greg LeRoy, Colin McNaull, Stewart Pierson

August 19, 2009 minutes amended concerning Sub-Committees of One and Two:  “This concept is really about what responsibilities can be shared and handled by other committee people and whether we really want to do them on a regular, monthly basis.  This needs to be addressed at September meeting.”  August 19, 2009 minutes were then approved.

LaPlatte Headwaters Update – LaPlatte Headwater Town Forest:  An agreement for haying certain areas is being worked out.  But much of the LaPlatte bordering fields will be planted and then allowed to return to their "primeval" state. 

Hinesburg Town Forest – A committee has been appointed to create a master plan similar to the one now being completed for LHTF.  They will begin meeting in December.

Ancient Roads – Trail Committee recommends that 4 sections of ancient roads Not be discontinued: (To be kept by the town and put on Town Map)

            1)  Governor's Lot Road – In Southwest Quadrant, connecting to Baldwin Road

            2)  Off of Swamp Road north - The Bennett Wells Road to the Richmond Line

            3)  Lost Wood Lot Road – From Gilman Road/Hines Road Junction South East to old 116

            4)  Meach Road, Southwest Quadrant –runs southeast connecting Baldwin Road and Silver Street.

This recommendation should be sent to the Ancient Road Committee which will present it to the Select Board.  Colin will do this.

Raven Ridge Preserve Conservation Area Project:  Lenore is leading a walk of this 350 acre parcel in the southwest corner of Hinesburg. The parcel is in three towns: Hinesburg, Charlotte, and Monkton. This walk will be at 9 am on Sunday September 27. 

We will gather at the TODA Institute on Rotax road in Monkton. See http://www.vlt.org/RavenRidge.html for more information on this project.

Assistance from UVM

UVM student visit:  1:30 PM to 3:30 PM on September 29^th and October 1^st at town: one hour of Q and A and then a guided walk by Howdy Russell (if possible).  We will meet at our meeting room in the Town Hall.  

Establish links with Town bodies to enhance communications

            Selectboard                             Stewart

            Town Admin                           Colin

            Conservation Committee         Lenore

            DRB                                        Cathy

            VAST                                      Colin

            LaPlatte Forest                        Stew and Lenore

            Planning Commission:             Launa

            Fellowship of the Wheel         Jason

            Four Wheelers (ATF)             Jason

            Hinesburg Town Forest           Jason

            Ancient Roads Committee       Colin

Current job description is to read monthly minutes and agendas and bring to the attention of Trails Committee issues and opportunities that are in our area of responsibility.

Jason:  reports that FOTW has now completed a trail connecting Old Town Forest with Hollow Road.  Information about this is currently limited to FOTW members.  Jason can help us get maps.

Trail Stewards (Duties and goals to be defined at October meeting.)

            Geprags                                                           Cathy

            Russell Trails                                                  Stewart

            Copp Welch Gillespie Lewis Creek LHTF     Colin and Lenore

            Old Town Forest                                             Bobby and Jason

Sub Committees of One or Two – This concept was abandoned.

There was a discussion on the exact meaning of “PVT” on many of the road signs and in particular how they may affect access to trails.  Does this just mean that there are two or more houses on a road and that PVT means that this road/driveway is privately maintained and plowed at the owner’s expense or does it also imply a truly private road that is associated with a gated community?  Colin is tasked to discuss this further with our Town Administer to find out what the answer is and what its implications to the Trails Committee are.

Village Sidewalks – Where there appear to be problems with these or lack of them in the village, where should the Trails Committee go?  Is there still a “sidewalks” committee?  Colin will contact Town Administrator for guidance and information.

Tabled Items:

1.  Robert’s Rules of Order

2.  FOTW funding request.

Next meeting date: October 21, 2009

(Third Wednesday of the month)

Submitted by Stewart Pierson  9/18/09

Colin McNaull September 26, 2009