Hinesburg Trails Committee Minutes

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

updated: 1/21/10

Place: Hinesburg Town Hall

Time: 7:00 PM

Came to order: 7:05 PM

Adjourned: 8:45 PM

Present: Cathy Ryan, Lenore Budd, Colin McNaull, Stewart Pierson, Greg LeRoy, Bobby Kennett

Absent: Launa Lagasse, Jason Reed, Martha Keenan

Public: Michelle Fisher, Steve Fisher

Minute’s formal approval of published minutes.

Treasury Report:

It appears that our 2010 to 2011 $1,000.00 budget request is in place.

LaPlatte Headwaters – This committee has completed its work and will be replaced by a committee, yet to be formally named, that will oversee both the Old Town Forest and the LaPlatte Headwaters Town Forest. Stewart Pierson and Jayson Reed will represent the Trails Committee on this committee.

Old Town Forest – There is a need for the committee to make contact with equestrians, walkers, hikers, and ATVers who use this area on a regular basis to get their insight on the trails that they are using. Having Fellowship of the Wheel members on the committee keep us abreast on the needs of the mountain biking community.

Cathy is promoting a Saturday morning, January 23^rd hike (hike/snowshoe/xc ski) in the Old Town Forest that is being posted on the four Front Page Forums.

Next Article for the Hinesburg Record - Stewart Pierson will be writing our Trekking Column piece for the January 27^th submission to the Hinesburg Record.

Selectboard Stewart - No report.

Town Administrator Colin – Has contacted the Town Administrator concerning the idea that the committee member terms should be 3 years so each year there will be only three members who will have to renew their membership via the Town Administrator and the Selectboard. We currently have to have half of the committee reapply every year.

Conservation Committee Lenore – No report

DRB Cathy – The Kinney Drug application was discussed, particularly, in regards to sidewalks. The Trails Committee needs to find a way to be represented at the first stage of any DRB process to offer input into trails or trails possibilities and with sidewalks. The need for sidewalks going from CVU to town, the Library, and Texas Hill was discussed. The primary focus was on safe connectivity as well as just general connectivity.

VAST Colin – No report

Planning Commission: Launa – No Report

Fellowship of the Wheel Jason – Steve Fisher said that this organization has gotten it grant proposal off. Lenore suggested the need for coordinated grant proposals in the future.

Four Wheelers (ATF) Jason – No report.

Renewing Committee Membership

We regret that Martha Keenan will not be continuing with the committee.

We are pleased that Michelle Fisher has a letter going to the Selectboard asking to join our committee. Michelle has been attending our last few minutes and was instrumental in publicizing our November Town Charrette.

Launa Lagasse and Greg LeRoy are fortunately planning on staying with the committee as well and will be making their request to do this to the Selectboard via the Town Administrator.

Using the map overlays drawn by towns people at the November town Charrette,

the following goals were verbally identified.

Trail Linkage Goals

1) Town Center to LHTF

2) Mechanicsville Rd from Richmond Rd intersection to four way stop (side walk? shoulder?) to provide safety for pedestrians, particularly high school students

3) Town center to Town Forest: suggest the following route: through Russell to Lavigne to West Buck Hill West Road to Buck Hill East to Hayden Hill West Road Routing needs to be formalized

4) Lavigne Hill to Partridge Hill/Red Pine

5) Library to Geprags

6) Baldwin to Leavensworth

7) Leavensworth to Boutin

8) Geprags to Route 116

9) Place Road to Boutin

10) Drinkwater to Leavensworth

11) Ravens Ridge to Roscoe Road

12) Baldwin to Ravens Ridge

13) Isham to Charlotte road and then Town Center

14) Town forest to Lincoln Hill

15) Lincoln Hill to Hollow Road

16) Hollow Road to Hines Road

More work on this will continue at our February meeting.

Colin is continuing to work with the RM 138 class in an attempt to get two more power point presentations that were prepared so we could continue to share them with the community as well as the sheets of paper where input from the three groups at the charrette were recorded. We do have the power point presentation dealing with the Old Town Forest and Geprags.

New Items:

Route 116 and I-89 interchange and its impact on Hinesburg to be presented on Monday, January 25 at town hall.

Shortened discussion on Official Town Maps and Mapping procedures and their implication on the Trails Committee providing input to the DRB and Selectboard. A conceptual process, where we could use the Charlotte map as a guide for what we prepare.

Tabled Items:

Prioritizing goals for 2010

Official Town Mapping Procedures (Lenore’s work that did not make agenda.)

Next meeting date: 2/17/10

(Third Wednesday of the month)

Mission: The mission of the Hinesburg Trails Committee is to support the development and maintenance of an interlocking set of trails and dirt roads for recreational and non-motorized transportation uses. The Committee will work to assure that Hinesburg is a community where sidewalks, trails, and unpaved roads provide a safe way for residents to travel, to connect with each other, and to enjoy both the village and surrounding rural area by foot, bicycle, and on horseback.

Submitted by Stewart Pierson, Secretary 1/21/10