Hinesburg Trails Committee
Meeting Minutes
June 16, 2010
PRESENT: Stewart Pierson, Cathy Ryan, Michelle Fischer, Launa Lagasse, Greg Leroy, Jane Sheldon, Lenore Budd, Colin McNaull.
Guest: Ed Waite of Hinesburg Fire Department.
MINUTES of May 2010 meeting were not addressed.
AGENDA:
Sidewalk plans:
Michelle reported on the discussion at a recent Select Board meeting of the planned extension of the sidewalk on the west side of Rte. 116, largely funded by a Safe Routes to School grant. Most of the concern was about the safety of the pedestrian crossing of Silver St. at the intersection with Rte. 116, and the need to plan how a future sidewalk from the new development on the west side of Silver St. will join the Rte. 116 sidewalk. The addition of sidewalk, curbs, on-street parking, trees, etc. will serve a traffic-calming function in the village. Cathy will inquire with Rocky and Alex as to whether the short stretch of sidewalk needed on the Meade property, which has been eliminated from the Town budget in the last two years, can be included in this larger sidewalk project.
Carse permission and tool purchase:
Via email, Jason reported that he has not heard back from Ralph Carse re a public trail on his land. Jason has purchased loppers, McLeods, and pick-mattocks as part of a VYCC/VMBA bulk order. Total cost is $263.25 plus our share of the shipping cost.
Town Forest Committee:
The Town has received a $5,000 grant for signs at both Town Forests. Jason and Greg will work with Rocky and others involved in the management of the LHTF on design and construction of a kiosk and improved parking.
Eagle Trail marking:
Colin, Lenore, and others will start marking the Eagle Trail on 6/27/10 at 9 AM.
Trail easement template:
Lenore handed out copies of a draft landowner permission form and a draft trail easement template. Edits from committee members are to be sent to Lenore by 6/23/10. She will compile these and forward the documents to Jeanne with a request that they be reviewed and approved by the Select Board and the Town attorney.
Raven Ridge:
Stewart is waiting to hear from TNC whether dogs will be allowed in this new preserve.
Greg, Stewart, and John Roos have organized trail maintenance on Saturday, June 19 at 9 AM on the trail loop between Lavigne Rd. and West Buck Hill Rd. Greg has learned that the Town will soon construct and parking area and snow plow turn around at the trailhead for the Buck Hill West Trail. He will follow up with Mike Anthony, Town Roads Foreman, to ensure that construction will facilitate, rather than hinder access to the trail.
OTHER BUSINESS:
Ed Waite of the Hinesburg Fire Dept. reported that the department wants to understand the hazards and emergencies that the trails present. They were recently called to “rescue” some lost bikers in the Old Town Forest and realized that they were not familiar with the trails and don’t have trail maps. Ed was pointed to the trail maps that are available on the Town website and to the digital GPS data available from Alex. Stewart and Cathy will follow up with Ed.
Lenore described an outing on a portion of the East Montpelier trail network that was part of the VLT annual meeting on 6/12/10 and distributed copies of their trail map flyer. HART needs a similar flyer. The UVM Recreation Management students created a mock up of a flyer last fall. One of the motivations for creating the East Montpelier trails was to generate tourism, particularly for B&Bs. This could be a factor in Hinesburg as well.
Via email, Jason encouraged the Committee to focus on marking, mapping, and improving our existing trails before seeking landowner permission for new sections of trail.
Upcoming Hinesburg Record articles:
June - Colin
August – Jason
September – Lenore
October – Stewart
NEXT MEETINGS: submit agenda items in advance to Cathy, who will be chairing these meetings during Stewart’s absence.
July 21, 2010
August 18, 2010
Respectfully submitted,
Lenore F. Budd