Minutes of November 2008

November 11, 2008
East Montpelier, Vermont

Meeting was called to order at 7:35 pm with eight (8) members present.

Secretary's report was read. Peter Hill made motion to accept. Motion seconded by Derek Pryce. Motion carried.


Treasurer's report was read. Roger Hall made motion to accept. Motion seconded by Linda Hall. Motion carried.


VAST:
- Volunteer TMA not yet available - Should be ready Dec.1 with regular TMA's
- Worcester has trail closure near Dumpling - they have found a new route and are working on it
- Montpelier working on new trail near Gould Hill
- Abutting landowner is causing problems - he is getting ACT 250 involved
- Calais is relocating the trail from Fitch's toward Maple Corners.
- Cabot is out of grooming - They were behind on payments - Luke repo'd the groomer and sold it - Working on dividing their mileage up with surrounding clubs
- Calais is near their grooming limit - not sure they can take on anymore (from Cabot)

Trails:
- Dave G and Roger H got the fan belt change on the Piston Bully - Last belt was too short
- Drag has been pulled out so Brad Nutbrown can transport it to his house to do some welding
- Held work bee on County rd. (near Hagget Rd) - got everything cut out - New the end of the large field the trial will turn right, go behind a few houses, over to Hagget Rd, then up to the County Rd to cross. Now on hold due to permit issues.
- Sandy is attending a meeting to see if we really need to have a permit each time this type of thing comes up - maybe we can get one per year that covers us.
- Permit cost is $35 - town may waive that
- Near Fitch Rd there are two areas where the State Stream folks may need to be involved - As long as flow is not affected, we should be okay - small bridge should be okay
- Lyle, Ron?, and Roger trimmed RR bed toward Cookson's
- Staking Cookson's old place toward Mekkleson's
- Snow fence in gravel pit missing - chain and lock both also missing
- New beaver dam up stream behind Wilson's
- More staking this week
- New Montpelier trail - North St. - installing 5' culvert part way down - not sure how far they got - Ray L doing the work, looks nice and wide. Will need about a 30' bridge to complete
- Sandy talked with Richard Hall - Need to move into easement - They are plowing the field - he told us to move the stakes for the walking trail out if need be.
- A bill that had been killed is back the legislature. Proposes that the state will have control of 100' around any stream, or body of water (including beaver dams). Won't be able to do anything with that 100'. It Died in committee once, but may be resubmitted. A group in the NEK helped kill it before. County give $2500 to this group to help with costs.
- Our mass mailing is to go out with a few days
- Only a few landowners left to get permission signatures from - None of them are expected to be an issue
- Senior housing has option on land behind/above Dudley's store. This would be were the trail is now. Sandy talked with Austin.


Henry Murray made motion to adjourn. Motion seconded by Linda Hall. Meeting adjourned at 8:25 pm.