FWT Board Meeting Minutes

August 12, 2024 7:00 pm

Author:

Sarah White

Attendees

Denise Bilsback, John Bottcher, Pat Fulkerson, Bud Gearhardt, Ron Happ, Hal Harris, Norma Platt, Linda Siple, Matt Steiner, Ann Taylor, Ben Wisniewski; Guests Richard Murry, Henry Schlafer (Troop 110)

Adimistrative Reports

Approve/Change Agenda – add Friends of Genesee Greenway collaboration
Approve Minutes from July 2024 Meeting – Approved
Membership Status- Denise B
1. $471 from RGE
2. 1 new member
3. Volunteer hours 211; YTD exceeds all of last year
Review of Treasurer Report- Chris/Lynn P
1. Chris will upload the summary to the Dropbox
2. Draft budget plan in the works, to be sent to
Website Inquiry Summary – Norma
1. Trees down
2. Thank you notes
3. Grandma thanks
4. MTB
5. Barbed wire on private trail to Hojack – couldn’t find it
Habitat Committee Update – Norma
1. 46 hours watering, maintaining nursery
2. ReTree census
Communication – John: Thinking about NL

Trail Planning and Maintenance

Eagle Scout Presentation – Henry Schlafer
1. Kiosk and bench at HRFWF
2. Voice vote not to exceed $1200: Approved
Trails Planning & Maintenance
1. Trail Maintenance/Trails Chair update: Linda
  - Gravel requests from town all fulfilled for this year
  - Finn Park – scout (Andrew) would like to do a project there. Patrick to meet with Glenn to see what plans the town has.
  - Hickory Bark benches – ACTION ITEMS: Anna to investigate replacement of memorial bench. Pat to see if scout troop will repair the first bench.
  - Bird Sanctuary – Trail damage by developer that will be repaired by developer.
  - Hedge Trimmer. Not approved. Stewards should look to borrow equipment from others where possible.
  - Dog waste disposal system for Bird Sanctuary. Town has purchased these in the past for other areas. ACTION ITEM: Anna to contact Glenn.
  - New stewards. Paul Pitrowski to assist with FMC. Matt and Annie Michi to assist with WRNP.
  - Need for additional stewards. ACTION ITEM: Denise to mock up some signage seeking new stewards for approval.
  - Parking signage for Hojack separate from Wahl property. ACTION ITEM: Anna to discuss signage with Glenn.
2. Trail Workdays: Linda/Trail Stewards
  - Herman Rd – July 6 – Scout Project – Feedback
  - Workday #4, July 20 Four Mile Creek – Dennis, Feedback
  - Workday #5, August 17 State Rd Preserve – Hal
  - Workday #6, September 21 Herman Road – Ben
  - Workday #7, October 14 ReTree – Norma and Sarah
3. Scout projects: Project approvals should be before the end of September each year.

Meeting Notes

Insurance – Trailer/Mower – Ready for 2025 use – All
- Mowing doesn’t seem to be meeting our expectations on some of the trails. ACTION ITEM: Send any mowing feedback to Anna.
- Insurance issues still need to be resolved.
- Bud has volunteered to do recruitment for mowers for 2025.
Re-Tree Project: Norma/Sarah: Census of plantings
- 16 planting areas surveyed to date with 60% alive, 12% dead, and 28% missing, with heavy understory growth hindering the search. Additional efforts will be made to find the missing in the fall.
- Learnings: Red maples haven’t done well. Sycamore, ninebark, witch hazel and spicebush are generally successful.
- Question about the state’s tree restoration project. ACTION ITEM: John to look into this.
Promote (RECRUITMENT)/Events/Fundraising:
- August Passport Event – WRNP- Anna/Sarah Feedback
  - 30+ brochures distributed; 1 new member
- Stickers & Brochure Order: Denise to order 1000 for $389 – approved. 100 new stickers ordered.
- Cars and Trees Hike – Oct 5th – Dennis: Tabled
- Library Hike in FMC September 14: tabled
Open Discussion
- Trail Counting – Goals/objectives/data gathering – John and Richard
  - Goals: Prioritize trail maintenance/improvements; use data for grants and funding requests; drive traffic to lesser-used trails
  - Next steps:
    - Get updated seasonal data for trails already done
    - Do a longer count, perhaps on Hojack
    - Do social media posts about lesser-used trails
- Dropbox access – Denise and Anna to look into adding a second administrator