Friends of Webster Trails

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FWT Board Meeting Minutes

March 9, 2026 7:00 pm

Author:

Sarah White
Attendees
Denise Bilsback Ron Happ, Kerri Kiniorski, Linda Siple, Pat Smally, Anna Taylor, Sarah White, Ben Wiesniwski
Adimistrative Reports
  1. Approve/Change Agenda: OK
  2. Approve Minutes of February Meeting: Approved
  3. Membership Status – Denise B
    • 237 members, 3 new, including from Western NY Challenge hike. ACTION ITEM: Sarah to look at future collaboration on hikes.
    • No donations
    • 5 hours of volunteer time
  4. Review of Treasurer Report – Chris
    • $44k on hand, including remainder of Wilson grant funds
    • Going forward, expenses will be assigned to expense categories, including scout name for each project
    • Insurance renewal coming up in late spring, with plan to review policy.
  5. Reports
    1. Sarah introduced Kerri Kiniorski for Communications
    2. Website Inquiry Summary: several groups looking to volunteer.
    3. Communication Director
      1. Newsletter due 3/25
      2. Workday summaries needed for website and newsletter, including work description and needed supplies.
    4. Social Media: continuing to work on increasing post visibility
    5. Habitat Committee Update: no update

Trail Planning and Maintenance

  1. Anna/Pat: Meeting with New Supervisor Scialdone – 03/03/26 Meeting
    • Shared status of Hojack Project and State Road NP, concerns about Chiyoda Trail and Community Access Project/Xerox property, and budget plans.
    • New Parks Director – Mike Herbst: plan to meet in April
    • Meeting with Bridget Harvey, town communications, this month to better share information
    • Tree City USA designation – town looking at applying
  2. Trails Chair Report/Projects – Linda
    • Updated scout projects list ready, but no scouts assigned yet
    • Looking for gravel requests from stewards.
    • Midnight Trail encroachment needs follow up with Town. ACTION ITEM: Anna to follow up.
    • WRNP Red Trail bridge replacement. Confirmed that 24′ bridge with puncheons on either side will suffice.
    • Hojack new surface generally is in great shape, but just west of Hard Rd is flooding and needs new ditches to drain to existing ditches. ACTION ITEM: Anna to contact town.
  3. Scout Projects for 2026– Patrick/Linda: No update
  4. Workdays
    • Ditch clearing along Hojack in April. Ben and Linda to work on plan. Shovels and metal-tine rakes needed.
  5. Kiosk Information Project – Denise:
    • All town sign panels have been purchased. Two new kiosks: Gosnell Big Field and Big Woods (no biking). DECISON: include just a sign for Big Woods.
    • Klem/Hojack kiosk needs to be built. ACTION ITEM: Sarah to put up FB post about available work projects.

Meeting Notes
  1. Ralph Wilson Jr Trail Maintenance Fund
    • Hojack Grant Signage Committee – Sign Subcommittee
      • Sign size and fonts approved.
      •  Install on each side of the road.
      • ACTION ITEM: Anna to check with McAllister to get a sample, and see if town can partner on sign posts.
    • Ribbon Cutting Event Planning – Community hike/bike ride: Set up committee with Stewards to plan.
  2. Re-Tree Project: Sarah
    • Potting Day in April
    • RGE planting in May
  3. Promote (RECRUITMENT)/Events/Fundraising
    • T-shirt Order, Funnyfarm T-Shirts, LLC – Anna
  4. Homeschool Group – Trail Funs days, Thursdays May-June 1-2pm – Volunteers: Anna T, Sarah, Denise, and maybe Dennis Kuhn
  5. Community Arts Day – April 11, Schroeder HS: Pass for this year
  6. Webster Volunteer Fair – Webster Library May 2, 10-noon: Pass for this year
  7. NY Forward Grant update – Anna: No update
  8. Trail Steward Gathering April – Anna: TBD