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FWT Board Meeting Minutes

August 11, 2025 7:00 pm

Author:

Sarah White
Attendees
Pat Fulkerson, Ron Happ, Hal Harris, Chris Peterson, Paul Piotrowski, Linda Siple, Pat Smally, Sarah White, Ben Wisniewski
Adimistrative Reports
  1. Approve/Change Agenda: Approved
  2. Approve Minutes of July 2025 Meeting: Minutes delayed until later this week
  3. Membership Status – Denise B: Report distributed to Board via email
    • Members 247, one new
    • Donations $1145
    • Work hours: 171 field hours, 108 non-field hours
  4. Review of Treasurer Report – Chris
    • July statement includes start of the grant funds
    • Expenditure for insurance was in July
    • Moved some cash to M&T short-term accounts/CD
    • NYS charities status registration needed this year. Ben and Chris to work on this, including some more granular reporting on finances.
    • Budget committee to meet this month with report in September
  5. Website Inquiry Summary – Norma
    • Membership status inquiry.
    • Completion date for Hojack construction and a question about the project generally.
    • Chiyoda Road extension project. Per the town, this is still under review, but if the road is extended, the trail will be rerouted.
    • Clarifying bike use on trails in Gosnell. Website updated to specify which trails allow biking.
    • Semi truck parked on Klem Road.
    • Former Vosburg bridge memento. Question if a plaque for the original bridge should be maintained. Approved by voice vote for a plaque on a separate post.
  6. Communication Director – TBD/Sarah: Newsletter solicitations in September for October release.
  7. Social Media – Sarah: Lots of new interactions driven by the Hojack construction, and a new high for Facebook page followers.
  8. Habitat Committee Update – Norma
    1. Maintenance of new plantings in WRNP.
    2. ReTree nursery maintenance.
    3. Planning started for planting workdays for RGE and October workday

Trail Planning and Maintenance

  1. Scout Presentations
    • Alistair Robertson – FMCP puncheon and bench repair, new puncheon and table. Target completion by October. Approved by voice vote not to exceed $600.
    • Evan Willis – Kiosk at Lake Road for Hojack, and bench and table in Whiting Road Nature Preserve Yellow Trail. Target completion by mid-September.  Approved by voice vote not to exceed $1100. Materials to be purchased separately; kiosk is funded by Parks & Rec, bench and table by FWT.
  2. Scout Projects for 2025– Linda/Patrick
    • Three kiosks and several benches needed before next June as part of the Hojack grant project. Locations need to be determined, but the funding is part of the grant.
    • Three of the scout projects for this year are done. Two are still in process.
    • Review of priority projects, with everything left on the list set for 2026 or later.
  3. Trails Chair Report
    • FMCP Red Trail boardwalk going to Salt Creek bridge was underbuilt and needs to be repaired with an additional stringer. Expected cost is not to exceed $1000. Plan for this to be a scout project, including some additional drainage work.
    • FMCP – Proposal to incorporate the access road near the Red Trail towards the sewage treatment plant into the official trail system. Stewards will review the road to evaluate concerns about a sink hole.
  4. Kiosk Information Project – Linda:  no update

Meeting Notes
  1. Ralph Wilson Jr Trail Maintenance Fund – Status update
    • Grant update – Ben/Pat: Surface work is still ongoing, starting at Holt Road and working west, with work started in final section to Drumm Road. Removal of old RR sleepers still needed, but planned. Work should be completed within two weeks per the contract.
    • Hojack Trail Bench & Kiosk Locations/Scouts needed – Anna (report to follow)
    • Hojack Grant Signage Committee – Anna (report to follow). Question about need for yield signs sent to town.
    • Hojack Trail Grant Plantings – Sarah/Norma: Tabled until September
    • Final invoice for surface work will be due within 60 days, so will need to request funding of second payment from grant and donation. ACTION ITEM: Ben to do requests for both.
    • Town would like to have the swing gates in place, instead of bollards. Once the town has a proposal, the board can review the costs.
    • Seeding along edges will be a pollinator mix, installed by RGE.
  2. Re-Tree Project – Norma/Sarah: Planning in process for fall events.
  3. Promote (RECRUITMENT)/Events/Fundraising – no discussion.
  4. Open Discussion – None