Friends of Webster Trails

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FWT Board Meeting Minutes

February 12, 2024 7:00 pm

Author:

Sarah White
Attendees
Denise Bilsback, Pat Fulkerson, Ron Happ, Hal Harris, Dennis Kuhn, Rich McNeary, Chris Peterson, Linda Siple, Anna Taylor, Tom Traub, Ben Wisniewski, Sarah White
Adimistrative Reports
  1. Approve/Change Agenda: Add discussion of scout projects and trail difficulty
  2. Approve Minutes from January 2024 Meeting: Approved
  3. Membership Status- Denise Bilsback: Detailed report distributed via email:
    • YTD members 263; note nonpayment members to be removed this month
    • Donations: $305
    • Volunteer hours: 93
  4. Review of Treasurer Report – Chris/Lynn Peterson: Detailed report posted in Dropbox
    • Moved $10k to a 1-year CD and worked with M&T to increase savings rate.
    • Request for reimbursement form to be made available on Website.
    • Reimbursement process – ACTION ITEM: Chris and Lynn to develop a draft for discussion.
  5. Social Media – Anna Taylor
    • FB – 1000+ followers
    • New coordinator Ursula Zamora has suggestions for a social media strategy. More information to come.
  6. Website Inquiry Summary – Anna Taylor
    • Issues with web host resulted in several inquiries being submitted but not forwarded by the system until 2/11.
  7. Communications Update – No report
  8. Habitat Committee Update – Anna Taylor – Email solicitation to members going out in April.
  9. Conflict of Interest Form – Everyone should have signed it.

Trail Planning and Maintenance

  • Inventory of Structures on FWT trails – Linda Siple: Shared a draft overview spreadsheet with a detailed Word report on structures. ACTION ITEM: Linda and John to meet with Rich to plan a searchable database.
  • New Parking Lots – Herman Rd & State Rd – Hal & Ben: Herman Road work to start week of 2/19. State Road TBD.
  • “Problems on the Trail” & FMC Signs – Anna: McAllister Signs to create signs as a donation. Updated FMC signage with orange trail on it to also be donated.
  • Trail Work Dates/Schedule – Draft – Sarah/ All: ACTION ITEM: Sarah to distribute updated file this week.
    • April: Hojack and Hickory Bark Cleanup; Earth Day planting at ReTree nursery
    • May: State Road new trail along Four Mile Creek
    • June: FMC spread stone on Blue Trail
    • July: Gosnell trail benching on connector to small meadow; clearing along fence
    • August: State Road new trail creation
    • September: Herman Road trail benching
    • October: ReTree tree planting
  • Scout Projects (generally in priority order):
    • WRNP Orange Trail bridge replacement: Sawyer to present to Board in March
    • Herman Road 58’ NW bridge: Alan to complete
    • FMC Orange trail puncheon/drainage: TBD
    • Herman Road Kiosk: prioritize with completion of parking lot
    • Vosburg 34’ bridge replacement: TBD
    • State Road 10’ and 12’ bridges: TBD
    • State Road 25’ bridge: schedule after permit finalized
    • Sandbar Park kiosk: ACTION ITEM: Anna to check with Glenn if this was stored.
  • Hojack Trail /Town grant writer – Anna Tabled to March
  • Scout project – Sawyer new boardwalks at WRNP – he’ll present at March meeting
  • Trail difficulty on signage – All: Table to next meeting
  • Inventory of building materials – Should we have some sort of inventory? ACTION ITEM: Patrick to maintain the limited inventory on the resources spreadsheet.

Meeting Notes
  1. Goals/Priorities to Support our Mission
    • Website Refresh and Launch!! – Rich
      • How To Documents available
      • ACTION ITEM: Update photos as you’re on the trails. Sarah will distribute a quick guide to update photos.
      • ACTION ITEM: Denise to add boxes for types of work to Trail Maintenance work form.
      • ACTION ITEM: Rich to send list of authorized Website editors.
    • Trail Use Counting – Anna Tabled to next month
    • Recruitment: Trails Chair & Adopt a Trail – Anna/All Tabled to next month
  2. Re-Tree Project: Sarah: Clearing done in January. Committee meeting this month, with report to Board next month.
  3. Promote/Events/Fundraising:
    • Library Talk & Hikes, P&R Hikes- Anna
      • April 13 at 11am talk at Library, Anna to do it.
      • Hikes: May 11 Gosnell, September 14 FMC
    • Review Proposed Event List – All
    • New FWT Hat – Anna (distribution)
    • Community Arts Day – April 13. Dennis to ask members for volunteers to be at table.
  1. Open Space: Status- Hal: Tabled until next meeting
  1. Open Discussion none