Friends of Webster Trails

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FWT Board Meeting Minutes

July 8, 2024 7:00 pm

Author:

Sarah White
Attendees
Denise Bilsback, John Bottcher, Bud Gearhart, Ron Happ, Pat Fulkerson, Dennis Kuhn, Chris Peterson, Norma Platt, Linda Siple, Sarah White; Guest Liam Ernst
Adimistrative Reports
  1. Approve/Change Agenda – Approved with addition of scout projects and Dropbox discussions
  2. Approve Minutes from June 2024 Meeting – Approved
  3. Membership Status – Denise B: Detailed report sent to Board via email
    1. 250 members, up 4 this month, up 20 YOY from July 2023
    2. Donations: $135
    3. Volunteer hours: 204, running above 2023
  4. Review of Treasurer Report- Chris/Lynn P: Detailed report sent to Board via email
    1. $45k, but several payments to be made this month.
    2. Chris to meet with M&T about savings rate and credit cards
    3. Budget planning workshop meetings to be held in the upcoming months. ACTION ITEM: Send Chris an email if you’d like to participate in workshop meetings.
    4. Suggestion to add line item for scout projects – approved
  5. Website Inquiry Summary – Norma
    1. Follow up messages about horses on trails/boardwalks – Anna in discussions with Glenn.
    2. Policy for naming trails – Naming done in conjunction with stakeholders.
    3. Wildlife biologist wanted to set up a wildlife camera trap – Forwarded to Glenn.
    4. Request for plans for benches – Provided.
    5. Missing passport sign on the Meadow Trail – replaced by Denise.
  6. Habitat Committee Update – Norma:
    1. Garlic mustard
    2. ReTree census, with report forthcoming.
  7. Communications Update – John: Nothing to report

Trail Planning and Maintenance

  1. Eagle Scout Presentation: Puncheons at Four Mile Creek – Liam Ernst, Troop 108
    1. Planned project completion by July 28
    2. 156 total feet of puncheon
    3. Voice vote to approve not to exceed $1500 – Approved
  2. Scout projects
    1. Upcoming project needs transport for materials on July 19. Ron might be able to assist. Pat to connect Ron and scout.
    2. A required construction bracket is no longer available. ACTION ITEM: Pat to follow up with Hal.
    3. Another scout wants a project. ACTION ITEMS: Denise to look into when the Vosburg bridge needs to be replaced. Pat to ask scout about timeline and abilities. Linda to send Pat the potential projects.
    4. Discussion about how current spending on scout projects and what the limit should be for this year. No decision made.
  3. Trails Planning & Maintenance
    1. Trail Maintenance/Trails Chair update: Linda
      1. State Road project planned for 7/13 with stewards and soccer team
      2. Finn Park
        1. Trash clean up completed with Troop 110.
        2. Trails reblazed.
        3. Drainage issues to be addressed.
        4. Town looking to add parking lot on Gravel. Signage request to town.
      3. Midnight Trail Connector drainage and bridge replacement completed in June.
      4. Hickory Bark boardwalk/platform repaired by Denise.
      5. Gravel budget stands at ~$2000.
      6. Trailer has new locks.
      7. Request for purchase of cordless hedge trimmer. More detailed request required.
      8. Trail stewards.
        1. Separate Midnight Connector and Midnight trail. ACTION ITEM: Sarah to update website.
        2. Looking for additional stewards for Whiting Road.
        3. FMC new steward in process.
      9. ACTION ITEM: Sarah to replace email addresses on Website with generic instructions for email to Contact@webstertrails.org
    2. Trail Workdays: Linda/Trail Stewards
      1. Workday #3, June 15, Gosnell Big Woods – Feedback: 4 people did trail benching
      2. TrailsRoc Partnership – June 29 Midnight Trail workday completed.
      3. Hermann Rd – July 6 – Scout Project – Completion July 8 with update on website.
      4. Workday #4, July 20, Four Mile Creek – Dennis

Meeting Notes
  1. Re-Tree Project: Norma: Planting census in progress, and planning for October workday underway.
  2. Promote (RECRUITMENT)/Events/Fundraising:
    1. July/August Passport event – TBD with Wegmans and P&R- Anna to follow up. Consider doing a Friends table at Wegmans to hand out passport booklets. Also do a table at WRNP. Dates TBD.
    2. Cars and Trees Hike – Oct 5th – Dennis
  3. Goals/Priorities to Support our Mission
    1. Passport update – Denise: Booklets available at Wegmans and launch event TBD.
  4. Open Space/Grants:
    1. New York Forward Community Revitalization program- Anna
      1. July 18th, Next meeting for the Hojack Trail- please email Anna any feedback/suggestions
  5. Open Discussion
    1. No Motorized Vehicle Sign – DRAFT update for approval – approved by voice vote
    2. State Rd Preserve – Timing of new signs and Kiosk: From FB we received a message that a person was dumping their brush at State Rd Preserve, signs and rules might help this. ACTION ITEM: Look into quote for both State Road and Herman Road FWF.
    3. Dropbox: Problems with accessing it. ACTION ITEM: Let Denise know if you have difficulty accessing it.