TRAILS COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
September 25, 2008
Attendees: Denny Nackoney, Len Poitras, Diane Hall, Miguel Lessing, Bob Brown, Joan Gaughan, Lewis Collins, Tim Anderson, Rina Rub, Bob White
Rina Rub, having met the requirements for joining the Trails Committee by attending three meetings, participating in at least one field project and being voted in at a Trails Committee meeting, has now joined the Trails Committee. Janet Bowser has notified the Town Clerk and Rina will be sworn in at the Town Clerk's Office soon. (Helen, please add Rina to the Official List.)
We are considering a minor reroute to the Brook Path near the High School. An investigatory walk was held on September 30th and a second walk will be held Saturday October 11 at 8:00 am. If you are attending, meet at Paine St.
The Committee voted to allocate $5000 to the MA DCR as a matching funds grant to survey and provide design specs for the Lower Falls Bridge. Matching funds will hopefully come from Newton and the DCR. The Lower Falls Bridge team has met with the Newton Conservators and will meet with State Senator Kay Kahn and Newton residents to discuss the project.
Diane will add a paragraph regarding the short section of the Cochituate Aqueduct between Forest St and Laurel Ave to her letter to the Selectmen regarding neighborhood dumping and encroachment along the Cochiutate. We are focusing on the sections between Washington and Walnut and between Turner Rd and Rt 9.
We have two Eagle Scout Candidates interested in the Rockridge and Carisbrooke bridge projects. Denny will coordinate the work.
Joan thanked all those who helped with the second Kid's Trails Day on September 21st. She will look at alternate sites for next Fall's event.
Miguel updated the Committee on the status of the Turner Road gate. Neighbors are attempting to have the gate opened on weekends between dawn and dusk after the beach season. Opening the gate would enhance access to the trails and to Morses Pond for water activities. The Recreation Department has not reported any problems with our recent path rerouting through the beach area.
After the meeting, Denny and I met with the DPW to evaluate methods of stabilizing the eroded area on the Morses Pond Trail. It appears that cross-timbers and several steps may be the best solution.
I have attached a copy of the proposed FY10 Trails Capital Budget. We will vote on this budget at our next meeting. Note that we have approximately $12,000 in our current capital account. We have voted to spend capital for sign refurbishment.
The next meeting will be Thursday November 13 at 7:30 in the NRC Office.
Bob White
Chairman Trails Committee
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