FNRT Minutes, July 17, 2013

August 19, 2013 • Saved under Outdoors

July 17

Condensed from approved minutes

Present: Alex Bernhard, Steve Darling, Tom Frantz, Lindy Heim, Craig Heim, Charles Martin, Myra Mayman, Joyce Morton, Ellsworth Morton, Steve Rayno, Peter Southworth, Nita Tomaszewski, Bob Ward, and guests Kent Hackmann and Ralph Ressler.

1. Approval of April 24, 2013 minutes. The minutes were approved.

2. Treasurer’s Report (Steve) reported on total assets with updates on the winter and July 4th raffles as well as the 5K running race. Myra will follow up with the New London Inn about the drop in income from this year’s Thursday’s Child dinner.

3. Fundraising: Foundations (Craig). Craig shared some good results about fundraising from foundations and individuals.

4. Correspondence. Grant responses (with many successes) were received.

5. Old Business

a. Action items (all) Myra ran through the current tasks.

b. Maintenance: report from Peter and Tom including discussion about:

  • Vegetation encroachment: Steve Robinson has equipment he’s willing to use for scraping, raking, and rolling. Tom will research herbicide use to provide information.

  • Trees/tree limbs in trail: continue with volunteer efforts? Liam Nelson of Andover Snowmobile Club has done some branch trimming, and one suggestion is to confirm that the snowmobile clubs will take care of branch overgrowth on their respective trails. Peter will contact the snowmobile clubs to confirm their branch trimming.

  • Alex reported that we still have not received the renewal of our Maintenance Agreement requested last December.

c. Technology Report (Steve) No issues or news in regard to technology.

d. Strategic Action Plan: Annual Meeting and Annual Budget. The August 21 meeting will be our annual meeting where we’ll elect officers for the coming year.

e. July 4th race report (Tom). Brian Reynolds ran a successful race and Tom expects he’ll continue to run the race next year. Brian is sharing the proceeds with FNRT and other groups.

f. Enfield Bridge update (Alex). Alex is working on retaining historic eligibility of the trail.

g. RTP 2013 update (Nita and Alex). We are ready to spend the money as of July 1, and plans are in place for building four miles of trail during mid-October construction.

6. New Business

a. Upcoming meetings and events. There will be a Valley News article on riding the entire trail in the near future. The Boston VA group will be here on July 23 and 24.

b. Discussion of Lenny Caron’s request to use the Trail for gravel trucking. Bob provided some background after talking with the Andover Planning Board. Alex motioned that the board write a letter to the Andover boards, DOT, and Trails Bureau with our position opposing any trucks on the rail trail because of safety, state laws, and trail purpose. The motion was passed.

c. Possible purchase of marquee for outdoor presentations. Bob will research a portable tent (with the FNRT logo and lettering).