Present: FNRT Board members Tom Frantz, Ellsworth Morton, Joyce Morton, Steve Rayno, Peter Southworth, and Bob Ward.

Discussion of maintenance with special guests Chris Gamache, Chief of New Hampshire Bureau of Trails and District 3 Supervisor Shawn Violette; Leon Nelson, Mike Henderson, and Greg Miller of the Andover Snowmobile Club (ASC); Jack Shields, Penacook Village Association; Boyd Smith, Newfound Lake Region Association; Steve Robinson, Danbury FNRT Trail Master; Ricker Miller, Andover FNRT Trail Master; Prescott Towle, ASC Insurance; Steve Proulx and Ken Lind, Lakes Region Snowmobile Club.

Maintenance Discussion. Bob began with the overview that with 35 miles of rail trail now complete, the FNRT shifts into clarifying maintenance agreements with the state and begins planning for annual budgeting.

Chris noted there are three-year cooperative agreements (just like with snowmobile clubs) that depend on volunteer groups. He highlighted the limitations of money and staff and the reality that Bureau of Trails (BoT) can help with major trail crises (blow-downs, wash-outs, etc.) but not much else. He asserted the state’s dependence and appreciation for the volunteer groups such as FNRT and snowmobile clubs.

Chris noted the changing demographics of trail users and the shift away from interest in financial or volunteer support. Mike H. inquired about the Adopt-a-Trail model for trail management, and this was discussed. Ricker Miller and Steve Robinson had questions about when to notify BoT for projects and shared some specifics of Danbury work.

In regard to the issue of railroad bridges and safety (i.e. bridges lacking guardrails), Chris stated this is a cooperative issue that volunteer clubs and the BoT should communicate on. There are many bridges that don’t have guardrails, and the BoT does not consider this a safety problem. The ASC had plans to rebuild the wooden guardrails on some Andover railroad bridges, but Chris noted that all the bridges should be consistent with no guardrails. The wooden guardrails are a liability concern because someone could be injured while climbing on the rails.

The ASC and FNRT agreed that we are going to focus on the quality and safety of trail and bridge surfaces. Other issues, such as pruning the sides of the trail, etc., will happen as possible.

The ASC asked about putting up year-round stop signs, and Chris had no objection. In regard to placement of benches, signs, kiosks, etc. on the trail, Chris identified that the distance from the center line is 10 feet. We need to check with BoT for placement of bench and sign areas. From the center of the trail, most rights-of-way are 33’, but this varies.

In regard to the washout between Dyer’s Crossing and Sam Hill Road, Ricker Miller has not received an estimate from Edmunds to present or show BoT. When the details of the project are complete, the FNRT must notify BoT, which will come out and look at the job scope and plans, and to be sure the contractor has $2 million of insurance.