Westwoods Trails Meeting
March 17, 2003
Guilford Community Center
Chair: Paul Proulx.
Meeting began: 7:35 PM
Attendance: (15 people) Bill Blaha, Rich DiNardo, Shelley Green, Bob Handschumacher, Sean Nesto, Joe Ortoleva, Paul Proulx, Fred Richards, Sally Richards, George Richerson, Matt Richerson, Dia Robinson, Adam Rosati, Jim Shaw, Kevin Smith

Approval/Corrections of Minutes: None. Minutes approved.

Resignations/New Members/Member News: Jim Shaw and Kevin Smith now have attended their 2nd meeting and therefore become official members of the Westwoods Trails Committee.

Correspondance: Paul distributed a pamphlet from the Shoreline Greenway Trail explaining its mission and contact information. Contact person is Jennifer Allcock at 453-5041. Website is www.shorelinegreenwaytrail.org.

GLCT Report:
Nothing new to report from GLCT.

Trail Reports:
Westwoods:
-Team A (7 hrs): Bob Hanschumacher reports the signs are back up on the Moose Hill Rd entrance. Paul Proulx was out working the past weekend performing tree removal (see below for details). Rich Dinardo reports he has not been out recently but had disassembled a fireplace on "cable rock" some time ago, with help from Susan Busch. They also replaced the garbage can liner. Rich DiNardo reports a sign for the cliff walk bypass may be needed.
-Team B: Dia Robinson has no news to report.
-Team C (25 hrs): See below for "Status of Tree Clearing" of red diamond trail update.
Nut Plains - No news to report
Kampmeyer Preserve - No news to report
Paul Trail - No news to report
Spencer creek - No news to report
Hoadley Creek Preserve - No news to report
EastWoods - Bob Handschumacher reports sign off of Podunk Rd for Eastwoods have been taken down. It cannot be determined the person responsible for the action. It could possibly be a local resident in the neighborhood. Bob did not put back any signs, so nothing is there currently to locate the trails off of Podunk Rd. There is one sign set in some distance away from the road.

Work Parties:
Paul reports there were no work parties during the last month, mostly due to the weather and lots of snow. Next organized Work Party will be March 22 Saturday at 12:00 Noon at Dunk Rock Rd. Paul & Dia Robinson are in need of approx 5 people. Three tasks to be targeted 1) Metal "Walking Only" signs to be put into place at the beginning and end of Nature Trail. 2) Mileage will be recorded for CFPA walk book. Nature Trail will be submitted as an example walk. 3) Plan out the interpretive stations (40 stations). Bob Handschumacher will plan a separate day for a work party at his house to create the 40 signs and paint them. He will prepare the signs beforehand. The signs shall be green triangle, containing a white circle, with a black number inside the circle. Then a latter day will be planned for installing the signs. The anticipated goal is to have everything completed before the May 10 GLCT walk on the Nature Trail.

Old Business:
-Status of Trail Clearing - Paul reports the red diamond trail from Three Mile Course to second power line crossing is marked and ready to be cut. 118 Trees need to be cut for this section (they are marked). 32 trees have been downed since last meeting (25 hrs work). Helping Paul were Mary & Matt Richerson, Kevin Smith, Susan Kukle, & Sandy Porter, spaced over three work sessions. Paul says he may go out cutting this upcoming weekend on Saturday at 1:00 pm, and if anyone is interested in helping to simply him. Fred Richards recommended that Paul can use a peavy (sp?) device to remove any tree stumps if necessary.
-Media Coverage of Tree Clearing - Susan Kukle has talked with newspaper reporter and he is willing to return for a follow-up story regarding the progress of Westwoods' trail clearing. It was suggested to have him walk the Nature Trail or Blue Circle Trail maybe some time in the spring time (April?). It was also suggested to have him promote the other GLCT properties, besides Westwoods. The article can be about what work has been accomplished since his last article in the New Haven Register.

New Business:
-GLCT Walks - Susan Kukle is scheduling the spring time hikes for the GLCT. Dates include April 26 at the National Audubon Sanctuary near Clapboard Hill Rd, April 27 at the Braemore Property, May 3 at Broomstick Ledges, May 10 on the Nature Trail, and May 17 at Bluff Head.
-Westwoods Webpage - Matt Richerson presented a proposed webpage for Weswoods that included such features as maps, trail entrances, places to buy maps, pictures, and contact information. Kevin Smith volunteered to speak with Bill Johnson & Leslie Cane (of town hall) regarding possibilities of locations to store the website (ie, a server).
-Shoreline Greenway Trail - Jim Shaw of the Shoreline Greenway Trail requested he needed a "social" tour of some Westwoods trails in order to get familiar with the area. Rich DiNardo volunteered to help Jim.
-ATV News - Paul Proulx reports Bill 851 regarding ATV regulations is being inforced and that Bill Johnson is performing a ATV watch over the Braemore and North Guilford areas. Next Meeting: April 21 is next meeting

Adjournment - The meeting was adjourned approximately 8:45 pm
Recording Secretary - Joseph Ortoleva