Westwoods Trails Meeting
March 15, 2004
Guilford Community Center
Chair: Paul Proulx.
Meeting began: 7:35 PM
Attendance: (10 members & 1 visitor) George Goss, Bob Handschumacher, Peter Johnson, Joe Kaufman, Dave Middleton, Paul Proulx, Mary Richerson, Matt Richerson, James Shaw, Audrey Teofilo, Nancy DeMartino (visitor)

Approval/corrections of minutes: Minutes for February 9, 2004 were approved without corrections.

Resignations/New Members/Members news: No resignations. Nancy DeMartino attended her first meeting.

GLTC Report:
- No report

Trail Reports
Westwoods: See work parties.
Nut Plains: No report
Paul Trail: No report
Kampmeyer: Trails look good. See work parties.
Eastwoods: Trails in good shape. There is an enormous number of frogs on the red trail. It was noted that some kind of vehicle is accessing from Podunk Road due to lack of fence barrier.
Hoadly Creek: It seems to be getting a lot of uses.
Spencer Creek: No report.

Past Work Parties:
-(40 hours) Four cutting parties have taken place since the last meeting by Paul Proulx, Kevin Smith, Peter Johnson, Ellsworth Mathias and Joe Ortoleva. They cleared away 20 trees on the Yellow circle trail and 30 trees on the Yellow Triangle trail
-3(3 hours) Joe Kaufman finished two bridges at Kampmeyer. He needs more wood to continue construction of more bridges over wet lands.
-(3 hours) George and Matt Richerson cleared downed trees from a portion of the Red Diamond and the Red Square trails.
-(4 hours) Sally and Fred Richards maintained the Red and Green Trails in Eastwoods.

Future Work Parties:
-Saturday April 3, 2004 10 am. Nut Plains: General cleaning as well as blazing is planned.

Old Business:
-Due to the results of the trail system name survey, the spelling of Westwoods will now be standardized and the spelling will be: Westwoods
-The results of the Shoreline Greenway Trail Survey showed that the Westwoods Trails committee agrees with the goals and supports the concept of the Shoreline Greenwa Trail. The survey showed that the opinions became more negative with the potential of change to the Westwoods Trails. The results were less negative if there was no change to the existing trails.
-It was suggested that the website include a rating of trails according to difficult and could also include approximate hiking times. In addition, it was recommended that the website have a list of suggested loop trails for each entrance including approximate hiking times. Two new subcommittees are to be fomed: One will be headed by Shelley Green and the will study land usage and the possibility of changing and/or removing trails. The other subcommittee will be headed by Kevin Smith and will choose a monthly feature walk. This will likely involve the schools.
-Connecticut Trails Day is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, June 5th and June th. Pal Proulx has volunteered to head a trail walk showing some of the Hemlock areas. This will take place on Sunday June 6th rain or shine, beginning at the Dunk Rock Entrance.
-The warm weather means it is blazing time. The Orange Circle needs to be blazed.

New Business:
-Jennifer Allcock came to talk about the environmental principles of the Shoreline Greenway Trail. She is another member of the Board of Directors. She explained that the Shoreline Greenway Trail does not want to destro the ambience of the Westwoods. The trail route under consideration beginning from Moose Hill Rd. is the Blue Rectangle to Violet Circle to Yellow Square to Blue Rectangle. The trails would be left as is - no resurfacing. She felt bikes would be more likely take Rt. 146 than the trails. She also mentioned that the Shoreline Greenway Trails could possibly help provide money and volunteers for the stewardship of the Westwoods Trails. A concern was raised about the possibility of the trails being fixed up to accommodate strollers etc. after the Shoreline Greenway Trail had funding and had been given Right of Ways to the land. Jennifer Allcock said it was unlikely as the Shoreline Greenway Trail could only do what the DEP and the landowners agreed to. There is no timetable set for the Greenway Trail. Jennifer provided handouts outlining the Shoreline Greenway Trail's Environmental Principles for Responsible Trail Design and Maintainance.

Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:35pm.
Recording Secretary: Mary Richerson