Westwoods Trails Meeting
September 15 , 2003
Guilford Community Center
Chair: Paul Proulx.
Meeting began: 7:30 PM
Attendance: Bll Blaha, Shelley Green, Peter Johnson, Joe Ortoleva, Sandy Porter, Paul Proulx, Fred Richards, Sally Richards, Mary Richerson, Matt Richerson, James Shaw, Kevin Smith, Simon Stuart, Audrey Teofilo, First meeting: Michelle King, Richard Judson

Approval/corrections of minutes: Minutes from June 9,2003 approved.

Resignations/New Members/Members news: Eleanor Epler resigned

GLTC Report: no news

Trail Reports
Westwoods:
-Team A: (4.5 Hours) Blazing the Green Rectangle from Dunk Rock Rd to Moose Hill Rd.
-Team B: (2 Hours) Blazing the Southern section of the Orange Circle
-Team C: (30 Hours) Paul reported that the chain sawing is almost complete on the Red Diamond Trail.
Nut Plains: Kevin Smith reported that there are deer blinds that need to be removed. There are also three crossings that need new bridges. He has reblazed the White Trail.
Paul Trail: No report.
Kampmeyer: No report.
Eastwoods: Sally said all is well.
Hoadly Creek: No report
Spencer Creek: No report.

Work Parties:
-Blazing: Paul - orange; Dia - white; Bob - yellow; Bill - violet; Mary - Red diamond
-There was a discussion about the trees remaining to be cut on the Red Diamond between the green circle and the orange circle. The decision about what to do with the remaining standing hemlocks was postponed until after the coming storm. Trees that are currently hung up will be definitely be taken down. The crew plans to use the sling shot to help with this clean-up on September 20th
-The trail heads are over-grown. A work party will clean-up the trail heads as well as the trail through the over grown field off of Peddlers Road on Sunday October 5th.
-Red Diamond Clean-up: week-end after the October 20th meeting.

Old Businesss:
-Matt and Kevin reported that the West woods Webpage is temporarily on the town site at www.guilfordct.com/westwoods. Check it out feed back is welcome.

New Business:
-With the vast majority of hemlock removal completed, there was a suggestion that some of the remaining trails be left without any cutting. The proposed trail was the red square near 3 mile course.
-Shelley Green will be seeing if there are any students that might like to do a longitudinal study comparing the groomed trails with the trails that were uncut.
-Shelley also suggested that we come up with a long term plan for managing the field at Peddlers Rd.
-The trails that need to be cut are: the orange circle between the blue rectangle and the green rectangle, the red diamond, the yellow diamond, finishing the red diamond, and selected trails around the yellow circle.
-Do the cut trails need further clean-up? There are piles of brush, and in some areas these piles line the trail on both side. Perhaps the fire Marshall and/or a stae forestry expert would like to attend a meeting to consider the fire hazard.
-Bridges: So far the bridges in West Woods are fine but there are a couple at Nut Plains that need attention.
-The Fair day Parade will be on September 20th , anyone wanting to march will gather at the end of High Street at 9:3am.
-It was mentioned that the Braemore Trails are still experiencing trouble with ATV use.
-The Connecticut Forest and Park Association is looking for a trail manager to be responsible for the Blue Trail from RT 77 to RT 68. Anyone interested can call Ann Colson (860)346-2372 or Bob Morrison (860)645-1342.
-On Saturday October 18th there will be a Trail Maintainer Workshop in Kent Connecticut at the Macedonia Brook State Park. For more information call Bob Davis (203) 272-333 or Elaine LaBelle (860) 927-5082
-Shelly was asked if she would be interested in talking about managing trails with wildlife in mind, at the October meeting. She agreed.
-Greenway Trails: Jim reported that there wasn't much to report about for the summer, but the committee is still assessing potential trail properties.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:45pm
Recording Secretary: Sandra Porter