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Present: Dorothy Baker, Roy Baker, Stan Beauregard, Bill Brunelle, Kathleen Brunelle, Mark Bombardier, John Gale, Barry Kade, Raymond Larose, Pete Perrino, Richard Roberge, Jim Smith, Chuck Vile (FP&R), Bonnie Waninger (NRPC)
Chair Raymond Larose called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
J. Gale moved to accept the minutes of the February 1 7, 1999 meeting as written. B. Brunelle seconded. Motion carried.
R. Roberge motioned to amend the Bylaws to include one representative appointed by the Franklin County Club of the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers. K. Brunelle seconderl. Motion carried. A proposal was made to add a law enforcement representative from the Vermont State Police to the Council. The Council tabled the discussion.
Appointments -- B. Waninger noted NRPC had received a letter from the St. Albans Town appointing Dorothy and Roy Baker as the town's representatives on the Rail Trail Council. Jim Smith is the St. Albans City representative.
Members At Large -- B. Kade requested a ruling from the Chair as to whether the Council should consider M. Bombardier the VAST representative until VAST formally appoints a member in accordance with the change in Bylaws. The Chair ruled in the affirmative. The following people were elected as members at large: Richard Archambault, Bill Brunelle, Kathleen Brunelle, Guy Choiniere, Barry Kade, Chet Parsons, Evelyn Stanley, and Phyllis Tiffany.
Officers - The following members were elected officers: Raymond Larose, President; Bill Brunelle, Vice President; and Kathleen Brunelle, Secretary/Treasurer.
The Council directed NRPC to write letters of congratulations to members elected at large and letters of appreciation to out-going members for their past service.
C. Vile explained the Department's policy on commercial and large group use of the Trail. Commercial users must have a permit and license to use the trail. The license includes proof of liability insurance. Large groups must have a permit. In general, a permit is needed ifa group holds a for-profit or fundraising event on the trail or charges its members for special walks on the trail. Fees for nonprofit organizations are usually waived. Applying for the permit helps measure who is using the trail and why. This measure is important to measure use along the trail for use in fundraising and maintenance. Council members suggested groups or events be asked to provide extra services if the event or use interferes with the free use of the trail by regular users. If it does, the group or event sponsors should provide adequate notice to local trail users, including posting notices in communities, and should provide facilities at their own expense, such as port-o-lets. Commercial and tour users should space their participants to reduce impacts to other trail users.
Grants - No report.
Sheldon Bridge - B. Waninger updated the Council on
recent developments related to the historic Truss Bridge on Rt.
108 in Cambridge. Further investigation into the bridge reveled
that it is of suitable length and is scheduled to be replaced in
2003. The Council directed NRPC to schedule a joint meeting
between the Council, the Truss Bridge Adaptive Reuse Program, and
the Bicycle and Pedestrian Program. The focus of the meeting
would be to learn more about the Truss Bridge
Program and the plans, schedule, and issues for replacing the Rt.
108 truss bridge in Cambridge. [The meeting has been scheduled
for Wednesday, April 7 from 2-4 p.m. at the Northwest Regional
Planning Commission.]
Trailhead Identification - Canadian users have indicated it is difficult to find the Richford trailhead. They have requested additional bike-route signs and an indication that the route leads to the MVRT.
Driveway concerns - M. Bombardier noted that VAST posts caution signs at driveways. He is concerned that automobile traffic may not yield to summer users. He suggested caution signs on the trail noting driveway crossings or stop signs at driveways for automobile traffic.
R. Roberge motioned to adjourn at 8:30p.m. B. Brunelle seconded. Motion carried.
Minutes Approved:________________
Wednesday, April 7, 1999 from 2-4 p.m.
Northwest Regional Planning Commission, St. Albans
Monday, April 19, 1999 at 7:00 p.m.
Northwest Regional Planning Commission, St. Albans
Saturday, April 24, 1999 at 9 a.m.
Brenda's Kitchen, Main Street, Richford
Copied using scanner & OCR software by Kenyon F. Karl <railtrails@crosswinds.net> from materials supplied by the NVRTC. Unintentional errors are likely!
