Friends of Willard Brook

Board of Directors Meeting – MINUTES

September 3, 2009.  7:00 pm.  Willard Brook State Forest Headquarters, Townsend

 

1.  Attending were Don Stoddard, Eino Kauppi, Deborah Smith, Bruce Colburn, John Bilotti, Sussie Holzberlein, and Jayne Perkins.

We determined that 6 people constitutes a quorum.

2.  Corrections to the minutes:

1        Clare cannot be the membership chair because she is no longer on the board.  We need to find a replacement for her.

2        EPO = Environmental Police Officer (not Environmental  Protection Officer)

3        Eino’s Beaver Talk and Fly fishing for this Saturday was missing from the list.

3.  Treasurer’s report – Eino - balance $1953.62 (incl. $35 of not yet deposited checks)

4.  Membership report – Eino - 102 members.

5.  Publicity

1        Fall newsletter: target date for submission of articles: 9/11; for publication:  9/21/09; article suggestions:

2        Something by Environmental Police Officer, on how we should handle illegal dumping when found

3        Trout Unlimited to send a paragraph regarding culvert problems/guidelines

6.  Summer programs so far

1        August Watatic hike – 10 people

2        August Damon Loop hike – no one showed up

7.  Summer/fall programs coming up

1        Beaver Talk (11:00 and Fly Fishing (1:00) with Eino – Sept 5

2        Cranberry picking with Emily Norton – Sept 26

8.  Friends of NRRT – Duane -- Next meeting Aug 17 7:30PM at NRWA [?]

1          We are planning a work day on September 19th to restore and highlight some of the historical markers on the Trail, such as the old railroad mileage markers.  Meeting time and place TBD.  Contact Duane for more details or to volunteer.  Bruce will attend with tractor, dumpster and woodchips.

2         The plaque for the Peabody Street mural is awaiting final approval from DCR.  – Bruce reports that this is tentatively approved, but he needs to get the final approval and will let us know when he has it.

3         The planning process for the Pleasant Street railroad themed mural is underway.  So far, both the Groton School and Lawrence Academy have expressed interest in being involved.

4         A new kiosk is being planned for Groton Center/Station Avenue.  When constructed, we will attempt to move the current Groton  kiosk to Ayer to replace the missing one there.

5         Thanks to Bruce for attending the last meeting of the Friends of the NRRT and providing much useful information and discussion.

6         We are going to plan a Bike and Other Human Powered Vehicle Festival  next May, in conjunction with Mass Bike Week. 

7         The bike shop signs (because they are advertising) are probably not acceptable. Bruce will take care of either returning them or having Duane return them to the bike shop with an explanation.

9.  Trails Committee – Sussie and Ray

1        Cross walks on New Fitchburg Road (Eino and Ray) are complete and look great.

2        Flagging Dead Swamp trail – date for the fall?  Need to talk to Emily

10. Fessenden Hill Road gating

2        There is no target date.  DCR has the gates but not the other materials, manpower, and time.

11. We thank Tom (who is absent, but none-the-less thanked anyway) for sending out the thank you notes on behalf of FOWB.

12. DCR / Forest news --

1        Damon closes Labor Day.  Pearl Hill closes Columbus Day.

2        Yurt assembly is held up by the rail trail project, but is expected to be completed this fall.

3        Extra cut granite at the rail trail will be used for benches, if approved by Eddie.

4        DCR is looking for voluntary layoff and retirements and is offering bonuses for those who accept.

5        Bruce will mow the rail trail except in Groton (Groton does a good job of this on their own)

6        There is discussion of moving the Mount Watatic appreciation stone to near the summit of Watatic where more people can see it.  DCR needs to find out who initially installed it, so they can determine if it can be removed from its base and moved without damage.

13.  Other business

1        Jayne will do the annual report form.

2        Sussie was elected to do the membership chair stuff – Eino will bring her the membership mail monthly to the meeting and will email (if possible) the membership spreadsheet.

3        John B. will not be at the October meeting but will get the newsletters to one of us before the meeting.

4        Deborah submitted a draft resource management plan for Vinton Pond and has received feedback from the state. A meeting is planned with private property owners from the pond and representatives from various state agencies, to continue the work. Bruce expressed interest in attending.

14. Next meeting:  October 1; Sussie to chair.

 

JP:psh