Trails Committee Meeting

Town of Harwich Trails Committee Minutes

February 16, 2017

Present: M. Cushing, E. Dubuque, R. Rich, R. Saulnier, G. Schumann, W. Stone, J. Walpole, A. Usowski

Excused:  D. Callaghan, J. Follas

I.Chair Matt Cushing called the meeting to order at 3:45 in the Town Hall Library.

II.Minutes of January  18 were approved as written.

III.Stewardship:

     A.  Island Pond:  Matt reported sign post damage and suggested repairing using rebar staking.  Discussion of additional signage.  Voted on white lettering on orange.  Amy to check prices with Ben Meadows and will get back to Matt who also has a source.

    B. Sand Pond:  Wayne has been checking this area, too.  Noted a tree had come down across the road in front of the new house.  Highway to clear. Gerie to notify HCT that a guide box is needed on kiosk.  Jay Walpole, new member, to walk the trail with a TC member and possibly take over the stewardship there.  Wayne has huge job with Bell’s Neck.  Thank you, Wayne, for covering both.

    C.  Texeira:  Looking. Good after all recent work done by Americorps, TC and highway department removal of debris.  Thank you, Amy and all!    Gerie to ask HCT for new trail guide box for new kiosk built by Eagle Scout.  Tree down over newly created trail. 

    D.  Bell’s Neck:  Wayne reported lots of downed trees.  He and Ron R. Will take on the task.  Plenty of trash, mostly nips.  Recommends closing BN Road. to thru traffic.  AND using wireless surveillance camera/s.  Long discussion of the latter.   Money would come from request Amy has put in her conservation budget to be used specifically for TC.  Money to be used for camera/s, trash bags, trash barrels, miscellaneous repairs to kiosks, trail signs.  Being included in Conservation budget is in lieu of TC having its own independent account.  Wayne also reported donated trash can stolen.

     E.   Thompson’s Field:  No more cutting of trees on 39 side planned.  Plenty of brush remains to be burned.  Good Samaritan cleaned up several bags of dog waste.  Thank you.  Rest of trails seem to be in good shape.  Work on Chatham Road native plant garden will continue this spring.

 IV.  New Business

      A.  New Member Jay Walpole was.introduced and gave us info on his background and his interest in Harwich and our trails.  Seems eager to check out the trails  and help. Suggested that we look into the possibility and fun of a geocaching program and try to engage some local merchants in providing small tokens for prizes.  Will talk more at next meeting.  if you want to learn more about this, Google Geocaching …there are many sites explaining how it works. 

       B.  Gerie announced next Tour de Trash event will take place on April 29.  Teams will assemble at the Community Center this year.  More information forthcoming from HCT coordinator Matt Cannon.

        Meeting adjourned at 5:00.  Next meeting Match 16 at 3:45 in the library at town hall.

Gerie Schumann, Clerk