Mad River Path Newsletters

The last board meeting that was scheduled for Wednesday, February 28th did not have a quorum. The board members (4), guests (2) and ED (1) that were at the meeting had an informal discussion about the Path alignment, specifically in the Waitsfield Village area and the northbound path from the area near Lareau Farm to the Village, and from the Waitsfield covered bridge to the Spaulding property.

The Spring Pathways newsletter is in production at this moment and should be ready for distribution by the first week in April. Inserted in the newsletter will be a membership form for the 2007-2008 year, which will run from June 1, 2007 – May 31, 2008. These will be mailed out to over 650 individuals, families and businesses. Thank you to all who provided news and photos.

I have compiled a list of the 43 landowners on the Warren, Village and Greenway paths and have sent them letters expressing an interest in talking with them and discussing the future of the Path. Alice Olenick is working on a legal document that we will be able to use to guarantee permanent easements from landowners. She has recommended that we add an article to our bylaws that gives the MRPA the authority to hold these easements.

The 20th Anniversary Bash is happening on May 19th, less than two months away. There will be a list of the 79 past and current board members/directors in the newsletter. I have addresses for many of these folks, and will put together a list of those who have disappeared off the MRPA radar screen. Let’s try to locate as many of them as possible! We’ll be putting together the Bash committee soon, so let me know if you would be interested in getting items for the silent auction, making a hot/cold dish, appetizer or desert, helping with the mailing of invitations, or decorating the pavillion.

It is time to start thinking about the Mad Dash 2007, which will be held on Sunday, September 23. I’ve been working with Carl and discussing sponsor categories and the possibility of purchasing a new, two-sided banner for Warren Village.

The Vermont Youth Conservation Corps has awarded us with a crew for one week this summer for the new Chase Brook bridge and trail connector across the street from the Fayston Elementary School. This project will be funded by the Rec. District funds and a grant we received from the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Dept. of Forests, Parks and Recreation. The cost of a crew for one week of work is $7500.00!

Fred has contacted Sam Jackson at the Green Mountain Valley School. Sam has expressed a desire to become a trail adopter for the Millbrook Trail, and the MRPA will be working with these energetic high school kids to get these trails back in good shape as soon as the ground firms up.

The Mad River Byway Map matrix is being developed by Landworks of Middlebury, Vermont. Our large framed map and the small laminated map of the Mad River Path was completed as part of this Byway project. The matrix document will include the actual and conceptual Path route, a description of the terrain, environmental issues, types of path and bridge construction, property owner names and easement status. I will be working on filling in information that will help Landworks complete this document and welcome any information about past encounters or conversations with Path landowners. Steve Gladczuk, Transportation Planner from the Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission, will be able to help the MRPA apply for grants once we have permanent easements from landowners.

I’ve had a couple of phone calls from an upset landowner and an adjoining landowner near the Pine Brook covered bridge. There are still stray, unleashed dogs going on to private property (and growling at people). I have contacted Valerie Capels, Waitsfield town administrator, to see what we can do to address this difficult issue. I’ll be putting up some new “strict leash zone” signs in the area and hope this helps. It is my understanding that the VAST association will be relocating the snowmobile bridge (that we share with them) further down the Pine Brook at some point this summer. This will bring the Path further from the properties that are affected by wandering dogs, but the bigger issue is that people are not keeping their pets in close proximity and this could potentially lead to landowners revoking their permission for the Path to pass through their land.

I’ve put together a proposed budget for ’07 and need to meet with the Executive Committee to fine tune the category totals.

…and there’s a crocus in the garden in front of the Wait House if anyone is looking!

That’s it for now, enjoy the warm weather and get out on the Path when the mud settles.