HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-02-15
Dryden Rail Trail Friends and Task Force
Minutes of the Monday, February 15, 2021 Meeting
Via Zoom
Attendance: Bob Beck, Alice Green, Loren Sparling, Rose Borzik, Victoria Armstrong, Chris and
Diane Tessaglia Hymes, Milo Richmond, Todd Bittner, Karl Kolesnikoff, Dan Lamb, Susan
Ashdown, Judy Pierpont, Steve Winans, Margaret Johnson
Call to order at 7:03 – Bob Beck, Alice Green
Additions to agenda: none
Approval of December & January minutes as amended by Chris
Game Farm Use & Occupancy Agreement update – Dan
Dan reported that the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has approved all the
Town’s proposed changes to the 20-year use and occupancy agreement. This is the final agreement
needed to complete the State Parks EPF grant approved in 2017, and represents a successful
conclusion to negotiations that have spanned more than a decade. Dan said the next step is for the
Town Supervisor to send the signed version back to Albany. As soon as final versions are signed and
returned to Dryden, the Town can submit the agreement to NYS Parks, and move forward with
signing the EPF contract.
Todd asked about the status of approvals for trestle rehabilitation and trail surface
improvements. Bob said we have stamped plan for trestles, but not yet for surface improvements. Bob
said he confirmed that DPW is set to do these improvements. Todd said TG Miller engineers could
provide the surface design, and that would be covered under the grant. He suggested that the trestle
plan should be re-submitted first, with the surfacing plan to come next. Dan said he’d resend a copy
of the stamped trestle plan to Jim Farquhar, who has promised to approve them himself. Bob will
contact DPW about commissioning TG Miller to do the trail surfacing plan.
Susan suggested a trip to the site since it’s been two years since the plans were submitted. Bob
will organize DPW staff to do that.
Route 13 bridge project update – Todd & Grants Subcommittee
Members attending on Feb. 11 were: Todd, Bob, John Lampman, Ray Burger, Alice and Dan
Todd said DOT had provided some figures for land acquisition for the bridge if necessary. The
main item we’re waiting for is to learn whether DOT would allow the project to go outside of the
grandfathered 66-foot rail corridor “break in access” for Route 13. They’re still pursuing an official
ruling. Until there’s a confirmation of allowable dimensions, the bridge subcommittee has told bridge
consultants Erdman Anthony of Rochester that no new design options will be requested.
The subcommittee also talked about renewing overtures to the property owners on the east side of
the proposed bridge. Dan agreed to reach out again with a letter on behalf of the Town to ask for an
easement or possible purchase from residential rental property owner. Bob spoke with staff from
Assemblywoman Anna Kelles office to give an update. Dan will also reach out to officials at
Tomkins County Area Development (TCAD) who are working with Brown Dog properties to sell that
property. Bob said DOT is working hard as part of the team to develop a cost effective way to build
the bridge.
Volunteer Coordination– Alice, Bob
Alice said that Margaret’s recent question about the next volunteer opportunities for the trail
prompted this item. She said the Task Force would need to develop some new processes for
coordinating volunteer work. She reviewed several types of volunteer contributions over the past five
years:
• Trail clearing and building that required heavy equipment, headed up by Bruno Schickel. She
said the Town Highway & Department of Public Works (DPW) is willing to handle the next
phases of this type of work, which can be used as part of the match for the grant from NYS Office
of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
• Small hand clearing projects, like those of teen crews in the Etna area, headed up by Milo
Richmond, and work by Chris & Diane. Milo said he’d be willing to pitch in on similar projects
in the future
• Staffing at Rail Trail tables during community events like the Dryden-Freeville Section opening
(led by Susan) and at Dairy Days, Dryden Lake Festival and Fun runs, etc. Diane has helped
design trail logo items for sale at these events.
• Bench assembly and installation. Susan said she’s looking forward to a bench being installed on
the Monkey Run section. There are 10 more benches ready for assembly at a workday. Bob noted
that Bruno and crews have built seven kiosk roofs that are currently in storage.
Alice said she would send the DRT list serve an announcement about volunteer opportunities
when the weather and Covid restrictions allow.
Fund Raising activities – Alice
There’s also a need from some new volunteer help in this area. Several types of fund raising have
been underway during the project history:
• Solicitations of major donations, machine time and materials for the trail. Elected and appointed
Town officials cannot solicit such contributions. Bruno headed these efforts as a Friend of the
Trail, and brought in tens of thousand of dollars in donations. Now there’s a need for volunteers
to continue those types of solicitations.
• Grant writing. Todd, John Kiefer, Bob and others have written grants that brought in more than
$2 million for the project. Elected and appointed officials are not precluded from seeking grants.
• Fundraisers like water bottle sales, raffles, etc. Elected and appointed officials are prohibited
from organizing these types of sales. As a Trail Friend rather than a Task Force member, Diane
said she is able and willing to continue to coordinate these types of fundraisers, and to serve as
treasurer for sales receipts that will eventually be deposited in a Town account designated for
Trail revenue.
As leader of the Design Committee, Diane and her group put together some mock-ups to present
to the potential donors to the FH Fox Bridge from the Vet School Alumni group.
Review trail right-of-way maps – Bob, Todd, Chris
Bob displayed a spreadsheet showing the 38 easements necessary to complete the trail, adding
that 30 of the 38 have been donated to the Town and filed with the County Clerk. The entire length of
the trail is encumbered by a water and sewer easement with the Town, so property owners were
already restricted from building on the corridor. Bob prepared customized easement agreements for
each property owner, and these were subsequently reviewed and approved by the Town Attorney, and
then by NYS Parks for those in the EPF grant. This Town Attorney legal work is covered by the
project’s first grant, an Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) grant from NYS Office of Parks,
Recreation and Historic Preservation.
Moving from east to west, the 10 trail maps that were prepared for us by County Transportation
Planners show all the properties along 10.5 mile rail corridor in the current Rail Trail project. Bob
explained that the EPF grant currently covers from Game Farm Rd. to Route 13, and from Freeville to
Dryden. Todd noted that State Parks indicated that if the Town completes the original scope of work
under budget, the scope could be expanded to other areas. Bob further described sections of the trail
where easements are complete and still needed from Hall Woods Rd. to Etna, and in to the Village of
Freeville. He outlined the steps in completing the trail between the Villages of Freeville and Dryden,
and finally, the connection with the Schug Trail section in the Village of Dryden.
Milo asked about efforts to convince property owners who have thus far been reluctant to give
easements. Todd said the approach has been to work from both ends of the trail on sections that do
have easements to create momentum and demonstrate that the trail is going to move to completion.
Next Meeting set for 7 pm Monday March 15, 2021 via Zoom
Adjournment at 8:47 pm
Respectfully submitted by Alice Walsh Green