HomeMy WebLinkAboutRTTF 2023-10-16
Dryden Rail Trail Friends and Task Force
Minutes of the Monday, October 16, 2023 Meeting
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
(In-Person Meeting)
Dryden Town Hall
93 East Main Street, Dryden
Barbara Caldwell Conference Room
Attendees:
Task Force Members: Susan Ashdown; Bob Beck; Todd Bittner; Rosalie Borzik; Tony
Bretscher; Judy Pierpont; Chris Tessaglia-Hymes, Steve Winans Town Board Liaisons: Dan
Lamb Guests: Dan Antonioli, Chris Skawski, Diane Tessaglia-Hymes, Jacob Yatsko.
Absent: Alice Walsh Green
Call to order at 7:08 p.m. by Bob Beck
September meeting minutes not approved pending correction to indicate that no action
was taken or motions adopted in September meeting Executive Session.
Potential for Installation of eBike Charging Stations: (Chris Skawski, Clean Energy
Communities Tompkins County Coordinator, Cornell Cooperative Extension)
Ithaca Bike Share provides their eBike service along our trail up to Varna and expects to expand
that range. This presents an opportunity for DRT to partner with Ithaca Bike Share. The current
power range of most eBikes would cover the area from Dryden Lake to Ithaca and back.
While chargers along the route are not necessary, they would enhance the trail. Presently, no
NYSERDA funding is available for this, but there may be interest at the state, local or county
level. Site- or community-based planning could include charging stations, and local businesses
are another possibility for sponsorship.
Outdoor-rated 110 volt outlets are low cost and apps to monitor those costs are available.
Susan has a list of potential sites for public chargers, such as Dryden Hotel where bikers can
spend the time it takes to top up or fully charge (approx. four hours) most eBikes. Bike Share
Ithaca is extremely popular and public charging stations would encourage their use in outlying
areas.
This is emerging technology in an undeveloped market. Remote “booster charge” stops along
trails could be much more than simple charge stops and Chris recommended taking advantage
of tourism grants to fund available-infrastructure, location and amenities studies.
Chris offered to provide additional information via email after the meeting.
Hall Woods Road to Pinckney Road Update: (Bob, Todd)
It’s still possible to get this section built by winter and Rick Young and DPW has agreed. A few
site visits were made to the wetland area below the embankment, including one with a biologist
with the Army Corps of Engineers. In order to get a wetland permit, the area must be less than
1/10th acre to avoid wetland mitigation. Dondi Harner at TG Miller is working on a plan (for cut
and fill hugging the embankment to reach dry ground) that will accompany the permit
application. The plan will be circulated to the DRT Task Force members.
Dryden Fiber cleared the trail through the Heidelberg Materials property to Pinckney Road, but
trail grading surfacing need doing. Vegetative screening likely will not happen until Spring. Triad
Foundation and the County Parks & Trails grant funding will be directed toward this area.
OPRHP EPF Update: (Bob)
At the October 3 Parks and Trails Network meeting (held at the Taughannock Park OPRHP
regional office), Bob, Alice and Amanda Marsh (EPF Grant Administrator) were able to connect
and review information needed for State Parks grant reporting. The T.G. Miller engineering
report has been forwarded to the State Parks grants office.
Quarter-mile Signs Installed (Bob):
Quarter-mile marker stakes were installed by DPW on a seven-mile stretch of the trail (Jim
Schug plus Dryden to Freeville) and a 1.5-mile stretch (Game Farm Road to the Fox Bridge);
and Bob attached the new signs with tamper-resistant bolts.
Martha Ferger Memorial Bench Update: (Judy)
Judy Pierpont and Hillary Lambert collected $1,500 in contributions for the Martha Ferger
memorial bench. Possible locations are the village side of the trail at Springhouse Road
crossing and Dryden Lake. (Benches presently in storage must be used in areas covered by the
State Parks grant.) The check will be presented to the Dryden Town Board on October 19.
Review Revised Video of “Connect the Trails! Fest” produced by Shira Evergreen:
(Diane, Susan):
The video’s list of funders will be amended to include additional entities provided by Todd. The
final version will be presented to the Town Board at an upcoming meeting.
Upon completion of agenda items, with a quorum of DRT Task Force members present, a
motion was made by Todd Bittner and seconded by Susan Ashdown to move to
Executive Session to follow up on the September meeting Executive Session. Chris motioned
to include non-member Diane Tessaglia-Hymes in Executive Session. Both motions were
unanimously accepted.
Task Force Meeting Adjourned at 8:58 p.m.
Next scheduled meeting: Monday, November 20, 2023 at 7 p.m.; open to the public at the
Dryden Town Hall, Barbara Caldwell Conference Room.
Executive Session commenced at 8:59 p.m.
Dryden Rail Trail Task Force Members present:
Susan Ashdown; Bob Beck; Todd Bittner; Rosalie Borzik; Tony Bretscher; Judy Pierpont; Chris
Tessaglia-Hymes; Steve Winans; and invited participant, Graphics Committee Chair, Diane
Tessaglia-Hymes.
No actions taken.
Executive Session adjourned at 9:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Rosalie Borzik