Friends of Willard Brook

Board of Directors Meeting – MINUTES

APRIL 3, 2008, 7 PM, Willard Brook State Forest Headquarters, Townsend

1. Attending were Bruce Colburn, Don Stoddard, Jayne Perkins, John D’Angelillo,

Joellyn Nevins, Tom Nevins, Duane Cromwell, Clare Kauppi, Eino Kauppi, Deborah

Smith, Ray Jackson.

2. Corrections to the minutes - None

3. Update on Emily - came through the operation fine and it is considered a success.

No lifting!! We’ll help her with her garden. Voted to spend $50.00 on plants to help

get her garden started and members will set up a date to plant the garden.

4. Treasurer’s Report – Eino. Balance as of 4-3-08 $1,160.22 after taking out the

fifty for Emily

5. Membership Report – Clare 86

6. Publicity Spring Newsletter is at the printer and should be mailed by the end of the

week.

7. Friends of NRRT – Duane was able to get an extension until April 1^st to spend the

$1,000 and will buy the supplies for the mural and get the receipts to the Groton

Cultural Council. Then DCR will do their part with the matching monies.

Station Ave project - there will be zoning bylaw changes for uses but the rail trail is

seen favorably and the changes will not be a negative impact on trail use and access.

Rail trail clean up with be done 5/17/08 as part of Park Serve Day. Tom will get all

the information on the web page. Meet at Sand Hill Rd parking 9:30am; cleanup is

10-12. Metro Planning was to do two days of counts on the trail one on a week day

and one on a week end day. 2 hour shifts in Groton Center.

There is beaver activity in the Broad Meadow Road area and it could flood.

8. Nominating Committee Report - John & Don - Don contacting those on the

board that have terms that are due to expire: Eino, Don, Ray, Susie and Deborah.

Duane has been asked to join the board. We need a vice president. The by-laws

state the directors serve 2 years each term with a maximum of 6 years. The by-laws

are not clear as to the election of officers and we may amend the by-laws to clearly

state when officers are voted into office.

10. Annual Meeting - June 26, Thursday at Townsend Congregational Church,

Fellowship Hall. Don has asked DCR Commissioner to speak and hasn’t heard back.

Emily had an author she can ask.

11. Trails Committee Report - Ray & Sussie - Ray went out to the trail across New

Fitchburg Road and put up some orange blazes. Still need to finish, and may need

more orange blazes. There is a section with yellow blazes that needs to be done

better. After the blazing is done maintenance is needed.

12. DCR/Forest News – Bruce. The region has a new heavy equipment operator, and

he has some new equipment. He is working out of Harold Parker State Forest. New

mobile mechanics for the region come out of Salisbury. SCA is coming for 6 days and

will work on the new loop trail at Damon Pond, a foot bridge and trail maintenance.

Bruce is working on outfitting a tractor for road maintenance, work at Watatic and on

other back roads in the park, and interior roads at the campgrounds.

Staffing rosters not out yet, but several positions will have shorter terms, a loss of

several weeks on long term positions.

Pearl Hill Dam work to start in April with a new sluice system. Beach area will be

done while the pond is empty to improve the swimming conditions.

13. Other Business

Paul Funch sent a letter on behalf of Groton Trails Committee asking support for a

bill. Tom to put info on web page. A Rally and Lobby day is scheduled for 4/9 at

10am at the State House on the Environmental Bond issue. Tom to add that info to

the website. Tom has the website up and running; there are still some administrative

things to be done. Those who have visited the site like what they see. Thank you,

Tom, it looks great.

14. Next Meeting – May 1, 2008. 7 PM, Willard Brook State Forest Headquarters

Respectfully submitted by Jayne Perkins, secretary.