Andrews Community Forest 1/26/26

Printable version

Andrews Community Forest Committee 117 KB

Web version

Andrews Community Forest Committee
Minutes of Meeting - Monday, Jan 26^th, 2026

 

Committee members - Quorum: 

Sam Pratt (co-chair), Brad Elliott (co-chair), Wright Preston, 

Online: Dan Wolfson, Ian Stokes, Julian Portilla, Sonya Mastersen 

James Cochran (not present)

Meeting called to order with a quorum present at 18:06

Committee business:

  • Appoint timekeeper and minutes taker – Julian and Ian respectively

  • Approve Jan 12^th minutes – approved with a minor correction to spelling of ‘Trailfinder’. 6 ‘Ayes’, Stokes abstaining (not present on Jan 12^th)

  • Additions/changes to agenda (none)

Trails Updates 

  • Update on TrailForks access:  Sam reported that he has worked with Willie Jacobs (at Trailforks) to learn how to manage ACF trails.  He has a personal account there (not ACFC) and has been making edit/corrections. Ian recommended that as Max Krieger has been assigned responsibility by RTC for updating trail conditions at TrailForks, he should be invited to a meeting of ACFC addressing how that can affect ACFC trails. 
Wright: ACFC should communicate with Maple Wind about the section of former VAST on their property.  Also, the ACF page at the Town website should be updated with information about online resources – contact Duncan and Josh.

  • Update on Trail Finder additions: Ian shared the map, text and images of the draft entry for ACF. The following recommended edits will be submitted to the Trailfinder admin, and then it will be made public (per unanimous motion by Wright and Sonya): 

 - ACFC members will submit new images, including kiosk information and for different seasons.

 - On the map the former VAST will be terminated at the western boundary; the VELCO access will connect to VAST at its eastern end.

Sam and Ian reported on having attended the Jan 20^th meeting of the RTC to discuss cooperation in making ACF trails information public, using TrailForks, TrailFinder and the Town website pages.

Julian noted that trail names are not consistent with using Abenaki language.  The English names are descriptive of each trail.  Sam noted that he coordinates with RCC – e.g. recently about the use of the equipment grant to RMT – such as ensuring that they don’t spread invasives.

Buffer Map Updates 

  • Final comments before polished version:  
Clarify on map +/- legend to explain the two forestry reserve zones and their colors on the map, making use of the text at pages 5/6 of the Forestry Management Plan  (retrievable from the Town website ACF page).  It addresses recommendations about forestry as well as discouraging trails/recreation in the reserve areas.  The northern reserve zone is a critical link in any planned connection to ‘SoS’ trails.

Edits to be made:

Identify the confirmed-or-not vernal pools (there are 4 identified in the Arrowwood shapefile);

Buffers still ‘bleed’ across the ACF boundary;

Use same color (provisionally red) for VAST and other existing trails.

(Ian noted that he is reaching the limits of his expertise with the mapping software, so some edits will hopefully be made by John H.)

Management Plan Timeline:
Sam outlined the sections to be addressed during future meetings with a goal of establishing a two-month schedule for completing the draft MP2 in preparation for comments by SB, RCC, RTC and public by May 2026.  This is when ACFC members may rotate off and be replaced. Co-chairs noted:  Committee will make efficient use of Work Groups to achieve this timeline.

Sam will present a work plan and schedule after review by Sam, Brad and Ian before the next ACFC meeting.

Copy editor:  There is hesitation to spend significant sums to pay for such help, so this is expected to fall on ACFC members.  No volunteers immediately came forward.

Revisions of Management Plan
  • Final Pass on Section B6 Recreation:  The buffer map when available should be included.  Sam’s two diagrams about trail incursions into buffers were approved, and some related text was edited ‘live’ online.  Ian requested that the material in the Monitoring section (previously B6.3) be included in B6 or the Appendix, and not be lost. Others felt that section needed more work so should be held for future MP revisions.  Dan had circulated some suggestions to expand that section, but not in time of the agenda packet.  Julian and Brad noted that there are references to monitoring in the current draft B6.

  • Rec/Eco/Combined Appendices

Appendices provide the basis and documentation for recommendations made in the body of the MP text.  Generally it was agreed that a combined appendix should be used (instead of two separate).  The discussion focused on recreation planning being dependent on ecological considerations: locations and buffering of identified critical natural communities, seasonal variations, etc.  At present there is a lot of material about ecological aspects in both Appendices C and D. Julian will write some additional text addressing recreation.

  • Education (deferred):  RCC member Jeanette Malone has submitted the latest version, and should be invited to a ACFC Meeting at which it will be discussed.

Closure

  • Business for Upcoming meeting(s):  Ian appealed for shorter meetings – he observes that he and others experience loss of productivity after an hour or more.  It was decided to inflict somewhat shorter (2-hour) meetings going forward.

  • Confirm future meetings: 2/09/2026, and 2/23/2026 6-8 pm (noted that the latter might conflict with school break and a Town budget meeting?)

  • Motion to adjourn carried unanimously at 20:35