Meeting Vassalboro Conservation Commission
Minutes of August 9, 2012 Meeting
Present: Mary Ellen Johnston, Holly Weidner, Paul Mitnik Dave Jenney

The meeting began at 7:00. We discussed the final plans for the canoe trip down the Kennebec to be held Saturday, the 18th. We will meet at the Seven Mile Stream junction at the site of the future carry-in boat trail at 10:00 AM. The rain date is Sunday August 19th but we would meet at 12:00 noon on this date. The story advertising the trip appeared in the KJ earlier this week. Paul will be the contact person. Paul indicated that he drove down the road to the trail this morning and it was in good shape. The trail down to Seven Mile Stream was grown up with weeds and Paul said he would whack them down some.

We talked about the boat launch on the Kennebec. Coffin Engineering did the field work. Paul met with Jim Coffin and it was concluded that it would be very difficult and not practical to build a trail that is handicapped accessible due to the steep slope of the site. Handicap ADA standards require that the slope of the trail not exceed 5 % anywhere and there is 20% slope in some areas. We decided to proceed with a trail that doesn’t meet ADA standards. We discussed the possibility of building steps on the steep area just below the parking lot. The trail will likely have to be built by private funds, donated and volunteer work.

Holly indicated that the grant for the sidewalks in East Vassalboro has been submitted. We will not know until next spring whether or not the grant gets approved. If approved, the initial step involves submitting engineering plans for the sidewalks. We would then apply for another grant to build them,

We discussed the possibility of sponsoring a lecture this fall with someone from IF&W, possibly on deer wintering areas. Adopt a road was discussed again. The CC would encourage neighborhood groups to maintain road areas in their neighborhood. The extent of their activities would be up to the individual groups. Mary Ellen said she would make a poster to bring to Town events.

Holly said that we needed to print more trail brochures. Paul volunteered to write some up for the Spectacle Pond area and the trail at the Seaward Mills KLT land .

The meeting ended at 8:30.

Respectively submitted
Paul Mitnik, Secretary