Blog

July 19, 2022, 7 p.m.
In person: Frog Hollow Bikes, Middlebury

Board Members:
George Lawrence- President
Ashar Nelson, Moosalamoo
Andrew Hirsch, Middlebury Trail Manager
Alan Hebert
Carl Robinson, Treasurer
Seth Beck, Bristol
Scott Hardy, Vergennes
Merideth McFarland
Eric Berg
Sue Hoxie, Administrator

Bold indicated people in attendance

Others in Attendance: None

REGULAR BUSINESS

President’s Report
USFS trail counter loan – no new news
VMBA membership posters posted – posters in place at Vergennes and Chipman Hill (Washington Street Ext access, across from Peterson Terrace)
Contact with Battell Trust (Tony and Caleb) – I reached out on July 7, no response
Comp memberships for Jeremy Parker, Jill Kopel, and Skimmer Heller? Comp memberships are OK with VMBA going forward (ACBC does not get revenue from comped membership). VMBA’s suggestion for this year, since the landowners have already joined and paid, is to offer a gift certificate to a partner restaurant. (do we have any partner restaurants?)
Andrew and I still need to replace the bridge in Battelle/Buttolph Acres with a wider one. Is there a need for the existing 8’ x 2’ bridge anywhere? If not, it can be used at Rikert
Also, I have a 20’ x 1’ diameter steel culvert (which could be cut shorter) up for grabs
T Shirt proposal

Treasurer’s Report
June bank statement:
Balance = $15,294.97
Expenses = $150 to George for trail materials and $245.25 to Maple Run Marketing

Checks were written and mailed to New Leaf

Membership Report (Activity from 6/13/22 to 7/10/22)
New memberships
(2) Individual
(2) U25
(0) Family of 2
(0) Family of 3
(0) Family of 4
Returning memberships
(1) Individual
(1) U25
(0) Family of 2
(0) Family of 3
(0) Family of 4
(1) Family of 5

2022 (as of 7/10/22)
2021
Memberships
87
56
Total Members
165
114

Social Media Report – Alan Hebert

Trails Report Middlebury – Andrew Hirsch
Replacement bridge on Wash St Ext?

Trails Report Moosalamoo – Ashar Nelson
Moosalamoo Connector – Is still in USFS review process, ACBC/VMBA (me) responsible for putting together the legal agreement with the one private landowner on that route.
Trailwork – We had a good day up there on Saturday, though low turnout. Matt Germon and his son Noah, and George. Sue and her film crew had us for the first hour or so, and then we cleared and weed-whacked the flow loop. May be worth an email blast to tell members that it’s a good time to bring their kids up there. Otherwise, things are riding well.

Trails Report Bristol – Seth Beck
Funding for trail signage/parking approved

Trails Report Vergennes – Scott Hardy
Nothing new to report

Events – proposed for August or September: vintage bike ride and post ride food/drink (GLawrence)

Special Projects

NEW/OTHER BUSINESS
Trail raking. Raking is overkill and promotes erosion. Blow/rake narrower tread or leave it alone entirely. Create policy, post on the website. Worth raking on a new trail? Timing? A very brief discussion:
Flow trails if not raked–gets greasy, clogs signage
Single track: leave leaves.
Where to hold August meeting, move to Vergennes or Bristol?
Remote meeting access: Can Sue set something up?

NEXT MEETING
August 16, 2022, 7 pm