Attendance

NAME	REPRESENTING (as appropriate) & ADDRESS	TELEPHONE NUMBER	E-MAIL ADDRESS
Donald Odell	97 Manning Blvd., Apt A Albany, NY 12203	482-4574	dodell@nycap.rr.com
Howard Halstead	Friends of MHBHT 141 Willow Creek Ave. Schenectady, NY 12304	393-0558	halstead@ieee.org
Denise Farnan	NYSOPRHP 19 Roosevelt Dr. Saratoga Springs, NY 12866	584-2000 X 205	Denise.Farnan@OPRHP.state.ny.us
Kathy Quandt	ACCVB 25 Quackenbush Square Albany, NY 12207	434-1217 X213	Kathy@albany.org
Elaine Troy	NYSDOH Healthy Heart Frear Building, 4^th Floor, 2 Third St., Troy, NY 12180	271-2760 X 763	EHT01@health.state.ny.us
Ken Kovalchik	HRVG Capitol Station, Room 254 Albany, NY 12224		Kenneth.Kovalchik@hudsongreenway.state.ny.us
Patricia Rush	ECOS & Friends of MHBHT 1177 Oxford Place Schenectady, NY 12308	374-6995	chrisrush@prodigy.net
Arden R. Rauch	ECOS 2346 Knolls View Dr. Schenectady, NY 12309	372-2932	raucha@union.edu
Louis Rossi	72 B Devonshire Dr. Guilderland, NY 17084	869-3782	louisrossi@aol.com
Ivan Vamos	13 Maple Lane South Loudonville, NY 12211	459-2026	ivanvamos@hotmail.com
Don Robertson	NYSDOT, Reg. 1 84 Holland Ave., Albany, NY 12208	474-6219	drobertson@gw.dot.state.ny.us
John DiMura	NYS Canal Corp 200 Southern Blvd Albany, NY 12209	436-3034	john_Dimura@canals.state.ny.us

1. CTANY (Canal Trailways Association of New York) Update

q John DiMura report

John distributed copies of the Canal Corporation’s Canalway Trail Customer Satisfaction Survey – 2002. Participants were encouraged to take copies with them and make them available to those who use the trail. A cover letter and return envelopes were also provided. Also, completed copies of the survey can be returned to John at the next meeting. Lou Rossi inquired about the possibilities of doing this electronically. It was suggested that John contact Jesse Day at the NYBC about this.
The Governor signed the Adopt A Trail legislation. An Aug. 9, 2002 article from the Utica Observer on the subject was distributed.
The latest edition of the Canalway Trail Times was distributed.
There will be a Champlain Canal workshop on Thursday evening, Aug. 22. Meeting attendees were encouraged to attend.

q Don Odell also noted that the status of Adopt A Trail insurance was discussed at the recent CTANY meeting, and that the proposal is under legal review at the Thruway Authority.

2. Updates

q Howard Halstead, Friends of the MHHBT

Howard noted a problem/concern from the recent Cycling Erie Canal tour. There is no button to push for the right-of-way signs going south across NY Route 787 to Dyke Ave. in Cohoes. He requested that Don Robertson explore this concern.
Also noted, there is new construction on the Knolls/GE property in the Town of Niskayuna with new construction access roads, and new stop signs on the bike path. This led to some discussion in which it was indicated that GE did this, and the Town okayed it. The appropriate person to contact might be Kathy Matern, the Town of Niskayuna planner.

q Denise Farnan, NYSOPRHP

· The Peebles Island bridge is under construction, and is expected to be completed in October 2003.

q Don Robertson, NYSDOT, Reg.1

He was not sure of the date when a sign with map of the trail will be installed in the parking lot at the Watervliet trailhead of the MHBHT.

q Kathy Quandt, ACCVB (Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau)

Noted the opening of the Hudson River Way pedestrian bridge.

q Elaine Troy, NYS Health Dept. Healthy Heart Program

The awardees for the next five years of funding for the Healthy Heart program have not been announced. An announcement will be made after the final decision is reached.

· The Glens Falls Healthy Heart coordinator, Cathy Varney (who has lots of contacts) is coordinating a use survey for the Glens Falls bikeway to compare with one done two years ago.

q Ken Kovalchik, HRVG (Hudson River Valley Greenway)

· Ken reviewed the recently completed 10-day Hudson Valley Trail Tour. He noted that the cost per day average per participant for those doing the entire 10 days was $157. This was noted as an example of the economic impact of tourism.

· Also noted, the Waterford trail ballards are too narrowly spaced for bicycling, which was particularly important for any bicycle pulling a trailer.

· Ken also noted that with the departure of Kevin McLoughlin from the HRVG, he will represent the HRVG at this point, and that the HRVC is seeking a replacement for Kevin.

q Patricia Rush.

· Patricia noted that, when going east on NY Route 5S, the Stafford Lane sign that aims people at a dead end should be removed. It was noted that Steve Feeney is the responsible party in this matter. Howard Halstead indicated he would contact Steve on this.

q Don Robertson reporting for Jason Purvis, CDTC.

· The CDTC staff has evaluated the Spot Improvement Program applications. The CDTC Planning Committee will take action on the recommendations at its September 3 meeting. Don Odell circulated a copy of the evaluations he had received at the CDTC Bicycle & Pedestrian Task Force meeting.

q John DiMura, Canal Corp.

· The NY Route 32 bridge over the Canal is being repaired. The improvements will include a kiosk by the Canalway and improved parking more appropriate to the entryway to the Canalway.

2. Outreach Brochure

· Howard Halstead distributed the newly revised version of the Friends of MHBHT brochure. This led to subsequent discussion.

q Discussion.

· There was some discussion on including a flyer about the Friends of the MHHBT along with the membership brochure. There was also some discussion on how to distribute the new edition and on the development of a newsletter.

· The discussion quickly focused on how to pay for a newsletter. The following points were noted on newsprint:

· Sell advertising in newsletter.

· Contact the NYPCA for assistance. John DiMura will contact.

· Corporate donations? Grants?

· Membership. Howard Halstead will pursue.

· CDTC for assistance. Don Odell will contact.

· BOCES printing class.

3. Trail Ownership and Maintenance

q Having again run out of time, Trail Ownership and Maintenance items were postponed to the next meeting.

4. Next Meeting

The next meeting is scheduled for 3:00-5:00 PM, Monday, September 30, 2002 at the Waterford Visitors Center.

SUBMITTED BY:

Don Odell, recorder