Committee member Matt Strassberg expressed his frustration with the lack of progress made on the project, which after five meetings and two public trail walks has yet to be officially supported by the town.
The trail was originally proposed by the Moretown Safe Routes to School Committee, which was awarded a $19,000 grant to initiate and design the three-mile loop trail through the town forest.
LAST SPRING
The grant was awarded by the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation and will not cost the town anything. Representatives from the safe routes committee originally requested the support of the select board last spring.
According to Strassberg, the trail is intended to provide school children a safe way to travel to and from the school, as well as offer recreational, pedestrian and bicycle access to townspeople.
Construction on the project has been delayed until next year, and Strassberg said, "It is our hope that that the select board will be behind it and we won't have to go through the same hoops next year."
Some town officials discussed voting on the proposed trail on Town Meeting Day, to garner further public input before moving forward.
Strassberg said, "There is no need for a townwide vote," and that the additional process is complicating something that is relatively straightforward. Committee member Dara Torres asked if there was a precedent for a vote with similar projects; town officials said there was not.
SUPPORT OF IT
"I just don't think it's that big of a deal to people," Strassberg said.
Select board member Rob Roberts said that he thought there were as many people against the proposed trail as there are in support of it.
"Why can't it wait until March if you're already waiting until next year?" Roberts said.
The select board originally approved the project concept contingent upon the agreement that the school board, planning commission and select board all be in involved in the design and construction process.
"The real decision was the trail design," Strassberg said.
MORE INPUT FROM TOWN
The trail was designed by a professional trail designer to be six feet wide and would require the use of large equipment to complete the trail. Strassberg said the cutting would be minimal and the steep grades will make switchbacks necessary.
Select board member John Hoogenboom told Strassberg that they are "putting the cart before the horse; the concept is fine, but we need more input from the townspeople on the particulars."
Select board member Stephanie Venema agreed with Strassberg regarding his frustration with the stalled project.
WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL?
"This isn't costing anything. I don't understand what the big deal is. What is the impact? There is no negative impact that I can see. I think we're beating it to death. Why are we spending our time on this? This board has to make a decision and move forward," Venema said.
Select board chair Rae Washburn indicated that the planning commission would like the select board to first adopt the Forest Management Plan and then address the trail along with it.
"That is their recommendation. The trail is on town property and we need to make the best decision possible," he said.
MOVE FORWARD
Venema continued, "Most people in town could care less about this project. I'd like to get a feel from the board how we're going to move forward and make long-term plans. I just don't want to talk about this anymore."
Hoogenboom said he "agrees with the Forest Management Plan. That has to be adopted first, and I don't want it tied to Safe Routes to School. No kids even live up there."
Washburn said he expects that the Forest Management Plan will be adopted by the next meeting, at least by mid-November, and the town would like to make sure that the trail is in compliance with the plan.
"I know that width is an issue. You're looking for a six-foot trail; a hiking trail, to me, is three feet," Washburn added.
Strassberg said that the trail is intended for multiple uses including biking, walking, hiking and snowshoeing and, with people going in opposite directions, a six-foot-wide trail is safer.
ENDORSE THE PROPOSED DESIGN
At the August 31 forum, Strassberg assured town officials and residents that the trail will not be open to motorized travel and wouldn't necessarily be attractive for motorized traffic because the trail does not connect or make travel between any larger trails possible.
"We'd like the select board to endorse the proposed design of the trail and we're happy to work with any group and work out a possible hunting season closure," Strassberg said Monday evening.
"The trail is supported by the school board and the design will be integrated into the land management plan," he continued.
Washburn said that the board will make a decision about the Forest Management Plan by mid-November and vote on the proposed trail at that time.
"If there is a negative vote, the trail will be tabled until next year," he said.
With regard to the Forest Management Plan, Venema said, "I'd like to know [the board's] thoughts ahead of time so we know if there are going to be objections, so we can talk about that and the project on the same night."
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