MINUTES OF TETC MEETING

1. Minutes of Last Meeting

Read and approved.

2. Web Site Update & Facebook

Most of the web site has been updated. Almost all of our minutes have been posted with only a few missing, including some in 2008 and 2009. Sylvia will check with Melanie Ryan to see if she has them and Helen will check her records also.

Other information that will be updated/added on the site: a) the January hike will start at 1pm for that month only; b) remove the reference to a recycling bin at the Kinsmen Centre; c) our email address will be changed to the gmail address if it’s still valid (Sylvia to check with Melanie) as the ‘aibn’ address will cease to exist in January; d) link the Facebook account with the web site - Sylvia to administer; e) include information about our recycling group and invite volunteers to join; f) include links with MMSB, Evergreen and Atlantic Blue. We will update the meeting time information if and when we decide to change our meeting night to Thursday; no decision has been taken yet. Summaries of past projects will be added when time permits.

3. Request for Donation to the Giving Tree

This Winterlights project has asked for donations in the form of wrapped gifts or money. It was agreed that TETC would donate $50 from our account and that Helen would email the membership inviting them to donate if they wish. Helen will let Madeleine know who to make out the cheque to.

4. Hikes

The Christmas hike and social will start this coming Sunday at 2pm. We will be doing the loop from Byrne’s Lane to Camp Carey Road and back. The potluck will take place after the hike at Sylvia’s place. Food may be dropped off at Sylvia’s house before the hike.

Due to the short days, the January 3 hike will begin at 1pm, for that month only.

5. Trail Map Update

Rodolphe gave an update on the recent work. His student Megan has met with Sylvia and Beth Spencer last week. Beth has begun the work necessary to include the whole bypass in the data base, check trails, obtain all waypoints, include power lines, and generally get the work done to move this project forward. Some of our featured trail loops need to be re-thought as several are impacted by the bypass. The Jones Pond access issue has not yet been resolved but the town is still looking at it. Since trails and green spaces were identified as priorities in the town’s new Recreational Master Plan, we are hopeful that we can complete the project in the near future. TETC supports the plan to include trail construction in future development agreements.

6. Dominion Hill Update

A motion to rescind approval of the Dominion Hill amendment which was put forward by Deputy Mayor Geoff Gallant at the last Council meeting was passed by majority vote with all elected members in attendance. Geoff pledged to continue to work to entrench the protection of our conservation zones in the town regulations. Congratulations go out to Geoff and all those who worked to help preserve our coastal zones.

7. Rock Garden

Helen reported that Leila and Howard Clase had visited the rock garden site to give us their assessment on how to proceed. They were very encouraging about what could be accomplished and felt that a rock garden is quite feasible. They suggest that getting a plan drawn up is the necessary first step. We will approach Todd Boland at the Botanical Gardens to see if he might be interested. It was agreed that we should aim for a first class, detailed master plan. Since this will likely be far beyond what we can handle financially on our own, we will approach the town once we get some idea of cost.

8. TETC Budget

Our 2010 budget proposal was submitted to the Finance Committee last Wednesday.

9. Gully Gazebo

Madeleine gave a brief update on the gazebo. Our main goal is to ensure that the structure is replaced once the new school is complete, as promised by the Eastern School Board. Helen will contact Mr. Sinnott to verify what their plans are, now that we know that the original building materials have been disposed of.

10. East Coast Trail Association Membership

Madeleine confirmed that our town’s membership on the ECTA is important as it demonstrates support for an important partner for our town. This membership, however, does not confer individual benefits, including voting rights, to TETC members. The TETC fully supports the mandate and work of the ECTA and recognizes the work done by the ECTA in Torbay in the past as well as the major work the ECTA will begin on our coastal trail in the near future. It was therefore agreed that we should inform our members of the importance of supporting this worthwhile organization through individual memberships. Mention of this will be made in our next newsletter.

11. Trapping of Coyotes

The provincial government recently held a workshop to promote the trapping of coyotes in the province. Both snares and leg-hold traps are used. There is evidence that trapping is already taking place in Torbay. This raises some concerns as Torbay is an urbanized and growing town. Madeleine is attempting to gather more information about this to help assess how serious the problem is and what regulations are in place to govern how close to trails and homes traps may be set, how many trappers there are in Torbay, etc.

12. Nominations and Elections to TETC

Nominations will take place at the January meeting. We also need to review our mandate and see what changes need to be made.

13. Adjournment and Next Meeting

The meeting adjourned at 10:15pm.

The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 5 at 8:15pm at the Kinsmen Centre meeting room downstairs.