Hilltop Conservancy
May 26, 2004
Meeting Minutes
Attendees: Brian Glennon, Anne Stires, Bill Beeck, John Bracco, Norm Acocella, Steve Wysmuller, David Freschi, Nancy Howley, Teena Schwartz, Ron Gollhardt, Geordie Smith, Charlie Wilson, Seymour Sobel, Kurt Landsberger, Ellen Barrett
Meeting called to order at 7:30pm.
The county will pick up the additional refuse that remains at the Hilltop. Teena Schwartz will send a memo to the county for pickup.
Teena Schwartz spoke more about WHIP as it pertains to the Hilltop. The site looks good for the program. Again the main goal of WHIP is to attract songbirds, migratory birds and meadow birds. WHIP is evaluating the project now. They can do the program piece by piece (5 acres at a time) so allocation of the land should not be a problem. Since we still do not have official boundaries for the Hilltop we can start WHIP in areas that are already allocated to the reservation.
The Hilltop logo was discussed and sending out a press release to welcome all those who wish to create a logo was talked about. Trying to get as many people involved as possible so we have many logo’s to choose from is a goal. More methods for developing the logo will be followed up at next meeting.
A resolution was created by Charlie Wilson and voted on by the group to permit the Scouts of America to assist in trail development at the Hilltop. The resolution reads as follows; Where as Scouting programs promote good citizenship, where as trails provide healthy recreation and exercise, where as scouting groups are well qualified to develop trails, therefore let it be resolved that The Hilltop Conservancy endorses Scout participation in trail development.
Kurt Landsberger will follow up with William Paterson College for an inventory of wildlife, and flowers and fauna.
Kurt gave the group a history lesson of the Hilltop and the old sanatorium. He explained how the Save the Mountains group came into existence and how this group is one of the main reasons there is a reservation today. He also explained how the sale of land that will be developed on the Hilltop helped the county get out of a $33M debt that they were in.
Being able to apply for funding was brought up at the meeting. The conservancy needs to develop programs and evaluate what needs to be done so we can apply for funding and explain what we want to do with the money. Reprioritizing our objectives for 2004 will be the main focus at the next meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 9:00pm.
Minutes prepared by Secretary:
Brian Glennon
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