February 2003

February 24, 2003

The Board of Directors of Triangle Greenways Council met for its regular meeting in the offices of Triangle J Council of Governments on February 24, 2003. Barb Oslund presided. Other members attending were Jeff Brewer, Dean Kanipe, Dan Jewell, Wendy Olson, Don Belk, Leslie Kennedy, Larry Bailey, Bill Flournoy, and Bill Bussey. Larkin Kirkman also attended. The meeting began at 7:05 p.m.

The minutes for the January 27, 2003, Board meeting were approved.

Website: Dean Kanipe reported on contacts with CI Hosts for the location of our website. There is a set up fee of $50.00 and an annual fee of c. $400. He can have it functioning in about two days. He wants to register us as Triangle Greenways Council .org and redo everything from the ground up.

Motion: The Board authorizes Dean to set up the website with CI Hosts for an amount not to exceed $500.00. This was passed.

Dean is doing the editing and Bill Bussey is to do the update.

Barb is to write Mike Cinoman and thank him for the work he has done on this site and the expense he has born.

Board Retreat: Each member is to read “Ten Basic Responsibilities of Non-Profit Boards.” (1-800-883-6262 or www.boardsource.org) Barb sent out materials last week. We have paid $200.00. There was discussion of costs and food. The secretary was encouraged to attend the Retreat.

Communications with the public: Barb pointed out that this matter had been discussed before and we should remember that communication is to go through the president unless otherwise delegated. If there are inquiries to individuals, these should be referred to the president.

Address change: We have discontinued use of the post office address in the Research Triangle and also the collection box at Triangle J Council of Governments. Mail for Triangle Greenways Council is now to go the post office box of the secretary.

That address is: Post Office Box 2746, Raleigh, NC 27602.

The secretary requested that Board members responding to messages do so with a new message, rather than copying the long message received.

New Business:

Dan reported on Active Living by Design. There are some900 applications for grants. He is working with John Hodges Coppel and will report later. Our action is to participate in workshops.

Whitewater Training Park at Falls of the Neuse:
Bill Flournoy circulated a resolution adopted in 1998, supporting a whitewater training area at Falls and reported there is renewed interest in this proposal. He reported the Carolina Canoe Club is looking for other groups, which will support the project. Bill found only the draft of the resolution from 1998.

Motion: The Council continues to support the position it took in 1998 and asks that Bill Flournoy prepare a new draft and that Barb send this resolution showing our support. This was passed.

Treasurer’s Report: Jeff circulated a report showing a total balance of $19,654.14. He reported that the check for the retreat has not yet been cashed.

Bill Flournoy asked if the Board would like to investigate putting the Sam Wiley Memorial Fund in a special investment and it was decide that he and Jeff would investigate this.

Jeff will work on filing taxes.

The report was accepted as submitted.

Committee Reports:

Land Trust: Bill Flournoy circulated background information on the land trust function. This material was given to all Board members. Bill pointed out that we now have general liability insurance, covering volunteers on a any project and covering anyone injured on any property we own.

Bill directed attention to the complexities of bringing land acquisition proposals to the Board. The Board must make the ultimate decision, and must be advised and educated in an established process. The current procedure is: 1. Report in generalities on areas worked on. 2. As specifics are seen, bring this information to the Board, seeking direction for negotiation. 3. The Board either approve agreement with the land owner, or agreement with stated conditions, or reject. Because many projects operate with a December 31 deadline, this process is complicated by having a reduced number of Board meetings, but with care this can be made to work.

Bill enumerated a number of projects and possible partnerships and indicated that the members of his committee are willing to put in the time needed. The Committee would like to avoid the frustration to its members and to potential donors of having acquisitions rejected which appeared to be working out.

Bill discussed various aspects of the oversight given by the Committee including giving attention to taxes, to the need for Phase One reports, and to management. He expressed the desire to expand the Committee.

He asked that the Board treat all discussions of purchase of a specific property as sensitive and confidential (that is, to remain within the Board). He pointed out that we have a mini grant from the Clean Water Trust Fund to help out with transaction costs (extended from last year, $25,000, of which we have used $1900 for the tract on Walnut Creek).

Bill reported what we have three parcels: a remainder interest in Hymettus Woods, some 75 acres on Crabtree Creek, and some 2.5 acres at Chanceller’s Ridge. He expects to bring a new case study soon.

Bill would like to see a reduced two-step process, beginning with seeking approval of due diligence. and then coming back for the proposal.

Bill pointed out other materials on the question of land trusts and stated he planned to attend the Land Trust Assembly meeting on March 20-23.

Other reports:

Jeff reported on students working at Falls, on contacts with Darrell McBane and a regional meeting March 12 on the Mountains to the Sea Trail, that MTS minutes are on the MTS website, and that the meetings are open to anyone.

Others reported: Barb on two conferences and the NC Horse Council;

Wendy on trails plans for the Eno and God Park; Dean on Trails Day; Dan on Durham trails and the bridge over I-40, and trail at West Point and Penny’s Bend, and Ellerbee Creek; Don on White Oak Creek greenway and Cary greeway standards; Larry on a forest service grant for an educational trail for a middle schools; Bill Bussey on bridges, work with Duke, and on equestrian parking.

The meeting adjourned at 9:13 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Larkin Kirkman
Secretary