May 2002

May 21, 2002

The Board of Directors of Triangle Greenways Council met for a specially called meeting on Tuesday, May 21, 2002, at 7:00 p.m. in the offices of Triangle J Council of Governments. The Special meeting was called by the president and the meeting was in lieu of the regular meeting set for May 23, 2002. Barb Oslund presided. Other Board members present were Wendy Olson, Bill Bussey, Jeff Brewer, Dean Kanipe, and Allen de Hart. Also attending was Larkin Kirkman.

An agenda proposed by the president was utilized.

The secretary announced that five members had given notice that they would be unable to attend the specially called meeting, namely, Lorraine Price, Paul Embler, Dan Jewell, Bill Hamilton, and Leslie Kennedy. Paul, Bill, and Leslie had indicated that the change to the fourth Tuesday would be acceptable for them. Paul qualified his response as “most of the time”. Dan did not indicate. Lorraine indicated that she would find the fourth Tuesday would conflict with other commitments in some months.

Minutes of the April 25, 2002, Board meeting were approved.

Barb reported that she had bought a gift certificate for and had written a card to Bob Bacon to thank him for coming from his home after our March 28, 2002, Board meeting to lock the building. At that time the cleaning crew had left and no one on the Board had a key. Barb and Larkin now have keys to the building.

Old Business:

Barb reported that the question of representation of the Council to the public had come up recently in a manner that indicated that several members of the Council had spoken and acted on behalf of the Council without authorization by the Board. Not only had there been no decision by either the Board or the president, but the issues had not been brought to the attention of the Council, the Board, or herself.

Barb pointed out that this issue had been the subject of some discussion at the planning retreat and there was general agreement there that no person should speak on any issue as a representative of the Council without the knowledge and agreement of the Board or, at least, the president.

Each person had been admonished, when speaking, to make a firm distinction between representations that reflected the person’s personal views and those that reflected the views of the Board or the Council.

Barb reported that she had called a meeting of the officers of the Board, Robert Harper, Bill Bussey, Jeff Brewer, Larkin Kirkman, and herself, on May 15, 2002. At this meeting this issue was discussed again.

There was understanding that, when we speak to the public on some issue, we must have presented and discussed the issue with the Board and have received some form of approval. Barb pointed out that this understanding may need further refinement but that she felt it had been important to reinforce the position on representation that we had already arrived at.

There was general agreement that Barb had appropriately addressed the issue of representation. The discussion identified that there were problems that could arise that might involve tax consequences if legal limits were ignored. It was also suggested that there might be safe topics or understood areas where the purposes of the Council could be represented by all; and there might be a need to outline a general statement that all could use.

Barb also reported that Robert Harper had given her a business card at the meeting, which he and Sig Hutchinson use. This card identifies Robert and Sig as the “Triangle Greenways Coalition.” She reported that the confusion this designation might cause was apparent to all the officers, including Robert. She reported that Robert had stated that he and Sig would change that name.

Barb stated that she felt that she and Robert had reached an understanding at the officers’ meeting. It is now understood that, if Robert or Sig wish to involve the Triangle Greenways Council in any project on which they are working, he or they should come to the Council, brief us on the projects under discussion, and help us develop positions.

Umstead Coalition:

Barb reported that she had met with Jean Spooner, chair of the Umstead Coalition, and had relayed to her the interest of the Council in becoming a member of the Umstead Coalition. Her discussion had revealed that our treatment of the issue of the quarry and the representation of our views had alienated some members of the Coalition. Barb understands that the question of our joining the Coalition will be discussed again by the Coalition in May. She stated that the Coalition wants from us written statements on the quarry greenway and on paving greenways.

Barb stated she would like to draft statements on both of these issues and bring them before the Board at the next meeting. It was suggested that Barb might give consideration to inviting the Umstead Coalition to make a presentation to our Board at some time about the work and purposes of the Coalition and how we can best work with the Coalition.

Other matters:

Bill Bussey reported he had on Thursday attended a meeting at Crowder’s Mountain State Park to give to a planning group a report on the history and organization of the Triangle Greenways Council. The group is planning a trail from King’s Mountain to Crowder’s Mountain and also discussed a rail trail into Gastonia. About 30 people attended. He reported it was a good meeting with attention given also to developments in High Point and in the Roanoke Valley.

Meeting date for the Board:

Both Wendy and Lorraine have identified conflicts in scheduling that make meeting on the fourth Tuesday night of the month difficult for them. Rather than settle at this meeting on a night that will exclude any members of the Board, Barb undertook to circulate an inquiry to members of the Board. She would ask each member of the Board to identify times when they can meet without conflict.

[Although no decision was made to set the fourth Tuesday night, the
Secretary asks each member of the Board to reserve that time,
provisionally, until some other day is decided upon.]

Land Trust Committee:

Wendy pointed out that a request had come from the Land Trust Council of North Carolina for a contribution over three years to support the establishment of a position of Land Trust Services Director. The director would be an employee of the Conservation Trust for North Carolina and would be responsible for increasing the quality, effectiveness, and longevity of North Carolina’s land trust network. The director would serve as the Conservation Trust’s liaison to the Land Trust Council and would be funded in part by the Conservation Trust and in part by the Land Trust Council. She passed out copies of the letter of December 19, 2001, from the Land Trust Council of North Carolina to Bill Flournoy and a description of the position of the director. She pointed out that the Board had previously discussed this issue and the Land Trust Committee had recommended that we make a contribution.

It was resolved that the Council pledge to make a contribution of $100.00 in each of the next three years in support of the position in the Conservation Trust for North Carolina. This contribution is to come from one of the two existing trust funds of the Council, if that is conformable with their defined guidelines, and, if that is not conformable, then from the general fund. The determination of which fund is to be drawn upon is to be made by the Treasurer in consultation with Bill Flournoy.

Treasurer’s Report:

Jeff Brewer, Treasurer, handed out a seven page report. The report showed total assets of $8,965.16 on May 21, 2002. These assets are in three funds: Sam Wiley Memorial Fund ($3,790.50), Land Accumulation Revolving Fund ($2,430.00), and the general checking account ($2,744.66). Attached to the report were a statement from Centura Bank, a copy of the endowment policy and the policy for the Land Accumulation Revolving Fund, and a list of the current paid-up members of the Council.

[This report is not attached to the copy of these minutes that is being
circulated by the secretary electronically. Because of the importance of
having both the documents on fund policies, and the list of members, the Secretary suggests that each member acquire this report from the Treasurer and keep it for future reference.]

A motion was approved to accept and approve the Treasurer’s Report. Jeff reported also that he had transferred our funds from Centura to BB&T. He undertook to contact Bill Flournoy about the pledge and see that it was paid.

Trails Day:

Jeff gave a report on the planned events for National Trails Day. He had available for delivery numerous t-shirts for distribution to participants on various construction projects. He asked each Board member to select a project and attend. For information about these projects, see the Public Service Announcement and the web site.

Post Office Box:

Jeff pointed out that access to the current post office box in the Research Triangle Park is inconvenient. He and Dan Jewell have keys. Change is difficult because we have already paid for the year and the location is listed in our publicity (brochure).

Additional comments:
We need to look at and edit the current web site.
We need to consider a return to a mailed newsletter.
The Membership Committee needs to meet.
Bill Flournoy is following up on one reply to contacts about land on Walnut Creek and he has gone ahead with one appraisal.
Little has happened with the Duke Forest-Eno River connection.

The meeting adjourned at 9:09 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Larkin Kirkman
Secretary