HUDSON RIVER VALLEY GREENWAY

Combined meeting of

Hudson River Valley Greenway Communities Council,

Greenway Conservancy for the Hudson River Valley, Inc.

and

Greenway Heritage Conservancy HRV, Inc.

January 16, 2009

Henry A. Wallace Center at the Roosevelt National Historic Site Hyde Park,

Minutes

Conservancy Members Present Daniels, Jane, Conservancy Member Fratianni, Barbara, Conservancy Member Griffen, Sara, Conservancy Vice Chair Herman, Kenneth, Treasurer, Conservancy Board Jacks, Betsey, Conservancy Member Pennoyer, Christy, Conservancy Member Plunkett, Kevin J. Esq., Conservancy Chairman Wager, Richard, Conservancy Member Wise, David, Conservancy Member

Conservancy Members Present by Proxy Astorino, Robert, Conservancy Member Marra, Donald, Conservancy Member Murray, Dennis, Conservancy Secretary

Council Members Present Bucholsky, Kathleen, Columbia County Council Member Chesley, Christine, Rensselaer County Council Member Elliott, Robert, Westchester County Council Member Galef, Sandra, Assemblywoman, Council Member Gibbons, Michael, Putnam County Council Member Gould, Clara Lou, Dutchess County Council Member Granirer, Martus, Council Member McHenry, Barnabas, Chairman, Greenway Council Molinaro, Marcus, NYS Assemblyman, Council Member

Page 1 of 11 Council Members Present by Proxy D'Ambrosi, Anthony, Council Member

Delegates Present Devine, Bonnie, Joint Delegate for Secretary of State Cortes-Vasquez, NYS Department of State Dunwell, Fran, Joint Delegate for Commissioner Grannis, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Mazzarella, Sally, Delegate for Senator Stephen Saland Sheifer, Chuck, Joint Delegate for Commissioner Egan, NYS Office of General Services Van Buren, Denise, Advisory Committee Delegate for Steve Lant

Advisory Members Present Bergman, Frank, Advisory Member Fishman, Connie, Advisory Member Sullivan, Ned, Advisory Member

Greenway Staff Bach, Christina, Financial Assistant Campochiaro, Elizabeth, Trails Coordinator Castiglione, Mark, Acting Executive Director Dennehey, John, Senior Planner Irvin, Adeidra, Executive Assistant Keller, Scott, Trails and Special Projects Director Salvino, Sheena, Greenway Trails Intern

Call to Order Chairman Kevin Plunkett called the meeting to order at 10:10 a.m.

Pledge of Allegiance Chairman Plunkett led the meeting in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Discussion of Proposal to Eliminate the Greenway Council and Conservancy Chairman Plunkett thanked everyone for coming and introduced Assemblyman (and Council Member) Marcus Molinaro. Mr. Molinaro welcomed everyone and noted that Governor Paterson’s budget calls for the elimination of the Hudson River Valley Greenway with assets and liabilities of the Greenway to be transferred to the Department of State. He stated that a near unanimous chorus from the mid-Valley legislative delegation for rescinding this proposal has been conveyed to the Governor and his staff. Congressman Maurice Hinchey has also steadfastly opposed the proposed elimination.

He pointed out that this proposal puts in jeopardy the National Heritage Area federal funding and that the elimination of the Greenway would result in a net fiscal loss for New York State. He further stated that in these tough economic times the legislature must make tough choices, but not bad choices.

Page 2 of 11 He stated that there were less than 24 hours until the Governor’s 30-day amendments to the budget will be posted and urged everyone to contact the Governor’s office.

He went on, noting that when he started in local government as the Mayor of Tivoli some 13 years ago, that, as a state program, the Greenway was not trusted, but that in the intervening years it has, uniquely, become so. He stated that irreparable damage will be caused by the elimination of the Greenway and that the Greenway is the one successful entity in New York State government that has worked to bring Hudson Valley communities together.

He concluded that the elimination of the Hudson River Valley Greenway is a very poor way to begin the Quadricentennial Celebration of Henry Hudson’s exploration of the river.

Chairman McHenry introduced Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan who acknowledged Assemblyman Molinaro’s leadership. He noted that Scenic Hudson had testified against the Governor’s proposal to eliminate the Greenway in front of the Environmental Conservation, Ways and Means and Finance Committee budget hearings in the legislature, asking for a reversal of the proposal. Scenic Hudson’s Director of Public Policy Andy Bicking is spearheading Scenic Hudson’s efforts in Albany. Mr. Sullivan asked everyone to reach out to their legislators and to the media, noting that three significant Quadricentennial events would be canceled if the Greenway is eliminated.

Welcome and Introductions Chairman Plunkett introduced Hyde Park Town Supervisor who welcomed everyone to Hyde Park and noted that the Greenway plays an important role in all of our communities: through Greenway Connections, the Dutchess County Compact document, the Greenway Trail System, the Hudson River Valley Ramble, the National Heritage Area, Greenway grants and the support provided for the regional center to be based in Hyde Park. He stated the Town Board had called for an emergency meeting to pass a resolution opposing the Governor’s proposal to eliminate the Greenway.

Chairman McHenry introduced Cynthia Koch, the FDR Library Director who welcomed everyone to the Wallace Center, thanked everyone for coming and wished the Greenway success.

Carol Kohan, Deputy Superintendent of Roosevelt Vanderbilt Historic Site welcomed everyone on behalf of Superintendent Sarah Olson. She underscored the Greenway’s importance to community enrichment, spoke about the recently concluded ice yacht display which kicked off the Quadricentennial, and expressed wishes for continued endurance and future success.

Chairman McHenry introduced Dutchess County Commissioner of Planning Roger Akeley who welcomed everyone to Dutchess County. He noted that over the last 18 years the Greenway has been a tremendous success, harkened back to the beginnings

Page 3 of 11 under the old Heritage Task Force, and spoke about the Greenway’s impact in Dutchess County. He noted that all 30 Dutchess County Communities belong to the Greenway and 29 have joined the Dutchess County/Greenway Compact. Mr. Akeley stated that Dutchess County and the communities therein are fundamentally better for being in the Greenway. Efforts at developing trail, maintaining biodiversity, preserving agriculture are all better served by being a part of the Greenway. The key to the Greenway’s success is the bottom up, non-regulatory approach taken by the Greenway. He concluded by saying he is optimistic the Greenway will continue in its present form.

Discussion of Proposal to Eliminate the Greenway Council and Conservancy (cont’d) Senator Stephen Saland’s delegate to the Board, Sally Mazzarella stated that the Senator is optimistic and working diligently to reverse the proposed elimination of the Greenway. She noted that as a sponsor of the Greenway he has worked through the years as challenges arose, but considers this the toughest challenge to the Greenway.

Town of Marlborough Deputy Supervisor Cindy Lanzetta announced the Town is very supportive of the Greenway and Assemblyman Molinaro’s efforts to save the Greenway from elimination.

Assemblywoman and Council Member Sandra Galef suggested that the Greenway’s supporters continue to ask for the whole thing, but to be practical and have a backup plan.

Presentation: Endangered Architecture and One Site’s Rescue Wint Aldrich, Deputy Commissioner for Historic Preservation from the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation described and showed photos of eleven historic sites on his list of endangered sites in the Hudson Valley. He noted that there are 100 Hudson Valley Heritage sites which are important attractions.

Betsy Jacks, Executive Director of the Thomas Cole National Historic Site described the Cole site as it once existed, how it was at the depths of decay and how it is now as it is mostly restored. The keys to restoration were having a figure of national significance (Cole), a caring community (Catskill), an “Angel” (financial) and a location in the Hudson Valley. The restored site is now used primarily for education rather than house tours since Cole’s family sold off the contents of the house in the 1960’s. The next chapter in the restoration includes grounds restoration, a visitor center with parking lot, a new website and online program, a new logo and, possibly, a new independent organization.

Minutes of October 21, 2008 Combined Meeting of the Hudson River Valley Greenway Communities Council, Greenway Conservancy for the Hudson River Valley, Inc. and Greenway Heritage Conservancy HRV, Inc. Correction: George Stafford should be listed as the delegate for the Secretary of State Cortez-Vasquez at the October 21 Joint Board meeting. Minutes of the October 21, 2008 Meeting of the Hudson River Valley Greenway Grants Committee

Page 4 of 11 Minutes of the December 30, 2008 Executive Finance Committee Conference Call Audit Results for the Greenway Conservancy for the Hudson River Valley, Inc. and Greenway Heritage Conservancy HRV, Inc. On a motion from Sally Mazzarella (Sara Griffen second) the various minutes were unanimously approved, as amended.

Greenway Conservancy for the Hudson River Valley, Inc. Call to Order Chairman Plunkett called the Conservancy meeting to order.

Welcome Newly Appointed Conservancy Board Members On behalf of the Board, Chairman Plunkett welcomed new Conservancy Board Member Richard Wager, the son of former member Richard Wager.

Approval of Conservancy Audit Findings for SFY 07-08 Treasurer Ken Herman reviewed the 2007-08 independent auditors’ report noting that the audit itself was presented an unqualified opinion and the management letter identified just a few minor issues. On a motion from Barbara Fratianni (Sara Griffen second) the Board unanimously accepted the 2007-08 independent audit findings.

Approval of Conservancy Budget SFY 08-09 On a motion from Ken Herman (Jane Daniels second) the Board unanimously adopted the 2008-09 budget for Conservancy operations.

Approval to accept a $10,000 Open Space Institute Grant on behalf of the Teaching the Hudson Valley Program On a motion from Jane Daniels (Barbara Fratianni second) the Board unanimously accepted a $10,000 grant from OSI for the Teaching the Hudson Valley Program, a collaborative effort between the National Parks Service, the Hudson River Estuary Program and the Greenway under the auspices of the National Heritage Area Program.

New Greenway Trail Designations Acting Executive Director Mark Castiglione introduced two trails for designation: Historic Champlain Canal Trail, Town of Halfmoon, Saratoga County, 5.0 miles and Hudson Crossing Park Trails, Towns of Northumberland and Saratoga, Saratoga County, 2.3 miles On a motion from Richard Wager (Ken Herman second) the Board unanimously designated the two newest segments of the Greenway Trail System.

Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area The NHA meeting was called to order by Chairman Plunkett.

Quadricentennial Implementation Grants At the suggestion of Chairman McHenry the third whereas in the resolution was amended to read: “with thanks to Congressman Maurice Hinchey for his leadership in securing these federal funds, an appropriation from the federal fiscal year 2008 contained

Page 5 of 11 funding in the amount of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) to provide matching grants to be administered by the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area; and”. On a motion from Martus Granirer (Barbara Fratiani second) the Boards unanimously approved the grants. Sara Griffen abstained; Betsy Jacks recused herself on the grant.

Lori DuBond, Congressman Hinchey’s District Representative announced the individual grants and congratulated the recipients. The grants are: 1. Historic Albany Foundation, Ghosts of Albany Tour - $2,000 2. Albany Institute of History & Art, Endless Hudson River Landscape - $3,100 3. FASNY Museum of Firefighting, Legacy: Robert Fulton and the Community Utilization of the Steam Engine - $4,500 4. Beatrix Farrand Garden Association, Bellefield Design Lecture – Tulipmania - $3,500 5. Friends of Mills Mansion, Great Estates Symposium: 400 Years Life on the River - $1,300 6. Thomas Cole Historic Site, Hudson River School Art Trail Enhancements - $5,000 7. Trust, Henry Hudson and New Amsterdam/New Netherlands: An Historic Interpretive Installation - $4,500 8. Literacy Volunteers of Western Orange County, Ride-To-Read - $2,500 9. Children's Museum of Science & Technology, Horseshoes & Waterwheels: New York's Tech Valley in the 1800's - $3,000 10. Friends of Fort Crailo, Trade Partners: Hudson River Colonial Dutch and Native Americans - $4,000 11. Waterford Maritime Historical Society, Tug Chancellor participation in Quadricentennial "Working on Water" Tour - $4,500 12. Friends of the Senate House SHS, Diversity in the mid-Hudson: Celebrating Key Themes & Cultures in our Past & Present - $4,500 13. Catskills Live!, Quadricentennial Challenge on the Hudson River Valley Legacy Trail - $4,500 14. Lyndhurst, National Trust Historic Preservation, Hudson River Quest - $3,100

Approval of NHA Budget FFY 0-09 On a motion from Clara Lou Gould (Jane Daniels second) the Boards unanimously approved the NHA budget for FFY 2008-09.

Hudson River Valley Greenway Communities Council Chairman McHenry called the Greenway Council meeting to order.

Greenway Communities Mr. Castiglione announced that the Village of Granville, Washington County is seeking to become a Greenway Community.

Page 6 of 11 Greenway Community Grants Mr. Castiglione announced that two communities are seeking community grant funding.

Town of Germantown, Columbia County is seeking grant funding in the amount of $9,000 to update current zoning ordinances.

Town of Pittstown, Rensselaer County is seeking grant funding in the amount of $5,250 to conduct a Cultural Resource Survey.

Greenway Compact Grants City of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County is seeking grant funding in the amount of $10,000 to develop the eastern entranceway and security system for the bridge project.

On a motion from Sally Mazzarella (Bob Elliot second) the Council Board unanimously welcomed the new Greenway Community, approved the Greenway Community and Greenway Compact Grants.

Executive Director Report Acting Executive Director Mark Castiglione’s written Executive Director's report is appended to, and a part of these minutes.

New Business/Public Comment A member of the public voiced support for continuing the Greenway regardless of what happens in the budget process.

Ed Simonson of Kinderhook stated that he always feels encouraged and motivated after attending a Greenway meeting.

A Pittstown resident thanked the Greenway for the grant and noted that other funding for the project was received through the NYS Council for the Arts.

Adjourn On a motion from Sally Mazzarella (Kathleen Bucholsky second) the meeting was adjourned at 12:00 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Scott S. Keller Meeting Secretary

Page 7 of 11 Hudson River Valley Greenway Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Acting Executive Director’s Report Mark Castiglione January 14, 2009

Hudson River Valley Greenway

Legislative Update (As of January 12, 2009)

On December 16th, Governor Paterson delivered his proposed 2009-2010 Executive Budget. As a provision of his budget, Governor Paterson proposes the elimination of the Hudson River Valley Greenway Communities Council and the Greenway Conservancy for the Hudson River Valley with certain functions transferred to the Department of State.

The following bills enact the legislation into law: A00159, S00059.

Trails 2008 Conservancy Small Grants

Senator Steve Saland once again secured $50,000 for the 2008 Small Grants program, which offers technical and financial assistance to municipalities and not-for- profit organizations. The program offers funding for trail planning and design, construction and rehabilitation, and education and interpretation. This year, the program also emphasized trail projects that contribute to the 2009 celebration of the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial in the Hudson River Valley. A total of 18 applications were received.

Awards for the 2008 Greenway Conservancy Small Grants Program were announced at the October 2008 Joint Board Meeting by Senator Saland. This year’s recipients were: The Town and Village of Wappinger’s Rhinebeck Wappinger Greenway Trail; The Hudson Highlands Nature Museum’s Discovery Quest Trail; The New York Forest Owners Association, Inc.’s Hudson River Birding Trail Forest Habitats Interpretive Kiosks; The Town of Philipstown’s Hudson-Fjord Trail Alternative Analysis; The Town of East Greenbush’s Storm Albany- Hudson Electric Trail; The Town of Half Moon’s Historic Champlain Canal Trailhead Parking; The Town of Shandaken’s Pine Hill Recreation Trail; The Town of Rochester’s Rochester Rail Trail Enhancements; The ’s Northern Shawangunk Ridge Connection Trail; The Town of Cortlandt’s Trail Booklet; The City of Newburgh’s Quassaick Creek Estuary Biodiversity Fourth Grade Coloring Book; The Hudson Highlands Land Trust’s Take a Hike! Program; The Town of Lewisboro’s Conservation Advisory Council’s Old Field Preserve Trail Bridge Champlain Canalway Trail

Beth Campochiaro and Scott Keller have been participating in the planning process for the Champlain Canalway Trail. When complete, the Champlain

Page 8 of 11 Canalway Trail will be an attractive, viable and productive resource for the region, and will hopefully become an integral part of the Greenway Trail system. In addition to the Greenway, there are a number of partners working on this project, including Rivers and Trails Program, Lakes to Locks Passage, New York State Canal Corporation, Canalway Trails Association New York, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, Feeder Canal Alliance, and Hudson Crossing Park. Greenway Announces Quadricentennial Implementation Grants

This November, the Hudson River Valley Greenway and Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area announced the availability of $50,000 in matching funds for Hudson Valley projects through Quadricentennial Implementation Grants. Funding for this program was secured by Congressman Maurice Hinchey. Eligible projects encourage participation by communities or non-profits in the region; contain elements that support a lasting presence, and seek opportunities to associate with other celebration events. Projects must be located within the geographic area of the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area. Applications were due to the Greenway office by December 15th. A total of 39 applications were received, with a request for a total of $214,000 in funding. Greenway Organizing 2 Quadricentennial Events

The Greenway plans to coordinate the following events:

The 2009 Champlain-Hudson Valleys Ramble

The month-long Champlain-Hudson Valleys Ramble will celebrate the Hudson Fulton Champlain Quadricentennial. The Greenway organized and run event is a chance to explore by foot, boat, or bike the natural and culture resources of the Champlain and Hudson basins. This event will be one of three signature events of the Quadricentennial organized by the Greenway. In addition to the over 100 partner organizations and event sponsors we work with in the Hudson River Valley, the Greenway plans to work closely with the Champlain Basin Program to engage partners in the Champlain Valley for the event.

The 2009 Great Champlain-Hudson Sojourn

The 2009 event will be called The Great Champlain-Hudson Sojourn and will cover 320 miles beginning in Rouse’s Point on northern Lake Champlain and proceeding through the Champlain Canal and down the Hudson River to Manhattan. In addition to the partners that have worked with us during the Great Hudson River Paddle, Scott Keller, Sojourn Lead Guide and Greenway Trails and Special Projects Director, has reached out to the following partners: VERMONT: Vermont Department of Tourism, Vermont, Parks and Recreation, City of Burlington Parks Department, Champlain Islands Chamber of Commerce NEW YORK: Village of Rouse’s Point, Crown Point State Historic Site, Towns of Hague and Bolton, Roger’s Island Visitor Center, Village of Schuylerville, Champlain Basin Program. Throughout the year, Scott will be working to secure

Page 9 of 11 private side partners and outfitters to participate in festival events at key locations along the route.

Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area 10 Heritage Sites get the Opportunity Guy ‘Experience’

The HRVNHA has been working with Hudson Valley Tourism to bring the “Opportunity Guy” Joe Veneto, a nationally-known consultant that works with heritage and cultural sites to enhance their program and marketing initiatives, back to the Hudson Valley. This has been a great opportunity to assist the Valley’s sites with preparation for the upcoming 2009 Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial commemorations. During the fall season of this pilot program, Veneto worked with 10 sites to develop “storyboards” and scripts for new thematic tours. The January/February issue of Dutchess Magazine included an article on this project and the next workshop is scheduled for January 21, 2009.

Heritage Area Website to be Revamped

Since its launch in early 2004, the website for the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area has been successful in its mission of providing education and heritage tourism information with respect to the nationally significant resources of the region. As the Heritage Area program has evolved, minor changes to the website have taken place (most recently, the addition of a Ramble Microsite). With this in mind, the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Management Committee took a comprehensive look at the strengths of the website and enhancing those strengths while improving website efficiency. In preparation for this initiative, the Heritage Area has reached out to Heritage Site Directors asking for their assistance to review site information and provide input about the strengths and weaknesses of the current website.

On November 3rd, the Heritage Area issued an RFP for the redesign of the existing website. The deadline for proposals was set at November 24th. The Heritage Area received 10 proposals ranging from $24,000 - $433,329 from firms located within New York State. The Heritage Area, in consultation with the website subcommittee of the Heritage Area Management Committee, interviewed the three leading candidate firms for the project during the month of December.

Heritage Area Guidebook Development

With the assistance of a $35,000 Explore New York Grant from I Love NY, the Heritage Area has been working on production of a guidebook to showcase the cultural and natural resources of the region. In November, the Heritage Area developed an RFP for design and printing of the guidebook with a proposal due date of November 21st. The Heritage Area received 4 proposals from firms within the Hudson Valley and interviewed a prospective consultant in December.

Page 10 of 11 Teaching the Hudson Valley Unveils New Website

This November, Teaching the Hudson Valley (THV), unveiled its newly redesigned website at www.TeachingTheHudsonValley.org. The exciting new interactive website features an extensive library of place-based Hudson Valley lesson plans. This free site is designed for education professionals and features over 125 lesson plans and activities that draw inspiration from a significant public destination – such as a museum, historic site, park, waterway, or art gallery – to teach standard academic subjects in grades K-12. Past recipients of THV’s curriculum-development grants created the lessons available at launch. In addition to the lesson plans already online, users can post new lesson plans or activities, search by grade and subject, and use an interactive map to look for plans at nearby sites of interest This commitment to place-based education is reflected incorporated into THV’s new tagline, “Explore a place. Discover your world.”

Revolutionary War Beacons Relit to Commemorate British Evacuation

On November 25th, a Xenon light display commemorated the 225th anniversary of the evacuation of the United States of America by British troops. The Palisades Parks Conservancy, in collaboration with the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, Scenic Hudson, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and Palisades Interstate Park Commission, partnered with the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area in New Jersey to symbolically relight the beacons at signal locations used by the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. These vital systems summoned the militia in both New York and in neighboring New Jersey and warned residents of the approaching British Redcoats. The original beacons varied from tar barrels on top of poles, to pyramids, to wooden towers filled with dried grass or hay that could be ignited. The beacons enabled quick and effective communication with troops throughout the region. Rather than using fire, the commemoration utilized Xenon laser lights with hi- tech skytracker technology. The beacon project was achieved through a partnership between New York and New Jersey. Of the twelve beacon sites that were lit, five were in New York State and seven were in New Jersey. The lighting progression started in Princeton, New Jersey and stretched 108 miles to Beacon, New York.

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