Minutes of Environmental Council
9 December 1996
4:15 PM
PRESENT: Jeff Banks, Maggie Buck, John Elder, Jennifer Hazen, Andy McBeth, Jessica Mello, Grant Meyer, Robert Pack, Linda Pitkin, Sarah Rebick, Nic Tuff, Carly Vynne, Judy Watts, Jon Woodbury
GUESTS: Greg Horner, Matt Ireland, Pete Schneider, Steve Weber
1. Minutes of 11 November, 1996 were approved.
2. Guests Greg Horner, Matt Ireland and Pete Schneider presented the 1997 Senior Class Gift proposal to the Council. The class has approved the creation of an interpretive natural history trail as their gift to the College. A flyer has already been distributed to members of the class to kick off the donor campaign. Pete outlined the proposed three phases of trail development as follows:
- Rt. 30 - Rt. 125, through Sylvia Kaiser's property, connecting with the X-country trail, and continuing down the ridge to the Harris Farm House. This would be the first and most developed section of trail, wide enough for a "gator" to get through and with a series of natural history informational signs along the way.
- Loop North of Rt. 30. This is a more informal section of trail, bringing it up the meadow to the West of the new Bicentennial Hall.
- Connection North to Middlebury Gorge, connecting with the Trail Around Middlebury (TAM) The students have been working with members of the Middlebury Land Trust to develop this connection.
Greg requested that the Environmental Council assist the Seniors in getting approval for the project. They indicated that maintenance would be taken care of by volunteers and the costs could be covered by the Mountain Club, and a special savings fund from the money the class raises this year. If the trail is to connect with the TAM, they would be willing to provide maintenance and funding as well.
Robert suggested that the class of '98 might be interested in giving to the trail as well, thus increasing the amount of funding.
Steve Weber mentioned that he worked with alumnus Amy Sheldon on the trail idea in the past. He indicated that there were some administration concerns with private land crossings, potential problems with mountain bikes, and trail siting. He is interested in working with the group further to discuss them.
A motion of support of the trail was passed unanimously and the Council will prepare a written letter.
3. Reports of Committees.
Education/Outreach
- The video script was distributed and comments or additions would be appreciated. It will be done in time for Feb. orientation, so changes should be brought up soon.
Conservation/Efficiency
- Jon thanked the members of the subcommittee for a good job at the Environmental Fair. The energy conservation display was a great hit!
Pedestrian Campus
- The proposal needs to be spell checked! Suggestions were made as follows:
- Make the language more concrete.
- Recommend eliminating 1st year vehicles if we need to decrease the number of cars.
- Talk to Wallace Floyd about Old Chapel Road so our recommendations are consistent.
- Remove sentence about "simplicity" of computerized registration system.
- Add comments of Security supporting new registration system if OK with Ms. Jennings.
- Jen will take care of making changes and will distribute report to Council for approval.
- As well as submitting the report to administration and committees, we should make it as public as possible.
Planning and Development
- Jen presented the survey results:
| students | 317 / 2080 | 15% |
| faculty | 27 / 215 | 12% |
| staff | 173 / 650 | 26% |
| unmarked | 33 / 0 | |
| total | 550 / 2945 | 18% |
- Nic presented a proposal to the Administration for "democratizing" the decision-making process. A suggestion was made to increase the scope of the proposal to include a process for follow-through. John stressed the need for a discussion prior to siting and decision making. Linda would like to see an ongoing process, not just a meeting in the beginning and an announcement at the end. John would like to see a consultation on general goal and ideas and then project-specific meetings as the process continues. Robert suggested that the community be consulted before outside advisors brought in and money gets spent. John also suggested that we have an annual project development open forum meeting in the fall with the administration and Wallace Floyd to go over what the College is working on. Nic will rewrite the proposal and return to the Council for final approval.
4. The next meeting was planned for Monday, 13 January, 1997 at 4:15 PM in Mitchell Green Lounge. John Elder will chair.
5. Meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted by Jennifer Hazen, Vice-Chair. December 10, 1996.
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