Conservation & Trails Committee

Meetings

Agendas and Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.

View Most Recent Agendas and Minutes

Mission, Powers, & Duties

The Town of Essex Conservation and Trails Committee is composed of nine members who are appointed by the Selectboard for three-year terms. The mission of the committee is to inventory and study the natural, historic, educational, cultural, scientific, architectural, or archaeological resources of the town in which the public has an interest; and to preserve, develop and maintain a multi-use trail, sidewalk, and greenway system in the Town of Essex that will link residential neighborhoods to natural areas, schools, parks, businesses, recreational facilities, community centers, and neighboring towns.

The Committee also advises the Selectboard and Planning Commission on matters relating to the public understanding of local natural resources and conservation needs, development applications and acquisition of lands involving the above resources.

The Committee receives the staff support of the Community Development Department, as well as the Parks and Recreation Department and the Department of Public Works on an as needed and as available basis.

The Committee shall not be a formal party or representative of the municipality at any court, commission, or board hearing without prior approval of the Unified Manager.

At its organizational meeting, the Committee shall elect a chairperson, vice-chairperson and secretary and shall adopt such rules as it deems necessary for the performance of its functions. Officers shall be elected annually. The Committee shall keep a record of all transactions and meetings which shall be filed with the Town Clerk as a public record and notice shall be posted in the office of the Town Clerk of the times and places of meetings of the Committee. All meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Vermont’s Open Meeting Law.

State Municipal Code of Ethics

Committee Members

Ken Signorello, Chair
Bino Cummings, Vice Chair
Erin De Vries, Clerk
Paul Davis
Duane Millar Barlow
Steve Dowd
Morgan Kirk
Sarah Salatino
Carrie Macfarlane                                                                                                                                                                               

Contact 

To contact members of the Conservation and Trails Committee, please send your inquiry to:

Staff Representative to the Conservation and Trails Committee
Hans Nedde, Trails Coordinator
802-878-0886, hnedde@essex.org
Mail or in person at the Town Offices, 81 Main St.

All comments from the public must be received by 9:00 am the Friday before a meeting to be included in the Reading File of the CTC Packet.  In the case of a holiday/office closure on the Friday before a CTC meeting, comments are due Thursday before 9:00 am. Any comments received after the deadline will be included in the Reading File for the next meeting. Meetings are open to the public, and we encourage you to attend in person if you have comments.

CTC Fall Cleanup Oct 2023 - photo courtesy: Ken Signorello