Doug Lawson was selected as chairman of the board of trustees and Colin Bright vice chairman last week at the first meeting following the Village annual meeting. The board opted to postpone committee assignments for when the full board could be present. Trustee Libby Hambleton was absent. The board did vote to allow David Packie from the Northfield Trail Association to begin preliminary restoration work on the trails on the water department's properties.

Mr. Lawson, who was the sole dissenting vote, said that he was "concerned" that there would be an appearance of working on "other pieces of property." He said that "what you do and how how the conservation commission responds to what you do" will affect the success of the trail restoration project. He said that there is a "tremendous need for respect for everybody."

Conservation Commissioner Larry Garland said that the conservation commission is "in the process" of drafting proposed asset management plans for the trustees. He said that the commission has "yet to have significant input" from the public regarding uses and users of the trails on Village property. He said that he would "hate to see" Mr. Packie "do more than normal maintenance" of the trails. He said that he was concerned there would be a "feeling of ownership" and that at the "end of the process find" parties "won't get what they expect in the end." The board voted 3-1 to allow Mr. Packie and the Northfield Trail Associaton to do trail restoration work, under the guidance of the conservation commission.

The board also approved the expenditure of funds for Stantec to engineer plans for replacing the water mains on Highland and Slate avenues.