12 This council is made up of legislative representatives (one member of the senate, one member of the house), two people from DMV; all law enforcement agencies; VT State Police, VT Department of Fish and Wildlife, VT Sheriff’s Association, VT Police Chief’s Association; Southern VT Snowmobile Task Force, and VT Department of Forest, Parks, and Recreation. The council also includes the VAST Executive Director, Trails Administrator, and Trails Manager. There are five volunteer VAST members appointed by the Governor to represent geographic regions of the state as well. These members represent the system as: the Northwest, Northeast, Central, and Southern portions of the state as well as a chairman appointed by the governor. The Council shall serve the following functions: • To review, advise, and consent on development of the annual plan for the expenditure of funds for the Statewide Snowmobile Trail Program; • To review and advise the Governor and General Assembly on matters relating to , and promoting snowmobiling in Vermont, including environmental and community impacts, development of snowmobile trails, ways to encourage snowmobile traffic, adequacy of parking areas, carrying capacity trails, State laws and rules affecting snowmobilers, and promoting snowmobiling in this state; • To help coordinate the efforts of VAST and State and Federal agencies, private industry, and nonprofit organizations in meeting the needs of snowmobilers in Vermont; • To perform any other duties or functions regarding snowmobiling assigned by the Governor; • To assure that municipal legislative bodies are given advance notice and an opportunity for input before trail or parking lot expansion takes place in the community. The members appointed by the Governor shall serve for two year terms and all others shall serve the term of their office. The Council may designate technical work groups, composed of representatives of appropriate public agencies, private organizations, and individuals, to assist in the collection, study, and evaluation of information and to advise the Council on particular issues. GOVERNOR’S SNOWMOBILE COUNCIL The appointed members of the Council and the President or designee of VAST shall be entitled to compensation. Expenditures shall be paid from snowmobile funds appropriated to the Agency of Natural Resources for administration of the program. Legislative members shall be entitled to compensation and reimbursement of expenses . Technical work group members shall not be entitled to compensation or reimbursement of expenses. The Council is attached to the office of the Secretary of Natural Resources for administrative support. The State may extend coverage of its liability insurance to parties under contract with the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation for the development and maintenance of the snowmobile trail system. The Governor’s Snowmobile Council over-sees the SSTP budget. The following shows part of this past winter’s coverage. DMV reps reported that there were 20,726 registrations for this year ( 2017/18) with a decrease of 260 from the season before, but still ahead by 1240 from the year before that. This past winter, Law Enforcement agencies reported as follows: Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife wardens patrolled 878 hours and did 1678 written/visual inspections with 112 tickets/citations/civil violations issued and 402 warnings. They had a total of 2974 contacts made. Vermont State Police patrolled 1190 hours logged and did 1292 written/visual inspections. They issued 37 tickets/citations/civil violations. They, also, issued 117 warnings. Vermont Sheriffs Association patrolled 866 hours and performed 2183 written/visual inspections. They issued 33 tickets/citations/civil violations and issued 73 warnings. Vermont Chief of Police/So. VT Snowmobile Task Force patrolled 242 hours and, also, did 1100 written/ visual inspections with 124 tickets/citations/civil violations. They issued 64 warnings.