BETHEL – By a 5-0 vote Monday night, selectmen endorsed a group’s efforts to plan, design and implement a recreational trail system for six area towns.

Kirk Siegel, coordinator of the new Bethel Area Trails Committee, and Chairwoman Bonnie Pooley sought endorsement and authorization to pursue public and private grants for the project.

“We can raise the funds, but the town will have to sign as a supporting entity on the grants,” Siegel said of the committee, which is affiliated with the Mahoosuc Land Trust.

Siegel said the committee is interested in creating a trail system that links Andover, Bethel, West Bethel village, Gilead, Hanover, Newry and Woodstock.

Siegel and Pooley, who is also the committee’s liaison with the trust and Bethel’s Conservation Committee, said they sought the board’s authorization:

• to increase accessible, recreational opportunities to provide enjoyment and health benefits for local residents.

• to bring the well-documented economic benefits of successful trail corridors to the area by attracting tourism, and establishing a reputation as a trail designation.

• to advocate for pedestrian and non-motorized transportation by ensuring that Bethel-area communities provide such access.

They plan to achieve these goals by seeking broad public input to determine what types of trails and trail corridors are the most desirable by holding a public trail planning forum by the end of January 2005.

Siegel said the committee would thoroughly respect property rights of landowners and demonstrate appreciation for landowners who permit public use of their land.

They also seek to work as partners with all parties who share mutually beneficial goals.

Future trails, Siegel said, might link Bethel and Newry, provide safe bicycle access to Bethel’s new swimming area on North Road, extend the Bethel Pathway, or provide handicapped access to trails.

“This is just an extremely bright idea,” said Board of Selectmen Chairman Harry Dresser Jr.