SOUTHAMPTON - A new volunteer committee charged with looking into pros and cons of a proposed greenway in town will meet for the first time tonight to elect officers and create a task time line.

The Greenway Feasibility Committee holds its first meeting at 7 tonight in the Town Hall meeting room. Selectman Jess Dods was to provide the committee with an outline of work, including oversight of a study on the proposed greenway's design, development and construction costs.

Town Meeting voters approved spending $25,000 in Community Preservation Act funds last year for the study. Committee members will draft a request for proposal in search of a consultant to carry out the study. Selectmen will oversee the contract.

The committee is also expected to research the pros and cons of greenways and hold public information sessions, according to Town Administrator Diana Schindler.

The proposed greenway will connect to the Manhan Rail Trail in Easthampton at Coleman Road and continue southeast to Sheldon Ice Cream at Route 10 in Southampton. Constructed in the 1800s, the railroad corridor is owned by Pinsly Railroad Co. Inc. of Westfield and managed by Pioneer Valley Railroad.

Ten residents sent letters of interest to join the committee this spring. The board interviewed both proponents and opponents of the greenway beginning in late April. Issues regarding abutters, crime, land value, maintenance and usage came up during interviews.

Selectman Douglas Blanchard read his list of five preferred applicants last week, which the board approved.

"We want a cross section of people from different parts of town," Blanchard said. "I gathered where they were from and what they had to say. I thought they would do a good job and work together as a team."

Committee members are Jennifer Nearey, of 134 Brickyard Road; Martha Issod, of 8 Golden Circle; Michael Buehler, of 88 High Street; Robert Sawyer, of 141 Brickyard Road; and Robert Barcomb, of 17 Glendale Road.

Voters at annual Town Meeting last year also approved spending $5,000 for an appraisal of the corridor, which will be carried out by FSI Appraisal Co.

Catherine Baum can be reached at cbaum@gazettenet.com.