HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-10-11 CAC MinutesTown of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 1 of 4
Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council (CAC)
Minutes of Video Conference (Zoom) Meeting on
Tuesday, October 11, 2022
Danby, New York
Council Members present: Margaret Corbit (Chair), Joel Gagnon, Jonathan Zisk,
Katharine Hunter, Brittany Lagaly, Don Schaufler (came later)
Council Members absent: Mary Woodsen, Don Schaufler
Others present: Elizabeth Keokosky (Secretary), Ronda Roaring (Danby resident),
Renee Owens
Zoom Meeting was officially called to order at 7:06.
Privilege of the Floor (PoF): Ronda discussed local photos she had loaned for
town use. Now she was worried about security of her photos on the “cloud”.
She was assured that, yes, all website info on server is on Zoho system, which
resides on the cloud, but this would be checked. She was concerned people could
download them or she wouldn’t get credit. Corbit said that we need to do more
homework on how to set a standard for photos and make sure downloading
doesn’t happen.
Deletions or Additions to Agenda: none
Approval Minutes MOTION for September 13, 2022 minutes
Gagnon moved to approve
Corbit seconded
Woodsen and Schaufler not in attendence, 5 others in favor. Motion passed.
Welcome to Renee Owens who introduced herself. She grew up in Elmira and
has traveled all over, has lived in Southern California, and is now back in the East.
She has operated her own environmental Consulting business for 30 years,
specializing in invertebrates. She also taught environmental science in various
colleges. Lives near Corbit. Gagnon asked if she was interested in joining CAC.
Owens replied that she is already involved in a lot of national organizations, but is
also interested in doing local work.
Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 2 of 4
REPORTS AND UPDATES (from the agenda)
1. Celebration of Clare
Clare Fewtrell, chairperson of this committee died on Friday, October 7th, of
metastasizing cancer. The committee shared recollections and praise of
her organizational skills, strength of character, perseversance in adversity,
and wide variety of interests, from her career in bio-chemistry to interests
in singing, hiking, world sailing, and much more. Gagnon noted that she
had worked on the Wimsatt easement – a complicated one - and was a
quick study. She had expertise in a wide variety of areas, and the group
was proud of her.
2. Status of changes on CAC web pages: Revisioning of Danby conservation
easement message and how to strategize outreach; GIS map that is being
worked on with David West - Margaret Corbit
Corbit reported that the urgency of working on Butje Easement on Comfort
Road had over-ridden working on the CAC website.
3. Updates on Passed and Proposed Easements - Main coordinators for each
easement.
Butje Easement: Corbit reported that she, Zisk, and West had walked the
easement parcels, and got most of the markers identified. She said it was a
spectacular property, but very sloped. West and she went back later to
finish the walk and noted there were gravel roads coming from Comfort Rd
going to the west. It had very nice houses from what was formerly a
meditation center. There was a pond surrounded by flagstones, as well as
a structure like a little Stonehenge with a huge boulder in the center with a
Buddha head on top of it.
She had sent everyone the baseline report – Zisk had worked on habitat,
etc. and West had provided map and pictures. Planner West was the
person communicating with owners about the property, and delicately
working to get the easement going as quickly as possible; people want it to
happen, but buyers are already looking at it. Corbit recommended being
generous in sizing of residencial and active use zones, which - out of the
113 acre easement - could be set to the boundaries of the 15 acres now
cleared and well maintained. Elsewhere, the slope, tranitioning into a
Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 3 of 4
ravine suggested where an environmental protection zone should be to
preserve natural values. Zisk added that the trees were secondary growth,
estimated as around 70 years old. There were some invasives, but also a
wide variety of other species preserved by the natural topography. The acid
soil and flora, such as azalas, were much like Thachers Pinnacles. Corbit
notes that it merits protection by conservation easement. Zisk noted that
the NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) would protect water
ways so the easement didn’t need to replicate that. (After-note: from
Corbit’s conservation baseline document: “the property is at the top of a
steep embankment that looks to be a continuation of Thatchers Pinnacles, a
protected area to the south. It is less than a half mile north of Danby State
Forest. It is in the Cayuga Lake Basin.” This is further explained in Finger
Lakes Land Trust documentation: “Thatcher's Pinnacles. A high point on the
Abbot Loop Trail in Danby State Forest, Town of Danby, NY. It overlooks the
inlet valley and the Lindsay-Parsons Bioversity Preserve.)
A side note on GPS Software: Corbit said that Planner West has preferred
GPS software called Gaia and recommended that everyone use this for
consistency.
Hoffman easement: Gagnon thinks it is in the home stretch.
Woodsen easement: Zisk mapped it after walking it with Mary and Henry.
Some information still needs to be rearranged. But it is almost done.
Sherman easement: Legalay reported that Ruth Sherman has been away
and will be back in November
Andi Gladstone easement: Zisk volunteered that he will replace Fewtrell in
pursuing this one.
Ben Altman easement: Zisk volunteered to contact him.
Another Marsh Road Easement?: Woodson mentioned a person on Marsh
Rd but she was not at the meeting to elaborate.
4. Status of annual easement monitoring and placing easement signs -
Jonathan Zisk, Katharine Hunter
Hunter will work with Palmer, with Schaufler perhaps assisting.
5. Status of Timber Harvesting law - Don Schaufler & Jonathan Zisk
Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 4 of 4
Schaufler said that he had sent the document to everyone. He still needs to
incorporate the few edits he received. Discussion ensued as to whether to
send to town lawyer before or after town board for final points to clarify --
especially on bonding and Ag right-to-farm issues. It should also be
reviewed by Planner West. Gagnon asked if we are ready to say this should
go to town board? Conclusion was to wait until it comes back next month
with final polishing.
6. Status of local implementation of varying easement time lines and tax
abatements subcommittee - Joel Gagnon
No one working on this now since other things have precedence and
working with the Ithaca City School Board awaits appropriate timing.
7. Status of presentation on “How do the Goals of the new Tompkins County
Food System Plan affect small farmers, and where is the money to help
pay for them?” - Elizabeth Keokosky
Keokosky reported that the presentation is still on for Nov 10th and the new
speaker is Don Barber, former Town Supervisor for Caroline and director of
the Food Policy Council of Tompkins County. Some discussion of content
followed. Article needs to be written for Newsletter.
There was a last minute minute discussion of the need for new members,
and whether we should start having in-person meetings (as opposed to
Zoom), although the CAC, as an advisory committee, may not be required
to do so. Also questioned whether the CAC is covered by the town’s
liability insurance. Gagnon assured the group that it is.
There was no Executive session
Next Meeting is on November 8, 2022 at 7p.m.
Adjournment at 8:20 pm
_____________________________________________
Submitted by Elizabeth Keokosky (Secretary)