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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-03-11-CAC-minutesTown of Danby Conservation Advisory Council (CAC) Minutes of In-person Meeting in Town Hall, and Via Videoconferencing Tuesday, March 11, 2025 Council Members Present: Margaret Corbit, Joel Gagnon, Anne Klingensmith, Rene Owens, Don Schaufler (via Zoom), Jonathan Zisk Council Members Absent/Excused: Brittany Lagaly Others Present: Greg Hutnik (via Zoom), Kristin McCarthy (in person), Ronda Roaring (via Zoom) Meeting was called to order at 7:00pm. Deletions or Additions to Agenda: Joel requested to add the annual report to the agenda. Margaret confirmed she would continue handling CAC submissions to the Danby newsletter. Privilege of the Floor: Ronda announced she would need to leave the meeting by 8:00 PM. Approval of Minutes: Action: Joel Gagnon moved, with a second by Anne Klingensmith, to approve the January 2025 minutes with minor edits. Motion carried. Action: Joel Gagnon made a motion, seconded by Anne Klingensmith, to approve the February 2025 minutes. Motion carried. Status of Easement Monitoring: Anne reported reviewing the easement files, expressing some frustration about their organization, and noted that Greg will be creating a map of all easements and protected areas to help visualize contiguity and proximity of protected lands using parcel numbers Anne has been collecting. Additionally, she created a spreadsheet titled "Easement List Info" with columns for essential documentation and information. The group discussed necessary folder contents including tax and county easement forms. Members also discussed the state conservation easement tax credit, Status of Retrieval of Past Easement Monitoring Documents: Group discussed the need to organize signed easements and all other documentation into a new folder structure. Parcel parents were requested to check information and fill in missing data on the easement tracking spreadsheet. Updates on Ongoing Easements: Jonathan reported that the Altman easement landowners have had the draft for a while and seem happy with everything despite some back-and-forth. Jonathan noted that he needs to call them to confirm they're ready to proceed. Regarding the Gladstone easement, Jonathan reported that Andi is ready to sign. There was discussion about the proper procedure for advancing the easement -- whether to send it directly to the attorney for the town first or to the town board. Action: Anne Klingensmith motioned for Jonathan Zisk to send the Gladstone easement to CAC members for review and, if approved by all members, to forward it to the town board. Margaret Corbit seconded. Motion carried. Margaret mentioned she is working with Brittany to set up monitoring of the Ravencache easement. Update on Norbut Solar Farm Visit: Greg reported on the Norbut Solar Farm visit, where he and several CAC members, a Planning Board representative, and a neighboring landowner withk’ landscaping experience met with Norbut representatives to discuss concerns about their landscaping plan. The group recommended white pine and native spruce along the eastern property line and willow, dogwood, and possibly hawthorne for wet areas, while Norbut also agreed to install wildlife habitat boxes on the property. Norbut will submit a revised plan for review and intends to purchase materials soon, with planting scheduled for spring. Much of the discussion focused on protecting trees from deer damage, with members noting that even relatively resistant species require protection to ensure survival through the mandatory establishment period. The group discussed various protection methods, with recommendations for durable fencing materials rather than temporary barriers. Jonathan agreed to research commercial options and provide recommendations promptly to Greg to facilitate communications with Norbut. Status of Timber Harvesting Law: Attendees noted that Don had disconnected from Zoom, but Joel and Jonathan reported that the latest review of the timber harvesting law was ready to be sent to Guy Krogh, attorney for the town. Jonathan reflected that the development of this law had taken four to five years and evolved significantly during that time, noting they now have buy-in from multiple stakeholders, including the Highway Department, which is crucial for enforcement. He specifically praised Highway Department employee Laura Shawley for being instrumental in bringing everyone to agreement. Status of New Procedures: Group discussed Margaret's draft letter for new easement property owners. They brought up whether a document outlining easement parent duties exists, agreeing to search all folders. Jonathan mentioned needing to meet the new Curtis easement owners, while Anne shared her experience as a young property buyer, noting that even with a lawyer's review, a gas lease on the property wasn't highlighted until closing, emphasizing the need for clear communication. The group agreed to include checking for ownership changes and sending intro letters in the parent checklist. They also discussed creating a "Parent Responsibilities" folder in the system. Jonathan mentioned his in-progress document about discussing potential easements with landowners, including confidentiality requests. This topic was deferred to the May meeting. Status of Planning for Community Science Institute Presentation: Anne reported on publicity efforts for the upcoming Community Science Institute (CSI) outreach event at Town Hall, where CSI executive director Grascen Shidemantle will present information about the Trout Unlimited stream monitoring project in Danby. The presentation will take place at the April 8 CAC meeting. Anne shared that she has submitted information to the Danby Area News and posted notices on the Town Hall bulletin board, with attendees suggesting additional channels like Facebook. An additional April 12 event will train volunteers to conduct quarterly stream monitoring to assess potential trout reintroduction. Discuss Candidates for Monitors: The discussion of recruiting monitors was postponed to the May meeting. Planning for Easement Outreach: The group discussed creating a Danby map with current easements to facilitate outreach to potential new easement donors, with Anne emphasizing the need for accurate parcel numbers for proper mapping. Anne shared an "Emerald Necklace" image from the Finger Lakes Land Trust showing protected lands from Pennsylvania through Danby to the Adirondacks and reported beginning to identify protected lands in Danby beyond town easements, including state forests, parks, and various trust properties. Discussion shifted to Critical Environmental Areas (CEAs), with Greg explaining they heighten environmental review processes for development, though Coy Glen remains the only designated CEA in Tompkins County. After recalling previous efforts to designate CEAs during fracking concerns and discussing differences between various conservation designations, the group decided to focus on expanding conservation easements rather than pursuing CEA designations. Jonathan mentioned a previous mapping project with integrated maps, which he offered to bring to the next meeting, while the group acknowledged that protection levels vary significantly across different land designations. Items for Next Month’s Agenda: The group noted that the April meeting would feature a presentation by Grascen Shidemantle, executive director of the Community Science Institute. Several items were deferred to the May meeting, including the discussion of recruiting easement monitors and further development of the procedure for discussing confidentiality with potential easement donors. Member Announcements: Kristin shared details about the May meeting of the Environmental Management Council, which will include a meet-and-greet for conservation boards and commissions at Stewart Park. Renee encouraged members to document butterfly sightings during easement monitoring, citing a 22% population decline that sparked discussion about identification challenges. The group also noted the Paleontological Research Institution's financial struggles, including staff cuts and potential reduction of public operations. Executive Session (as needed): None Adjournment: Meeting was adjourned at 8:36pm. Submitted by Kristin McCarthy, Secretary.