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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-06 Danby Town NewsletterJune 2026 Town of Danby, New York 1 Danby Town News RYS Summer Programming Rural Youth Services provides free programming to Danby residents in 4th- 8th grade. To view Summer program descriptions and sign up, visit: https://bit.ly/danbyrys Please note that to ensure equitable participation for all youth, enrollment will be managed through a waitlist system rather than first-come, first-served registration. We appreciate your understanding and support as we work to provide fair access to these opportunities for all participants. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out! Questions? Contact Program Manager Jorin Clougherty at jc3842@cornell.edu Community Picnic and Potluck and Dotson Park Fundraiser Saturday, June 20th, Dotson Park, 6 to 8pm (Rain place: Danby Community Church) It’s the day before the official start of summer! Come early to catch the Dave Davies Trio starting at 2pm. Bring your blankets, chairs, picnic food, and beverages to share. Please bring your own plates, cups, and utensils, though we will have some extras. How about musical instruments for a spontaneous picnic jam? Hope to see you there! Hosted by the Danby Resilience Community. Donations will be accepted for Dotson Park. Jennings Pond News Jennings Pond is a beautiful, serene habitat which is home to ducks, geese, great blue heron, beavers, muskrats, fish, turtles etc. We also will open Jennings Pond for swimming in July & August again this year. Come and drink in its beauty and refresh yourself in its water when our lifeguard is on duty this summer. ß Danby 4H youth enjoying watermelon that they hunted with throwing sticks June 2026 Town of Danby, New York 2 Notes from the Town Supervisor Joel Gagno n Special Events Law Formally Proposed It took over two years and multiple drafts to get to this point, but the Town Board came to agreement at the May 19 meeting on a draft that we would be willing to pass. Next is formal consideration. That will include State Environmental Quality Revue (SEQR) assessment of the impacts and their environmental significance, an opportunity for the County Planning Department to weigh in on whether there would be impacts to the rest of the county and if so what they would recommend, and a public hearing and possible modification as a result of that. Changes at this stage, while still possible, are more difficult and expensive to process (substantive changes will require these last steps to be repeated), which is why we have been reporting on our progress and inviting feedback throughout the long process of getting to this point. The draft law will be linked on the website for your close look by the time you read this. If you can’t readily access it there, the Town Clerk will be happy to make you a copy. Here are a few key features. Special events are defined as large outdoor events, where large is a function of property size. A permit will only be needed if the event will operate past 9 pm or need on-street parking or be noisy or have an admission charge. Some events that might otherwise require a permit are exempted. The Board of Zoning Appeals will consider permit applications and decide which to grant and under what conditions. The public hearing will be on July 7th at 6. Unless there are revisions prompted by public comments, the vote to adopt could occur at the Town Board meeting immediately following the hearing. New Town Park Created The proposed skate park has found its home. After looking at alternatives, the Town Board concluded that the Bald Hill Road site is the best option. Designating the property town parkland will enable us to access more funding opportunities, so that is what we did. This is an “easy in, hard out” move, since once a property is designated as parkland it requires a formal process called alienation to undo. So, we are committed to making it happen on this site. The Board opted to have the Planning Board do a site plan approval, which is in process. You can view the plan on the town’s website. Once finalized, the next step is making it happen – implementation! Resolution Opposing Use of State Forest for Utility Transmission Lines Most of the state forests, including the Danby State Forest, are “reforestation” land – much of it acquired during the great depression nearly a century ago. While they might have been fallow fields and brush at the time, they have become the treasured part of the landscape that we now experience. It is therefore a very worrisome development that the State Legislature is considering passing legislation that would open up our forests to use for transmission lines and supporting infrastructure, which would be a clear violation of their constitutionally protected status. This is being considered to facilitate renewable energy development, itself a laudable goal, but the law would include no local input into siting or assessment and mitigation of environmental impacts. The Town Board passed a resolution expressing opposition, as did the Conservation Advisory Council. Credit Renee Owens for bringing this to our attention and leading the opposition. June 2026 Town of Danby, New York 3 Notes from the Planner’s Desk Greg Hutnik Planning Board On May 20, the Planning Board reviewed five development cases: 1. The board approved the minor subdivision of 400 Gunderman Road that creates a 40-acre property to be owned by the Finger Lakes Land Trust while the remaining 84 acres are retained by the current owner. 2. The board reviewed a minor subdivision of 110 Howard Road where one lot would be 22.64 acres with an existing house and the other would be 54.65 acres with an existing house. A public hearing has been scheduled for June 17 at 7:00 PM to consider approval of this subdivision. 3. The board continued review of the public skate park at 15 Bald Hill Road and held a public hearing. Concerns were raised on the safety of the Bald Hill Road due to speeding cars and a sharp bend in the road near the entrance of the park creating low site visibility. County Highway will be asked to review the speed limit on this portion of Bald Hill. Signs providing notice to drivers that there are children at play may also be warranted. Maintaining access to an old cemetery that is only accessible to the public through the park property was asked to be shown on the park plan. Lastly the board asked for a grading plan to ensure that final grading of the site does not create stormwater issues for the adjacent Buttermilk Creek. 4. The board reviewed a proposal to adjust the lot lines of 56, 62, and 66 Lieb Road. Because 62 Lieb Road would become even more non- conforming in lot area than is allowed in the Rural 2 zoning district, the Planning Board resolved to remand it to the Board of Zoning Appeals for consideration of an area variance. If the variance is approved, the proposal can be approved as a Land Annexation. The applicant will likely be applying for an area variance for the June 23 BZA meeting. 5. The Planning Board reviewed a sketch proposal of a six-lot subdivision of the 11-acre property at 104 Bald Hill Road (also owned by the same owners of the above Land Annexation proposal). The board determined that more information is needed to constructively review the proposal. No action was taken. Board of Zoning Appeals There was not a May meeting, but there will likely be a meeting on June 23 to review the area variance appeal for the Land Annexation case in #4 above. I will be on family leave until July. While I'm away, local planning consultant George Frantz will be providing coverage of the Planning Office. West Danby Water District Flushing Notice The West Danby Water District will be flushing the system on June 15th and 16th. During this period, expect some discoloration and pressure fluctuations. This will be temporary. Please contact the Water District Lead Operator, Scott Wendt for more information. June 2026 Town of Danby, New York 4 From the Town Clerk! Blake Savoy Howdy Danby! Still working on the whole “greeting” thing. I finally have some space (and stuff) to write about, so here goes. Dog Licenses, Fishing Licenses, and Marriage Licenses, Oh My! Unfortunately, that title doesn’t have the same ring to it. Just a friendly reminder that we’re here to help with any or all of the above! June means more time outdoors, so make sure that Fido is licensed in case of any off-leash mishaps! Licensing your dog is as simple as filing out the online form or coming by our office. All it takes is a few questions, proof that your dog has an up-to-date rabies vaccination, and a fee of $12 for a spayed/neutered dog or $24 for an unspayed/unneutered dog. Fishing season is underway! Stop by to get your fishing license and pick up a copy of the 2026 NYS Freshwater Fishing Regulations Guide. Licenses for residents ages 16-69 are $25 and ages 70+ are $5. There are also 7-day and 1-day licenses available. Questions? Just give us a call! With all the warm weather coming up, if you and your beau are looking to tie the knot, don’t forget the marriage license! A few reminders to make sure that paperwork doesn’t get in the way of your big day. Licenses are valid beginning 24 hours after they are issued and expire 60 days after issuance. So, if you’re getting married on Saturday at 1pm, don’t come in on Friday at 3pm! Both parties need to be present for the license to be issued. Check our website or give us a call for more information about what documents are needed. After you say, “I do”, make sure your officiant fills out the time, date, and place on the form. You need at least one witness for your wedding and, sadly, Fido doesn’t count. Mail or bring us the completed license form and we’ll get your marriage certificate printed! Please bring photo ID when you come to pick up your certificate. Office Hours A quick reminder that the Clerk’s Office is open Monday-Friday, 11am-4pm. If you drive by and don’t see any cars, don’t panic—I pinky promise we’re still open. Several Town Hall staff members carpool, walk, or bike to work. If in doubt, give us a call! If you can’t make those hours, feel free to call or email to schedule an appointment. We’re here to help! Conservation Advisory Council Margaret Corbit The Danby Conservation Advisory Council (CAC) met on Tuesday, May 12 at 7 pm. After approving the minutes, we opened the meeting to the Privilege of Floor and had two community members who wanted to share their concerns. First, Katharine Hunter asked if there were policies about light spillover from homes and businesses in the Town. She shared the concerns of several homeowners whose nights are lit by nearby outdoor lights and acknowledged that some people she spoke with like having their yards brighter at night. Greg Hutnik, who attended the meeting, explained that new construction that requires review must plan for outdoor lighting aimed toward the ground and thus be “dark sky compliant.” However, there is no recourse for residents who are unhappy with existing lighting other than working with their neighbors. We should note that bright nighttime lights can negatively impact the wildlife; for example, the migration and mating habits of Luna moths are disrupted by bright night lighting. Then Renee Owens, former CAC member, June 2026 Town of Danby, New York 5 came to ask us to formally oppose passage of a bill now working its way through the State Legislature that would open State Forests to development of solar farms and their related infrastructure. Note that more than 20 percent of Danby’s land is State Forest. After a deep discussion, the CAC voted to send a resolution to the State opposing passage of bill A10483 in this current session and requesting that there be more review and public input. We also moved to encourage the Town Board to do the same. We continued sharing documents specific to individual Conservation Easements and discussing the possibility of modifying the current template. Members shared their experiences at the Danby Resilience Fair. Several attendees expressed interest in learning more about the easement process. Please contact a CAC member to follow up. We are working on a map that will help you understand how precious the rural character of our town is; more than 70% is forested. We also have open fields and wetlands. Now is the time to think about preserving this for the future. Our next meeting is on June 9 at 7 pm in the Town Hall. Community members are welcome to attend in hybrid fashion or in person and a link for Zoom will be posted on the Town calendar. Danby Seniors Pat Phelps The next meeting of the Danby Seniors will be Thursday, June 4, 2026, at noon at the Danby Community Church. Please bring a generous dish pass and a utensil to serve it with, as well as your own table service. Drinks are provided, and volunteers for set up/clean up are always appreciated. The entertainment will be “Friday at Fred’s”, a vocal guitar duo. This will be their third appearance at Danby Seniors. The Danby Seniors is sponsoring a trip to the Southern Tier Stables in Moravia on Thursday, June 18th for an Elvis Show and BBQ Chicken Lunch. This is a carpool event. It will be held at The Golden Horseshoe, 2068 Dumplin Hill Road, Moravia. Tom Gilbo (as Elvis) will bring back all your favorite Elvis songs. Prior to the concert and luncheon, you may check out some cool things at the Southern Tier Stables including a wagon ride through the beautiful countryside (weather permitting) the Farmall Tractor Display, the Mystic Music Museum, and the Agricultural Museum with a stagecoach, sleighs and much more. Or sit, relax, and enjoy the scenic view of the horses or play some bingo. Doors open at 11:00 am. Contact Pat Sawyer at 607-227-2378 for additional information or to sign up. Cost is $45 and checks are payable to Danby Seniors and sent to Cindy Ceracche, 338 Gunderman Road, Spencer, NY 14883. The July meeting will be Thursday, July 9, the annual chicken barbecue at the American Legion on Danby Road. Price is $12 for members, $15 for non-members. Contact Cindy Ceracche at 607-339- 9269 if you wish to sign up and will not be at the June meeting. You may sign up and pay for the barbecue at the June meeting. Money is also due at the June meeting for the bus trip to Hope Lake Lodge/Cortland Rep Theater play on July 10. Pat Phelps has announced her retirement from serving as president of the Danby Seniors after 3.5 years effective September 2026. Anyone interested in that position or serving as secretary for the group can contact Cindy Ceracche at the number given above. June 2026 Town of Danby, New York 6 Danby Community Groups Danby Community Library Contact: Cindy Parlett library@danby.ny.gov Open Tue 1-3pm, Thu & Sat 10am-12pm Danby Food Pantry Danby Community Church Contact: Joan Barber Open: 3rd Thur 4-6 pm Danby Food Scraps Pickup Every Sat 9am – noon behind Town Hall Danby Community And Park (DCAP) Website: dotsonpark.org dotsonpark@gmail.com Thu 12/7 at 7pm Danby Rural Cemetery Contact: Sharon Boda Sharonboda@gmail.com West Danby Community Association (WDCA) Contact: Pat Curran pc21@cornell.edu Danby Seniors Contact: Pat Phelps patriciaphelps2.0@ gmail.com Luncheons: 1st Thur at noon Danby Tosspots (Open Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting) Wed 7pm – virtual Please note that there is a new Zoom link for this meeting! Danby Library News Cindy Parlett Meet the author! Jacqueline Winspear is the author of the Maisie Dobbs series. The historical mystery series is set between 1929 and 1945. The series follows the life of Maisie Dobbs, a former WWI field nurse who becomes a psychologist and detective in London after the war. There are 18 books in the series, and we have all of them! If you're looking for a new series to start this may be the one! Dotson Park Story Walk Check out the Danby Story Walk in Dotson Park this spring! Clara Caterpillar by Pamela Duncan Edwards is a heartwarming story about a cabbage caterpillar who learns courage and self-acceptance. The Danby Community Library is open when Town Hall is open, unless the meeting room is reserved. A book drop is available to the left of the main doors to Town Hall. Meeting room use requests can be directed to the Town Clerk. June 2026 Town of Danby, New York 7 Monthly Meeting Schedule At-A-Glance Group Day Date Time Call-in by Phone Meeting ID Town Board* Tues 6/2 6:00pm 1-929-205-6099 864 5365 2513 920558 WDWD Wed 6/3 5:00pm In person West Danby Fire station CAC* Tue 6/9 7:00pm 1-929-205-6099 835 4940 5296 879507 FD Tue 6/9 6:30pm In person Danby Fire Station DYC Thur 6/11 7:30pm Online- kshanks@tompkins-co.org Town Board* Tues 6/16 6:00pm 1-929-205-6099 833 9755 8154 114604 PB* Wed 6/17 7:00pm 1-646-876-9923 822 5277 6582 BZA* Tue TBD 7:00pm TBD 817 1432 4705 398041 FD Tue 6/23 6:30pm In person at the Danby Fire Station See the Danby calendar for the final, most up-to-date details. (Acronyms in the above schedule are identified below.) *These meetings are hybrid (i.e. both online and in-person at the Town Hall) Boards & Committees Planning Board (PB) Chair: Kelly Maher planningboard@danby.ny.gov Meets: 3rd Wednesday at 7pm Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) Chair: Earl Hicks bza@danby.ny.gov Meets: 4th Tuesday, as needed Conservation Advisory Council (CAC) Co-Chairs: Anne Klingensmith Jonathan Zisk cac@danby.ny.gov Meets: 2nd Tuesday at 7pm Danby Youth Commission (DYC) Contact: Patty Van de Bogart pvandebogartftc@gmail.com Meets: 2nd Thursday at 7:30pm Fire District (FD) Secretary: Sharon Gaden, secretary@danbyfiredistrict.org danby.ny.gov/depts/danby-fire-district Meets: 2nd & 4th Tuesdays at 6:30pm Danby Volunteer Fire Company (DVFC) Chief: John Gaden, jgaden@danbyfiredistrict.org danbyfiredept.org West Danby Fire Department (WDFD) Chief: Robert McCray rmccray@danbyfiredistrict.org westdanbyfire.com West Danby Water District (WDWD) Contact: Scott Wendt, swendt@danby.ny.gov Meets: 1st Wednesday at 5pm