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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-06-26Dryden Conservation Board
June 26, 2018
Dryden Conservation Board
June 26, 2018
Members Present: Mike Richmond (acting chair), Bob Beck, Gian Dodici, Jeanne Grace, Craig
Schutt, and (at 7:57) Nancy Munkenbeck
Liaisons: David Weinstein (Planning Board), and (at 7:52) Dan Lamb (Town Board)
The meeting was called to order at 7:04 PM.
May meeting minutes were not available, and review and approval will have to wait until the
next_meeting
Citizens' Privilege: ---
No
_ No one in attendance
Associate Committee(s) reports and comments:
M. Richmond stated Tim Woods was to draft conservation easement information, but we will
have to wait for a meeting when he is here.
Reports received
1. Agricultural Advisory Committee
2. Planning Board
Agricultural report
M. Richmond stated Conservation Board members had received an emailed report from C.
Schutt. C. Schutt stated Agricultural Committee had spoken about their zoning proposal
changes they would like to see. They also understood that the Planning Board had more
questions and concerns; a decision was made to Wait until they heard back from the Planning
Board before they move forward any farther. Discussed the Right to Farm signs that will go up
entering Dryden. Signs have already been ordered and should be in this week. Marie McCray
had previously brought a draft of a letter to be sent to Barbara Lifton regarding her support of
the Carbon Farming Bill that is in the State Legislature; they voted and approved the letter
being sent. C. Schutt was asked to explain the Carbon Farming Bill and he stated it was still
early in the works, but would give farmers tax credits for practices that sequester more carbon
in the soil.
Page 1 of 5
Dryden Conservation Board
June 26, 2018
The following is a verbatim planning discussion by attending board members
M. Richmond discussed the conservation easements in Dryden and had an insightful
presentation by Hannah George and her experience with developing and working with these
from the Land Trust. What we wanted to do, based on the information provided by H. George,
is to develop a handbook of our own for these new housing developments "cluster housing"
where the ownership of the land might be 10-20 acres and builder decides to use part of it for
building houses and some remaining portion as a conservation easement area. Tim Wood was
to come to the meeting with some thoughts on how to write that up or present it. J. Grace has
gone through her notes and made a list of immediate action items to start moving this forward,
as-wel l-as-a-few-points-of-things-that-sho aid -be -d on e-before-th-e-easement-process-sta its—She
will -d- -a-draft of -the protocol -and errail-to each member -before the nem rrreeiing in -�
September. -H. George sent P. -Davies an email in June with the templates attached. D.
Weinstein located the email P. Davies forwarded with Parke-Dabes, Fingerlakes Land Trust
Stewardship, Steward job description, and the conservation easement. When J. Grace types up
her document she will browse through the email attachments to determine what might be
relevant. H. George also identified a website we should visit called "Land Trust Alliance" on
best practices for easement monitoring.
It was decided no meeting in July (picnic) and no meeting in August due to limited number
availability. If something comes up before the next meeting, D. Weinstein will send a message
to everyone to let them know they need to meet. Ray Burger is to be included in the
correspondence.
Deer management issues and solutions for Ithaca and Dryden Towns
J. Grace never received a call back from DEC biologist; M. Richmond has made some calls to find
out who the deer biologist and wildlife manager are. We need to figure out a way show the
DEC that we are willing to work with them on some of the goals and objectives that they have
for hunter harvest, possibly some -interesting things -that would bring youth groups in -to do - - - --
some hunting or learning about marksmanship or recognizing wildlife interests that are here in
our town. We need to establish some goodwill with DEC so they understand we are not in
opposition to hunters/sportsmen. We have already worked with them on Twin Sheds and have
given them some good stuff (from our point of view) and they seemed to be happy and have
invited us to their open meeting to talk about it. (Hammond Hill and Yellow Barn) J. Grace
thought maybe we can facilitate hooking up people that have land they want hunted with
hunters that want to hunt it. DEC has a lot of information for hunters; maybe we can draft an
agreement or a handout to give to landowners. M. Richmond has been in contact with a
woman in Homer that is very knowledgeable. M. Richmond will make some phone calls if we
would like to pursue this. D. Weinstein inquired if Region 7 has a deer management plan so our
goals can match DEC's goals, M. Richmond will try get this information. J. Grace printed off
rules for cooperative hunting area she brought up at the last meeting. There are 12 points in
there that we could refer to when we are coming up with our guidelines for the
Page 3 of 5
Dryden Conservation Board
June 26, 2018
gun season starts. M. Richmond is going to connect with DEC to learn more about their deer
management objectives and goals for both the Town of Dryden and the County and see how we
might work with them on the deer management issue.
D. Lamb received a call from T. Bittner regarding the arrangement with Cornell Plantations to
do some management hunting on the Park-Dabes property advising the arrangement has been
withdrawn due to Cornell's lawyers stating, "Cornell is not allowed to do that on land they do
not occupy". Dan will speak to B. Avery with regards to her managing the permits on that
property.
Suggestion was made to reach out to the Town Board to see if there is anything they would
,vant the-Conser-vation-Board to-be-working-on—D-Lamb-brought up -the -harmful -algae -as a
ser-ions-issue—J-Gr-ace-inquired-if-the Town -Board is updated on -what -we -are -working -on -and -D.
Lamb advised if a member of the Conservation Board attends a board meeting they are on the
agenda and an update is given.
A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by N. Munkenbeck, seconded by B. Beck, and was
unanimously approved.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:50 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Chrystle Terwilliger
Deputy Town Clerk
Page 5 of 5
Report to the CB on the Ag Committee meeting of 6 —13 - 2018
Prepared by Craig Schutt liaison from the CB to the Ag Committee
The regular scheduled meeting of Ag Committee was held on 6— 13 — 2018. The Committee
discussed the Planning Board's reaction to suggested changes/additions to definitions in the Ag
Protection Plan. Definitions that are currently not consistent with NYS Ag and Markets Law, or
are lacking altogether. Although the Planning Board did not act on the recommendations the
Ag Committee decided to stand firm on them and will wait to hear more from the PB.
There was some discussion on the Right -to Farm signs and the committee reaffirmed that the
design that they had recommended is still the preferred design.
A draft cope of the letter thanking Barbara Lifton for her support of the carbon farming bi11 was
approved by the committee and was unanimously approved to be sent to the Assemblywoman.
The Ag Committee began working on by-laws for the Committee. That work will continue
moving forward.