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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-05-26CB 5/26/2020 Dryden Conservation Board May 26, 2020 Members Present: Gian Dodici (Chair), Bob Beck, Anne Clark, Peter Davies, Jeanne Grace, Nancy Munkenbeck, Craig Schutt, Tim Woods, David Wilson Absent: Milo Richmond Liaisons: Loren Sparling (Town Board), David Weinstein (Planning Board) Guest(s): Meeting was called to order at 7:06 p.m. Review and approval of minutes dated January 28, 2020 On motion made by C. Schutt, seconded by B. Beck, minutes were unanimously approved as written. Conservation Easement - D. Weinstein- There was a violation in the Conservation Easement in the Bluebird Subdivision on Lake Road because someone built part of their house in the upper conservation zone. He believes that in this case, there should be a municipality or outside agent that needs to oversee this because the town should not have given the building permit. He also believes that there should be some sort of penalty if something like this were to occur such as taking away occupancy or taking away the building permit. B. Beck believes that at some point attorneys need to get involved and file a lawsuit against the landowners who don't follow the rules. The Town Supervisor has said that there will be more research done we will come back to this issue. There will be more research done in the upcoming future. Comprehensive Plan Update - D. Weinstein- Since the in person meetings were cancelled due to COVID-19, a survey will be made available to everyone in the town at some point in the near future. There are a set of tentative questions to try and assess the things about general planning with the comprehensive plan. The Planning Board will do the edits and then it will get sent out. Dryden Rail Trail Update - B. Beck- The town has officially hired Erdman Anthony to oversee and design the project for a pedestrian bridge over route 13. NYS DOT has confirmed Multi modal funds through the generosity of Barbara Lifton and the NYS legislature. $500,000 most of which will go to the Rail Trail project for the pedestrian bridge. We now have all the funding in place with the tap grant for $1.5 million and a half CB 5/26/2020 million from the legislature and other funds as well. The town has fully committed to be the back stop for any other funds that need to be provided during this process. P. Davies raises questions about the trestle for the game farm that was supposed to be re -built last year. B. Beck- We're still waiting for a response from the DEC. Back in January or February, Fred Bonn, the regional director of NYS regional state parks offered to intervene on our behalf in part because the NYS parks grant requires a 20 -year agreement on parts of the trail covered by the grant. A very limited agreement from DEC listed a 3 -year agreement but is more than half gone now. He had a meeting via zoom with Barbara Lifton and her legislative assistant. One of the things they talked about was the multi modal fund and the press release from the Town of Dryden and Barbara's office. She also asked us to write a letter to her explaining the impasse stalemate that we have with the DEC so she can take to Albany to help us through the legislature and possibly the governor's office. In the meantime, Fred wants us to hold off on taking it to Albany until he sees what he can do. This continues to be a top priority for the Town of Dryden and for Tompkins county in terms of linking up major trails. Dryden Trail- F.H Fox bridge "trail closed" sign should be removed because the maintenance has been completed. They are going to ask the highway department (R. Young) to remove the signs. It is reported that people are maintaining good social distancing on the trails and are excited to have them reopened. Deer Management Update - J. Grace has been working with the Town of Ithaca and their deer management nuisance permit. She states that they picked out two locations in Ithaca. One location only had two deer killed even though there was evidence of deer activity in that area and the hunters killed over a dozen deer at the second site. They didn't need to let the site rest, deer just kept coming in. It requires a lot of effort so if we want to set up a bait station in the town of Dryden, we need to acquire volunteers for not only hunters but also land to hunt on. A lot of people have problem with deer mainly around the Village of Freeville and the Village of Dryden. We should start more outreach programs such as more info on the Dryden website and a way that allows the public to ask questions and sign up for letting people hunt on your land. Depending on how successful this is, we can try to get staff involved to set up stations. We will set up a better, concrete plan as we move forward. A. Clark is willing to donate a trail cam and is also going to ask around to hunters she knows to see if any of them are willing to volunteer. T. Woods believes we should set up a professional baited hunt with professional hunters. He is going to team up with Joe Guernsey and Dr. Blossey in efforts to set up baited hunt sites near Freeville and Dryden. Everyone agrees to have T. Woods put together a step by step plan to present to the town board. CB 5/26/2020 Water - G. Dodici reached out to R. Young and is waiting to have a meeting with him. A. Clark says the marsh land is receiving agricultural runoff and it is cutting a deep trench. Roadside ditches running past fields where fertilizer is spread and is running off into the marsh land. She states that this is a problem that needs to be addressed. There is talk about getting the agricultural committee involved. There being no further business, under motion made by A. Clark, seconded by B. Beck, the meeting was adjourned at 8:28 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Emily Banwell Deputy Town Clerk