HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-07-26CONSERVATION BOARD
7/26/2022
Hybrid
Members Present: Gian Dodici (Chair), Anne Clark, Craig Schutt, Nancy Munkenbeck, Steve Bissen,
Jeanne Grace, Tim Woods,
Absent: Andrew Miller, Bob Beck
Liaisons: Loren Sparling (Town Board)
Guest(s): David Weinstein
The meeting was called to order at 7:05 PM.
Review and approval of minutes dated May 31, 2022
On motion made by C Schutt, seconded by G Dodici, minutes were unanimously approved as amended.
Board Updates:
Ag Committee (via email for C Schutt)- The Ag Committee met on July 13. The
committee discussed ideas for a Design Connect Project. Ideas included feasibility for expanding
farmer's markets within the town. Could the market support more and diversified markets, the
feasibility of a meat processor in the town. The one idea that seemed to cross over with other groups
was affordable housing. Farmers are often faced with housing needs for workers with affordable
housing lacking in the town. One suggestion was for the AC to meet with the Affordable Housing
Committee.
There was no other business discussed.
EMC- S Bissen did not attend the meeting.
Planning Board- No update.
Town Board- Passed the Comprehensive Plan. It is officially approved.
Storm water:
As of late, the code enforcers have been having trouble with keeping up with violations around
town, specifically stormwater violations.
• DEC has been monitoring Dryden Lake. They cannot find active runoff, so they are not finding a
violation.
• N Munkenbeck asked how the Conservation Board can help code enforcers do their job. She was
told they could use help with Storm water.
• Chemung County does the inspections for all storm water and if they find violations, they notify
the Town.
• How are other towns reviewing the mandate?
• The Planning Board sees a need for assistant. They’ve been trying to hire someone for awhile
now but the hire keeps falling through.
• There is a lack of enforcement to the law, there’s not a problem with the law. There’s not
enough staff to implement the law.
• Who enforces these town laws? We don’t have town police officers.
• Planning is supposed to enforce these laws.
• We need to do research and figure out how other towns issue fines and how the laws are
enforced.
• There isn’t a problem with the laws, they are having problem with lack of staffing to enforce the
laws.
• How are other towns writing and enforcing their laws for stormwater?
• What does our county stormwater coalition do it?
• We need to get Dave or Ray here for them to tell us exactly how we can help.
• Ask Dave to come after hours even for a half and hour meeting.
• We need clarity to make progress
• It would be nice to hear straight from Dave where he thinks he’s lacking.
• Isn’t the biggest problem noticing something is amiss?
• How many open stormwater permits does the town usually have?
• What could we do to help the town enforce these violations?
The board members decided that it is best to wait to hear from Dave exactly what he needs from them
and they will figure out their plan of attack at that time.
Ditching:
G Dodici has been trying to get with Rick Young, Highway Superintendent, to talk about ditching
but it keeps getting pushed aside.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:12 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Emily Banwell