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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB 2025-06-24 CB 2025-06-24 Final 1 CONSERVATION BOARD June 24, 2025 Hybrid Present: Gian Dodici (chair), Steve Bissen, Anne Clark, *Jeanne Grace, *Kate McKee, *Andrew Miller, Nancy Munkenbeck, Craig Schutt, *Naomi Cator-Szymanski (alternate) Absent: Tim Woods Staff: Loren Sparling (Deputy Town Clerk) “*” denotes attendance via Zoom The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. Report: Agriculture Advisory Committee C Schutt had nothing to report, as the Agriculture Advisory Committee did not meet this month. Report: Environmental Management Council (EMC) S Bissen had nothing to report from the EMC. Report: Climate Smart Communities Task Force A Clark reported that the Climate Smart Communities Task Force will be hosting a repair café in September. Report: Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council (OLWMC) A Clark reported that the DEC’s Water Quality Improvement Program (WQIP) has grants available that can fund road salt reduction. These grants are part of the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) and are currently open for application under the non-point non-agricultural category. WQIP grants are typically due in early- to mid-July, indicating a short application window. The Town would likely be the applicant for these grants, potentially hiring someone to develop the reduction plan. Actions outlined in the reduction plan can be funded by WQIP grants in subsequent cycles. Adopting road salting best management practices was highlighted as one of the most meaningful municipal actions for reducing salt use. Reducing road salt use can lead to cost savings from less salt purchases and potentially reduced truck deployments. The concept involves learning to use salt more efficiently and more thinly. The Board will need to look into this and reach out to Rick Young to assess interest and feasibility. New Business: Landscape Conservation and Wildlife Corridors Gary Martin Tabor was identified as a Cornell expert in wildlife corridors. He travels the world to help people arrange for wildlife corridors. Thinking about the zoning rewrite, the Board sees potential in his expertise being applied to Dryden, especially in fostering housing while preserving open space for wildlife. The Emerald Necklace was mentioned as an existing corridor that goes through Dryden, with concerns being expressed that some of it is still private property and could be developed. CB 2025-06-24 Final 2 A presentation on wildlife corridors from G Tabor was considered crucial for informing the Zoning Rewrite Committee and the Planning Board, especially in relation to conservation and cluster zoning. What should we be trying to connect? There is a desire to understand whether to establish the corridor first and then zone around that or zone first to create a corridor. To convince the general public of the need for wildlife corridors, N Cator-Szymanski suggested asking G Tabor to address how the viability of species is also tied to economic impact and the stability of ecosystems. While acknowledged that local individuals might better address local economics, the value of academic research on ecoservices and bioservices was noted. The Board needs to confirm G Tabor’s availability and preferred speaking topics. The consensus of the Board was to have the presentation primarily for the Planning Board and Zoning Rewrite Committee, given their direct involvement in the zoning changes. The zoning consultant has already received suggested changes, but the Planning Board is still open to new ideas for Phase 2 of the rewrite. The Board acknowledged they are a bit late to the party but still see value in providing input. A lecture series on various conservation measures that the Town could consider implementing was also suggested. Public Engagement and Outreach A strong desire for increased public engagement and awareness of the Board’s activities was expressed, with N Cator-Szymanski volunteering to lead new initiatives. Small, casual events along the lines of trash cleanups or discussions about local invasive species were suggested to bring together and encourage people who want to really invest in the community. Such events could also promote awareness of the Board and its activities. Board members commended this effort and supported N Cator-Szymanski spearheading this. N Cator-Szymanski proposed using social media (e.g., Facebook and Instagram) as the easiest way to reach a wider audience, especially the younger generations. Concerns were raised about regulations on the Town’s social media regarding who can post and what about, as well as comment moderation (although it might be simpler to just have comments turned off). Showcasing a plant/animal of the week (to encourage people to find them in the Town), promoting apps like Merlin and iNaturalist, and other informational cues were suggested as potential content ideas. These could also be featured in the Town’s monthly newsletter. A presence on social media would address the notion that engaging in conservation is for everyone, emphasizing that even an hour of participation can be impactful. Old Business: DRYC Update C Schutt reported that CHA was not at the May meeting of the DRYC, but they plan to schedule a public meeting on the subject in July. The footprint for the plans has been radically reduced due to topography and the potential impact on wetlands. Old Business: Newsletter Submissions Based on the previous discussion, the suggestion was made to begin featuring a plant/animal of the month in the July newsletter. CB 2025-06-24 Final 3 Old Business: von Engeln Memorial Planting Progress Notice of the memorial planting project was posted in last month’s newsletter. J Grace is waiting for plant availability and exact prices from the nursery. She also needs to check to see if any donations have been received and to contact Alice Green for promotion of this project on the Friends of the Rail Trail Facebook page. Based on last month’s discussion, Board members decided that they would prefer a bench (rather than a stone) with a metal plaque on it to accompany the tree planting yet are unsure about the exact style of bench. Various stone benches were suggested for durability and permanence, but a Leopold bench was also considered due to ease of construction. J Grace will research different offerings, under advisement that the more natural the design the better. J Grace will also investigate plaque materials (metal, sand-blasted stone, or laser- cutting) and character limits. At next month’s meeting, Board members should brainstorm specific wording for the plaque to commemorate Bob Beck, especially given that he was instrumental in establishing the von Englen preserve. N Munkenbeck proposed that they aim for simplicity. The Board has also received permission to remove invasive species at the site. Dryden Lake Dam The DEC intended to rehabilitate the Dryden Lake Dam this summer. The project had been put out to bid, and the bids returned were significantly higher than what the DEC anticipated spending. As a result, the project is at a standstill. At last month’s DRYC meeting, C Schutt learned that the Town Supervisor has scheduled an emergency meeting on July 7 with the DEC regarding updates on the dam project. There being no further business, on motion made by N Munkenbeck, the meeting was adjourned at 8:03 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Loren Sparling Deputy Town Clerk