HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAC 2025-08-19
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Climate Smart/Clean Energy Community Task Force (CSTF)
Minutes for the Meeting at 5:00 pm Tuesday August 19, 2025 In-person and via Zoom
Task Force Members Attending:
In person: Alice Green, Marie McRae, Jack Wright, Joe Wilson, Evan Kurtz, Anne Clark, Gina
Cassidy
Via Zoom: Christina Dravis
Liaison to Town Board: Christina Dravis
Liaison to Conservation Board: Anne Clark
Planning Department: Gina Cassidy
Invited Guests: Jerry Sheng, Cornell Cooperative Extension Clean Energy Communities
Coordinator;
Hannah Emmelhainz, Dryden HS Sustainability Club member and
potential CSTF member;
Ashley Seyfried, CSC Coordinator and Southern Tier 8 Director of
Sustainability
Public Attending: Anne Rhodes, Resident of Town of Dryden
5:03 Call to Order
Due to the presence of new attendees, there was a round of introductions.
Approval of Meeting Minutes:
July 15, 2025
Approval Moved: Joe; Approval Seconded: Evan; Approved Unanimously
Updates on other Town and Inter-municipal Efforts
Town Board
Christina
1) Budget season is approaching. If the CSTF would like to increase its budget, now would
be the time to ask.
2) The Village of Dryden is installing a dog park.
Budget Discussion
Ashley explained that for CFA matching (50-50) grants, Silver Certified CSC Communities earn
extra points on any application.
The TF discussed the 2026 CSTF Budget for activities, including the Repair Café. Members
expressed interest in increasing our budget so that we may run additional Repair Cafés if the
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October one is successful, and we might be interested in additional projects requiring funds.
Alice gave the example of printing marketing material and paying for postage to run a
community heat pump campaign. Alice clarified that once we have a budget, individual
expenses would not have to be approved by the Town Board.
Approval of Asking Town Board to Increase CSTF Budget from $1,000 to $1,500 for 2026:
Approval Moved: Alice; Approval Seconded: Anne; Approved Unanimously
Climate Smart Task Force Transition to a Permanent Committee
The group went line-by-line through a draft Resolution to transform into a permanent
committee, discussing and editing along the way.
Joe asked for clarification about the differences between “committee,” “standing committee,”
“advisory committee,” and “task force.” Christina cautioned about using the term “advisory,”
since it is limiting to the work of any particular committee. Christina will clarify with Loren
(Sparling, Deputy Town Clerk).
Ashley suggested including a statement specifying that the new committee will continue to
function as the CSC Task Force with the Coordinator continuing in that role. The group agreed
with this.
The group discussed potential names for the new committee and agreed upon “Climate Action
Committee.”
Approval of the Climate Smart Task Force Adopting the New Name Climate Action
Committee:
Approval Moved: Alice; Approval Seconded: Marie; Approved Unanimously
Mission Statement and Bylaws
The group began a discussion of a mission statement and by-laws. This will be continued at the
next meeting.
Continued: Updates on other Town and Inter-municipal Efforts
Conservation Board
Anne
1) A property adjacent to the Jim Schug section of the Dryden Rail Trail is no longer a
wetland. CB considering what should happen with this land.
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2) The Dryden Lake dam is likely to fail, and something must be done, either by the Town
or by the DEC. If the Town wishes to have this continue to be a lake, then the Town will
need to replace the dam. Another option would be to remove the dam and restore the
river. Ashley, who is also the Regional Water Quality Coordinator, provided a reference
to a possible DEC dam funding grant that has a 25% municipal match. CSTF members
were not previously aware of this grant.
3) Marie asked about a person found spraying something on the side of the Jim Schug Trail
near Dryden Lake (that the sprayer identified as Roundup). There is some disagreement
between this person and the Town about property boundaries.
Planning Board
Gina
1) The Town is working with the Hanshaw Village Mobile Home Community owner to
obtain a CDBG grant to extend Town sewer lines out there since the septic system there
has been failing for some time.
2) Gina has been working on recertifying telecommunications towers, some of which are
long overdue.
Photo Op
CSTF Members are invited to be part of a photo (in the Town Hall parking lot, right after this
meeting) showing the three new EVs acquired by the Town through CSTF work.
Data Centers
Marie thanked those who responded to her call for feedback on the possibility of the Town
permitting data centers. She will bring this feedback to the ZAG.
Meeting adjourned 6:35 pm
NEXT STEPS/ACTION ITEMS:
1) Christina will ask the Town Board to Increase CSTF Budget from $1,000 to $1,500 for
2026
2) Christina will ask Loren about the necessity of adding “advisory” to our new committee
name.
3) Christina will present the Resolution to transform the CSTF to the Climate Action
Committee to the Town Board
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4) Ashley will forward to Gina info on possible DEC dam funding that has a 25% municipal
match. Gina will forward this to Ray.
5) Marie will forward feedback she has received on data center permitting to the ZAG.
APPROVALS:
1) July 15, 2025 Meeting Minutes
2) Climate Smart Task Force Adopting the New Name Climate Action Committee
3) Asking Town Board to Increase CSTF Budget from $1,000 to $1,500 for 2026