HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAC 2025-11-18
Climate Action Committee (CAC) (Formerly Climate Smart Task Force)
Minutes for the Meeting at 5:00 pm Tuesday, November 18,2025 via Zoom
Task Force Members Attending:
Anne Clark (arrived late), Marie McRae, Jack Wright, Evan Kurtz, Gina Cassidy, Christina Dravis, Alice Green,Hannah Emmelhainz
Liaison to Town Board: Christina Dravis
Planning Department: Gina Cassidy
Invited Guests:Jerry Sheng, Cornell Cooperative Extension (first few minutes only); Tyler Jones, DHS Sustainability Club
5:05Call to Order
Approval of Meeting Minutes:
October 21, 2025
Approval Moved: Alice; Approval Seconded: Marie; Unanimous Approval
Repair Café (RC)
The group discussed what is listed on the Town’s website for RC. Marie had asked fixers from October’s event if they would like to be listed on the website. Some said yes, some declined.
It was decided that CAC would not list fixers on the website, but we’d put up Marie’s write-up, some photos and a video of the previous RC. Jack will double-check with the videographer,
Gerri Wiley for permission to post this video, and he will talk to Cassie about improving the RC page.
Updates from the Chair and Coordinator:
New CAC webpage
Gina mentioned that the new CAC webpage is posted on the Town’s website. This identifies updates the Town’s CSC status from Bronze to Silver, has a photo of this committee with the three
grant-funded EVs, and a narrative telling how the group came to be, its accomplishments, and new status from task force to permanent committee.
Data Centers/Cryptocurrency Mining Zoning Amendment
Jack drafted a letter to the Town Board on the committee’s view of permitting data centers/cryptocurrency mines. Members gave input and feedback.Jack will keep a share drive link to
this draft available for members to work onuntil the Wednesday before Thanksgiving (11/26). The committee will aim to create a final draft at the committee’s next meeting on 12/16 before
for the public hearing occurring the following Thursday (12/18).Christina mentioned that the TB would not necessarily vote on this issue at the public hearing.
The DHS Sustainability Club is also working on a letter to present to the TB.
Marie would like to have the advice of an expert environmental lawyer to vet any code language. Alice remarked that the Town zoning consultant and the Town attorney have contributed
to the language and will be at the hearing. Marie will ask around for an attorney that can help the Town with this legislation.
Alice mentioned that some Board members seem to think that restricting and regulating these facilities would leave the Town less vulnerable than outright banning it.
Gina suggested that, after the data center/cryptomining facility work, the committee could present its feedback to the Zoning Advisory Group for other parts of the updating code. First,
the group could systematically go through the consultant’s audit and give feedback on her comments. After that, if the group wishes, we could look at subsections 270 and 249 of the Code
as a whole and make recommendations more broadly. The committee agreed to review the consultant’s audit individually before the January meeting and be ready todiscusscomments/recommendations/suggestions
at the January meeting.
Updates on Dryden HS Sustainability ClubHannah
Club making progress on composting grant jointly with the Gardening Club
Updates on Town Board
Christina
The Town Board has passed a budget for 2026 which increased the CAC’s funds to $1,500 (up $500).
Congratulations to Anne for her daughter’s election to Mayor of Seattle, Washington
Updates on Conservation BoardAnne
No update this month.
Updates on Planning Department/Planning BoardGina
Town put out RFP for feasibility study for Route 13 near NYSEG parcel. Alice mentioned that the parcel is question is necessary to the continued development of the Rail Trail between
Pinckney Road and Route 366, but that permission for this has not yet been obtained.
Affordable and Workforce Housing group will be meeting with Amy Kremenek, President of TC3 about dorms for sale in January.
David West, County Housing Planner, hosted a session about pre-approved residence designs advocated by the Strong Towns group. This is working for a number of communities nationwide.
Gina also attended a webinar about the NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) MOVE-IN CrossMod Homes program.These are factory-built single-family homes that the Town can get no-interest
loans to purchase from regional factories and sell. Site prep and development fees are also included. There must be at least 10 such homes ordered, but there supposedly no limit to
the number of homes that can be built. The Town must provide and clear the building sites.
Gina attended the Land Use Leadership Alliance training conference at Greek Peak. This was mostly about munis negotiating with solar developers to get solar into their towns under agreeable
terms. Evan would have like to have attended this and requested to be notified of such training opportunities. Gina will pass along notifications of training opportunities as they arise
in future.
Updates on Zoning Advisory GroupMarie
No updates.
Meeting adjourned 6:35 pm
NEXT STEPS/ACTION ITEMS:
Jack will double-check with the videographer, Gerri Wiley for permission to post her video from the first RC, and he will talk to Cassie about adding this to and improving the RC website
page.
Members will work on the data centers/cryptomining draft until the Wednesday before Thanksgiving (11/26).
The committee will finalize this draft at the committee’s next meeting on 12/16 ahead of the public hearing occurring the following Thursday (12/18).
Hannah and Tyler will work with the DHS Sustainability Club on a letter on data centers/cryptomining to present to the TB.
Marie will ask around for an experienced environmental attorney that can help the Town with data center/cryptomining legislation.
The committee will review the Town’s zoning rewrite consultant’s audit individually before the January meeting and be ready to discusscomments/recommendations/suggestions then.
Gina will pass along notifications of training opportunities to the CAC as they arise in future.
APPROVALS:
October 21,2025 Meeting Minutes