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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-09-11Page 1 of 3 Dryden Agricultural Advisory Committee September 11, 2013, 7:30 PM Members Present: Doug Barton, Evan Carpenter (Chair), Joe Osmeloski, Kim LaMotte, Steve Stuttle (at 8:15) Town Board Liaison: Steven Stelick Town Staff Present: Jane Nicholson Conservation Board Liaison: Craig Schutt Planning Board Liaison: Craig Anderson Meeting was called to order at 7:36 PM by Chairman Carpenter. 1. Review and approval of minutes from August 8, 2013. C. Schutt recommended clarifying the farm type in on page three so it was clear that the Committee was identifying dairy farms. D. Barton moved to approve the minutes with the suggested change, J. Osmeloski seconded the motion and the minutes were unanimously approved. 2. Introduction of Guests: none present 3. Discussion of petition from the Agricultural Landowners Chairman Carpenter introduced the petition to the Committee and Mr. Stelick asked to comment before a conversation was held. He said that the Town Board has decided to recind the CEAs that were already established. They are trying to determine how to do it and have the Town’s lawyer, Mahlon Perkins, looking at the documents and the steps taken to create the CEAs. The rest of the CEAs that have not been finalized are being set aside for now. J. Osmeloski asked why they were overturning the CEAs? Is it pressure from the Town or do they (the Town Board) feel it was done wrong. Mr. Stelick said that he is not at liberty to discuss in it full detail but it is something he has been working on for quite a while and some things came to light that made the Board agree to look at them again. J. Osmeloski then asked there had been a legal challenge. Mr. Stelick said that he is unaware of any. This decision has nothing to do with a legal challenge, it has to do with research. He said that he initially voted for the CEAs, but after listening and looking, he personally went to each board member to think about rescinding them. Some things have come to light that has moved the process more quickly. Mr. Stelick said he appreciates all the signatures on the petition. The discussion regarding the CEAs will be at the Town Board level if they are considered in the future. He doesn’t think the Town Board will need any more information, even if they do decide to re-evaluate the possibility of establishing CEAs. Mr. Stelick thought things were coming around and the townspeople were coming around but with 20-20 hindsight, he thinks they moved too quickly on it. There was a lot of work put into them but he feels they missed some steps. He also believes that this is an issue to deal with at the Town Board level, not at the smaller boards. C. Schutt said for him, the bottom line was that there were three members that were continually outvoted. It might be good to pull the Conservation Board off the project. Page 2 of 3 Mr. Stelick reiterated that at this point, if anyone looks at the CEAs again, it will be the Town Board and they believe they have the information that they need. J. Osmeloski asked if the Town Board was going to make an announcement to the residents of the Town or are the CEAs just going to die? Mr. Stelick didn’t know how the information would be shared but he said he would find out. J. Osmeloski indicated that he feels it is only fair to tell the whole Town. J. Nicholson asked if members of the Town Board are going to attend the Conservation Board meeting to let them know about the CEAs? Mr. Stelick indicated that one of them would be there. E. Carpenter asked what the Committee wants to do with the petition? Joseph Osmeloski offered the following resolution: Whereas, the Agricultural Landowners of Dryden submitted a petition to the Dryden Agricultural Advisory Committee requesting a stop to the designation of agricultural land as Critical Environmental Areas; and Whereas, the Dryden Agricultural Advisory Committee supports the Agricultural Landowners request and supporting documentation; and Whereas, the Town Board is reviewing Critical Environmental Areas 1, 2 and 5 and is temporarily suspending discussion of the other suggested Critical Environmental Areas; Therefore, be it resolved that the Dryden Agricultural Advisory Committee is submitting the Agricultural Landowners of Dryden’s petition to the Town Board to support and encourage their review of the Critical Environmental Areas. E. Carpenter seconded the resolution and with no further discussion, the Committee voted unanimously in support of the resolution. 4. Discussion of Agricultural Producers Survey J. Osmeloski asked if the survey is truly anonymous since it asks for names? E. Carpenter said that the name is only for knowing who has been contacted; we won’t get the names from Cooperative Extension. The information will be anonymous by the time we get it. K. LaMotte suggested removing the “or” in the question about wholesale or retail because they could have both. C. Anderson said that he talked to Debbie Teeter since the last meeting when Mr. Stelick had asked the Committee to generate a list of questions for the survey. She indicated that Cooperative Extension didn’t really need the list of questions to get a price. He thinks we should be able to get a ballpark quote over the phone. Mr. Stelick feels that there is time to twe ak the survey and once we get it over to Ms. Teeter, she will provide us with some recommendations. C. Anderson pointed out that there will be two surveys: the agricultural landowner and the producer. D. Barton asked which one a person who is both would fill out? The producer one. Mr. Stelick asked if C. Anderson knew whether the two surveys would go out at the same time? That is another question for Ms. Teeter. C. Anderson thought it would be perfect if it went out at the same time as the USDA survey. Page 3 of 3 J. Osmeloski thought that “Is the town farmer friendly?” might not be the best way/question to find that information. At 8:15 S. Stuttle arrived. J. Nicholson recommended adding a question or two about Community Supported Agriculture. The group agreed they would continue to look over and amend the questionnaire before the next meeting. E. Carpenter asked about the grant, who should be working on it? Mr. Stelick said the grant will come through the planning department. J. Nicholson agreed. J. Nicholson said the Town Board passed a directive for the Open Space Plan which means we are moving forward with it. This plan is going to be truly a multi-board plan. She asked that the members start to think about what our goals and objectives are in regard to farming and agriculture in terms of the open space plan. C. Anderson asked if we are still having a multi-board meeting? J. Nicholson said that they are hoping for November but definitely before the end of the year. J. Nicholson said that the Town Board agrees that each board/committee will have their own public meeting and then one at the Town Board level. E. Carpenter stated that for himself and he believes, the Committee, the direction they are interested in is keeping all the different sizes of agricultural enterprises harmoniously viable. That is part of why we are doing the survey, because they need to know what is out there. J. Nicholson agreed that we need to have an inventory, an idea of what we have before we start to plan. E. Carpenter said part of the Committee’s objective is to keep the land open for agriculture. The view is secondary. If it isn’t economically sound to keep them open and farmed then they are going to go for some other use. There being no further business, D. Barton moved to adjourn at 8:37 PM. K. LaMotte seconded the move and the meeting adjourned. Respectfully Submitted, Erin A. Bieber Deputy Town Clerk