HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 2021-08-05 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board Meeting
August 5,2021,5:30 pm
Final Minutes
Members Present: Mike Roberts,Joann Kowalski, Lori Brewer, Eva Hoffmann,James Hamilton, Lindsay
Dombroskie (associate)
Staff: Mike Smith, Senior Planner
Guest:Theresa DeBoover, possible interested associate Board member, lives in Dryden (attended via
Zoom)
1. Persons to Be Heard—None
2. Member Concerns—Decided to move the Environmental Review Committee (ERC) up in our meeting
agenda from now on, for more time for discussion of projects.The ERC submitted comments regarding
the Town Energy Supplemental Code, as pertains to the proposed Multidisciplinary Building at Cornell.
The ERC has also received an application from Cornell for a New Experimental Hall at Wilson Laboratory,
that the ERC has yet to review.
3. Chair and Coordinator Report—Lori mentioned the upcoming virtual Conference on the Environment
in October. Mike S reported that the Conservation Board provided support letters for two grants
submitted by the Town of Ithaca.
4. Minutes—all minutes(April, May,June, and July) moved (Mike R.) and seconded (James)to be
accepted. Some minor edits remain but these will be sent to Mike S. ASAP.
5. Stipend Discussion—Town laws will need to be updated to permit a stipend. The Planning Board and
Zoning Board of Appeals members receive $90 per meeting. The CB must draft a letter to submit to the
Town Board requesting that the CB receive a monthly stipend and explain the justification. Currently, a
stipend of$50/month seems to be the consensus for full and associate members. A letter/email will be
drafted by Lori.
6. "Roles&Responsibilities" Document—Joann moves and Eva seconds to approve the current version.
James provides some minor edits at the meeting.
7. Regular Reports
a. ERC (moved earlier in the meeting from today forward)
b. Scenic Resources—no report
c. Communications—Lindsay indicates she needs to update the Facebook posts.Joann and Lori
have done some work to provide content.
d. Waste Awareness—no report
e.Tompkins County EMC—no report
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f. Six Mile Creek Volunteer Monitoring Program—Community Science Institute (CSI) held a
family volunteer event at Buttermilk Falls State Park to educate people about benthic
macroinvertebrates (BMI). Harmful algal blooms have been spotted by volunteers
(http://www.communityscience.org/volunteer/harmful-algal-bloom-monitoring/cavuga-lake-
habs-reporting-page/). Titus Triangle Park will have a completed creekside observation sign
soon. CSI continues its partnership with 4-H2O Youth Education Program & Discover Cayuga
Lake Floating Classroom.Volunteers will take a synoptic water sample scheduled for 8/25/21,
and a BMI sample some time between 8/22 and 9/4/21, depending on Six Mile's flow.There is
online training for iMapinvasives available,to aid in early detection and rapid response for
invasive species (https://www.imapinvasives.org/). Spotted lanternfly is of particular concern,
along with a need to monitor its host tree (tree-of-heaven) (www.nvimapinvasives.org/slf).
g. Cornell Botanic Gardens Natural Areas Program—Volunteers weeded at Edwards Lake Cliffs
Preserve and blazed the yellow and some of the red trail there as well.
8. Other Business— a)Asked Mike R.for an update on work regarding the update of the Town's parks&
preserves plan. Mike S. can update by October, likely. B) Eva inquired about an update to the
Conservation Board section of the Town website, and it was completed.
9. Work Goals— Eastern bluebird boxes need cleaning before spring, went this summer without
monitoring. Monitoring would be easier with more accessible boxes (e.g., nail hinge on front)
Adjourned: 6:52 pm
Minutes drafted by Lindsay Dombroskie.
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