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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-01-27January 27, 2015 Page 1 of 4 Conservation Board January 27, 2015 Members present: Bob Beck (Chair), Gian Dodici, Milo Richmond, Craig Schutt, Nancy Munkenbeck, Charlie Smith, Rick Ryan ( at 7:45), Bard Prentiss, excused Town Board members: Linda Lavine and Supr. Sumner Planning Board Liaison: David Weinstein EMC Liaison: Steven Bissen The meeting was called to order at 7:10PM. Prior to the meeting starting, L. Lavine shared an email from Todd Bittner. Liz Thomas, from the Town of Ulysses, presented a grant proposal to put all of the parks and trail maps on one website. She is working with Todd Bittner from the Plantations and the tourism center. She is asking for endorsements. L. Lavine said to send the letters to the Tompkins County Visitors Bureau. N. Munkenbeck offered the following resolution: Whereas, the Town of Dryden’s Conservation Board has a vested interest in trails; and Whereas, the residents in the Town of Dryden will benefit from the website trail guide; and Whereas, a letter of endorsement from the Town of Dryden Conservation Board has the potential to encourage the grant request approval; Therefore, the Conservation Board requests that Chairman Robert Beck write a letter on behalf of the Board. C. Schutt seconded the resolution which was unanimously approved. Review and approval of minutes from December 30, 2014: C. Schutt moved to approve the minutes. Deputy Clerk Erin Bieber asked for approval to clarify the section regarding the Conservation Board goals to reflect that they are not the official list but ideas generated by the members. G. Dodici seconded the motion. The minutes were unanimously approved. Campbell Meadow Rain Garden sign - Gian Dodici and Bob Beck Bob McNamara builds the kiosks for the Land Trust and Nature Conservancy. He uses Fossil Graphics for his signs. They produce high quality signs for state parks, natural parks and museums. The signs are made of high density pressure board. A half inch thick or thicker does not need any framing. The quote from Fossil Graphics is almost $800 range and the two quotes from G. Dodici are in the $100-$200 range. Fossil Graphics will produce a higher quality sign and will last longer. The Voss sign (one of the other quotes) will last up to 10 years. Voss signs are in the National Wildlife Refuge. Supr. Sumner recommended that the Conservation Board put together the information, the quotes and description, and give them to the DPW since they are the ones that will ultimately be responsible for taking care of them. Scott Doyle from Tompkins County planning has noted money is available to shore up Campbell Meadow. The stream banks need work to keep them from washing away January 27, 2015 Page 2 of 4 more than they already have. Campbell Meadow is inspected by the County and she thinks the cost of the sign can be part of that funding. D. Weinstein asked G. Dodici what the length of life expectancy is of the rain garden. G. Dodici said it should last to perpetuity but once invasive species move in, it may become overwhelmed. It should be maintained. Reports and Updates: Town Board: Linda Lavine The Town Board has been working with residents on West Dryden Road in regard to the NYSEG pipeline. Supr. Sumner is planning on taking two resolutions to the Town Board in February: The change from an “Open Space” to a “Conservation Natural Resources” plan, the Freeville to McLean rail trail and the Methods and Selection for land acquisition. Town Planning Board: David Weinstein The Planning Board has created goals and a revised agenda. They are going to review the Comprehensive Plan by July hopefully determining whether the Plan needs a complete rewrite or updating. They will also be doing a review of special permits and ZBA decisions. L. Lavine suggested that someone create a list of contractors and a handout for the contractors to introduce them to new or more sustainable ideas. Agriculture Advisory Committee: Craig Schutt They are moving ahead with the Farmland Protection Plan. At the last meeting, the Committee met with Monica Roth and Debbie Teeter to get ideas and start preparing for the survey. D. Weinstein asked if the survey results will at some point be shared with the other boards. C. Schutt indicated he would bring it up in the next meeting. DRYC: Rick Ryan The informal meeting at the Community Cafe led to some new strategies. . Former Recreation Board members joined with the group and offered some ideas. They talked about strategies to improve the merger of the two groups and getting the community more involved. D. Weinstein said that he read in the minutes that the DRYC doesn’t tend to embrace passive recreation and wondered if that was an area that the Conservation Board should work on. Tompkins County EMC: Steve Bissen The last meeting was January 8th. It was primarily an organizational meeting, forming subcommittee, welcoming new members, and they started to work on the procedure for contacting land owners within the UNAs that have new boundaries. C. Smith asked what the slow down with the UNA boundaries is with Sapsucker Woods. Cornell is balking at the new boundaries; they say that the EMCs methods are unacceptable. The belief is that Cornell wants to expand the Brentwood medical facility. C. Schutt shared the fact that he is now not only the liaison to the Planning Board but has also been appointed as an alternate to the Planning Board. January 27, 2015 Page 3 of 4 Continuing Business: Cornell Design Connection proposal M. Richmond, B. Beck and Supr. Sumner met with two graduate students from Design Connect last week. They seem very enthusiastic about the rail to trail project. One of the students has to pitch this project to the entire group to recruit students to create a team. If we are selected we will need to provide $400. Dryden Trails and Preserve Guide: Rick Ryan He has set up an email account (drydentrails@gmail.com) and contacted the Dryden Courier asking for input or photos of the trails. B. Beck and R. Ryan met with a reporter from the paper and should have an article about the trails in the paper. He is hoping people will send in pictures. Parks and Trails Maintenance Guidelines: B. Prentiss, M. Richmond, C. Smith and B. Beck worked on the guidelines and provided a copy to Rick Young (DPW/Highway Supervisor) and Rick Case (Deputy) in the Highway department but they have not heard back. B. Beck said that he will contact R. Young. Resolutions of 2014 - Natural Resources Conservation Plan - Freeville to McLean Rail Trail - Methods and Selection Criteria for Land Protection and Acquisition New Business: NY Rural Water Association: Craig Schutt will serve as the representative from the Conservation Board. B. Beck added two items to the agenda: The Rail to Trail project regarding the DEC and the game farm. He has sent around a letter from the DEC requesting the trail go around the wooded area within the Game Farm. The Conservation Board does not feel the recommendations the DEC has suggested are onerous and are interested in moving forward. G. Dodici offered the following resolution: Whereas, the Conservation Board has reviewed the letter from Gordon Batcheller, DEC Chief Wildlife Biologist; and Whereas, the Conservation Board believes accepting the DEC recommendation, which includes an offer to pay for trail construction, will save the Town of Dryden significant expense; and Whereas, the alternative route offered will be open year round; and Whereas, accepting the DEC offer will allow a continuation of the rail to trail construction; and Whereas, the Conservation Board has demonstrated the Rails to Trails project to be a priority goal; Therefore, the Conservation Board hereby asks the Town Supervisor to accept the DEC proposal and begin to move forward on the Trail system. The motion was seconded by N. Munkenbeck and unanimously approved. January 27, 2015 Page 4 of 4 David Barkley - SUNY Cortland glacial geology B. Beck has attended some of his lectures and has personally met with the gentleman. Mr. Barkley has agreed to meet with the Conservation Board or a larger group to share his presentation on the glacial history of the Finger Lakes. L. Lavine suggested getting a series of lecturers that could enlighten the group. C. Smith strongly agreed with L. Lavine’s idea, and suggested that the speakers be focused on a broad group of topics that will generate a greater interest, for example a lecturer on passive recreation. D. Weinstein Last summer, the Land Trust was approached by one of their stewards who identified a local business, the Bellisario Construction Company, has been dumping construction debris onto the Park Dabes preserve. The Town has tried to work with the business, J. Nicholson tried to sort out the issue behind the scenes but now she has left the Town and nothing further seems to be happening. D. Weinstein suggested putting signs along the edge of the property so the Bellisarios will have a clear indication of where their property is and thus will stop dumping on the preserve. L. Lavine suggested that instead of waiting to discuss the issue at a further meeting, D. Weinstein should bring the issue to the Town Board agenda meeting. She believes that the Board will give the Code Enforcement Officers permission to post the signs. C. Smith expressed concern regarding GPS and being able to identify the actual boundary. L. Lavine asked the group to think about the branding of the Ithaca Waste Water Treatment Plant. They are looking for a positive way to advertise what they do. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:24PM. Respectfully Submitted, Erin A. Bieber Deputy Town Clerk