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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-06-26Dryden Conservation Board June 26, 2018 Dryden Conservation Board June 26, 2018 Members Present: Mike Richmond (acting chair), Bob Beck, Gian Dodici, Jeanne Grace, Craig Schutt, and (at 7:57) Nancy Munkenbeck Liaisons: David Weinstein (Planning Board), and (at 7:52) Dan Lamb (Town Board) The meeting was called to order at 7:04 PM. May meeting minutes were not available, and review and approval will have to wait until the next_meeting Citizens' Privilege: --- No _ No one in attendance Associate Committee(s) reports and comments: M. Richmond stated Tim Woods was to draft conservation easement information, but we will have to wait for a meeting when he is here. Reports received 1. Agricultural Advisory Committee 2. Planning Board Agricultural report M. Richmond stated Conservation Board members had received an emailed report from C. Schutt. C. Schutt stated Agricultural Committee had spoken about their zoning proposal changes they would like to see. They also understood that the Planning Board had more questions and concerns; a decision was made to Wait until they heard back from the Planning Board before they move forward any farther. Discussed the Right to Farm signs that will go up entering Dryden. Signs have already been ordered and should be in this week. Marie McCray had previously brought a draft of a letter to be sent to Barbara Lifton regarding her support of the Carbon Farming Bill that is in the State Legislature; they voted and approved the letter being sent. C. Schutt was asked to explain the Carbon Farming Bill and he stated it was still early in the works, but would give farmers tax credits for practices that sequester more carbon in the soil. Page 1 of 5 Dryden Conservation Board June 26, 2018 The following is a verbatim planning discussion by attending board members M. Richmond discussed the conservation easements in Dryden and had an insightful presentation by Hannah George and her experience with developing and working with these from the Land Trust. What we wanted to do, based on the information provided by H. George, is to develop a handbook of our own for these new housing developments "cluster housing" where the ownership of the land might be 10-20 acres and builder decides to use part of it for building houses and some remaining portion as a conservation easement area. Tim Wood was to come to the meeting with some thoughts on how to write that up or present it. J. Grace has gone through her notes and made a list of immediate action items to start moving this forward, as-wel l-as-a-few-points-of-things-that-sho aid -be -d on e-before-th-e-easement-process-sta its—She will -d- -a-draft of -the protocol -and errail-to each member -before the nem rrreeiing in -� September. -H. George sent P. -Davies an email in June with the templates attached. D. Weinstein located the email P. Davies forwarded with Parke-Dabes, Fingerlakes Land Trust Stewardship, Steward job description, and the conservation easement. When J. Grace types up her document she will browse through the email attachments to determine what might be relevant. H. George also identified a website we should visit called "Land Trust Alliance" on best practices for easement monitoring. It was decided no meeting in July (picnic) and no meeting in August due to limited number availability. If something comes up before the next meeting, D. Weinstein will send a message to everyone to let them know they need to meet. Ray Burger is to be included in the correspondence. Deer management issues and solutions for Ithaca and Dryden Towns J. Grace never received a call back from DEC biologist; M. Richmond has made some calls to find out who the deer biologist and wildlife manager are. We need to figure out a way show the DEC that we are willing to work with them on some of the goals and objectives that they have for hunter harvest, possibly some -interesting things -that would bring youth groups in -to do - - - -- some hunting or learning about marksmanship or recognizing wildlife interests that are here in our town. We need to establish some goodwill with DEC so they understand we are not in opposition to hunters/sportsmen. We have already worked with them on Twin Sheds and have given them some good stuff (from our point of view) and they seemed to be happy and have invited us to their open meeting to talk about it. (Hammond Hill and Yellow Barn) J. Grace thought maybe we can facilitate hooking up people that have land they want hunted with hunters that want to hunt it. DEC has a lot of information for hunters; maybe we can draft an agreement or a handout to give to landowners. M. Richmond has been in contact with a woman in Homer that is very knowledgeable. M. Richmond will make some phone calls if we would like to pursue this. D. Weinstein inquired if Region 7 has a deer management plan so our goals can match DEC's goals, M. Richmond will try get this information. J. Grace printed off rules for cooperative hunting area she brought up at the last meeting. There are 12 points in there that we could refer to when we are coming up with our guidelines for the Page 3 of 5 Dryden Conservation Board June 26, 2018 gun season starts. M. Richmond is going to connect with DEC to learn more about their deer management objectives and goals for both the Town of Dryden and the County and see how we might work with them on the deer management issue. D. Lamb received a call from T. Bittner regarding the arrangement with Cornell Plantations to do some management hunting on the Park-Dabes property advising the arrangement has been withdrawn due to Cornell's lawyers stating, "Cornell is not allowed to do that on land they do not occupy". Dan will speak to B. Avery with regards to her managing the permits on that property. Suggestion was made to reach out to the Town Board to see if there is anything they would ,vant the-Conser-vation-Board to-be-working-on—D-Lamb-brought up -the -harmful -algae -as a ser-ions-issue—J-Gr-ace-inquired-if-the Town -Board is updated on -what -we -are -working -on -and -D. Lamb advised if a member of the Conservation Board attends a board meeting they are on the agenda and an update is given. A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by N. Munkenbeck, seconded by B. Beck, and was unanimously approved. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:50 PM. Respectfully submitted, Chrystle Terwilliger Deputy Town Clerk Page 5 of 5 Report to the CB on the Ag Committee meeting of 6 —13 - 2018 Prepared by Craig Schutt liaison from the CB to the Ag Committee The regular scheduled meeting of Ag Committee was held on 6— 13 — 2018. The Committee discussed the Planning Board's reaction to suggested changes/additions to definitions in the Ag Protection Plan. Definitions that are currently not consistent with NYS Ag and Markets Law, or are lacking altogether. Although the Planning Board did not act on the recommendations the Ag Committee decided to stand firm on them and will wait to hear more from the PB. There was some discussion on the Right -to Farm signs and the committee reaffirmed that the design that they had recommended is still the preferred design. A draft cope of the letter thanking Barbara Lifton for her support of the carbon farming bi11 was approved by the committee and was unanimously approved to be sent to the Assemblywoman. The Ag Committee began working on by-laws for the Committee. That work will continue moving forward.