HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-12-12Agricultural Advisory Committee
December 12, 2018
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AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
December 12, 2018
Members Present: Evan Carpenter (Chair), Kim LaMotte, Marie McRae, Brian Magee
Liaisons: Craig Schutt (Conservation Board)
Guests: Debbie Teeter (CCE Tompkins)
The meeting was called to order at 7:35 pm
Review and approval of minutes from November 14, 2018 meeting
M. McRae made a motion to approve the November 14, 2018 minutes, seconded by K. LaMotte, and
unanimously approved.
Old Business
D. Teeter from CCE of Tompkins County updated the list of farmers based on the Ag Committee’s
updates and passed around hard copies. She will email the deputy clerk the excel spreadsheet for our
files. Discussion ensued regarding the farms to reach out to for inclusion on the website, and what
information would be included on the web or possibly a Listserv type of page. If an email would be sent
out on a yearly basis to the participating farms sending them the link and asking that they check their
listing to make sure the information is up to date. E. Carpenter will contact the town supervisor to run
the idea past him and verify if the Supervisor’s assistant would be available for the webpage work.
New Business
Two members have terms expiring in 2018. Both members are interested in being reappointed to
continue as members of the committee for another 3-year term.
B. Magee offered the following resolution:
RESOLUTION #9 for 2018 recommendation for reappointments
Resolved, that the Dryden Agricultural Advisory Committee recommends that the Dryden Town Board
reappoint both Evan Carpenter and Steve Foote to this committee for another term to expire December
2021.
Seconded by K. LaMotte, unanimously approved. E. Carpenter abstained.
D. Teeter – it has been mentioned by J. Leifer, several times, that he would like this committee to work
on ideas for parts of development rights funding for the Town of Dryden. Suggested an idea of a
percentage real estate tax. Set aside money every year in the budget and increase when possible.
Explanation was requested and D. Teeter advised:
Agricultural Advisory Committee
December 12, 2018
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- When purchasing conservation easements or development rights, New York State has a
grant application and we’ve had several farmers that have applied successfully and
relinquished their development rights. The State provides 75% which leaves 25% that is
typically made up for by the Town so the farmer does not have to take a hit.
The difference in value between farmland and development land has gotten smaller and farmers might
be less interested in giving up their development rights.
The Ag Committee should play a major role in any application from the Town for the purchase of
development rights. Either through the State program or if there was a piece of land the Town wanted
to purchase outright the development rights. Money should be allotted in the budget, starting with a
small amount and increasing it every year so the Town has the financial ability to purchase development
rights outright or to fund the difference between the grant money and what will be paid to the farmer.
D. Teeter advised this will be her last meeting, as she is retiring from CCE.
D. Teeter advised there will be an ag seminar at the Dryden VFW on February 26, 2019. The topic will be
Climate Smart Farming.
Conservation Board Update – C. Schutt
The Conservation Board is in the process of developing a guidance document to assist the Planning
Board based on the Natural Resources Plan and the Ag Protection Plan. A rough-draft was provided by
C. Schutt and reviewed and discussed by the Ag Committee members. It was decided the Ag Committee
members will come to the January meeting with suggestions to be considered for the guidance
document.
There being no further business, B. Magee made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by K.
LaMotte and unanimously approved.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Chrystle Terwilliger
Deputy Town Clerk