HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 2021-07-01 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board
5:30 p.m., Thursday, July 1, 2021
Final Minutes
Present in person:
Lori Brewer(Board Chair)
Joann Kowalski (Board Vice Chair)
James Hamilton (Board Member)
Michael Smith(Senior Planner)
Present via zoom:
Eva Hoffman (Board Member)
Suzy Strickler(prospective board member)
Not present:
Mike Roberts (Board Member)
Carolyn Lee (Board Member)
Lindsay Dombroskie (Associate Board Member)
Vladimir Micic(Associate Board Member)
William VanDyke (Associate Board Member)
1. Persons to be heard
We welcomed Suzy Strickler who joined us via zoom with the interest of better understanding what
her role might be before considering applying to be a board member.
2. Members concerns
Associate Member Karen Johnson Feltham sent via email a letter of resignation.
Discussion: There is some concern about the errors in the CB membership list on the website. What
can be done?
Conclusion and Action: Mike Smith submitting additional requests for correction are not likely to get
desired changes as one person is supporting all IT needs for the Town and there is a new website in the
works so very limited effort is being spent on the current site. Eva will draft a letter to Rod Howe
about the concern and share with others to review before sending. James will post on Facebook the
current membership.
Discussion: Members attendance at monthly meetings and impact on board work including approving
minutes.
Conclusion and Action: Mike Smith will poll current members regarding availability for the regular
meeting August 5, 2021. In March or April each year, let's remember to evaluate if we need to meet
every month in the summer. In fall each year, remind members of our role and responsibilities
including our commitment to attend monthly meetings. Board chair will check in with individual
members who have missed meetings.
3. Chair and Coordinator reports
Mike Smith shared:
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Current open meeting laws require all voting members be present in person. A change in the law may
happen in the future but not likely soon. Starting now we need voting members to attend our monthly
meetings in person.
On Tuesday June 29 all should have received via email details about these 2 grants the Town is
submitting and asking the CB for a letter of support for the application package.
South Hill Recreation Way Extension—Burns to Banks Road
Culver Road Preserve—Babcock Ridge Trail and Site Enhancements
We discussed and agreed to provide the letters. Mike Smith will send letters to Lori and James to make
any modifications. Lori needs to sign.
Following up on the previous discussion regarding stipend for board members Mike learned that the
planning and zoning board members receive $90 per meeting they attend. This time of year the Town
is shaping up next year's budget, so if we wish to put in a request for a stipend for CB members now
would be a good time. We would also need to change the town law (Chapter 23) as it states that CB
members are not compensated. We will add this item to next meeting agenda to discuss further and
come to some conclusion.
4. Approval of minutes from April 1, 2021, May 6, 2021, and June 3, 2021
We do not have the minimum number of voting members present to approve minutes.
5. Continue discussion of deer management
No discussion.
6. Finalize the "Town of Ithaca Conservation Board Member-Position Description"
We do not have the minimum number of voting members present to feel comfortable finalizing use.
Discussed minor edits. Lori will complete and send the latest version to all, including Suzy. Add to
agenda for the next meeting.
7. Regular reports and updates
a. Environmental Review Committee
A few projects coming in the future.
b. Scenic Resources Committee (Eva)
Still waiting for permission from Cornell to put up the east hill sign. Mike S needs to draft the
license/easement agreement for Attorney for the Town to review.
c. Communications Committee (James)
James submits: NYISAW's Virtual Event happened in 7 daily posts for each day of the Awareness
Week, June 6 to 12: James posted Sunday and Monday for autumn olive and buckthorn;joAnn did
Tuesday and Wednesday's posts for garlic mustard and multiflora rose; Lindsay posted the last 3 days
for honeysuckle, wild parsnip, and Japanese knotweed. Our Event theme was "What You Can Do at
Home about Ithaca's Invasives," and seems to have been getting what Facebook calls good
"engagement." Jmaes filled out a google doc webform post-event survey for FL PRISM's feedback,
noting that we hope to do our next year's ISAW in person again instead of virtually.
d. Waste Awareness Committee (Lori)
No discussion.
e. Tompkins County EMC
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While Lindsay is still attending when she can, we are still looking to have a voting CB member on this
council. https://www2.tompkin�scountyny.gov/emc
f. Six Mile Creek Volunteer Monitoring Program(James)
James submits: Two locust support posts for a sixmile creek Observation Post signboard at Titus
Triangle for Sixmile Creek naturalists, esp BMI, were planted at creekside by volunteers Wednesday
morning, 6/30/21. Posting board and roof will be attached soon, cement around support posts (4x4
locust)has to cure first. Lots of traffic along the creekside path! Hilary Mosher, our Finger Lakes
PRISM Coordinator, on 6/23/21 posted a press release about aquatic herbicide program beginning
6/24/21: Hydrilla is getting organized monitoring and herbicide treatments in Fall Creek, Cayuga Inlet,
Cascadilla Creek, and southern shore of Cayuga from Cornell Community Sailing Cuter to Treman
State Marine Park, including Stewart Park, golf course, and nearby lagoons. Approx 100 acres to be
treated will have 193 warning signs posted to prevent using treated waters for irrigation or human
consumption of potable water. Bolton Point and Tompkins County Health Dept will monitor water
quality and post test results at the County's health dept website.
g. Cornell Botanic Gardens Natural Areas Program(James)
James submits: Volunteers weeded wild parsnip and assorted invasives around Beebe Lake, and in and
around native trees planted recently in Park Park near Fall Creek in Forest Home. HWA has spread out
from an infestation concentrated near Sacket's Bridge below Fuertes Observatory where trees have
been getting insecticide treatment. This treatment has been applied only to the highest quality trees
closest to trails and stairways. As of July 1, volunteers don't need to submit a "Daily Check In" health
attestation before working for CUBG. Jules, the BG Natural Areas Steward boss, informed volunteers
of the Thangamani Lab at SUNY Upstate Medical University, where you can mail a tick to get it tested
for 12 different diseases, including Lyme. This tick testing program is meant only for academic
research, but it's nice to know that an adult female deer tick he pulled off myself recently had no
pathogens detected in it. The lab's motto: "Got Ticks? Test Them for Free" See their website at
https://nyticks.org/In Tompkins County, 214 of 584 ticks tested(37%), had pathogens, mostly for
Lyme, but some for other diseases. (Testing from 4/1/19 to 6/30/21)
8. Other Business
No discussion
9. Review 2021 Work Goals /Discuss August Agenda
No discussion
10. Adjourn—6:56pm
Minutes drafted by Lori Brewer.
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