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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAC Minutes - 01_22_18Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 1 of 3 Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes of monthly meeting on Monday, January 22, 2018 Danby Town Hall, 1830 Danby Road, Danby, New York. Attending: • Council Members present: Matt Ulinski (chair), Clare Fewtrell, Joel Gagnon, Mary Woodsen, Bill Evans (arrived at 7:41) • Council Members absent: Don Schaufler, Ruth Sherman • Non-Members present: C.J. Randall (town planner), Elizabeth Keokosky (secretary), Ronda Roaring (citizen of Danby), Dan Klein (former CAC member) Meeting opened at 7:07 pm Agenda Review (Additions or Deletions) Review and discussion of following reports removed from Agenda: Matt sick - did not complete “Annual Report,” “Management Plan for town owned lands, ” or “Vision/Mission Statement”. Will be using secretary to help put these together for a future meeting. Executive Session will begin at 8pm to discuss a specific easement with landowner, who will be present. Public Comments/Privilege of the Floor (later referred to as PoF) Ronda hopes it is a productive year for CAC. She also questioned allowable absences. (Joel responded that he thinks it is 3 unexcused absences.) Asked Matt to remind members who are near this limit. Introduction and welcome of Clare Fewtrell New CAC Member Thanked Dan Klein (present now as a member of the audience) for service Selection of Interim and 2018 Chair Joel nominated and Mary seconded Matt to continue as chair. Unanimous approval. (This is a recommendation to the town board.) Draft November minutes approved (11/26/17 minutes) Joel corrected name-spelling errors. With those corrections minutes were approved. Moved by Joel, seconded by Matt, unanimous approval. Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 2 of 3 Agenda Roadmap for 2018 Discussion around methods of community education and finding ways to help people appreciate what Danby offers. • Bird walks or other events emphasizing nature suggested. Matt suggested board members with various kinds of expertise (i.e. Bill Evans – birds) write articles for the Danby Area Newsletter. • (POF: Rhonda suggested a lichen talk based on a book she read or a joint event with Finger Lakes Land Trust at Shelly and Dan Coopers’ house on Updike Rd.) • C.J. was asked to present resource maps she is creating with ARCGIS, but she wants to preview them with CAC group first. • A letter was sent out to some landowners last year to which some replied they were interested not now but perhaps later. Follow up suggested. Invite them to an event? Updates C.J. announced Finger Lakes Trails just bought 3 parcels: two in SE section of Danby on Eastman Hill Rd. totaling a couple of 100 acres and another at White Church Rd. in Caroline Town Land Management plans (on Deputron Hollow Rd and West Danby Water District) • There already is a draft written by Don Schaffler, Bill Evans, and Dan Klein. Questions hunting still remain? • (PoF: Ronda has talked to Robert Wesley (a local well known botanist) on checking plants and group agreed to having Ronda call and ask him) • Comments on o non-native invasives such as knotweed, garlic mustard, and honeysuckle o Roads eroded and rutted o Water line maintained and mowed o Town funded improvements to road o Caging out deer Mary’s future plans as continuing member of CAC? • She declined to explicitly answer saying she was torn between the desire to stay and work on CAC issues and the obligations and constraints in her life. • Suggestion Mary could continue CAC conversations as a volunteer Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 3 of 3 • Joel complimented Mary on being a most effective member • Dan Klein expressed his interest in stepping up to her position if she left but said he would still work on CAC issues as a volunteer if she didn’t. Executive Session to discuss current easement under consideration at 8:00. Joel moved to begin and Matt seconded. Unanimous approval. Requested C.J. stay Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 pm Next meeting is February 19, 2018 7:00 pm _____________________________________________ Submitted by Elizabeth Keokosky (Secretary)