Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAC Minutes - 02_26_18Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 1 of 4 Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes of monthly meeting on Monday, February 26, 2018 Danby Town Hall, 1830 Danby Road, Danby, New York. Attending: • Council Members present: Matt Ulinski (chair), Joel Gagnon, Bill Evans, Don Schaufler, Ruth Sherman • Council Members absent: Clare Fewtrell, Mary Woodsen • Non-Members present: Elizabeth Keokosky (secretary), Ronda Roaring (citizen of Danby), Dan Klein (former CAC member), Anne Klingensmith (EMC Tompkins County) Meeting opened at 7:04 pm Agenda Review (Additions or Deletions) Matt added discussion of Ronda’s request for CAC to have a presence at Earth Day celebration at Jennings Pond to Agenda Public Comments/Privilege of the Floor (later referred to as PoF) Anne Klingensmith, Danby EMC representative, announced a public meeting – “Preserving the Ecosystem Services of the Tompkins County Unique Natural Areas (UNA) in a Changing World” sponsored by Tompkins County Environmental Council (EMC) to be held March 15, Thursday, 5-7 at Borg Warner Room at Tompkins County Library. Public Invited. Anne has joined UNA group within EMC. There are UNA in Danby. EMC is bringing UNA list up-to-date. Reviewing boundaries. UNA map will be at meeting. Dan Klein is still on EMC as a non-voting member. Matt asked Anne to write an article on EMC and UNA for Danby Area Newsletter (DAN) with dates for meetings. Draft January minutes approval deferred Insufficient people present today who were in attendance on that date. Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 2 of 4 Agenda Action Item – Annual Report draft report copies available – will discuss at end of meeting Updates Review of Roadmap for 2018 discussion for Don and Ruth Discussion around methods of community education and finding ways to help people appreciate what Danby offers. • Don Schauffler, Bill Evans will walk one of public properties - open to the public. Repeat of last year which was done on May 13 – establish date and plan for this year. • Other ways to interest people in local natural resources o Danby Community Council (DCC) lichen and moss walk in May o Get Carolyn Kloss to talk about insects o Bill took picture of a large, knurly tree in State Forest – other feedback on tree survey? o Large trees – Matt measured 6 trees, all different – has a poster o Bill – found big Redwood tree (Don said it was probably a Dawn Redwood – not native to our area) • Leveraging the NRI – C.J. ill and couldn’t make meeting – will give her presentation at March CAC meeting. Neighborhood Get-togethers to spread word of Danby Easements • Ruth suggested Flyers in newspaper box? • Bill Evans wondered about putting together an informative meeting for small group of interested neighborhood residents - what is the protocol? - others wondered if this could include more of CAC members to speak or more interested residents to listen? • Need public notice? – Matt will find out what this entails and schedule with Town Board – could be as soon as next month or at least this spring. • POF: Ronda hoping CAC will be at Coopers presentation with Finger Lakes Land Trust or at Earth Day at Jennings Pond • Bill talked to Gould Colman with uncertain results but said he appreciated Ronda’s energy to push the issue. Joel said that sometimes that push is necessary to bring up the subject with off-spring who have to be part of conversation • Other people Council members have talked to also have uncertainties because they don’t know what children want to do. • To continue neighborhood discussion theme a Miller Rd/Nelson Rd neighborhood barbecue suggested at Matt’s house Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 3 of 4 • Need to get more Rack Cards • Joel spoke of a possible conversation with Mary Wimsatt Report updates Town Property Management Plans • Matt still working on them - needs Don’s help • W. Danby Water District property boundaries pretty clear, especially since it abuts Finger Lakes Land Trust property. • Deputron property was acquired in foreclosure by NY State. Metes and bounds certain for upper side; downside in question. It is 24 acres in two pieces and there is some cloudiness in deed. Some people near it thought they owned part of it and having been paying taxes on it. Could remove cloud in consideration of their going into a conservation easement. • Palmer logged property (POF: Ronda mentioned dispute with Sue Beener) • Matt: Making good inroads in talking to Eric Palmer about his uncle (who owns, or believes he does, the disputed Deputron Hollow property) but suddenly doesn’t want to talk anymore. • Last surveyed in Dec 2016 • Bill Wimsatt (father of Mary Wimsatt) – Cornell professor in zoology – owned land nearby in extension of Deputron that goes to Durfee Hill, now owned by his descendents collectively. Articles for Dan Matt’s article needs to be rewritten. Matt urged other council members to write articles for DAN from their perspective. Bill wondered about split between Democratic majority and Republicans not involved in town any more. Suggested a humorous article using angle that an easement could prevent division of land to a hundred new Democrats Discussion on large parcel landowners – demographics changing but large land owners are mainly Republican. • POF: Anne Klingensmith suggested owners want to keep rights to development for future financial security • Joel noted that they still could do that with Danby Easement by retaining some development rights . • Develop alternatives to subdivision and sale, that would still keep properties rural by enablling people to make money off their land. • Matt acknowledged to Bill’s point, CAC is seen on one side of political spectrum • Landowners get calls about use of their land 4 or 5 times a week. Matt said who the messenger is remains important. • Possible presentations on forestry to earn income (Cornell Cooperative Extension) o Bill mentioned Northeast is red oak capital of the world – forest farming Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 4 of 4 o Matt asked Don Schaufler to think about giving a presentation in September about forestry as a source of income o Time line for production is important for older people o Deer Farm – 1200 acres in southern part of West Danby bought by a group of hunters from NY City for hunting. Earth Day event at Jennings Pond – April 22 - Ronda • Land Snail Biological Educator, Marla Coppolino- talk and search for native snails • 3-5pm talk and walk by moss expert Norm Trigoboff • 5-8 Dish to pass, bonfire, and kayaking with kayaks available to rent • CAC have a presence - Suggested Trifold – 3 panel display on easements potentially created by Mary Anne Barr with Rack Cards available. • Matt said he would be there Annual Report (Seen by Town Board and DEC of NY State) • Members present read and reviewed it and made suggestions: • POF: Dan Klein – suggested spell out acronyms • Council Members made spelling and minor content corrections Approve Annual Report with amendments: Joel moved to approve report, Ruth seconded. Unanimous approval Executive Session to recap February executive session for members who were absent began at 8:45. Matt moved to begin and Joel seconded. Unanimous approval. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 9:02 pm Next meeting is March 26, 2018 7:00 pm _____________________________________________ Submitted by Elizabeth Keokosky (Secretary)