HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2002-01-03 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board
January 3, 2002, 7:30pm
Final Approved Meeting Minutes
Present: Lenore Durkee, Eva Hoffman Elissa Wolfson, John Yntema, Jon Meigs*, Donald Weir,
Vice-Chairperson
Guests: None
Staff- Sue Ritter
Persons to be heard: None
S!Apgj_gf,Qh4ir for Sue reported that the Town Board has not yet approved the Conservation
Cha
irperson airperson or Vice Chairperson. Until the Town Board approves these new positions, the
2001 approved persons will carry over for the January meeting. It was suggested, by John
Yntema, that without a permanent secretary the members of the Conservation Board should rotate
the responsibility of taking notes for the meetings. Sue will also investigate the possibility of
taping the meetings and having the Town of Ithaca provide transcription service.
Persons to be heard: None
Members concerns: John Yntema reported that on January 8 1h the Town Planning Board will be
considering Ithaca College's plans for managing the College Circle Apartments, as well as for
expansion of additional apartments and renovation of the existing development. He plans to
attend, as he is concerned that drainage problems, already due to the present apartments, will be
exacerbated by the proposed additional development.
Coordinator and Chair Reports: Sue Ritter described the College Circle Apartments plans. The
new development is in Sketch Plan phase only. The proposal calls for refurbishing the existing
apartments and for building an additional nine buildings. The proposal includes a proposal to
increase the number of allowable occupants from 600 to 750. Sue stated that the proposal will
include a drainage and traffic study. The Environmental Review Committee will have an
opportunity to review this proposal.
Sue shared an article from the Journal of Landscape Architecture that described information on
allergy free plants, which includes the reasons for the present increase in allergies. It appears that
the intentional use of male plants, rather than fruit bearing female plants, for landscaping is a
partial reason for the increase. Board members suggested that the information be presented for
the spring Town newsletter along with information on deer proof plants.
Jon Meigs asked Sue for an update on the dumping of fill on the Catholic Cemetery lands off Five
Mile Drive. Sue stated that the TOI Highway Department apparently has an agreement with the
Cemetery to use part of the unused property for temporary storage for fill. People, unknown, had
used this property to dump personal and construction debris and the TOI has blocked access for
any more private dumping.
Business: Approval of 12/06/01 minutes. Approved as amended. All approved of the wording t.........."i
change of"chairman" to "chairperson".
Discussion of Conservation Board by-laws: The Town Board will address the By-laws on January
14. Jon Meigs submitted his suggested additions:
Any Town resident may apply to the Board[CB]for Associate status. Applicants accepted by
quorum vote of the Board shall be entitled to participate in meetings, discussions and activities of
the Board and its committees, but shall not have the right to propose, second or vote on motions of
the Board.
The intent of this language was to allow the CB to have the benefit of volunteer assistance, which
would be encouraged and recognized by the honorary status of Associate. Associates would be
distinguished from 'concerned citizens'by their willingness to participate in Board business on a
regular, long-term basis, which the Board would determine by applicant interviews; as well as
having conservation-related training, education and/or experience. The designation Associate,'
and the explicit language regarding voting rights, are intended to address the concerns that a
person having such status might be perceived as representing the Town, and have a direct
influence on Board actions.
Further, this was designed to avoid the need for the Town Board to become involved in aformal
approval process, when our interest is in the benefits to the Town of the expertise and interest that
these auxiliaries can volunteer. As long as the Associate role is limited as proposed, the Town
should have enough trust in the CB to allow it to avail itself of such pro bona assistance at its own
discretion.
Don suggested that we should let the Town Board know that the Conservation Board "Supports
and desires" some official status for extra citizens to join the Conservation Board. Emeritus status
seems a viable alternative—the Members present at the meeting agreed with these suggestions.
All the CB agreed that the Conservation Board should be maintained at nine members. The CB
also agreed that the CB membership should be recommended by the CB and presented to the
Town Board for approval, and that this is the only way that new members are to be added. No
other agency should be able to initiate action for new members. Non-voting members should be
able to serve on CB Committees. Board members approved these suggested additions to the by-
laws. As the Town Board will be reviewing the by-laws on the 14'h, all CB members should try to
attend and let the Town Board know of out suggestions and feelings for any revisions of the
Conservation Board by-laws changes.
Committee Reports: The Interview Committee met with prospective CB members on the 13 1h and
the 191h of December. Without final action by the Town Board. on the issue of non-voting
membership on the CB, we do not know how many new member positions will be available. The
CB will revisit this subject at the next meeting.
The Stream Buffer Ordinance Subcommittee, led by Lenore Durkee, finished a draft of the
proposed ordinance. It has been sent to Professor Rebecca Schneider, at Cornell, for her
comments. It was suggested that Professor Schneider be invited to speak with the CB, when the
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final ordinance is drafted. All members agreed with this proposal. Lenore Durkee stated that the
subcommittee, of Barney Unsworth, John Yntema, and Sue Ritter did an outstanding job assisting
her in this effort. All CB members thanked Lenore Durkee for her leadership in this ordinance
revision effort.
Other Business: Sue Ritter presented a suggestion to the CB that had been raised by Deputy
Supervisor Mary Russell about establishing a liaison between the Town Board and Conservation
Board. This could involve the visitation to the CB by a Town Board member(s) and the visitation
of CB members to the Town Board, All members expressed support of this opportunity,
especially when Sue stated that the visits to the CB meetings would be for short periods and not to
monitor whole meetings of the CB.
Adjournment: Meeting was adjourned at 9:30pm.
Submitted by Donald Weir