HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAC Minutes - October 27, 2014Danby Conservation Advisory Council
Minutes of Regular Meeting October 27, 2014
Present:
Joel Gagnon (Chair)
Matt Ulinski
Mary Woodsen
Jake Brenner
Dan Klein
Others Present:
Ronda Roaring
Jack Miller
Jenny Caldwell
The Meeting was opened at 7:05 pm
Public Comments/Privilege of the floor
Additions to the Agenda: Ronda Roaring asked that the CAC discuss stewardships and internships in
response to Sue Beeners email. Dan read email. (included at the end of the minutes).
September Minutes:
Approval deferred until Joel has chance to review. Matt will include text in email of minutes in the
future.
Discussion
Jake’s term is up at the end of the year and he told us he does not intend to apply for reappointment.
He is willing to continue to be available to assist with the open space inventory. Will look at giving inventory
to Sue for her/town use.
Intern: Sue suggested hiring an intern for the summer to assist. Dan: not sure there is work for an
intern. Joel: need someone who could be more part-time year round. Maybe they could develop a
procedures manual. Jake: could be better to have a part-time person. Better to find someone with GIS
experience. Dan: how much do they pay someone to do this? What does Land Trust pay? Mary: maybe we
need to get more easements done or in process. CAC in agreement that we do not need an intern at this
time. Suggestion to Jack Miller to include part-time support for the CAC in discussion of any new hiring the
town does.
Stewardship: Suggestion from Rhonda that CAC members have stewardship over certain
accounts/landowners. Jake: we sort of already do that. Mary: good to have continuity and personal contact.
FLLT had/has a person do this.
Easements: Mary: contacting people. Dan: get a nice article in Danby News. Good publicity may
help. Jake: some contacts that may come around. Rhonda suggested another property. Jake talked to Ted
about Eddie and Ted said everyone is aware and okay with what has happened and is happening with regard
to the Deputron Road easement.
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Annual Report: Dan: In the past Joel has gone through email and messages and put together the
annual report. Jake: what do they include? Three easements, identified town owned property and
management plan for on Deputron Hollow property.
Action Item: Joel will do draft and circulate. Due December 31st.
Water Tank Property: Jack Miller will bring to Town Board for clarification: how big, who is in charge,
etc? Jake saw trees painted for harvesting.
Hamilton AllPort property: Adjacent to biodiversity preserve. The Town was approached by FLLT to
help purchase this. Joel: ambivalent about this since the biodiversity preserve took away from Danby’s
agricultural economic potential. Rather put town resources toward conservation easements. Rhonda: much
of land is wet land. Joel: maybe the preserve is large enough. Dan: would we want to make a proposal to
Town Board about intentions for property? Jake: should we discuss with FLLT? Jack: house not part of
property discussion. Jenny suggested leveraging our support for creating grazing parcel.
Motion: Motion from the Danby Conservation Advisory Committee (CAC) to the Danby Town
Board: We understand the Fingers Lakes Land Trust (FLLT) is potentially interested in the AllPort parcel on
the west side of 34/96, opposite the largest part of the Biodiversity Preserve. We (the CAC) are concerned
with the potential loss of agriculture land in West Danby. We respectfully request that the FLLT consider
incorporating agriculture use in their land management plan for this property, as well as the rest of the
Preserve.
Dan moved. Joel Seconded. Approved unanimously.
Action Item: Matt will send motion to Town Board (cc Town Clerk).
Mary put together post-easement handout for new donors. Jake: addresses what we asked for. Maybe
make more generic. Mary: made more personal for the easements. Wanted to make the land owners feel like
we were in touch with them specifically. Joel: downside is that if custom it takes more effort to personalize.
Dan: why are we discussing if this wouldn’t be personal. Matt: nice to have instructions for CAC board to
follow regarding specific easement. Jake: maybe a hybrid with a thank you included and with talk to your
neighbors. Jake: ask FLLT what are the most common problems that landowners have.
Action Item: everyone look at it and suggest changes to Mary.
Art Hanson made contribution to the CAC.
For future agenda: stewardship of town property and easements.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:38PM.
The next meeting is on November 24, 2014 at 7:00PM.
Remaining meetings for 2014: December 22.
Submitted by Matt Ulinski
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Email from Sue Beeners 10/27/2014
“…
Melchen and Palmer easements: being transmitted this week with certified resolutions and with letters
indicating that prior to closing, abstracts should be updated. And appraisals (optional) should be conducted.
Eddie's 'cabin': to be investigated this week, and then I will talk with Ted.
"Procedures list" - am working with Pamela on a list of steps that occur at Town Hall after the easements are
transmitted by the CAC for TB approval. There also appear to be other useful examples on line which could
help in your laying out the other steps from the start.....
Internship: A well-qualified grad student intern could work under the direction of the CAC in developing
many aspects of a conservation easement program, from further work with Jake on prioritization of parcels,
to procedures, publicity, outreach etc. Not only is there the Summer 200 hours for around $1800 but there
might be something for January and spring semester. Please let me know if this is something you would be
interested in. Good interns have helped us several times in special projects.
Town-owned lands management - wondering - does such apply to other lands such as the water tank site, fire
district/dept. sites, Town Hall property, and the highway facility.
FLLT proposed Allport acquisition: adjoins proposed aquifer protection area.
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