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Home My WebLink AboutCAC Minutes - 09_08_20Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 1 of 6 Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council (CAC) Minutes of Video Conference (Zoom) Meeting on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 Danby, New York Council Members present: Clare Fewtrell (chair), Joel Gagnon, George Adams, Jonathan Zisk, Ruth Sherman, Don Schaufler (came in late) -- (difficulties for many connecting to this session) Council Members absent:, Mary Woodsen (arrived later in evening), Bill Evans Others present: Elizabeth Keokosky (secretary), Jason Haremza (Town Planner), Ronda Roaring (Danby resident – arrived late?) (Katherine Hunter –former CAC member) Zoom Meeting was called to order at 7:07 Deletions or Additions to Agenda Educational classes for landowners added to item number 3. Privilege of the Floor (PoF) - None Approval Minutes MOTION for August 11, 2020, including Schaufler’s and Gagnon changes Zisk moved to approve Adams seconded Unanimous approval REPORTS AND UPDATES 1) Management Plans for Sylvan Lane and Deputron Hollow Road Town Properties – Zisk Discussion on continuing adjustments to Zisk’s draft, which he sent in email to members. Some had commented that it needs more detail Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 2 of 6 and he said that he was completely flexible as to how it is modified – appendices, etc. Zisk noted the essence of the plan is to conserve both plots. They need yearly reassessment with volunteers or CAC members. The main problems are slopes and soil fragility. He said he would put final version on hold for a month to let people respond. (Pof:Roaring continued her objection to contributing since she felt her contributions had only met previous objections before.). Zisk wasn’t sure an elaborate detailed history was necessary, but good if we have it and Roaring or others were willing to send it. Zisk said that he would tack on lists of species in documents previously recorded by others. Fewtrell asked him to send a final email version to the rest of CAC, including Ronda, a week before the next CAC meeting. 2) St. John Deputron Hollow properties for sale - Gagnon Gagnon passed the responsibility for connecting with St. John to secretary Keokosky based on her interest. Discussion of options followed (various options: a “Bargain Sale” which allows a charitable deduction on federal income tax, USDA conservation funding for half of price, would town be willing to pay any money?), though many of group had doubts it was worth it. Final understanding approved by the group was that Roaring or Gagnon would give Keokosky St. John’s contact information and she would talk to him after doing some research, then run conversation past Gagnon. 3) Logging Ordinance –Don Schaufler and George Adams Adams had not been able to call logging sub-committee together and, as a consequence, did not have a lot of new information to add to the discussion of proposed Danby law for logging ordinance. But he did suggest that we start with Danby draft law, which Schaufler noted had been written by the old sub-committee last year, and Gagnon added had been put on a back burner after C.J. (the previous planner) had left. Adams also reported that Haremza had warned that we have to be careful not to make new jobs for people who don’t have the time to do Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 3 of 6 them and had suggested working with Caroline, which is starting on a similar ordinance and wanted to combine efforts with us. Adams was still checking on what other towns were doing and comparing them point by point to the Danby draft law. He said that we were perhaps closer than we thought to the finish line (for this reason he felt it was not worth it to work with Caroline). Gagnon and Adams still wanted to wait on Ulinski (the past leader of the group) who could only become more involved after September (after Cornell’s school year got started). Scott Davis (on Danby Planning Board) was also a past member who had not responded. Fewtrell said that the main purpose is finding out what logging is happening in Danby, even if it means just registering jobs with town. Gagnon said that protection from erosion and bonding to cover road damage are other main points. Adams was concerned with keeping the balance between making effective requirements and requirements so onerous that contractor cooperation would be limited. He agreed to bring at least a partially finished product to the next meeting. PoF: Keokosky (secretary) brought up the idea of a forestry class for landowners, using best management practices, introduced by Sherman at the last meeting. She said that she would reach out to a West Danby resident who works for Wagner Lumber, Bruce Richards. Gagnon is sending his email address. Fewtrell suggested that to get people to come, mention we’re working on a logging ordinance and that might pique interest. Keokosky volunteered to contact Richards, see what he thought, and get an article in the Danby Area Newsletter (DAN). 4) Inspecting Current Easements – Sherman Sherman reported that she had sent regular mail letters followed by an email to all current easement holders announcing the annual monitoring visit, and only one person had responded. There is no info on Curtis easement on-line. Still confusion from getting information from Lasherfiche server. Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 4 of 6 Only Kate O’Neal called back and said it was fine. Sherman re-sent information as email to the people who hadn’t responded. She put together a group of volunteers to monitor O’Neal’s property. Still waiting on responses from others. 5) Easement Signs – Adams Adams reported on costs: Had asked Voss Signs about aluminum signs. The sign costs of a two colors on thinner aluminum stock – size 9x12 – is $7 each, minimum order 25 so $220 ($200)(including a $25 setup charge). Thicker stock and more colors $12 per sign – around $345 ($325?). (These numbers don’t add up. Are they correct, George?) Adams tested UR code, which is working from multiple devices. He will arrange text with “Danby Conservation Easement” at top. “No Public Access” at bottom. Discussion followed on color. Fewtrell had been hoping to connect the approval of signs with monitoring easement site visit, but questions still remained. Group thought sketch needed to be made more stylized with bolder lines to make it a stronger graphic image. Adams is trying options of black (or blue) against white for visibility. Gagnon asked how do we proceed? Adams is going to send another email example before the next meeting. 6) Fewtrell Easement Update – Fewtrell Main remaining question is how to incorporate use of workshop in easement: Fewtrell had discussed with her tenant his interest in buying her property if she sells it and he is interested, so she wants to write up the easement with the use of the workshop included. Gagnon felt it could be accommodated: It could be written up as an exception in a residential zone or the agricultural zone, subject to compliance with local law. Fewtrell said it requires no heavy traffic. They decided to include it in the residential zone since it was not agriculturally related. Fewtrell and Gagnon are working on the language and don’t expect town board objections, yet it will also have to pass a public hearing. (PoF: Hunter did voice some concerns with Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 5 of 6 a business on a conservation easement, but Fewtrell said she couldn’t do the easement without it) Fewtrell reported that she had heard back from Andi Gladstone, who had not connected with the Humane Society in her application for an easement. Gladstone was concerned with hunting or trapping. She wants restrictions to affect her successors as well. Adams suggested that if she makes land open to public access then perhaps hunting could be precluded. Gagnon said Danby easements cannot enforce no hunting, and Finger Lakes Land Trust only does so it if they are given a property and can make it into a preserve. Schaufler, Zisk, and Adams volunteered to go with Fewtrell to inspect Gladstone property, which is on Comfort Rd. Announcements – people leaving CAC Katherine Hunter has resigned. Check status of Bill Evan’s membership. He never officially resigned but his term is up at the end of the year. Looking for new people to join. 7) Planning Group & Working sub-groups - Gagnon Gagnon announced Jason Haremza, current town planner, is leaving at end of month. Supervisor Gagnon is going through old list of applicants and the priority is to have a new planner on board as soon as possible. He is now negotiating with second person in line. The Board is of mixed mind on other applicants. Re-advertising is a multi-month project. May have to hire an interim planner again. Thanks were given by all to Jason, and he responded in kind, offering his help through the transition. There was no Executive session Next Meeting through Zoom is on October 13 at 7p.m. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 8:47 p.m. Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 6 of 6 _____________________________________________ Submitted by Elizabeth Keokosky (Secretary)