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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAC Minutes - 07_12_22Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 1 of 4 Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council (CAC) Minutes of Video Conference (Zoom) Meeting on Tuesday, July 12, 2022 Danby, New York Council Members present: Margaret Corbit (Acting Chair), Joel Gagnon, Mary Woodsen, Jonathan Zisk, Katharine Hunter Council Members absent: Clare Fewtrell (chair), Brittany Lagaly, Don Schaufler Others present: Elizabeth Keokosky (secretary), Ronda Roaring (Danby resident), Zoom Meeting was officially called to order at 7:20. Privilege of the Floor (PoF): None Deletions or Additions to Agenda: None Approval Minutes MOTION for both May 10, 2022 and June 14,, 2022 minutes Woodsen moved to approve both Hunter seconded Unanimous approval. (actually approved at end of meeting) REPORTS AND UPDATES from Agenda 1. Update and follow through on Proposed Solar Panel Farm and possible Bird Survey – Joel Gagnon Gagnon reported that Norbut Solar Project site plan was approved by planning board. All hurdles have been jumped on Danby municipal side. Not sure when they will begin work – probably this fall. 2. Updates on Passed and Proposed Easements: Ravencache (Lagaly), Woodsen (Zisk), Sherman/Lassoie (Lagaly and Hunter), any others? Gagnon reported that Ravencache easement was approved by town Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 2 of 4 board, but Gagnon still has to meet with Tyler, Brittany’s husband, whose name is on deed, to complete and register with the county. It was suggested CAC make a map to show all Danby easements. No progress with Woodsen easement – Zisk had medical issues No progress with Sherman/Lassoie easement – see above. Hunter noted that this property was adjacent to Ted Crane’s, which could be used with him to encourage an easement on his property. Hoffman easement needed language to accommodate cabins, and a previously written section on cabins was taken from Melchen easement to adapt and incorporate in theirs . 3. Status of annual easement monitoring and placing easement signs – Jonathan Zisk, Katharine Hunter Eric Palmer still needs annual monitoring from last year, 2021. 2022 monitoring of easements needs to thought of. People worried about ticks and heat – thinking cooler weather might be a better choice since it allows complete coverup. Hunter volunteered to knock on Palmer’s door, and make a connection to find a good time to do monitoring 4. Status of Timber Harvesting law – Don Schaufler & Jonathan Zisk Schaufler not present, but may be meeting with Laura Shawley now, Zisk reported. 5. Status of local implementation of varying easement time lines and tax abatements subcommittee – Joel Gagnon Gagnon reported that the committee was still waiting on David West, Danby planner, and Ithaca school board, to come to a final conclustion of their deliberations. Also, since a recent school board election, there were now new board members that would have to learn the issues. 6. Beginning a re-visioning of Danby conservation easement message and how to strategize outreach; GIS map, enabling legislation – Joel Gagnon, Jonathan Zisk, Margaret Corbit GIS maps: Corbit explained that she had planned on working with David Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 3 of 4 West to learn GIS to show mapping, but had been kept instead in NYC helping out with sick family members. She had been unable to accomplish this goal, although she was enthusiastic to begin work on it. Discussion of a better public message: PoF:Keokosky reminded group that Zisk had also mentioned a more inspirational way of describing Danby conservation easements, similar to that of the Finger Lakes Land Trust, that could encourage a better (more environmentally preservationist) spirit in donors. Zisk redefined this goal as a mission statement. Gagnon suggested it could come from the enabling legislation for CAC. Pof:Roaring looked up and read the mission statement for the FLLT: “To conserve forever the lands and waters of the Finger Lakes region, ensuring scenic vistas, clean water, local foods, and wild places for everyone.” Pof:Keokosky suggested creating a mission statement from Danby’s comphrehensive plan – such as “To preserve the rural quality of Danby”. Corbit said that, listening to these examples, she realized the words didn ’t need to be defined, in fact as Gagnon said, ambiguity can be a good thing. It allows everyone to define it for themselves Discussion followed about writing a CAC website/page with aspects like “mission statement” “vision”,” about us” and how to accomplish this within the structure of the Danby website. Corbit wondered if we should go on Facebook but group decided it was best to concentrate energies on one place. One design suggestion: don’t give so much space to listing members. Corbit urged members to check out other websites for mission statement ideas. 7. Continued lessons with Zoho – Margaret Corbit Corbit describeds how to delete a file: Right click on item and at bottom of list that appears is “move to trash” Continue working on getting a common understanding, which is visually difficult since Zoho is accessed through a browser and looks different in each. Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 4 of 4 There was no Executive session Next Meeting via Zoom is on August 9, 2022 at 7p.m. Adjournment at 8:06 pm _____________________________________________ Submitted by Elizabeth Keokosky (Secretary)