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Home My WebLink AboutCAC Minutes - 11_14_23_draftTown of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 1 of 8 Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council (CAC) Draft Minutes of In-person Meeting in Town Hall and via videoconferencing Tuesday, November 14, 2023 (rescheduled from October 10, 2023) Danby, New York Council Members present: Margaret Corbit (Meeting chair), Jonathan Zisk (Zoom), Joel Gagnon, Don Schaufler, Renee Owens, Katharine Hunter (Zoom), Brittany Stein (formerly Lagaly) Council Members absent: none Others present: Elizabeth Keokosky (Secretary), Anne Klingensmith (Danby resident interested in becoming a CAC member), Ronda Roaring (Danby resident via Zoom) Meeting was officially called to order at 7:08 Deletions or Additions to Agenda: Stein suggested adding the topic of creating a CAC Facebook page, similarly to that of the West Danby Fire and Rescue . Corbit added it to agenda entry 7: Status of Newsletter/webpage interactions Privilege of the Floor (PoF): Roaring discussed using a policy of “connectivity,” in parcel choice that prioritizes contiguous space. Also thought CAC should be educating people on DEC options to purchase property for easements. Zisk responding by saying “connectivity” is already a priority for CAC, and educating people on DEC is not listed as part of our mission. She was asked to send a link on the DEC process, and what were the advanges of going throught DEC. She said that hunting and fishing were considered recreation by DEC and they were interested in promoting it. Klingensmith said that she had decided to join the CAC, which was cheered. Approval of October 11, 2023 minutes Gagnon moved to approve  Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 2 of 8 Stein seconded  Approved by all present REPORTS AND UPDATES (from the agenda) 1. Danby local election results and how, if any, ways CAC should respond – all Gagnon and Hunter, CAC members, continue as Supervisor and Danby Town Board member. 2. Status of DEC meeting on Timber Harvesting law – Schaufler subgroup Zisk incorporating DEC comments on his report. 3. Update on Conservation Easement Tax Abatement; Criteria for acceptance – Gagnon Conservation Easement tax abatement for new easements was announced in Danby newsletter CAC report. But CAC is continuing to explore ways that it can be grandfathered into old ones. Pof:Keokosky suggested contacting our NY State Assembly member, Anna Kelles. Gagnon will talk to town lawyer, Guy Krogh. Zisk asked about applying for state legislation that amends law to include first easement owners. It was agreed that this kind of exploration of change in intent and wording should come through a request by town board. 4. Easement monitoring: Recruiting easement monitors and developing a support packet; getting a coordinator - Corbit Corbit announced that she felt that there has been a breakthough on easement monitoring. In last several days, she, Gagnon, and Owens, have been looking at the different processes involved in easements and monitoring, and untangling confusions in language, resulting mainly from an unstandardized situation of different people doing the easement monitoring, new sets of members with varying experience, and decentralized easement document storage (mainly because of shifting Danby website systems and work space). Basic steps for easement are Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 3 of 8 1. Reach out to owner 2. Walk land and do baseline survey document. (a baseline is not the easement but only one of the documents in easement packet) 3. Development of whole easement (Schedules A, B, C) 4. Approval of all parties (Owens pointed out that baseline also has a legal meaning.) Gagnon would like to digitally re-organize easement storage: Each easement becomes a Folder that holds all resouces monitoring coordinator needs to do job. (See Appendix B for a draft) Annual monitoring document is for members but also landowners should get a copy. Owens said that monitoring document should be systematic and note the time, hour, and date and required information. Gagnon suggested secretary (Keokosky) send all landowners an announcement letter (that informs them of monitoring that will occur). She affirmed this was OK. Content and form is still being decided. (See Appendix A for a draft). Letter wording needs to accommodate easements that have changed hands ( 3 so far), so should to be somewhat explanatory. Gagnon suggested asking landowner if he/she would like to help. They can report significant changes. Katherine noted that letters she recieives from Delaware Higlands Conservancy (for her family easement) uses a link to refer owner to surveying type questions. ( https://delawarehighlands.org/landowner/caring-for-your-land/monitoring- form/ ) In the interest of simplification of baseline documentation, Owens thinks CAC should standardize on a GIS program to mark boundaries that is simple and inexpensive. She asked about GIS tracking programs that is user friendly – Zisk has been using Alltrails (https://www.alltrails.com/mobile ) or Huntstand (https://www.huntstand.com/huntstand- app/?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvND5kI7vggMVHmBHAR3rpAKpEAA YASAAEgLidfD_BwE ). Huntstand has the advantage of saving GIS data as a Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 4 of 8 pdf file as a stardized output format. David West, former planner, used Gaia GPS (https://www.gaiagps.com/ ) from his iPhone. This leaves a hodgepodge of programs used among easerments. Corbit asked “Are we committed to annual monitoring? Discussion followed on problems, which are seen as as lack of coordinator, communication, reluctance to go through woods because of ticks, time, among other things. So the questions remained: Does monitoring need additional volunteers? Does it have to be annual? Ownens emphasized that if we are using volunteers we need one place where everything is spelled out that they need to know. She volunteered to help put it together. Zisk noted that the presentation CAC makes to property owner should be short and sweet. He continued that CAC members (with more knowledge) should do monitoring, not volunteers. Gagnon said volunteers might have more longevity than some CAC members. Hunter asked that, in the future, could there be preliminary (online or paper) report forms for monitor to use (like the census) Discussion ended with Owens taking ownership of organizing monitoring oversight process. And indirect compliments were made to former CAC chair, Clare Fewtrell, for her work in “Clarifying” the process. We miss her uncontestable energy to “crack the whip” by being her own best example.. 5. Updates on on-going easements – from leads on each easement Brian Caldwell and wife, Twinkle Griggs – Corbit doing baseline – said it was a lovely piece of property Ruth Sherman – Stein will be going to walk land after Nov 16th Ben Altman – Zisk has an appointment with Ben when he gets back from Maine Andi Goldsmith -Zisk working on a schedule A and Schedule C with Andi Butje – Gagnon asked Greg for update who said they were reluctant to make easement before they know if proptery will be subdivide. Will ask Greg to let them know that subdivides can be written into easement. 6. Report on status of checklist to trigger CAC involvement in town planning/land use discussions - Zisk Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 5 of 8 Gagnon noted that the Planning Board doesn’t do development, but site approvement Zisk explained that checklist would be used to if a change in the human footprint involved a potentially serious impact to the environment. So it should be sent to anyone who would be in the position to intercept this. This problem discussion has been prompted by a possibly inappropriate purchase of land on the corner of Nelson and Hornbrook roads by Khuba International, an organization which wants to put a farm in a environmentally vulnerable piece of property. (steep drop-off- don’t have access from Nelson. (https://www.khubaintl.org/the-learning-farm) 7. Status of Newsletter/webpage interactions – Owens, Corbit Newsletter – Gagnon needs to talk to new Town Clerk, elected to begin in January, so situation with newsletter is as yet to be determined. Website - Corbit noted that Janice Alderman (current town clerk) is doing a good job on CAC website. Needs more photos. Owens brought up the availabllilty of her own photos or of Bickley hi-res stock photos that are free. She is putting together an article on over-wintering pollinators. Facebook page - In response to Owens’ question, Stein responded that whole group would have adminiatrative rights to site, as she visualizes it. She saw the page as a source of Information on invasive plants and such related topics. Gagnon asked if this is a supplement to Danby website or will point people to Danby website. Stein said she would take overall administrative responsibility for a CAC Facebook page. There was no Executive session Next Meeting is on December 12, 2023 at 7p.m. Adjournment at 9:05 pm Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 6 of 8 _____________________________________________ Submitted by Elizabeth Keokosky (Secretary) Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 7 of 8 Appendix A Example DRAFT Monitoring Letter to Easement Holder in Corbit’s email Conservation Advisory Council Town of Danby, New York OR To: name, etc including easement info and address of owner Dear [Easement Holder]: Thank you for your commitment to conserve the natural resources and scenic beauty of the Finger Lakes region of Central New York, specifically in our Town of Danby. [In future years we might want to note the number of acres in easement? As of the writing of the letter or reference an increase?] As outlined in the contract you signed with the Town regarding the Conservation Easement on your property {Tax Lot # and/or address or other identifying info?], the Town Conservation Advisory Council (CAC) is required to periodically ensure that the natural values of the land under easement have not been compromised. As a first step, we ask you to complete the Conservation Easement Monitoring form online at: URL. The CAC will review each easement, based on your report as well as aerial images and other GIS resources available to the Town. There are several options for this process. 1) You may confirm that there have been no changes in the physical landscape of the property or your use of it as outlined in the easement as the current owner of the property. This is a convenient way to complete the process. 2) If there have been changes to the property that you would like to have recorded, for example building enhancements in the Residential and Active Use Zone, please describe them in the form and attach digital images. CAC will confirm this information. 3) If there have been major changes that were allowed in the original easement or that show up in the CAC review, a member of the CAC will inform you of our plans to walk the property and invite you to join us. Words of Thanks…….. CAC Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 8 of 8 Appendix B Suggested DRAFT digital Folder Organization in Gagnon’s email Conservation Easement Monitoring Location Map of Easement Properties Contact Information for Current Owners of Easement Properties Notification Letter Template Easement-Specific Supporting Documentation Property map showing zones List of ordinary and special values Baseline Documentation Any Special features – retained rights (to subdivide, add dwelling units, etc.) Monitoring Report template Calendar Choose Coordinator Line up Crew for each site visit/monitoring Schedule site visits and send notification letter (Secretary) Deadline for completion of monitoring reports (electronic?) Reports compiled and filed by coordinator File of Completed Monitoring Reports by Year