Town of Rochester Environmental Conservation Commission
Minutes for Tuesday, February 23, 2021 – 6:30pm
Video recording can be viewed on YouTube: www.bit.ly/TORECC-YouTube
In attendance:
Madeline Russo (ECC Chair)
John Messerschmidt (ECC Vice Chair)
Lisa Dokken (ECC member)
Mark Diedrich (ECC member)
Heather Eckardt (ECC member)
Tim Ganon (ECC member)
Ann Belmont (public)
Todd Anderson (public)
Lawrence Dewitt (public)
Chris Spatz (public)
Wildlife Corridor/209 Underpass Tour: Chris Spatz of Rosendale and Ann Belmont of the BlueStone Press in attendance to discuss the Wildlife Corridor project that Judith Karpova has taken the lead on. Judith sent her report to the ECC members on February 14th, and Chris has been working with her on setting up trail cameras. He has some contacts at Mohonk that could be helpful for securing funding for cameras or borrowing for this project. He’ll follow up with Judith directly and we’ll plan for an update from the two of them at next month’s meeting.
Town Amending Comprehensive Plan to Adopt Natural Heritage Plan & Open Space Inventory: This has been rescheduled for March 23, 2021 at 6:30pm. The ECC has already submitted a letter in support of the adoption of the NHP and OSI to the Comprehensive Plan. Larry Dewitt in attendance to encourage attendance and ask if anyone has heard any negative feedback that we could help to address before the hearing. Ann Belmont shared her article published last November/December ahead of the previously-scheduled hearing for our newer members to review.
Third Thursday Nature Series Presentations: Last week’s HV Farm Hub presentation broke our record for attendance at 50+ attendees!
Upcoming schedule of speakers:
March: Mark Diedrich (spring birdwatching)
April: Watershed Educational Park
May: Laura Chávez Silverman of The Outside Institute (Intro to Foraging)
June: Judith Karpova (energy efficiency)
July: John Thompson of CRISP (invasive insects)
Todd will handle online calendar/forum promotions going forward, and Madeline will continue to promote via social media and email newsletter.
Climate Smart Communities Update: Madeline will give an overview of the Local Champions grant program and the work involved going in pursuing CSC Certification going forward ahead of next month’s meeting.