Minutes: Environmental Conservation Committee
Town of Rochester, NY 12/10/09
Meeting Started: 7:00 pm.
Present: Lillian Green, Michael Callan, Laura Finestone, Kenneth Grieser, Mark Girard, Judith Karpova, Steven Rice
First Order of Business:
ECC Committee Update:
We have been given a budget by the Town of Rochester of $7,000; of this, $2,000 remains, which must be spent by the end of 2009
We have a vacancy on the ECC, which will be posted for applicants.
The term of Michael Callan, Mark Girard and Kevin Grieser will end this year; they will need to be reappointed.
Next Order of Business: Laura Finestone, the Committee’s liason to the Rondout Creek Watershed Council, reported on the stakeholders’ meeting held on November 14th in Marbletown. Judith Karpova was also present at the meeting. RCWC is planning another stakeholders’ meeting on February 22nd, and asks for input from the munipal ECC’s. Victor Melendez the RCWC coordinator, is remaining in this position. Discussion of landowners and stakeholders to be contacted in the municipalities, such as highway department superintendents, farmers (i.e., Kelders, DeWitt, Ryders), landowners with tributaries going into the Rondout.
Next Order of Business: Carl Chipman has asked us to take charge of a Rondout Cleanup day. This will involve identifying landowners along the Town of Rochester portion of the creek and asking if they will make their property available as a dropoff point for trash gathered and bagged. It will be picked up by the Highway Department. May or early June was discussed as an optimum time, since it would all schoolchildren to participate. Discussion of how to ty and insurance continue to be an issue. Discussed finding out what Ulster County information services are available for finding out landowners for the Rondout Cleanup project
Next Order of Business: Judith Karpova noted that the tributary into the Mettacahonts which partially runs through her property, does not have a name and cannot be named “Sundown Creek,” as another creek in the region has this name. She asked for suggestions for other names. “Twilight Creek” and “Sunset Creek” were suggested, the ECC will think about other possibilities.
Next Order of Business: Rail Trails: William Lumber has agreed to let the Town of Rochester use their property as part of the Rail Trail. Discussion about creating signage indicating that the portion of the trail is through the courtesy of Williams Lumber, and marking that section to clearly define its boundaries. Signage could include, “Courtesy of Williams Lumber – Please Respect Private Property”
Assemblyman Kevin Cahill’s office has arranged for $1 million in funds to build a trail from Kingston to Hurley. The ECC will get more information on the possible route.
Next Order of Business: Steven Rice addressed the issue of the need to spend the balance of the 2009 $7,000 ECC budget. One area would be be purchase of Rail Trail signage, with a priority for signs for which there will be a recurring need. These may include, “No Motorized Vehicles,” “Please Respect Rights of Private Property,” etc. Also discussed purchase of fiberglass rods as trail markers. Discussion of prices and quantities. Voss discussed as a good supplier. Committee passed a resolutuion for signage purchase. Steven Rice suggested the purchase of bicycle racks, one to be placed at Town Hall, another at the Rail Trail trailhead, one at the high school. Discussion about the possibility of placing them at private businesses through a cooperative grant at some point in the future. Discussion about types, styles and costs of such racks.
Committee passed a resolution to purchase one bicycle rack, 30 fiberglass rods with driving took, generic Rail Trail signage, invasive species identification signage, tree leaf identification signage for the trail, and custom Williams Lumber signage.
Next Order of Business:
Project discussed to take schoolchildren out on the trails and hang the signs. Discussion of using Alternative Sentencing labor for ECC projects, such as maintaining the Rail Trail or Rondout Cleanup. Noted that May 22, 2010, we are actually signed up for this labor for the Rail Trail project.
Next Order of Business: Summation of upcoming ECC projects for 2010
Rondout Cleanup
Rail Trail signage and maintenance
Assist with February RCWC stakeholders meeting, planning will start in January
Tree identification and Wildflower Walk project
Budget for ECC money received in 2010
Hold Town Talks on Geology, Tree and Wildflower identification, Deers and Bears,
Next Order of Business: Recap of 2009 activities and accomplishments:
Two Trees for Tribs Projects: Oct. 12; Karpova tributary into the Mettacahonts, 0 trees, 70 shrubs; 450′ of streambank planted with ~25 volunteers —
Oct. 30, Tetlow, which is behind town hall on the Rondout: 5 trees, 25 shrubs. 25 willow stakes; 100′ of streambank planted w/4 volunteers.
Participated in the Minnewaska State Park Master Plan comment period and met with Minnewaska State Park officials with fellow ECC members from the Town of Gardiner
Gained access to Rail Trail through Williams Lumber property
Established liason with the Rondout Creek Watershed Council and participated in planning and hosting the Nov. 14th stakeholders event.
Held Town Talks on: Invasive plants, Bears, Fire awareness.
Greenway Grant Approval
Fulfilled Budget
Assigned liason with the Town of Rochester Planning Board
Assigned liason with the Ulster County Environmental Management Committee
Assigned Kristin Marcell the the Town of Rochester Code Task Force
Meeting closed at 8:15