Town of Rochester ECC, 3/13/14 7pm

Attendance: Laura Finestone, Angela Dorris, Larry DeWitt, Barbara Fornal, Tim & Ben Gannon, Hank Bartosik, Steve Rice, Chris Hewitt

1. Updates and reports:

Steve, rail trail report: green, yellow and red colorcoding of rail trail map

• We have two main red, inaccessible trail areas in Rochester.
  • One between town hall and Lucas Avenue, so it’s necessary to travel on Route 209. T
  • he other is a small gap at Kripplebush Creek. The trail into Town of Wawarsing is also red, inaccessible.
• Wayne Bradford bought the Burd’s Farm in Wawarsing and is very amenable to allowing the trail through the property.
• Yellow trails mean the trail is passable but not necessarily open. The trail is pretty rough in those areas with drainage issues.
• regarding naming, there was local talk of calling it the Rondout Valley Rail Trail. Steve suggests putting historic mile markers on the trail that say O&W Rail Trail, or O&W Railroad. There are historical precedents that call trails by the latest railroad company name.
• Laura mentioned that this relates to a future opportunity to educate people on the trail with O&W history and info possibly using kiosks and apps.
• brought up the benefits of the safety concerns/ideas of mile markers, and the relationship to NY Rising funding as emergency access and high ground.
• -he ECC voted to approve the name and focus of the trail on O&W Rail Trail.

 

 

2. Solar reports

• through NY Rising we are awaiting final approval for the funding to install solar panels on the community center, in addition to new doors, showers, and battery backups
• We see this as great demo project to show how this works for the town

 

3. Environmental Management Council

• our ECC still needs an official representative to attend meetings on the last Wednesday of every month at SUNY Ulster.
• Ben and/or Tim are considering representing us, pending a vote to join the ECC. Ben described his background and experience.
• discussed formal process of joining the ECC.
• Laura will follow up with Tim and Ben to provide more info for joining.

 

4. Biodiversity training

• we need a designated project in order to participate in this training, but we don’t have one right now. Larry suggested that our work on the Rondout could qualify. Hank described what kind of project qualifies.
• The ECC paid for a study in 2006 that Chris had heard about and printed out to share with the group. It was done by the DEC in New Paltz and focuses on Rochester land types and species with a list of flora and fauna in Rochester.
• Hank described that it requires a real commitment to a project, and Angela expressed interest specifically if it’s a project within Rochester. We don’t want to stretch ourselves too thin, especially because we are already busy and about to engage in NY Rising work. We may not want to misuse our precious resources of time and upcoming funding.
• some of what we’re already involved in includes:
  • NY Rising (will be about two years before the plan is done),
  • finalizing Natural Resource Inventory,
  • Rail Trail Initiative,
  • Rondout restoration and cleaning,
  • general town clean ups,

 

• Barbara expressed interest in the DEC study biodiversity project just based on the threatened species within the study. She said she’d be happy to put her time toward this.
• Ben also has ideas on how to make a biodiversity study work well, particularly next streamside areas. Maybe choose a small cross section where a tributary meets the Rondout. Hank Bartosik will have input on this subject.
• as a group we need to see what a project entails, what the funding looks like, and how this fits into our current work. Someone needs to pull all of this together. We’ve passed the deadline time for this year, so we have some time to think about this. But we still have a chance to submit an idea.
• a small group will work on this before the next meeting: Laura, Tim, Ben, Barbara, and Hank.

Resource Recovery addressed the EMC about the county program to make compost, which Hank described as delicious looking. There is a spot that people can go to get the compost.

 

5. NY Rising

• funds will be released in May, most likely. The whole committee voted on all of the projects. Projects include a new roof for firehouse in Alligerville. Streamside reparations. A “Featured” project, not approved, is a proper bridge at flood spot on Route 209. Another “Featured” project that is talked about is a new wing at the Ellenville Hospital that could be used as an overflow space during emergencies.
• Laura covered more potential projects in the county.
• small discussion about whether there was coverage of the communication systems of the county, including wireless and devices being used. Not discussed much at NY Rising.

 

6. watershed project/subcommittee

• Laura and other ECC members met with a consultant to considerbest practices for managing the watershed implementation projects
• Considering how to cover this issue. May need an elected official and an ECC member from each town. Also been working with Riverkeeper and DEC.
• there are potential millions of dollars to spend on this, but nothing happens unless all of the towns agree on how to work on this and what the project is. Awaiting word from NY Rising as to how the funds will be released. It’s FEMA money. Could be two to three years before something actually starts to get done.

7. Earth Day and Clean Sweep

• discussed the work that goes into getting ready for the events, including banners to put out. Barbara will be working on this with Laura.
• Laura has a plan from previous years that she will share.
• She will also share the dates and the meetup on Mettacahonts. They will plan on this outside of the meeting.
• Tim said that he can help with banners. Banners, press release, flyers made, flyers distributed (20 flyers). April 26^th at 9am at Skate Time to meet for the road clean up.
• .Most of the board will be attending the clean up.

 

8. Riverkeeper Clean Sweep

• there are many Sweep locations, and the Rochester ECC has taken over the coordination of our local event. The Sweep partners with breweries throughout the area to get donated beer to have a gathering after our Creek Cleaning. Angela is our main representative and Tim said that he’ll be the assistant organizer. We collected over 50 tires during last year’s event. We will aim to cover the area that was missed last year. Quick talk about Scenic Road access to remove the tires. May 10, 9am. Accord Town Park.
• Deep Hole area of Towpath Road needs a cleaning; It gets pretty trashed. So there will be a walk up and down the creek to clean. Angela’s idea is to start with a gathering and then spread out from there. There are a lot of donated items from Riverkeeper so we can have a raffle. Angela and Tim will discuss the details. Also May 10, so the get together will then branch out to both locations.
• Angela will keep the group posted on the events and progress

 

9. Watershed Roundtable

• March 28, 12-4:30pm at SUNY New Paltz. Presendation of Riverkeeper water quality project. Preregistration is required.

 

10. Open space plan review and suggestions

• there is a plan that started, and we shall revisit. Larry suggested that there may be some economies of scale if this project works with other projects.

 

11. Natural Resource Inventory update

• the original NRI is in draft form, so Laura and Chris will meet within the next two months to see what holes there are and what needs updating and improving. After that we will open it up to the group to see what else can be improved, and Barbara suggested that we open that meeting up to the public for feedback.

 

12. Other announcements

• April 5, 8:30am half day work day on the rail trail. Meeting spot at William’s Lumber. Bring tools to help with trail clearing.
• Hank said that the Open Space Plan is almost the same as the NRI, but with better language and almost the same exact maps.
• Chazen Companies organizes a get together at New Paltz Diner, Stop & Shop Plaza, to talk about local issues. This recent meeting was about flooding and shorelines in our region, and effects of rising waters. The Omelet Series. Second Thursday each month.
• Scenic Hudson has a flooding scenarios mapping device.
• Hank said we may need to watch out for more water in the Rondout if the water isn’t flowing in the aquifer pipes during construction.
• quick mention of a potential gambling license application at the Granit/Hudson Valley Resort. They are on the agenda for the next Planning Board meeting to apply for a variance about a new height.

 

Hank will facilitate next month. Second Thursday of April

Adjourn: 8:46pm