AGENDA for Tuesday 2/27/24
Town of Rochester Environmental Conservation Commission

Location: Community Center: 15 Tobacco Rd. Accord Time: 6:00 PM

Chair Report:

Town Board Liaison Erin Enouen Report:

Approve December and January Minutes:

Ulster County Environmental Management Council Report, James Easely

Website:
The theme of the new website is to be an information hub for the community on everything we are working on. ECC members will choose any of the points below and begin gathering information that we can give to the web designer when they are ready for it. Erin looking to finalize content by March;
• Who we are (Mission Statement) John made the first draft. Everyone will review and offer changes.
• Commission Members
• Contact: Meeting Dates
• Third Thursday link
• Join the ECC
Pollinator Pathway page:
• Lists of native plants and species they attract
• Links to non-profit organizations related to pollinator friendly/native plants
• Links to books and articles
• In person consultants, with links to local businesses, community members, ECC members, with contact info, website, short description of what they do.
Events Page:
• Past events with photos and description
• Future events with description and dates
Get Involved Page:
• Neonics campaign
• Enterococcus campaign
• Who are our representatives in government?
• Other environmental groups where people can donate or get involved.
• Local environmental concerns
• Join the ECC

Logo:
• We saw 2 versions of a logo from Lara Schmakoz and all agreed that one of them was preferable. We discussed other logo concepts and ideas too. If we decide to ask for more options, Lara may want to get paid, as this one was done for free. If so, she should present a proposal.

Upcoming Events:
• Earth Day ’24 – Ideas: Youth oriented. Treasure hunt. The HV Seed Company seed packets given out. Michael Gaige Walk through of Judith’s property.
• Annual Amphibian Migration – coming up March/April on a rainy night when temps are 40*-50*. Possible locations are Schwabe Turnpike, Boodle Hole Road and Bone Hollow Rd.
• Mushroom ID Walk –

Old Business
• Pollinator Pathway: Update by Judith
• Pollinator Gardens: Discuss next pollinator garden.
• Neonics Round Table: Update by John
• Plastic Bag Collection: The plastic bag recycling program at the transfer station is on hold from Jan. through March, due to cold weather. People can take their plastic bags to Staples, Target, Walmart or Hannaford supermarket.
• Enterococcus: Rondout Creek is unsafe for swimming. Riverkeeper has been testing for 10 yrs or so, but no one has done or is doing anything to make it safe. Larry spoke with Ben Gannon of the DEC, who is still uncertain of the source of this contaminant. He will next contact Riverkeeper for raw data so it can be re-organized to show where it’s clean, dirty, and where it gets contaminated after a rain.
• Watershed Preserve: Update by John
• Hazardous landfill in Rochester: 18 sites have been/are being cleaned up, using funds from a $40.4 million available total. Update by John
• Controlled Burns: How can the ECC promote a revival of the practice here? Contact ANA, (The Association of Native Americans of the Hudson Valley) DEC, US Forestry person who writes for the Shawangunk Journal.

New Members:
If anyone is interested in becoming a member, send an email of interest to Supervisor Baden. Town Board will vote on it.