AGENDA for Tuesday 3/26/24
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 February Minutes:

Ulster County Environmental Management Council Report, James Easely

Upcoming Events:
• Earth Day ’24 –Michael Gaige is not available. We’ll need another idea. We are free to buy seed packets with our budget.
• Annual Amphibian Migration Report. – 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 –

Website:

The ECC 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.
• Who we are (Mission Statement): Ann will email amended Mission Statement to everyone, people will respond to entire group with suggestions.
• Commission Members: Same as on current website
• Contact: Meeting Dates: Same as on current website
• Third Thursday link: Same as on current website
• Join the ECC: Town of Rochester Environmental Conservation Commission is seeking new members. We are planning and creating pollinator gardens, cleaning up the Rondout Creek, reducing plastic waste, and educating and inspiring the public to care for our planet and we need your help. For more information send an email to: ecc@townofrochester.ny.gov and help make a difference!
Pollinator Pathway page:
• Lists of native plants and species they attract John has approached Catskill Native for their lists.
• Add information about invasive plants John will do this too.
• Links to non-profit organizations related to pollinator friendly/native plants. ___________________
• Links to books and articles: _________________________
• In person consultants, with links: Name, contact info, website, 1 paragraph describing what you do, cost, whatever you want people to know. Send to Judith.
Events Page:
• Past events with photos and description: John has photos of past events and will send to Erin.
• Future events with description and dates: ____________________
Get Involved Page:
• List some of the concerns and issues of our times: ___________________
• Neonics campaign: Jim will provide information about this.
• Enterococcus campaign: __________________________
• Who are our representatives in government, what district are we in: Kurt will do this.
• Other environmental groups where people can donate or get involved. ________________
• Join the ECC
Logo:
• We are allowed to have a logo and we can spend our budget on whatever we want.

Old Business
• Toxic dumping: John will update everyone on his conversation with Rep Baden.
• Watershed Preserve: Michael Gaige proposal to prepare a 50 page environmental analysis will be voted on at the next TB meeting.
• Pollinator Pathway:
o Solicit endorsements promoting the town as a Pollinator Pathway. What exactly we are asking for?
o Contact known/already existing native pollinator gardens to join the national database.
o Judith will apply for another One Tree Planted Event Grant.
• Pollinator Gardens: Discussion of expanding the pollinator pathway garden at Town Hall. Kurt wants to be involved in this.
• Neonics Round Table: No action taken on this.
• Plastic Bag Collection: The plastic bag recycling program will restart on April 1st Saturday.
• 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.
• 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.

New Members:
Town of Rochester Environmental Conservation Commission is seeking new members. We are planning and creating pollinator gardens, cleaning up the Rondout Creek, reducing plastic waste, and educating and inspiring the public to care for our planet and we need your help. For more information send an email to: ecc@townofrochester.ny.gov and help make a difference!