Town of Rochester Environmental Conservation Commission
Minutes for Tuesday, August 31, 2021 – 6:30pm
Meeting held in person at Harold Lipton Community Center, Accord
In attendance:
Madeline Russo (ECC Chair)
John Messerschmidt (ECC Vice Chair)
Tim Ganon (ECC member)
Mikala Sherman (ECC member) via phone
Heather Eckardt (ECC member) via phone
Mark Diedrich (ECC member)
Judith Karpova (ECC member)
Absent:
Lisa Dokken (ECC member)
Guests:
Ann Belmont (public)
Todd Anderson (public) ECC membership approval pending
Larry DeWitt
Christopher Spatz
Meeting called to order at 6:39pm
Approve May Minutes – approved
Old Business
Heritage Day, October 2nd
• Speakers: John has booked a butterfly/pollinator speaker, Larry has been in touch with a wildlife/raptor rehabilitator
• Co-tabling: John has confirmed with Laura Finestone that the RCWA will share our table
• Pizza oven: Madeline will confirm with Chris, Tim able to provide firewood
• Information to provide at the table: wildlife corridor overview, watershed educational park information, ECC engagement information, Third Thursdays tote bags…
• Need to schedule presenters/speakers and ECC members to man the table. Will meet mid-month in September to organize schedule.
Third Thursday Nature Series Presentations – remaining on hold for now
Wildlife Crossings/Citizen Science Project – Chris Spatz attended to fill us in on his work and how it aligns with the ECC’s wildlife corridors work. He recommended that the ECC engage with local schools/students and hunters to solicit wildlife camera footage or physical cameras that we could monitor at the various crossings mapped out in Judith’s report. Ann and Judith will take on this project. Also recommended that we create a Facebook group or webpage to share footage and information.
New Business
Subcommittees:
• Events/Outreach: Heather, Tim, Todd, Madeline
• Town Board Referral Review: Judith, John, Mikala, Lisa
Zoning Board of Appeals application for review: Tow Path Road/Sturges variance application, pending review by ECC. Will be discussed at mid-month meeting.
Watershed Educational Park trailblazing on Friday September 30 – confirm with John M.
Public Comment – none
Meeting Adjourned by consensus at 7:58pm