MINUTES for Tuesday January 25th, 2022
Town of Rochester Environmental Conservation Commission
Location: Zoom
Attendees:
John Messerschmidt, Ann Belmont, Todd Anderson, Judith Karpova, Erin Enouen, Larry Dewitt,
Approve December Minutes: Approved
Amend the December minutes from October to September. John will make the change
Discuss 2021 Annual Report Erin will look into what info they want.
Planning Board Applications None
UPCOMING EVENTS
1. Snowshoeing at Watershed Park: February Erin will look into whether the driveway is being plowed.
2. Earth Day Cleanup: April
3. Salamander Crossing: usually in April Laura Heady would know details about this.
4. Riverkeeper Riversweep in May We will meet at the Kerhonkson bridge.
5. Tire Pull in June
6. Restore American Chestnut event in spring Judith will create a form for the adoption of trees
CONTINUING PROJECTS
1. Third Thursday Nature Series: Marbletown, Olive will join. 1 person from each town will form a subcommittee, meet monthly and report back to their town. Judith will ask Olive to chose 1 person.
2. Wildlife Corridor/209 Underpass: Ann No news
3. 44/55 Beautification Project: Mikala and Hank Alicandri No news
4. Watershed Park Expansion: Mikala will reach out to Peter Terrace from OSI. No news
5. Climate Smart Community and Benchmarking: Madeline took 6 month course, Next step: Judith is taking a benchmarking course. Goal is to become a bronze Clean Energy Community. Erin talked about an Arbor Day tree planting. We would prefer to plant regionally native trees.
6. Pollinator garden for TOR: John and Larry John reached out to Parks and Rec. There aren’t any after school programs for the Youth Center due to Covid. Will touch base in February.
7. Collaboration with other ECC’s: John Ann met with Olive CAC. They are: updating solar laws and solar mapping, deciding who will maintain the Olive town pollinator garden, Woodstock Pollinator Pathway, discussed having consistent signage with other towns for plants. Adding a high school age member, developing a Comprehensive Plan, looking for members.
8. Community activities, guided nature hikes, cleanups, etc. Next month this item will be absorbed into EVENTS and CONTINUING PROJECTS
9. Plastic waste at RVSD: Ann. No news
10. Recruiting new ECC members No news
11. Mission Statement. Judith and Mikala will send a first draft to everyone. No news.
NEW PROJECTS:
1. Backyard National Forest: Judith read Doug Tallamy’s excellent book, “Bringing Nature Home” and wants to incorporate this concept into our mission.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Transfer Station recycling, compost and Exchange update by Erin from Town Board. Erin: Seneca landfill is closing. Ulster county is being considered as a possible replacement site. There is a CLCPA event on 2/12/22 by Jan Metzger.