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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988_11_17 Conservation Advisory Commission Minutes i c c aQ,Jc Town of Mamaroneck Conservation Advisory Commission FINAL- Area I(VALArea Code 914 740 West Boston Post Road 381-6133 Mamaroneck, N. Y. 10543 MINUTES NOVEMBER 17,1988 A regular meeting of the Conservation Advisory Commission (CAC) was held on Thursday, November 17, 1988, in Conference Room A of the Town Center, 740 West Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, New York. The meeting commenced at 8:O5PM. Members Present: Robert Komitor, Chairman Charles Bernstein 4 Steven Goldstein Mary Anne Johnson, Emeritus RECEIVED Jane Moss FEB 1 1989 Michael Scheffler PATRICIA A.ococcI0 Irma Volk T01NN CLERK MAMARONECK N.Y. Members Absent: Susanne Carpenter Jim Santos Others Present: Cheryl Lewy, liaison, Village of Larchmont Joan Heilman, Potential New Member Thomas Leddy, Beautification Director Robert Bishop, Resident, 16 South Drive Claudia Ng, Environmental Coordinator Barbara Cleary, Recording Secretary Administrative Matters Approval of Minutes - The minutes of October 27, 1988 were approved with corrections. Next Meeting - The next meeting has been scheduled for December 15, 1988. Steve Goldstein will be taking over as Chairman in January 1989 and Robert Komitor will remain on the Commission. CAC Duties - Ms. Ng discussed this in length at the previous meeting. At that time it was recommended that the CAC focus on Recycling, Conservation Areas and Education. Ms. Ng will send out a form requesting members to sign up for one of the subcommittees. Mr. Komitor also recommended that a legislation subcommittee he added. Work Program for 1989 - The 1989 Work Program must be submitted soon. Ms. Ng discussed the work program and explained it reimburses us for our budget. She also said it must be consistent with what the CAC is doing. • _ A CAC minutes-11/17/88 Several members made suggestions for projects that might be undertaken. Charles Bernstein informed the Commission of incidents where boat owners ' dropped trash and toilet waste directly into the sound. He also reported another boat owner opened his engine and let engine waste into the Sound. He therefore suggests that the CAC focus on engine and boat waste and educate the public that it is illegal. Mr. Komitor will check on the laws regarding this and Mr. Bernstein will draft a letter. Ms. Moss suggested that a certificate be required to prove boat owners disposed of their waste properly. Emeritus Member Consideration - Ms. Ng informed the Commission that Susan Amlicke requested that Elinor Fredston be given the honor of an Emeritus Member in recognition for her past duties. Mr. Komitor and• Ms. Moss thought it was a great idea. Mr. Komitor will write a letter to Supervisor Battalia approving Elinor Fredston as an Emeritus Member. Environment Conservation Areas - Mr. Robert Bishop of 16 South Drive, Larchmont stated he had written a letter to Supervisor Battalia advocating that bicycles be allowed in Conservation Area. He encouraged the Commission to see the benefits of cycling in these areas and maintained that the proper type bicycle would not cause damage to the Conservation Areas. Mr. Komitor said bicycling in Conservation Areas is prohibited by Town Laws and Ms. Ng concurred. Mr. Goldsteing said cyclists on Leatherstocking trail have caused damage. Mr. Komitor said the Commission will consider Mr. Bishop's letter and © discuss whether they should propose the Town to change the law. After some discussion it was determined that bicycling in Conservation Areas should remain prohibited to prevent liability problems. Premium Conservation Area - Ms. Ng asked the Commission if she should include the Premium Conservation Area in the Work Program. Mr. Scheffler suggested a video tape be made in order to educate the public about the area, and show how it has been abused and what can be done to correct it. Mr. Komitor expounded on this idea and suggested a video be made about all our Conservation Areas, explaining where they are and why they are important to all of us. He further recommended that this project be done with assistance from the LIFE Center and the Highschool. Irma Volk stated that we already have tapes in the library but they may need to be updated. Mrs. Johnson said she received a call from Mrs. O'Gorman and Mrs. Macin with LMC TV and they are looking for projects. Mr. Komitor said he will get the project going and call LMC-TV. Trapping - There was no update this month. Inventory of Streamside Properties - Mrs. Johnson reported that streamside properties remaining as open space are shrinking in number. She recommended the CAC promote ways to protect the streams which run into the Sound. She encouraged larger setback requirements, wetland plantings, and educating the public. Mrs. Johnson also reiterated her 3 point plan which called for the identification of open spaces, the second point recommends the town purchase the land or get easements: and the third point calls for a © streamside manual to be sent to property owners. -2- • CAC minutes-11/17/88 Ms. Ng said she cannot do the surveys herself, but requires the assistance of an engineer or an assessor. The surveys will be used to prevent people from using the Conservation Areas as their own property. Mrs. Lewy reported that a survey of the Larchmont Reservoir property is being implemented. Mr. Komitor asked the CAC if the Commission should recommend that surveys be conducted. He will write a letter to Town Attorney, Supervisor Dolores • Battalia, Village of Larchmont Board and Town Board. Mr. Komitor requested Mr. Leddy to make a list of properties that might be encroaching on Conservation Areas. Mr. Leddy will coordinate these efforts with Mr. Kellogg. Hommocks Conservation Area - Several residents of this area have made complaints concerning the litter. Mrs. Johnson suggested the residents form a neighborhood watchdog group. She had asked Howard Sloane, a resident in that area, if he would be interested in creating such an organization, but he declined. He did, however, request information related to homeowner's impact to the Long Island Sound which shows the importance of educational fliers, like the "Long Island Sound Owners' Manual". Mr. Leddy reported that a stolen file cabinet was found on the property and thousands of papers were blown all over the area. Development Projects Residential Development - 746 Mamaroneck Avenue - Ms. Ng reported that she received a notice from the Village of Mamaroneck informing her of a proposed residential development at the former Pure Foods Building on O Mamaroneck Avenue. Ms. Ng suggested that the CAC write a letter to the Village of Mamaroneck requesting we receive copies of all submissions. Mr. Komitor will write this letter. Water Courses and Water Bodies Water Monitoring - East Creek - Ms. Ng reported that Bob Hohberg had called to say he could not attend this meeting. Sheldrake Watershed Study - Ms. Ng reported she attended a meeting with Steven Altieri, Town Administrator; Phyllis Wittner, Irma Volk, and Steve Tomecek to evaluate the proposals. It was determined that of the facets of the project could be done in house. Gary Trachtman,the Town Engineering Consultant, and the Soil and Water Conservation District could provide their services and Steve Tomecek could be hired to coordinate and do the mapping. Mr. Tomachek will be sending Ms. Ng the revised plan. Army Corps of Engineer Project - Ms. Ng explained the Army Corps of Engineer proposed plan for controlling flooding in the Village of Mamaroneck, which included: (1) a diversion tunnel that would redirect the entire Sheldrake River under Fenimore road and out into the West Basin of Mamaroneck Harbor, (2) filling in the waterway from Fenimore to Columbus Park to a one foot depth only to allow for just local drainage and (3) deepening and widening the Sheldrake River channel from Rockland Avenue to Fenimore Road. The CZMC of the Villlage of Mamaroneck was wary of diverting the Sheldrake River. Mrs. Volk reported that the Village of Mamaroneck may devise its own flood plan less expensively. They commissioned a consultant to Study -3- CAC minutes-11/17/88 • Washingtonville and the upper Sheldrake River. The Corps project could cost as much as $60 million of which the Federal Government covers only 70% of ' costs. Ms. Ng wanted the Commission to realize the viable arguments for the project . She informed the Members that the Sheldrake cuts through an industrial section and therefore made the river susceptible to pollution. Putting the river underground would prevent this. Ms. Ng will send a copy of the Army Corps of Engineers' letter to all members. Solid Waste Disposal • County Recycling Exposition - Ms. Ng informed the Commission that Westchester County held a recycling exposition at the County Center. Municipalities and private groups held seminars and vendors set up displays all dealing with recycling. Ms. Ng thought it was well done and informative. . Mrs. Moss was also there and said that LIFE Center had a booth set up and that she also found it very interesting. Plastics - Mrs. Moss will write letter requesting that plastics be banned to Executive O'Rourke and County Legislator Diane Keane. Mr. Goldstein recommended the letter should use the Suffolk County law as a model. Mr. Scheffler volunteered to assist Mrs. Moss in writing the letter. He also suggested we enlist the help of other groups to add more influence. Mr. Komitor suggested thatwe send the letter with a memo to all County CAC's. Communications to Commission QPaperbags - The Commission received a letter written by Mr. Martin Kantor of 811 Rockland Avenue advocating that newspaper be allowed to be stored in paperbags or provide receptacles for the same. Mr. Leddy said the contract with Garden State Paper Company does not allow it. Several members made suggestions including adding receptacles to side of truck. Ms. Ng'will draft a letter to Fred Kellogg, the sanitation Superintendent, asking for the return of paper bag receptacles and will write a note to Mr. Kantor thanking him for his concern and recommendations. New or Other Business Historical/Background Pamphlet of CAC - The Pamphlet will be reassigned to another member. Meeting adjourned 10:45PM O -4-