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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987_03_26 Conservation Advisory Commission Minutes 0°1 •411114* A1C C C t I ED � 2T NE 13 4Ni4 Town of Mamaroneck %11112.1.1 Conservation Advisory Commissione914 740 West Boston Post Road 01.111•11 Mamaroneck, N. Y. 10543 —1111011 MINUTES A regular meeting of the Conservation Advisory Commission (CAC) was held on Thursday, March 26, 1987, in the Town Center, 740 West Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, New York. The meeting began at 8:00 P.M. Members present: Elinor Fredston, Acting Chairman Gloria Allen Suzanne Carpenter Mary Anne Johnson, Emeritus Others present: Bonnie M. Burdick, Larchmont Reservoir Committee Clifford Emanuelson, Conservation Consultant Larry Estridge, WVOX News Robert Hohberg, Water Monitoring Consultant P. Thomas Leddy, Beautification Director Claudia Ng, Environmental Assistant George Roniger, Town resident, 50 Stoneyside Dr. Caroline Silverstone, Town Council Administrative Matters Next Meeting - The next CAC meeting was set for April 23, 1987. Solid Waste Disposal Recycling Poster Contest - Mrs. Allen reported on the Poster Contest program. She praised Vicki Horowitz for doing an excellent job in organizing the contest. Miller's toy store donated $200 worth of gift certificates as prizes. Presentations were voluntarily made in elementary school classes. Overall, teachers were supportive and children were very interested in the recycling program. The posters were judged this past week. It was suggested that there should be some publicity, including submission of pictures of winning posters to the newspapers and showing them on local cable. The posters will be displayed in local store windows. Recycling Stickers - Mrs. Allen presented some County stickers for windows and bumpers promoting recycling. She will call Doris Lipman to try to get more to give to the libraries and L.I.F.E. Center for distribution. CAC minutes - 3/26/87 Aluminum Day - Mr. Emanuelson relayed Susan Amlicke's information regarding an event to promote recycling of aluminum. On April 6 and 7, aluminum will be accepted for recycling at the main door near the loading platform at the Hommocks School. Publicity was emphasized as being vital. It was suggested that schools have it announced over the loudspeaker. Mrs. Fredston will inform Mamaroneck High School and Mrs. Johnson will inform the L.I.F.E. Center. Environment Sheldrake River Work Program - Mr. Emanuelson developed a work program for things that needed to be done regarding the Sheldrake River System (copy appended). Dates are tentative. 1. Gardens Lake - They are still trying to figure out exactly how they will dredge Gardens Lake and where to put the spoils. The engineering firm has taken some boring samples to determine whether dredged materials could be deposited in pockets around the Hommocks field. Fred Kellogg, Larchmont Village engineer suggested a two lot area on Pine Brook Boulevard near the tennis courts as a possible site. Also still under consideration is the Rockland-Thruway area. As to who will do the dredging, that will be determined through bidding. There will be approximately 8,000 cubic yards to be removed. Remarking on the problem with handling wet spoils, Mr. Hohberg suggested using Chemfix, a process which can quickly turn the runny mess into an insoluble mass. 2. Restoration of River Retention Stonewalls - This project has not yet been approved by the Town. 3. Flood Control Retention Wings - This project needs engineering studies and, therefore, will probably not get underway for a few years. 4. Goodliffe Pond - The lowering of the main spillway for flood control also needs to be subject to engineering studies, but there is vegetation growing between the blocks that need to be removed and a lot of silt in Goodliffe Pond that needs to be dredged out. 5. Automatic Flood Control Valve - will cost between $4,000-$5,000. Friends of the Reservoir will contribute $2,500 to this. 6. Weed and Algae Control - Measures to control the overgrowth of weed and algae will begin within the next few weeks. 7. Litter Clean Up - will also begin soon. 8. Wildlife Protective Fence - In early April, a professional will come to fix the fence. 9. Sheldrake Lake, Dyckerman and Carpenter Ponds - All need to be dredged. 10. Check Dam - It was originally planned to use existing stones, but it appears that more stones will be needed. Mosquito Control - It was mentioned that Joe Fraioli, Village of Mamaroneck engineer, is interested in getting students to participate in implementing mosquito control. Mr. Hohberg remarked that he felt that students are generally not interested. -2- CAC minutes - 3/26/87 Water Courses and Water Bodies EMC Water Resources Committee Workshop - Ms. Ng reported on behalf of Irma Volk, Environmental Management Council (EMC) liaison, on what has progressed (summary sheets appended). In addition to the invitees listed, it was suggested that local officials and the Coastal Zone Management Commissions, Dr. Barbara Dexter, organizer of Riverwatch, and Tom Gifford, who teaches environmental studies at Mamaroneck High School, also be notified. Mrs. Johnson and Mr. Hohberg volunteered to help out during the tours. It was also suggested that copies of Mr. Hohberg's water quality reports and perhaps a page summary of his work be made available at the workshop. Illegal Sewer Hookups - Mr. Hohberg reported that the illegal connections are being followed up on and violators are being fined. Hohberg's Summer Water Monitoring Project - Mr. Emanuelson suggested that Mr. Hohberg work on the Premium again to coincide with the Town/Village Coastal Zone Management Commission's (CZMC) Premium Feasibility Study. This could easily serve in the 20% grant match. Mr. Hohberg expressed his willingness to work on whatever is most important to the community. Originally, he was planning to study Guion Creek, which is primarily located within the Town of Rye, but greatly affects the Harbor Island area. CAC approved the Premium for Mr. Hohberg's next study. Mr. Hohberg will confer with Mrs. Johnson, who is organizing the Feasibility Study. the need to give enforcement authority to Mr. Hohberg was reiterated. The Commission felt that the Chairman should discuss this with the Town Administrator. Oil Spill - Two more spills have occurred. One came from an overfilling at the Beechmont Bus Company, the origin of the other is yet unknown. The spills were cleaned up at the Town of Mamaroneck's expense, but CAC felt that the Bus Company should be made to pay for its own carelessness and reimburse the Town. CAC concurred that the Chairman should suggest this to the Town Administrator. Spills or leaks of petroleum products, raw sewage, or hazardous materials can be reported to the Department of Environmental Conservation on the hotline phone number: 1-800-457-7362. Mr. Emanuelson asked Mr. Hohberg, who agreed, to inspect the future Volvo Service Center's and Larchmont Professional Center's stormwater treatment systems to insure that they are effectively preventing oil pollution of East Creek. Development Projects Volvo Sales and Service Center - Mrs. Allen read the letter that had been sent to the Village of Larchmont Planning Commission on behalf of the CAC. She reported that the Planning Commission had incorporated some of the suggestions of the CAC and issued some conditions on the proposal. Davids Island Project - The Coast Guard hearing on the Davids Island Project resumed on March 18 and 19. Speakers included: Bob Funicello for the Federated Conservationists of Westchester County (FCWC), Caroline Silverstone for the Town Council, Bob Schoenberger for CZMC, Elinor Fredston for CAC, Dorothy Ranier for L.I.F.E. , and Kathy Clarke for the Long Island Sound Taskforce. Mr. Hohberg will also submit a statement against the -3- CAC minutes - 3/26/87 ,, proposed development. In addition to the hearings, the director of development for the Davids Island Project organized an informal session for neighboring local officials that was held on Wednesday, March 25, at the Town Center. Nothing new was raised, except that one of the proponents stated that turning the island into a park would have a worse impact than their condominium proposal. Mrs. Fredston stressed the importance of giving it continual attention. Mrs. Johnson noted the benefit of joining forces with other opponent groups such as the CAC of New Rochelle and a citizen group being organized by Ben Kwietowski, a New Rochelle resident. The possibility of acquiring funds through the new Environmental Quality Bond Act was also suggested. Fenbrook Subdivision - There was a newspaper article on the new house to be built on Fenbrook Drive. It was reported that CZMC is reviewing its first site plan from this subdivision. Communications to Commission Federated Conservationists of Westchester County - the FCWC sent a letter asking for input on goals for FCWC and the worth of its newsletter (copy of letter appended). The Commission ranked the twelve topics, but noted that the first five are all very close and virtually equal in importance. New or Other Business Westchester 2000 - Mrs. Johnson informed and encouraged the CAC to read the Westchester Environment newsletter of April 1985, which relates the County's Master Plan. She pointed out that it had a lot of good management plans regarding water quality. She will try to get additional copies. Annual Report - Ms. Ng reported that the 1986 Annual Report has been compiled and is now at the press. It will be mailed to the Commission probably within two weeks. CAC vs. CZMC Duties - Mrs. Carpenter read off parts of the state municipal law on CAC's. Mrs. Fredston will contact Robert Schoenberger, Chairman of the CZMC, to try to organize a meeting with him and a few other CZMC and CAC members, such as Phyllis Wittner, Shirley Tolley, Wallace Irwin, Mary Anne Johnson, and Suzanne Carpenter, to delineate duties between the two commissions. Lobbying for State Funding of CACs & EMCs - The Chairman's letter addressed to several state officials urging increased reimbursements to municipalities for CACs and EMCs was read to the Commission. State reimbursements used to be 50%, but has dropped to an all time low of 15%. Mrs. Fredston recommended that the CAC responsibility of "a continuing natural resource inventory, which has been very helpful in planning" be included in the letter. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. -4-