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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985_01_24 Conservation Advisory Commission Minutes corrected F �y 4 RECEIVED TOWN OF MAMARONECK CONSERVATION ADVISORY COMMISSION KR 1 1985 t AND WATER CONTROL COMMISSION JOINT MEETING DOROTHYS.MILLER TOWN CLERK �a� MAMARONECK t N.Y. A regular meeting of the Town of Mamaroneck Conservation Advisor jam__.,,___ Commission and the Water Control Commission was held on Thursday, January Z71 24, 1985, at the Weaver Street Firehouse. The meeting commenced at 8:05 P.M. Members present: Dr. C. Alan Mason, Chairman, CAC & WCC Archie Messenger, CAC Kathryn Clarke, WCC Also present: Clifford Emanuelson, Conservation Consultant Elizabeth Imperato, Recording Secretary Administrative Matters: The uncorrected minutes for the November 1984 meeting were tabled until the next meeting as a quorum was not present at this postponed meeting. The next meeting of the CAC and WCC is scheduled for February 21, 1985, at 8:00 P.M. , at the Weaver Street Firehouse. Environment: Coastal Zone Committee- Mr. Emanuelson reported Steve Altieri is writing a supporting letter for the Westchester County Development Block Grant Application, "Upper Sheldrake Flood Control and Stream Channel Improvements". Tha appli- cation is being prepared for submission and Wallace Irwin is writing his letter of support as co-chairman of CZM. Development Projects in Works: Cherry Lawn: Dr. Mason has received a notice of change in zoning; a hearing in New Rochelle is imminent. 2155 Palmer Ave: No further progress IHOP Property: No further progress Volvo Dealership: The Village Zoning Board of Appeals turned down application (2) Maloney Project: A draft E.I.S. is in; more detailed material will be • submitted. February 13, 1985 is the hearing date; February 25, 1985 is the deadline for written comments. Water Courses and Water Bodies: Coastal Zone Management: Dr. Mason reported that all members on the coastal zone committee have been assigned projects by Mr. Irwin; points 5, 6 and 7 of coastal zone planning are coming along. Mamaroneck River: Mr. Hohberg will submit his project for next year which will be the Mamaroneck River. State Program for Fresh Water Wetlands: Dr. Mason and Mrs. Fredston are collaborating on this report and will furnish follow up at a later date. Contamination of Storm Water Drains: Westchester County representative presented some facts regarding the contaminationof storm water drains into sewerage systems. The representative felt that there has to be a regional • cooperative effort in order to make a significant impact on the elimination of storm water into the sewer systems. Mrs. Clarke reported the Village of Mamaroneck is applying for funds to take care of improper connections in the Washingtonville area. - Construction along Weaver Street(Golden Horseshoe Shopping Center expansion) : Dr. Mason reported an informal hearing was held in the Village of Scarsdale on January 23, 1985. Automation of Reservoir Valve: Dr. Mason reported the Town is submitting a block grant to the county to implement the automation of the Reservoir valve along with other flood control projects. This was reviewed by the Friends of the Reservoir, Dr. Mason, Clifford Emanuelson and the Soil Conservation Service staff. • (3) Water Courses and Water Bodies (cont'd) ; Dr. Mason reported the hydrological study on the Sheldrakewas received from the Soil and Water Board. A preliminary report was issued along with a draft of the final report. Dr ,.Mason felt it was a good report; the projections were sensible and additional calculations will be provided for us. Village of Mamaroneck C.Z.M. : Mrs. Clakre reported Marine Zone is scheduled for public hearing on March 11th. The court case is still pending. N.Y. State Department of State is drafting procedures to ensure consistency with local programs. Wally Irwin and Mrs. Clarke have copies; local governments have the opportunity to comment now. Solid Waste Disposal: Present Status of Town Yard: Dr. Mason reported the Town Board voted to require a final E.I.S. Dr. Mason gave a report on the CAC's concerns which included the amount of oil spilled by trucks; disruption of an operating recycling program; and the draft E.I.S. took the number of vehicles in and out versus the extra (Village of Mamaroneck) trucks which showed an 8% increase in total volume. In fact, the number of trips are doubled, Communications to Commission: Dr. Mason reported Ellen Muller from NYS DEC is completing work on our third quarter funding report and should have it finished by the first week in February. Federated Conservationists: Dr. Mason reported dues mut be paid for the new year and assigned this task to Mr. Leddy. Correspondence received from Mayor Curnin and Ortwin Meyer is attached for review by Commission members. (4) Annual Report: • Mr. Emanuelson reported that he is still waiting for members of the Commission to submit their information for publication; special notices will be sent to these members requesting their cooperation. The report must be compiled and printed in this quarter which ends 3/31/85. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Dated: January 24, 1985 � r 41111 O •_ OFFICE OF • h11R1AM CURNIN +" s-�� ' MUNICIPAL BUILDING� � y 'yr. LARCHMONT. N. Y. 1053$ MAYOR `- !�`L".'"c� -,�G` �" TELa 534-6230 .0 e November 14, 1984 • Dr. C. Alan Mason 482 Weaver Street Larchmont, New York 10538 Dear Alan: I have just read the minutes of the September 20, 1984 meeting of the Conservation Advisory Commission which arrived at Village Hall today. I take strong exception to the following sentence from Page 3, "Communi- cations to the Commission: . . .Since the Manor Park Society is the actual owner of the property they would post the signs." The property referred to in that sentence is, as is clear in the minutes, Dog Beach. It is incorrect to assert that that property belongs to the Manor Park Society. It is the position of the Village that the Village is the owner of Dog Beach and no evidence has been produced to the contrary as far as I know. I would also point out that the sign currently posted at Dog Beach was erected by the Village. The Village Attorney had informed the Larchmont Manor Park Society through its Attorney Philip Agar of what the wording was going to be. For your information the sign says: WINDSURFING AND BOAT LAUNCHING PROHIBITED OCTOBER 15 - MAY 15 BY ORDER OF THE VILLAGE OF LARCHMONT I have two requests to make of you. First, I would like to know the source of the statement I have quoted from your minutes. Second, I would like this letter incorporated into your next minutes and also annexed to your September minutes so that this error does not stand uncorrected. Dr. C. Alan Mason - 2 - November 13, 1984 I would also like to express my dismay at learning through The Daily Times about Bob Hohberg's study which revealed pollution in East Creek. It would have been helpful had you followed Mrs. Fredston's suggestion to forward CAC reports to me. I think it appropriate for the primary elected official in a community to be informed of such findings as Bob Hohberg's before reading of them in the press. Since the study was done in July, the failure to convey the information to me is all the more inexcusable. I would hope that such a lapse not occur again. Thank you. Y s truly, Miriam Cumin Mayor MC:bw , cc: Board of Trustees James Staudt • • c4'. 11. . .e' C 1 0 ‘ -4.- -.- -.- 2 Town of Mamaroneck I Conservation Advisory Commission Area Code 914 740 West Boston Post Road 698-4929 Mamaroneck, N. Y. 10543 698-3441 November 19, 1984 Mayor Miriam Curnin Municipal Building Village of Larchmont Larchmont, New York 10538 Re: Your letter of November 14, 1984 Dear Miriam: The C.A.C. minutes of the September 20, 1984, are incomplete to the extent that they fail to note Mr. Anderson's articulation of position of the Village Board as stated in your letter. I was present at the meeting of the Village Board of Trustees when the Board took that position. We were all aware, during the C discussion, that the Village of Larchmont claims ownership of Dog Beach and the minutes should have reflected this underlying awareness. I am not aware that anyone directly asserted the contrary position, although I am sure it has its advocates. I will direct that your letter be annexed to the minutes of the September 20, 1984, meeting, together with this response. On page two of your letter you expressed dismay at The Daily Times access to _ some of the material which will be included in Bob Hohberg's report. The final item, the coliform and human fecal counts at Woodland Ave. and the railroad, was submitted to the C.A.C. at our meeting of November 15, 1984. The report is now complete and will be delivered to all three boards as soon as possible. As you stated, the bulk of the work was completed in July, but the most significant testing was not even begun until October. You were presiding when it was requested by Mr. Kellogg! If they are complete, the minutes of your board meeting should confirm this. The following may jog you memory: As you may recall, I raised the issue of pollution in East Creek at the meeting of the Village Board on the same night the Coastal Zone material was approved for submission to Albany. A representative of The Daily Times was present at that meeting. In response, Mr. Kellogg requested that I impose on Mr. Hohberg "one more time" and ask him to take samples from the storm drain adjacent to the northeast corner of the parking lot on eastbound side of the tracks. He asked that this be done in order to determine if the high fecal counts Mr. Hohberg had discovered at the outlet of East Creek were being generated as the water passed C through the Village of Larchmont or, was the water already contaminated when it left the unincorporated area upon passing under the railroad. Mr. Kellogg suspected the second possibility. You may recall he used the word blame, to which I took mild exception stating that placing blame was not what we had in • mind. He then withdrew the word blame. I determined, at that time, to delay circulation of the incomplete report pending the results of this testing. The reporter continued to pursue the matter and spoke to both Mr. Hohberg and Mr. Kellogg before calling me on Thursday, November 8, 1984. His information was accurate and I felt that it was too late to try to put him off. Anything resembling a cover-up would be more damaging to past and present officials than candor. I felt that an attitude of, "now that we know there is a problem we can see about fixing it, "would better serve all concerned. It should also be noted that the raw data from Mr. Hohberg's testing has been discussed at almost every meeting of the C.A.C. since he began his water quality program. Our meetings are open to the public and the press, and there has been continuing public interest in this subject. The closing of the beaches last summer may be responsible, at least in part, for this interest. Mrs. Fredston's suggestion that all such reports be forwarded to you was agreed to and will be followed. If you would also like raw data as it is submitted during various ongoing projects, just say the word. We sometimes look at raw, inferential data which is still subject to recalculation and interpretation. If you feel that you can derive useful information from such material, I will see that it is added to the minutes which you now receive. All finished reports will be provided without exception. Incidentally, I would like to suggest Mrs. Fredston as a member of, or liaison 4:1/ . to, the Reservoir Committee. She is a village resident who has expressed interest in the reservoir project and would be a good choice. I only hope she has the time! I hope that after you have had and opportunity to reflect on the above, your dismay will abate. Thank you for permitting us to be of service. Warmest personal regards, _ C. Alan Mason, Chairman cc: Town Board and Supervisor (as an insert) Village Board James Staudt Philip Agar, Esq. J OFFICE OF �- MIRIAM CURNIN a I _ '` i MUNICIPAL BUILDING 1 0:3 LARCHMONT. N. Y. 10538 MAYOR .+ i*_a yTEL.: 834-6230 .MCOPDO*AT[D 1891 ':;:g .3f/J N.Y•;."r November 28, 1984 Dr. C. Alan Mason 482 Weaver Street Larchmont, N. Y. 10538 Dear Alan: I appreciate your willingness to annex my November 14, 1984 letter to the Conservation Advisory Commission's September 20, 1984 minutes. Part of my concern, as I'm sure I have made clear to you, was that the assertion of ownership by the Larchmont Manor Park Society was allowed to stand uncorrected in those minutes. I am still interested in knowing the source of the assertion. Although I know C.A.C. meetings are public and I am welcome to attend, I generally cannot do so and therefore must rely on minutes and liaison reports for my information. I recall that I learned a great deal from my attendance at C.A.C. meetings when I was Larchmont's liaison. Your suggestion of Elinor Fredston as C.A.C. representative to the Reservoir Committee is a fine one. Would you please ascertain her availability and let me know if she can fill the position? You are, of course, quite correct in answering fully and truthfully all queries from the press. Thank you for your prompt response. S'ncerely, MC:dbj Miriam Curnin cc: Board of Trustees Mayor • 1 ORTWIN MEYER P E 356 Quaker Ridge Road, New Rochelle, N R 10804 Te1. 914-636-6203 Dear James: dated:ll-14-84 I have attached four copies, each, of a sketch locating trees that should be removed at the Lower Pond and a tabulation of observations of water levels in the Larchmont Reservoir. For the above, a brief explanation seems to be necessary: a) Sketch for trees: The south part of the Lower Pond or Sheldrake Lake has been shown only. However, more trees should be removed on the western bank, everywhere where they could do damage to the masonry structures. On the East-bank is no masonry work at the waters edge. There, trees may remain. b) Tabulation for Water Levels: Each recording by day and hour is connected with a site visit. Each site visit shows two valve positions: the first position is the one found upon my arrival, the second is the position when I was leaving. Following is a summary of items I would recommend that action be taken for implementation, if they have been found acceptable by all concerned parties: 1.- Tree and vegetation removal from all masonry installations. There are also trees in the race way of the spillway that need to be removed. 2 .- Reinstall the mechanism for the control of the water level in the Lower Sheldrake Pond - Opening up the inlet of the existing 12" diam.blow-off pipe that is located on the westside of the Lower Pond' s spillway. - 3 .- Uncover the 12" pipe where it crosses the Sheldrake river bed, install a stand-pipe and a gate valve. The height of the top outlet of the stand pipe should be adjustable. Thus , an adjustable overflow will controll the water level behind the dam. The other end of the interupted pipe should be capped. The valve will serve as a flood control device that will, when opened, discharge rapidly all water from the pond. The resulting benefits are many: reduced ice damage to spillway, easy control of water level, fast draw-down if desirable for cleaning, dredging, water quality improvement and increased control over flood waters. 4.- The Larchmont Reservoir is provided with a water gate house that should be preserved. This gate house is only 10 ' x 12 ' in plan. It is a precious piece of testimony to our ancester' s attitude of attaching beauty and ornaments to structures of pure technical purposes, such as a housing for water gates. 5.- The roof of the gate house needs repair urgently. 6.- The south wall door opening needs to be closed. It requires the installation of steel jambs and a steel door. 7 .- The gate house pit should be cleaned of all rubbish. . . . III 8.- Four existing gate valves should be checked, serviced, repaired or replaced. A proper redesign of water flow through all existing pipelines has an excellent chance to satisfy the request for improvement of the water flow during flooding stages. 9 .- The 20" diam. blow-off pipe should be uncovered at the foot of the spillway and close to the gate house where a 12" diam. pipe is branched off. The pipe outlet is visible in the river bed. According to drawings there exists also a 12" valve. 10 .-This 12" valve should be checked, serviced, repaired or replaced. 11.-A second 12" diam. pipe and valve exists in front of the present residential house (previously called stables ) . This pipe branches off from the same 20" diam. blow-off pipe, and leads to the foot of the spillway of the Lower Pond, in the back of the residence. The valve pit under a steel cover should be cleaned out. The valve should be checked, serviced, repaired or replaced. 12 .-A few feet down-stream from the 12" branch, described under item 11.-,exists a 20"diam. gate valve in the blow-off pipe. The valve pit is free of rubbish and covered with a standard manhole cover. This valve was used to control the diversion of water . into the 12" branch lines. The valve should be checked, serviced, repaired or replaced. 411 ' 13 .-It may be desirable to interupt the 20" diam. pipe down-stream from the valve, described under item 12, and to install an elbow bringing the waters back into the Sheldrake River down-stream of the Lower Pond. The rate of discharge will approximate the discharge rate of the presently working pipe at the foot of the _ Larchmont Reservoirs ' spillway ( 40 cfs +-) . The new discharge, if installed, would require a discharge or stilling basin because discharge water velocity will be between 16 and_ 20 feet per second. However it is a most expedient way for a rapid increase of available storage capacity in the Reservoir and in the Lower Pond in case of a flood warning. This is a beneficial inverse of the present situation where home owners half a mile down-stream report that a sudden opening of the pipe valve at the Reservoir takes about 45 to 60 minutes to show its full flow at their houses. Similarly are the flood waters delayed and grow to an uncontrolled peak. 14 .-The two branch-offs from the Blow-off pipe installed in front of the Filter Plant in 1929 should be capped and the continuity of the 20" diam. blow-off pipe be reinstated as it existed before 1929. FLR 841115 ....7t._ A :,---- . 110 I 0 oi , 1 + . I r,TV9v1 1-1cY' ' D 1� • '0 / J-- , 0 • I tr�o �� , .rs ;.r �' W v Nt, , w' H • 'v 0% cP q . . I 1 `dam W �� I o yrlST �Sasn j. •.•, l. O810� °I, Z d ozi - 001 1 i ;Eh F4? +1 001- 08 01 o ! 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