HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995_04_06 Conservation Advisory Commission Minutes "NC
C4C
Town of Mamaroneck
Conservation Advisory Commission
740 West Boston Post Road
Mamaroneck, N.Y. 10543 914-381-7845
MINUTES
April 6, 1995
A regular meeting of the Conservation Advisory Commission (CAC) was held on Thursday, April
6, 1995, in Conference Room A of the Town Center, 740 West Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck,
New York. The meeting was called to order at 8:15 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Louise Perez
Martha Kaufman
Steve Scarangella
Ruth Merson
OTHERS PRESENT: Nancy Sterbenz-CZMC
Eve Nudelman-Environmental Coordinator
Kathleen O'Flinn-Town Board Liaison
Mary Anne Johnson-CAC Emeritus
Bob Hohberg-Consultant Water Monitoring
Donald Marsh-Mamaroneck Historical Society
1. Administrative Matters
A. Approval of Minutes - The minutes of January 5, 1995 were approved on a motion
from Steve Scarangella, seconded by Martha Kaufman.
The minutes of February 2, 1995 were approved on a motion from Steve Scarangella,
seconded by Louise Perez.
A:\CAC4-6.MIN
Village of Larchmont • Unincorporated area of the Town of Mamaroneck • Village of Mamaroneck %.41g P g
Printed on Recycled Paper
•
The minutes of March 2, 1995 were approved, as corrected, on a motion from Martha
Kaufman, seconded by Louise Perez.
2. New Business
A. Student Conservation Corps - Summer Work Program Development
Each member of the CAC is assigned a section of the Conservation Trail to inventory and determine
what work needs to be done in order to develop a work program for the summer crews. Members
to write up notes of the type of work that needs to be done and Eve Nudelman to compile inventory.
Leatherstocking Trail Sections: New Rochelle border to Weaver Street - Louise Perez, Weaver
Street to Winged Foot Drive - Beth Colleary, Winged Foot Dr. to Fenimore Road - R. Merson,
Fenimore Road to Old White Plains Road to Rockridge Road - Steve Scarangella, Hommocks
Conservation and Premium March Conservation Areas - Martha Kaufman, Sheldrake Trails - Eve
Nudelman.
3. Continuing Business
A. Update - Tree Planting Program
1. Trees For Our Town Brochure
A brochure was developed that would advise residents that if they would like to give a gift of a tree
to the Town, honoring or memorializing someone they could do so. They would also receive a
plaque and/or certificate attesting to their donation. The draft was circulated to CAC member for
comments.
2. SBA/DEC Grant
The Town received a $4,000 grant that will enable us to plant 31 trees. The Town received 8 bids
to provide and plant the trees and will contract with the low bidder next week.
B. Update - Conservation Area Encroachment Letters - Mamaroneck High School
Environmental Club Volunteers
Eve Nudelman will meet with the Environmental Club on 4/7/95. She will give a training session to
club members, showing them the assessment maps that will be used to locate homes adjacent to the
Leatherstocking Trail Conservation Area. Each house adjacent to the Trail will receive a packet
containing information on the benefits and responsibilities of living next to the Conservation Area,
a few paragraphs explaining how this Conservation Area was once considered for a Pelham to Port
Chester Parkway and how fortunate we are to have this trail for quiet recreation, and a map of the
A:\CAC4-6.MIN
2
Westchester Greenway of which the Leatherstocking Trail is one part. The Environmental Club plans
to implement this project the last weekend in April or the first weekend in May.
C. Update - Historic Cemeteries
Steve Scarangella and Nancy Sterbenz inventoried six cemeteries and marked trees which need to be
removed. Trees are marked with a white X. The trees that were marked are dead or in very poor
condition. Notes that were taken during the cemetery inventory will be forthcoming.
For example, in Richbell cemetery there is a substantial amount of encroachment. The boundary was
marked out within the last 10 years but the markers have since been removed. There is an entire
section beyond the monument that is in a state of total neglect and there is evidence that this cemetery
has been used as a dumping ground for yard waste, construction materials, concrete blocks, etc.
Florence-Powell Cemetery also has obvious encroachment along the back 2 sides. There's no grass
in area and it is covered with cigarette butts. This is next to the High School and is being used by the
Students as a smoking area. Additionally, plants are overgrown where its not trampled upon.
The premise is that if the cemeteries look as if they are being cared for, the people may respect them.
Don Marsh stated that a long range plan needs to be developed for the historical cemeteries.
K. O'Flinn to contact Shimon Gitlitz and arrange for an inspection touring of these cemeteries with
S. Scarengella.
D. Update - Tree Removal 11 Althea Lane
In addition to the unauthorized tree removal in the Leatherstocking Conservation Area, there was a
permit filed for the removal of 4 trees on the roperty at 11 Althea Lane. The CAC's recommendation
for replacement trees for this permit are Beech, any Oak, Black Gum, Spruce, Cherry, any fruit tree,
Red cedar. The homeowner can choose 3 trees from among those listed.
E. Update - Removal of Non-Native Species from the Conservation Area.
At last meeting, it was discussed that the Summer Crews could take down the smaller Ailanthus that
can be removed with the lopping sheers.
The possibility of having the Summer crews begin the removal of phragmites from the Hommocks
Salt Marsh was discussed, using the technique described by Chuck Neider, NYSDEC, in his letter
of 2/2/95. Steve Coleman, in his management report for the Hommocks Marsh recommends that the
Phragmites be cut in the area between the two boardwalks to encourage a more open growth pattern
and establishment of other marsh species. If there is time to incorporate this into the work program,
A:\CAC4-6.MIN
3
Eve Nudelman will ask Chuck Neider to give a brief training session to Summer crews and begin
removal of a small section of Phragmites this summer. Eve also reminded members that in
inventorying their trail sections, if they see an appropriate spot for native species to be planted, they
should make a note of it.
4. Water Monitoring Consultant's Report
A. B. Hohberg recognized the passing of Pimmey White, as a strong environmentalist and fine
citizen and engineer. He was very involved in Premium Marsh. He had been on the School
Board and one of the founder's and very active with the Friend of the Reservoir and PPPA.
B. Phyllis Wittner has been in touch with B. Hohberg regarding foul smells in the Premium River
Marsh. This contact stemmed from a letter written by a resident of Wildwood Circle, who
had a private consultant check these odors. The consultant thought there may be faulty
septics or point source discharge of sewerage into the Premium.
P. Wittner would like a number of places on Wildwood Circle inspected by B. Hohberg to see
whether the septic tank systems are contaminating that area. If the Town wants to go ahead with this
project, it may be possible for B. Hohberg to begin his water monitoring activities a month in
advance of his forthcoming Guion Creek study. If this was to take place, additional funds would need
to be paid to B. Hohberg for the additional work.
Bob Hohberg explained that the dredging of the Premium has probably caused hydrologic changes
in this environment. Now the tidal action is probably reaching the two highest points of pollution as
indicated in B. Hohberg's study of two years ago; that being the outfall at Post Road and the outfall
at the Larchmont diner.
B. Hohberg suggested that since the Premium River system has just been dredged, testing may yield
false readings. He suggested perhaps putting this study off until next year to allow the Premium River
system to settle down.
IV. Correspondence/Announcements
Correspondence:
To:
Mr. Tony Belcher re: Proposal for Hommocks Marsh, 3/5/95.
- William Jakubowski re: unauthorized tree removal - Leatherstocking Trail Conservation
Area, adjacent to 11 Althea Lane, 3/24/95.
- Ellen Stoutenburgh, NYSDEC re: transmittal of 1994 Annual Report, 3/24/95.
Governor Pataki and NYS Senators and Assemblyman re: protest to the elimination of LEAP
funding for NYS 1995-6 Budget and 1994 Annual Report, 3/24/95.
A:\CAC4-6.MIN
4
From:
- NYSDEC re: 1995 Arbor Day Celebration Assistance, 3/6/95.
The SoundWatcher, March/April 1995.
The Green Drummer, March 1995.
- NYSDEC re: LEAP funding cut from state budget, 3/6/95.
- The Barnhart Company on behalf of the New York Power Authority re: Town's participation
in the SENY Treepower program, 2/20/95.
- The Long Island Sound Office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency re: Long Island
Sound Study small grant rejection, 3/17/95.
- New York Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides -NYCAP News, Winter 1994.
Division of Environmental Planning - Environmental Planning Bulletin, March 1995.
Copy of letter from Elaine Price, Supervisor to Michael J. Cavanaugh, NYSDEC re: Protest
to the Elimination of the Local Environmental Assistance Program, (LEAP), 3/14/95.
Westchester County Soil and Water Conservation District re: Fees for Services, 3/15/95.
- New York - New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program - Highlights of Plan and Public Meeting
Schedule, February 1995.
- Brian Smith, Urban and Community Forestry Consultant re: Explanation of Services he
would like to provide to the Town, 2/24/95.
The Friends of the Reservoir - The Reservoir Newsletter and Calendar, March-June 1995.
- Coastal Zone Management Commission, re: Eighth Annual Report October 1993 through
September 1994.
On the Town - The Newsletter of the Town of Mamaroneck, March 1995.
- Land Use Law Reporter - Pace University School of Law, March 1995.
The Green Drummer, April 1995.
Mr. Tony Belcher, re: Phragmites Control in Hommocks Marsh, 3/7/95.
The Westchester County Land Trust, survey of Town Maps, 2/2/95.
- U.S. EPA re: Environmental Education Grant rejection
Announcements:
- National Scenic Byways Program -Regional Meeting - Albany, NY June 9 and 10, 1995.
- SoundWatch - Spring Events Calendar
The meeting was adjourned at 9:55 p.m.
A:\CAC4-6.MLN
5