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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994_09_08 Conservation Advisory Commission Minutes C C Town of Mamaroneck Conservation Advisory Commission S. 740 West Boston Post Road ` 1 • ►` Mamaroneck, N.Y. 10543 - i 914-381-7845 • • 91 1 • MINUTES September 8 , 1994 A regular meeting of the Conservation Advisory Commission ( CAC) was held on Thursday, September 8 , 1994 in Conference Room A of the Town Center, 740 West Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, New York. The meeting commenced at 8 : 10 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Louise Perez Martha Kaufman Steve Scarangella Peter Beshar Beth Colleary Ruth Merson OTHERS PRESENT: Kathleen Tracy O' Flinn, Town Liaison Nancy Sterbenz , CZMC Mary Anne Johnson, Emeritus Eve Nudelman, Environmental Coordinator Shirleyan Price, Hommocks Property Owners Bob Hohberg, Consultant - Water Monitoring I . ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS A. The minutes of April 7 , 1994 were approved as submitted, on a motion from Martha Kaufman, seconded by Louise Perez . The minutes of May 5 , 1994 were approved with corrections , on a motion from Louise Perez , seconded by Martha Kaufman. B. Next meeting: October 6 , 1994 . II . TREE GRANTS UPDATE As a result of the 1993 Street Tree Inventory, the recommendation was made by the NYS DEC Forester that the Town of Mamaroneck should be planting approximately 100 trees every year to replace older and dying trees in the Town. Village of Larchmont • Unincorporated area of the Town of Mamaroneck • Village of Mamaroneck Printed on Recycled Paper • CAC MINUTES September 8 , 1994 Page 2 Questions arose as to how the Town was going to afford that kind of planting program. Beth Colleary spoke to the people at the Rye Nature Center and to Hope Walsh regarding the "Trees for Rye" and "The Purchase Street Plantings" Programs . The way "Trees for Rye" works is that an individual interested in planting a tree would pay $150 . 00 to have a tree planted somewhere in Rye to commemorate some kind of event or individual and then that donor would be recognized in the "Official Tree Registry" . Rye has determined the parts of the Town where trees need to be planted and they have a map and list of sites . Once an individual decides they want to make this donation, they go to the Rye Nature Center and pick a spot that is appropriate . The "Registry" is kept at the Rye Nature Center and in that registry is an acknowledgement of the gift having been made in someone ' s name . The "Purchase Street Planting" is similar to the "Tree for Rye" Program but more elaborate . In this program you can also pay $150 . 00 for a registry tree but in addition, an individual can make a $500 . 00 donation which enables them to plant a tree on Purchase Street with a commemorative plaque next to the tree indicating what the donors intent was . Hope Walsh, the organizer of both programs , said Mamaroneck could use the programs logo and text . She also explained one problem with the program was that people were very competitive about wanting their $500 . 00 tree to be the most visible one in the middle of town. P . Beshar recommended ranking the cost of trees at various locations to lessen to chances of fighting. Rye also had problems with the plaques . They were made of bronze, set in cement and cost $100 . 00 . They were ripped up in the winter during snow removal . She recommended that an engraved brass plaque attached to a brick would be a better way to go . Mary Anne Johnson recommended having insurance in case a tree that is planted is taken down. The question arose as to whether the CAC has a fund raising tax exempt status . B . Colleary will talk to Carmine De Luca, the Town Comptroller regarding this . Rye publicized these programs through brochures . Once the brochures were printed up, they were mailed to all the residents in Rye . They bought mailing labels through an election campaign service, which was initially very expensive . The second mailing was narrowed down to only those people who had shown interest . The commission did not indicate whether they preferred to have CAC MINUTES September 8 , 1994 Page 3 the brochures addressed to "resident" or whether it would be more effective to have them addressed to individual names . Suggestions were also made to put a paragraph in the Towns newsletter and also send a flyer home with the children from school . B . Colleary will also look into ISTEA Funds (NYS Thruway Authority Administered) and other funding sources for community forestry with the Arbor Day Foundation and the NYSDEC. If ISTEA funds were available, the Commission members thought it would be worthwhile to ao with high profile areas like the exit of the thruway in Larchmont by Fifth Avenue and the Duck Pond. The Commission members were receptive to the idea of planting trees where they were environmentally needed to cool down waters and hold soil in place as well as where they looked nice and enhanced the character and history of the community. III . HUMMOCKS CONSERVATION AREA - DISCUSSION OF CATWALK CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL The Dept . _ of State referred the Towns Tidal Wetland Application to the CZMC for a consistency review. At the CZMC meeting it was discussed how treated lumber could have a potentially harmful effect on the environment because it' s treated with arsenic among other chemicals . Eve Nudelman spoke with Steve Coleman and the NYSDEC Tidal Wetlands Specialist . Both their opinions were that the effect of the treated lumber in the Hommocks Marsh would be negligible . Steve Coleman suggested using recycled plastic with recycled fiberglass as an alternative as it is non-toxic and would not leach into the environment . It is also twice as expensive . The members reached a consensus that treated lumber was the preferred option. E . Nudelman added that there will be a railing on the catwalk. Members objected to that because a railing takes away from the minimal use/natural image . Shirlyan Price said that the Hommocks Homeowners Assn. is very displeased with the Hammocks Management Plan, which they contributed to and feel that it is more of a development plan. They object to the parking lot proposal , which they feel is insensitive to local residents . IV. BUDGET CAC MINUTES September 8 , 1994 Page 4 The CAC determined some of their anticipated expenses for the coming year. With regard to the tree program, Beth Colleary projected an initial cost of $1 , 700-$2 , 000 for printing and mailing of the brochure . With regard to the historical cemeteries , the Commission may decide to request funds for erosion control and beautification however, this may be covered in someone else' s budget . Further inquiry is required. B. Hohberg' s Water Monitoring Supplies will increase from $2 , 000 to $2 , 500 because he will need to replace some equipment that is breaking down, for example the turbidimeter. Additionally, the Water Monitoring Consultants line will need to be increased from $4 , 500 to $4 , 700 because of increased secretarial services . With regard to the Watershed Booklet, the CAC will request $3000 for the initial printing expenses . A 20% estimate should be set aside for matching funds for an ISTEA tree planting grant . Additional monies will be requested for surveying parts of the conservation areas . $500 should be requested for a large wooden sign at the Hommocks . The request for the Summer Conservation Corps Workers salary line shouldl be increased from $6 , 000 to $8, 500 to allow the students to work for two and a half months rather than the current six weeks . Regarding the Town-wide vs . the Unincorporated Area only budget, and which lines to put the various requests in, members are seeking further clarification. K. O' Flinn suggested that Steve Altieri ' would be the best person to speak to regarding this budget and will ask him if he could attend next months meeting. V. WATERSHED BOOKLET The booklet is nearly finished. Maps and illustrations still have to be prepared. Additionally, how the project will be funded, the number of copies to be printed and distributed to upstream municipalities and Mamaroneck Town need to be determined. Also, how many they can sell and at what price . Mary Anne Johnson mentioned that there are grant funds available from EPA relating to restoration of the Long Island Sound and that the CAC should apply for it . VI. WATER MONITORING CONSULTANTS BRIEFING B. Hohberg explained to the Commission that he has done sampling at 21 stations . He has sampled from Mamaroneck Avenue to Tompkins Avenue. The upper reaches of the river were clean but Station Plaza had 16 , 000 organisms . B . Hohberg notified Matt Galliger and Joe Lanza from the Village of Mamaroneck about the point pollution. He reminded the CAC members that 2 , 400 organisms closes the beach. He also backtracked to make sure that the Sheldrake wasn' t contributing to the pollution. CAC MINUTES September 8 , 1994 Page 5 The Sheldrake junction in the Mamaroneck was only 1 , 300 organisms . B . Hohberg explained that the pollution may be a result of a sewer line running along the Mamaroneck River and there may also be drains that come in there from the railroad station. He will present his final findings at the November meeting. He informed the Commission that C. Bernstein is finding suspicious readings at the influx of Guion Creek into the Harbor. VII . SUMMER CONSERVATION CORPS WORKERS UPDATE Clean up and improvement occurred at the reservoir, the Hommocks and Premium Conservation Areas and at the Leatherstocking Sheldrake Trails . They widened and cut back trails, chipped, fixed catwalks and .built bridges . Members were encouraged to walk the trails to see if all that they had wanted accomplished was done . Things that weren' t done, such as the removal of the vines at the Hommocks Conservation Area could be put on next years schedule . Eve Nudelman reported that the trails are being used for bike riding but felt it was safer for the riders to use the, trails rather than the busy main roads like Weaver and Fenimore: The bicycles do cause some rutting of the trails but maintenance chipping should compensate for that . Members agreed to allowing bicycles on the trails but only if they stay on the trails and stayed out of the vegetated areas . P . Beshar and M. Kaufman agreed to write a small article regarding do ' s and dont ' s for the Conservation Areas and bring it to the next meeting to be included in the Towns newsletter . VIII. ANNOUNCEMENTS/CORRESPONDENCE To CAC: - "The Conservationist" - NYSDEC - August 1994 - Village of Mamaroneck Lead Agency Notification re : Proposed relocation of 1816 Schoolhouse - Harbor Island Park. - "Land Use Law Reporter" , July 1994 . - "Westchester Environment" , FCWC, July-August 1994 . - News Release - Paintings and Sculptures about LI Sound - Hilda Green Demsky. - "The Hudson Valley Green Times" - Summer 1994 . - "The Conservationist" - Double Summer Issue - "NYCAP News" - Late Winter 1994 . - "Soundkeeper Quarterboard" - Spring 1994 . - "The Reservoir Newsletter and Calendar" ,July - Sept . , 1994 . CAC MINUTES September 8, 1994 Page 6 - "The Green Drummer" , August 1994 . - "NYCAP News" - Early Summer 1994 . - "Hudsonia" - June 1994 . - "The Reservoir Newsletter and Calender" , Sept . -Nov . , 1994 . - "The Green Drummer" - Sept. - October, 1994 . - "Composting News" , August 1994 . - 23rd Annual NYS Conference on the Environment - Oct. 14-16 , 1994 , Glens Falls , NY . - "Westchester Planning" , Summer 1994 . - NYSDEC, Water Bulletin - May 1994 . - Village of Mamaroneck - Positive Declaration - Town Willow- Avalon Properties . - "Environmental Planning Bulletin" - July/August 1994 . - Support Center of NY. - Management Workshop for Nonprofits - Fall 1994 . - NYS Land Development Public Hearing Notices , August 1994 . - "Environmental Planning Bulletin" , Sept. 1994 . - "The Soundwatcher" , Sept. - October, 1994 . - Town of Mamaroneck Appointment of Stephen Scarangella to CAC. - "Land Use Law Reporter" , September, 1994 . - Westchester County Soil and Water Conservation District Workshop Announcement - Buffering Wetlands and Watercourses from Human Encroachment - Thurs . October 20, 1994 . - Arbor Day Foundation - Tree City USA Application. From CAC: - Letter to Ginny Neumeister, Village of Mamaroneck Trustee re : Support for Watershed Land Practice Guide Booklet . The meeting was adjourned at 10 : 20 PM.