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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992_09_10 Conservation Advisory Commission Minutes Y CC Town of Mamaroneck Conservation Advisory Commission 740 West Boston Post Road Mamaroneck, N.Y. 10543 914-381-7845 APPROVED MINUTES SEPTEMBER 10, 1992 A regular meeting of the Conservation Advisory Commission (CAC) was held on Thursday, September 10, 1992 in Conference Roan A of the Town Center, 740 West Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, New York. The meeting commenced at 8:15 p.m. Members Present: Louise Perez, Chairwoman Charles Bernstein Susan Cavalieri 4 Martha Gershun RECEIVED Martufman Edward M Hindin DEQ 1O 1992 A.DIC10CCld 13h TO' CLERK Others Present: Robert P. Hohberg, Water Monitoring Consultant MAWIARYNECK Mary Anne Johnson, Emeritus N... Kathleen Tracy O'Flinn, Liaison , Town Council Lynn Reichgott Irma Volk, Emeritus Claudia Ng, Environmental Coordinator Ellen Morse, Recorder ADNIINISTRATIVE MATTERS Minutes - The minutes of July 9, 1992 were approved. Next Meeting - October 8, 1992. OLD BUSINESS Long Island Sound Water Monitoring - Mr. Bernstein explained the harbor situation. The major source of pollution is drainage off a large area going into a small area of water. The Sheldrake River, the Mamaroneck River and the Beaver Brook Swam which is being developed over the last several years is no longer so much a swam area as it is a drainage area. A lot of the retention areas are disappearing. In the sewage system where there is a cross connection between the sanitary and storm sewer systems, the sanitary system overflows during heavy rain. As a result of mostly storm water, the coliform content is rather high in the harbor. The problem is the bacteria that grows from it. The oxygen content taken is one of the contributing factors. It is a good measurement of pollution (good and dangerous bacteria) . Some species of bacteria grow on oxygen content. The worst are the ones that don't need e of Mamaroneck Village of Larchmont • Unincorporated area of the Town of Mamaroneck • Village Printed on Recycled Paper CAC Minutes September 10, 1992 Page 2 oxygen. The source of this oxygen is the algae. When it's growing, it releases oxygen in the water and when it starts to die at this time of the year, it decays. Mr. Bernstein said they have been measuring the salinity and oxygen content of the water at Guion Creek, the mouth of the Sheldrake River, east and west basin, and where Booie NN is at the harbor. Nothing significant happened this summer because of the cool temperatures. The results of this work is distorted because of the exchange of water measuring 60-40 (40% old water against 60% new water) after a storm. Mr. Bernstein said they will continue testing in the harbor until the weather starts getting colder sometime in October. Community Recycling Awards - Chairwoman Perez spoke to Sue Cavaliers this summer regarding the recycling group that formed in Larchmont and they are no longer interested in this project. She suggested that CAC work on it. Chairwoman Perez contacted the Beautification Committee and found out that it was not very expensive to have their awards made up. She suggested designing CAC certificates with a gold seal for CAC's awards. It was asked whether the awards are given to the various businesses by the CAC or the Town for the purpose of putting more emphasis on recycling. Martha Kaufman volunteered to write up the guidelines for which businesses deserve the award. A time frame was discussed for this program and the Committee was asked to think this month about ways to educate the public for more efficient residential recycling. It was also suggested to do another random telephone survey by first, designing questions for the survey in four months' time and then in six months' time, call to assess the effects of the new recycling program. CORRESPONDENCES Outgoing: June 1992 - To Town residents having trees planted in front of their houses advising than of proper care. 6/17/92 - To County Executive Andrew O'Rourke re: our opposition to County housing on Sochurek property. 6/18/92 - To dry cleaning establishments re: reusable nylon bags. Incoming: Water Quality Monitoring Guide by LIST and Federated Conservationists of Westchester County. Water Week News - Newsletter of NYS DEC. CAC Minutes September 10, 1992 Page 3 6/3/92 - Fran NYS DEC Information Bulletin re: Fish and Wildlife Related Impacts of Pesticides. 6/9/92 - From Ellen Stoutenburgh, Regional Coordinator DEC Confirmation of Receipt of State Aid Report and Voucher for 4th Quarter. 6/12/92 - From Governor Mario Cuomo re: Legislation on Environmental Assistance Fund, the Adirondacks, and the Clean Air Act. 6/17/92 - From Westchester Land Trust - Report re: The Mianus River Watershed Project, Conn.-N.Y. 7/8/92 - Fran NYS DEC Brochure on Storm Sewers. 7/20/92 - Fran NYS DEC Reports re: NYS Hazardous Waste Site Remedial Plan Remedial Action Report, FY 1991/1992. 7/21/92 - From Ellen Stoutenburgh, DEC re: LEAP Applications for FY 1993-1994. 7/24/92 - Fran Ellen Stoutenburgh, DEC re: Meetings for LEAP Budget and Work Plan. 7/29/92 - From Thomas Jorling, NYS DEC 1991 Annual Report on Household Hazardous Waste. 8/3/92 - From Ellen Stoutenburgh, DEC re: 1st Quarter Voucher. 8/25/92 - From Mayor Cheryl Lewy, rarc1nt re: Scheduled Commission Report to VOL Board of Trustees 11/16/92. 8/31/92 - Fran Mayor Cheryl Lewy re: Submission of Article to Village Newsletter on the Cammission's Activities. Copies: 6/10/92 - Letter from Caroline Silverstone, Town Supervisor, to Geoffrey Young re: New York Times Article on Grass Clippings. 7/13/92 - TOM Notice to Nurseries requesting Estimates for Plantings in Premium River Conservation Area Entranceway. 8/26/92 - Letter from Steve Altieri, Town Adsministrator, to Joanne Grossman of Larchmont Nurseries re: Tree Planting for Premium Conservation Area. CONSULTANT/LIAISON REPORTS Water Monitoring - Bob Hohberg gave a report on 22 stations. He distributed a map of the area and two bar graphs, one charting the fecal count and the other charting the coliform count. He started at Station 14 at Gardens Lake and went to Station lA where the Sheldrake River meets the Mamaroneck River. At Station 10 there is a large sewer line that crosses the Sheldrake River and the Coliform count is very high - 16,000 organisms. Other stations run about 500-5,400. Mr. Hohberg said this high count needs to be checked out and reported to a number of people. He did report this to Bennie Salanitro, Manager of Public Works for VAI. Mr. Hohberg noted that a total count of 2,400 closes the beaches. Starting at Station 10 below the Rockland Ave. bridge and going down behind the industrial area into Columbus Park there is a lot of debris, e.g., car seat, mattresses, motorcycles, cement mixer. CAC Minutes September 10, 1992 Page 4 The next highest count is at Station lA in Columbus Park where there is a huge drainage pipe. This also needs to be checked out. Mr. Hohberg also found an active drain caning out of the Jantile Company. He would like to have a witness with him to check out these two high count stations. He was asked if these are public health hazards and he indicated they are. Mr. Hohberg said the other counts are non-point sources. He will submit more of a complete report which will include nitrates, nitrites, pH, oil and parts per million. He will send a report to all Mamaroneck officials and will also give a presentation to the Village of Mamaroneck if CAC requests. Mr. Hohberg suggested notifying Mr. Manfredi, Westchester County Health Department. He will report back to CAC on what results he sees in the industrial area. He also distributed a Tuesday schedule for his students for 1992-1993 who are going into the Sheldrake River and the Larchmont Reservoir. Next year's budget plans were discussed with Mr. Hohberg. He indicated that the research students were out in the Pine Brook and Premium areas and he doesn't have any real solid data on coliform. The counts he does have are high at the outfall at the Pine Brook River by Tony's Nurseries which will probably be a prime area. He informed the CAC that if the dredging is done and the obstructions are removed that are free flowing, anything that is upstream will cane roaring down with a heavy rain. SEIS Golf Course - Councilwoman O'Flinn reported that this report is due to be completed soon and there will be a public hearing at the end of October. Tree Inventory - Councilwoman O'Flinn reported that the tree inventory will be conducted next week in the Town with the assistance of the DEC. It is hoped to have it completed in a weeks' time with resident volunteers going out each day. They will give a description of the types of trees, species, maturity, condition, and how many spaces are available for potential tree plantings. TASEFORC E REPORTS Landscaping/Maintenance Articles - Ms. Ng reported that the Town Newsletter will be published sometime in September or October. Mr. Hindin said a draft should be written on winter information for inclusion in the Newsletter. Golf Course Rezoning Study - On hold until October. Storm Drain stenciling - Sue Cavalieri will give Claudia Ng the names of scout leaders and other interested people who will do stenciling. She reported that in upstate New York they have used the same stencil with three colors: blue, yellow and red which says ',Drains to the St. Lawrence River''. Ms. Cavalieri will notify either Ms. Ng or Chairwoman Perez when she finds a replacement for herself on this project. CAC Minutes September 10, 1992 Page 5 PLANS AND BUDGET FOR 1993 Ms. Ng distributed work plan sheets and a proposed 1993 budget sheet. Chairwoman Perez reported that Phyllis Wittner requested $500 for plantings next year at the Premium entrance. Also, Bob Hohberg has requested $500 more (his budget was cut last year) to do more work in the Premium. Mrs. Johnson spoke of updating a wetlands booklet. She will get figures for this project. Chairwoman Perez requested that the County be contacted to make sure one is not already in existence. She suggested $1,000 be allocated for Mrs. Johnson's brochure and $1,000 for Sandra Marraffino's brochure bringing the total to $3,000 under "Printing/Stationery" (Townwide section) . There are two areas for this category, the second (Environmental Control) is paid solely through the Town. Line itan "Tools/Lumber and Hardwares' - $3,000 will be allocated for a boardwalk. Line item "LIFE Center" - Martha Kaufman reported they received $500 from the VOL this year but they are doing more programs, e.g., a watershed model which they plan to show in the local schools. She requested another $1,000 for their budget. The membership in LIFE Center is increasing but the amount of money people are giving is decreasing. Councilwoman O'Flinn suggested that the LIFE Center prepare a report similar to last year's which was very well received by the Town Board. Chairwoman Perez suggested a budget of $6,000 for the LIFE Center and asked Martha Kaufman to submit justifications for this amount to Ms. Ng. Ms. Irma Volk questioned boundaries in the Hilltop area near the Sheldrake where two new houses were built. She feels people are encroaching on the nature area. Ms. Volk would like to maintain an access way into the Sheldrake Trail there but it's not clear where the resident's property line ends and Town property begins. Councilwoman O'Flinn suggested discussing this topic at the next meeting with the area maps. She also requested that the Commission members visit the site before next month's meeting; and if a decision is made that plantings must be put in, a recommendation will be made at that time. Announcements: 1. Saturday, September 12, 1992 from noon to 4 p.m. at Harbor Island there will be a Mamaroneck Environmental Fair. Martha Gershun will help set up tables for CAC. A list was made up of CAC volunteers to man the tables. 2. Sunday, September 20, 1992 clean up day at Manor Beach from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mr. Hindin suggested the members of the club help in the clean up as in previous years a lot of debris has been found in and around the club area. 3. Thursday, September 24, 1992 a public hearing in Albany, N.Y. re: Hydro Quebec Contract to accept comments on the DGIS. The meeting adjourned at 11:10 p.m.