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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990_10_18 Conservation Advisory Commission Minutes 'Y` C C Town of Mamaroneck S4�� Conservation Advisory Commission N% 1991 cw Qp p to” Area Code 914 10 740 West Boston Post Road ��M��' 381-6133 Mamaroneck, N. Y. 10543 ¢�� MINUTES OCTOBER 18, 1990 A regular meeting of the Conservation Advisory Commission (CAC) was held on Thursday, October 18, 1990, in Conference Room A of the Town Center, 740 West Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, New York. The meeting commenced at 8 P.M. Members Present: Kevin Ryan, Chairman Charles Bernstein Herbert Calman Douglas Gould Michael Scheffler Others Present: Richard Coico, liaison, CZMC Robert Hohberg, Water Monitoring Consultant Mary Anne Johnson, Emeritus P. Thomas Leddy, Beautification Director Richard & Mimi Livingston, 3 Hilltop Road ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS Minutes - The minutes of September 13, 1990 were approved. CONSULTANT LIAISON REPORTS Water Monitoring Program - Mr. Hohberg reported that this summer he studied the waters of the Sheldrake River starting from the lower Reservoir, across Bonnie Briar, down to Gardens Lake. He ran tests for 23 stations. He is happy to report that he sees no problems, despite country club operations and the County sewer repairs on Brookside Drive. He noted that this summer he also worked with two high school students doing independent projects. He sent them to analyze East Creek. Their studies showed that the Creek still had high coliform counts although repairs were made by Fred Kellogg as a result of Mr. Hohberg's findings in 1988. Mr. Hohberg gave an explanation of his overall water monitoring plan. He distributed copies of a memo he wrote to the Town Administrator in 1987 which provided a summary report for the validity of this program (see attached) . The first part of the program was to establish base data. Corrections were made following findings of major problems. The next phase would be to resample these areas to see how much better or worse we are doing. CAC Minutes - 10/18/90 Wagner Avenue and Franklin Avenue have been reported as being continuous trouble spots. Some think these are due to animal droppings. It was noted that it was important to have a report on possible solutions and not just information that such pollution exists. Mr. Hohberg requested direction from the CAC as to whether he should continue down the Sheldrake next year or perhaps return to East Creek which is still showing problems. Mr. Hohberg noted that he also takes his high school classes out to these spots each week to give them first hand experience on water testing. He distributed copies of his schedule to the CAC. Mr. Hohberg reported that he has requested the Town to purchase a new spectrophotometer to replace the old, dying equipment. The new equipment would enable him to do lead testing as well. Mr. Hohberg explained that he currently tests for: (1) nitrates and nitrites - to find out if waters can be kept as a reservoir and to know nitrogen cycle whether it is in balance--that is, in quantities that can be properly taken up by existing aquatic plants; (2) dissolved oxygen - to see if it can support fish life; (3) coliforms - to see if sewage problem (two types: first one for cold- and warm-blooded and then another just for warm-blooded) ; (4) fecal - to determine whether from human sources; (5) turbidity - indicates sedimentation; (6) pH - always good to know; (7) salinity - in freshwater to determine road salt runoff. Mrs. Johnson questioned whether he tested during the winter which would be prime time for salt runoff to which he said no. The same parameters are used for analyzing the harbors as the freshwaters, but salinity figures must be determined in estuarine waters because it affects the readings of the other factors. The CAC discussed whether Mr. Hohberg's work should be coordinated with any other currently existing water monitoring programs. Mr. Coico of the Town of Mamaroneck and Village of Larchmont Coastal Zone Management Commission described the Riverwatch program. The CAC unanimously decided that a member from CZMC and CAC should sit down with Mr. Hohberg and Barbara Dexter, head of Riverwatch, to determine how the programs can be integrated. The Chairman will instruct the Environmental Coordinator to write a letter to Barbara Dexter requesting her to meet with Mr. Bernstein of the CAC and Mr. Hohberg. The CAC also discussed the fee for Mr. Hohberg's work. They voted in favor of recommending approval to his request for a raise from $4,000 to $4,500. Drinking Water - Mrs. Johnson distributed copies of a flyer giving information on a two part symposium on drinking water sponsored by the Larchmont Reservoir. HILLTOP ROAD CONSERVATION AREA Mr. & Mrs. Richard Livingston were present. The Chairman requested Tom Leddy to give a brief history of the area in question. Mr. Leddy stated that the Town had accepted the parcel of land at Hilltop Road with the intent that it be left essentially in its natural state. He informed the Commission that the area has since been disturbed and planted with new vegetation that was not done by the Town. Mrs. Livingston stated that Town Supervisor Silverstone and the Town Attorney Silverberg have visted the site and thought -2- CAC Minutes - 10/18/190 that it should be looked at by the Historic Society because of its historic significance as the "Old Mill Site. " She referred to a previous letter she had written citing problems occuring on the site including littering, garden dumping, urination, defecation and that the area had been ignored allowing it to be overgrown. The Livingstons had offered to take the land off the Town's hands completely and maintain it themselves or else work in tandem with the Town. The CAC noted that when she appeared before the CAC a couple of years ago, she was asked to present plans before doing something to the land. She responded that natural landscaping was not really within her expertise and that she felt that we should be providing that type of advice. Mr. Bernstein asked the Livingstons' what exactly they wanted from the CAC, to which Mrs. Livingston replied that she would like to put plantings that would encourage other wildlife to come, such as shrubs with berries, or put in some nice river rushes. She has even already given soil samples of the area to be tested to see how they could get rid of the poison ivy. Mrs. Johnson indicated that poison ivy is one of the two best sources of food for birds. It was agreed by all that the original intent for the land must be researched and determined. The Chairman expressed that, in his opinion, the objectives of both the CAC and the Livingstons could be mutually achieved. The Chairman will request Ms. Ng to see if the Historic Society has any comments. He also thought this might be a good student project. The Livingstons were thanked for attending the meeting. CAC will further discuss the possiblities at its next meeting. CHAIRMAN REPORTS Further Organization of Taskforces - Mr. Ryan asked the members whether a time limit should be placed on all projects/issues to prevent them from lingering. Pros and cons were noted, but no decision was made at this meeting. TASRFORCE REPORTS Conservation Areas - Mr. Sheffler mentioned that the first step of this taskforce would be to walk through the conservation areas to review the work plan and the status of the recommendations already made and to see if there is anything else they want to add. Landscaping/Maintenance Pamphlet - The committee did not yet have its first meeting. The Chairman requested the committee to meet before the CAC's next meeting and to report progress. Mr. Bernstein briefly noted that he has found a problem with the Town and Village tree laws. NEW OR OTHER BUSINESS Earth Day Funds - The idea of using the excess contribution for funding a shed for Mamaroneck High School's paper recycling program was abandoned because the paper recycling market has not been stable. It had increased the -3- • CAC Minutes - 10/18/90 number of bins that they would require to have on site to warrant free delivery and pickup. Mr. Ryan noted that another of CAC's ideas was to use the money to create more signs for the conservation areas. A decision was postponed to the next meeting. Environmental Quality Bond Act - The CAC discussed the pros and cons of the proposed State bond act. The bond would provide monies for various environmental projects including acquisition of open space and closing of landfills. Four were in favor and one against supporting the proposal based on fiscal reasons. Meeting adjourned. -4-