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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977_12_12 Conservation Advisory Commission Minutes r 1 MINUTES ' � r OF REGULAR MEETING OF TILE TOWN OF MAMARONECK CONSERVATION ADVISORY CO:•L1ISSION A regular meeting of the Town of Mamaroneck Conservation Advisory Commission was held Monday, December 12, 1977 at the Weaver Street Firehouse. CALL TO ORDER The Chairman called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. ROLL CALL Members Present: Mr. Amlicke, Chrmn. Mrs. Brauman Mr. Hohberg Mr. DeSalvo Mrs. Fredston Mr. Burke Mr. Cunsalus Mrs. Munzer, Emeritus Mrs. Johnson, Emeritus Also Present: Mr. Leddy, Town Conservationist it411) Mr. Emanuelson, Conservation Consultant Mr. Robert Barrett Mr. Rick Redniss Miss Betsy Kolbert Mrs. Elizabeth Lehman MINUTES Minutes of the November 2, 1977 meeting were reviewed, corrected and approved for typing and distribution. 1. Life Center Tabled. Before the next budget they should have a program prepared. 2. Parks, Cemeteries and Conservation Areas A) Larchmont Reservoir Conservation Area - Mrs. Elizabeth Lehman presented a problem of excessive litter in the area, as well as missing trash cans and a broken chain at the entrance. Much of the garbage deposited near the dam gets into the water and reaches the lower reservoir. According to Mr. Leddy, additional police patrolling of the area at night is unlikely, as -1- night patrols are short of men and other areas have greater priority. It • was agreed we should ask for at least spot checking by patrol cars. It was further proposed that a sign be posted at the entrance specifing restrictions Oon usage and stating a fine for violations. It was determined that restrictions should cover only swimming, picnicking and littering and than an appropriate fine would be $50. Since New Rochelle is responsibile for part of the area, an effective program should include a commitment from New Rochelle police and conservation department. Mrs. Lehman noted that New Rochelle police do patrol the area fairly regularly. A specific plan for the Larchmont Reservoir Conservation Area is: 1. Thirty gallon trash barrels, chained, should be placed throughout the area. Mr. Leddy has some available now and will see that this is done. 2. Mr. Leddy will place a heavy chain across the road where the dirt road starts. This can be removed in the morning and replaced at dusk. The attendant at the water works might be willing to handle this. 3. A sign will be posted at the entrance stating "Larchmont Reservoir Conservation Area, Open Dawn to Dusk, NO Swimming, Picnicking or Littering, Violators Subject to $50 Fine". Mr. Leddy will present the idea to the Village Parks Commission and will then have the sign made. 4. Police will be asked to spot check for cars and trespassers at, night. 5. The Chairman of Conservation Commission in New Rochelle will be notified of our plan and invited to attend our meeting to discuss a joint approach. Mrs. Johnson will make the contact. B) Sheldrake and Leatherstocking Trails - Mr. Leddy reported that maintenance and upkeep during the late summer was pretty good, although vandalism and flooding had caused a fair amount of damage. Trash cans on the Leatherstocking Trail are currently being replaced with 30 gallon drums; paint on the rocks near the New Rochelle line cannot be removed until the weather is warmer. -2- Mr. Amlicke requested that Mrs. Johnson, Mr. Emanuelson and Mr. Ciraco work with a committee to set up a program to improve usage of these areas on the premise that greater use will cut down on vandalism and littering. Scheduled family tours of conservation areas and educational tours in conjunction with Beautification Day were suggested as possibilities. Mr. Emanuelson presented a plan, based on a trend in Europe, for a physical fitness park course where stations along the course focus on a variety of physical fitness activities. Mr. Barrett mentioned that San Francisco has such a course and he would be willing to investigate it further. C) Red Bridge - Mr. Hohberg said that Mrs. tid indicated there is hope for dredging at the Red Bridge. Mr. Amlicke suggested he invite Robert White to our next meeting to represent a group interested in dredging that area. D) Letters have been sent to property owners encroaching on the Premium Marshland and a report will be given next month. 3. Selection of New Member The terms of Mrs. Brauman and Mr. DeSalvo will expire this month. Both accepted re-nomination for two-year terms. Nomination of a third person was tabled. Because of a requirement in the State law authorizing the creation of Conservation Councils that members serve for two years, all new appointments of Commission members will be for two years. 4. Budget Mr. Leddy reported that the budget was passed by the Town Council and the Commission received all money requested. 5. Annual Report Mr. Emanuelson has started a rough draft of the annual report and will be sending sections of the draft to chairmen of the sub-committees for approval or revision. 6. Community Assistance Funding Program Mr. Amlicke reported on a letter from the DEC questioning members' n3^ three-year terms, as only two-year terms are legal. The Town made appropriate changes, so we are assured of funding. Such funding will cover 50% of expenses © incurred after October 1, 1977, the date of certification, through 1978. 7. Solid Waste Management and Recycling Paper - Mrs. Brauman reported that 8 extra tons of paper were collected this week as a result of weekend visits to merchants by the Recycalert Task Force (Life Center volunteers and the Civic Improvement Council of the L,� Larchmont Garden Club) . Merchants were given a poster (see attached) developed by the Life Center, Chamber of Commerce and Fred Kellogg, and were encouraged to participate in the Wednesday paper pick-up. Mrs. Brauman noted that CBS correspondant John Stossel has reported that paper is being used to make insulation and therefore brings in big revenues. We are now receiving $25 per ton. Mr. Burke will give the name of another paper buyer to Mr. Kellogg. Glass- At a Glass Bash on December 3, 1977, 21 Girl Scouts, accompanied by 1 Mrs. Brauman, Mrs. Amlicke, Mrs. Barbara Gurwitch and Mrs. Eileen Mason, accepted glass at the Maxwell Avenue depot, educating the public to the need for "clean" glass (free of metal tops and rings) . The girls were at the depot from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. working in two-hour shifts, helping to unload glass from cars, removing lids and rings and sorting by color. They also distributed a flyer on saving glass (see attached) . Girl Scouts will man the glass center the first Saturday of every month. Aluminum - Mr. Leddy is trying to get an old truck from Mr. Kellogg for aluminum pick-up from schools and the Girl Scout House beginning after the first of the year. He is also revamping an area behind the old incinerator at the depot for aluminum storage, as Reynolds will pick-up 1,000 lb. batches. The present plan for collection calls for children to bring aluminum to all schools on a given day (with an adult at each school supervising to ensure clean aluminum) , with pick-up made the same day. This plan eliminates the need for storage space within schools, which has been a problem in some instances. Each group will keep track of its own weight, and will be paid accordingly. At -4- present, only Hommocks, Murray Avenue and Girl Scouts are prepared to participate, although efforts continue to include all schools in the program. Mr. Amlicke reported on the December 1 Recycling Conference at which he talked on the development of recycling programs. Also attending from Mamaroneck were Fred Kellogg, Tom Leddy and Nancy Hartford. A conference is being held this week at which the County seeks to see how it can expand its participation in recycling programs. Mr. Gunsalus noted that Mr. Vandernoot felt it was too late to contact homeowners along the Sheldrake River about dumping leaves. He will see that / a letter is sent early next fall. Leaf dumping also occurs along the inlets V in the Village. Recycling notices were included in the tax bills, thanks to Mr. Emanuelson. 8. Land Use Planning and Housing A) Mrs. Munzer will attend the Westchester Conference on "Housing. and Community Development, 1974-1977: Progress, Problems and Prospects" on December 15, 1977. She will report on anything of importance at the next meeting. B) The Master Plan Review Committee is planning a series of community meetings starting in January and continuing on a monthly basis. Topics include: 1. Population Change and Its Impact on Our Community 2. Land Use 3. Housing • 4. Costs of Approved Programs Civic, social, religious and other groups will be invited to attend, and meetings will be open to the community at large. C) Mrs. Munzer and Mr. Amlicke, at the request of Mrs. Re41, sent ® letters addressed to the County Legislators who were holding a hearing in New Rochelle at the end of November. Letters urged that the Soil and Water �/ Co�ns_ervation Ream be restored to the Department of Planning and that funds for a stenographer be reallocated: to the SWCD',s- budget. -5- 011L • 9. Energy Tabled. C 10. Environmental Legislation Mr. DeSalvo reported that his review of the amended SEQR statutes indicates minor revisions, with the phasing schedule coming up for modification. The most common significant modification applies to Type II actions - these �� will not be phased in until September 1, 1978. Therefore, only large scale S vi t-t$4\ projects will be subject to the requirements of EIS prior to that date. 1 . (Type I actions require an environmental impact statement; Type II actions do not.) A revised list of SEQR Type I actions has been completed by the SEQR review committee. It is the decision of Fred Maggini that implementation should be in accord with procedures outlined by the State legislation n---tom-green- andbeek, It is his opinion that, after implementation and use, procedures may be modified. 11. Conservation Board Mr. Emanuelson reported that the natural resources inventory should be completed by next week. 12. Wetlands and Watercourses • Mrs. Fredston announced that, through the NYS Department of State, Division of Community Affairs, a meeting is being held on December 14, 1977 at Rye Town Hall. The purpose of the meeting is to obtain reactions to the coastal boundary, the geographic areas of particular concern, and methods for carrying out the program's recommendations. NYS has been lax in formulating Coastal Zone Management plans, and unless they start producing, further Federal funds will be withheld. DEC's Robert Green called Mrs. Fredston concerning verification of tidal wetlands in Larchmont Harbor. The area in question was checked, and he was pleased he contacted the CAC for field verification. -6- DEC has asked the County to ask local areas to correct maps. Mr. Emanuelson is doing that. © 13. Water Monitoring 4.-0 NM..., A) Mr. Hohberg and Mr. Leddy accompanied County and State inspectors on a tour of the Pin rook-Premium Rivers and the Premium Marsh. As the party proceedd downstream, sampling stations were pointed out and an account of the type of testing was given. An attempt was made to point out the carrying capacity of the Pinebrook and Premium Rivers, with special attention to the unloading of suspended particles at the junction of the two rivers. B) The leakage in the roof over the laboratory in the high school was at its worst this past month. After the heavy rain, entire sections of the ceiling fell into the laboratory area and the classroom. This was attributed to leaking gutters and leaders which have been repaired, so the lab is about to be operable again. C) Limnology testing kits have begun to arrive from Baush and Lomb. j t The Spectrokits will allow for on-site testing. D) Mr. Hohberg also noted that a Certificate of Merit was received by the V C.A.C. in recognition of two environmental achievements, namely the high school - - Monitoring program and the es •uu - • Larchmont Reservoir Conservation Area. 14. Zoning and Planning Boards Mr. Gunsalus said that he will check on the run-off at the Post Road condominium project now that there is landscaping along the edge of the property. 15. Miscellaneous A) DEC, Region III, is planning an all-day conference and has requested input regarding possible topics for discussion. Mr. Amlicke reviewed his suggestions and, asked for -other -ideas. B) Mr. Amlicke read the letter submitted byhim in behalf of the Commission to the Westchester Board of Legislators regarding the County Soil and Water Conservation problems. The letter was approved unanimously. C) Mr. Emanuelson will send in the Environmental Directory registration form. Next meeting: January-M-1977 -7- • a • agsik've `i. d' i' but PIEASE. .. REMEMJIER TO REMOVE ALL CAPS . TAL lUNG We don't have the manpower to remove lids and Recycling plants will not accept jars the metal rings around the collars of bottles and bottles with metal, because metal will flaw the new glass. Please take them off before they leave your home so that you do not contaminate the metal- free glass recycled by your neighbors. REMEM3ER TREMOVE ALL CAPS AND WTAL flIW `-‘ • `' °t!S YDS.° '�' ;�•. REMEMBER TO REMOVE ALL CAPS AN:P METAL • • • • , ai 7Qo ��'�P BUSONESS PPER PICK-UP EVERY '' - %-'' -:* ' � SDAY BEGINNING AT 9A.M. YES . !! • PAPER -- CATAL4s, S 0 44 A' 1Mi'- OE • CARDBOARO o FOIL • APAGAZIP9ES- 3OOKS 0 PLASTIC • BOXES FLATTENED • WAX PAPER OR STUFFED WITH • CARBON PAPER OTHER PAPER • GLASS PUT OUT PAPER ONLY, WHERE YOU NOW PUT YOUR GARBAGE . DO NOT PUT IN DUMPSTER- LEAVE NEXT TO IT. ONLY PAPER WILL BE COLLECTED ON WEDNESDAYS • • ,. - J4-s 0 0 0