Page 1 of 2 Draft Town of Dryden Conservation Board Members Present: Robert Beck (Chair), Gian Dodici, Bard Prentiss, Craig Schutt and Nancy Munkenbeck. Excused: Charlie Smith, Rick Ryan and Milo Richmond Planning Board Liaison: David Weinstein Town Board Liaison: Linda Lavine Town Hall Staff: Mary Ann Sumner, Supervisor Tompkins County EMC: Steven Bissen Guests: None The meeting was called to order at 7:33PM. Review and approve the minutes from 29 July 2014. C. Schutt moved to approve the minutes, no discussion, G. Dodici seconded the motion and the minutes were unanimously approved. Citizens Privilege: No guests. Reports and Updates: Town Board: Linda Lavine L. Lavine deferred to Supr. Sumner who didn t recall any Town Board business that was relevant to the Conservation Board. R. Beck indicated his support for the GIS/IT position suggested at the Town Board meeting. Town Planning Board: David Weinstein The Planning Board meeting in August was a training session with Atty. Perkins who reviewed the rules governing the actions of the Board. The training session was greatly appreciated and the members feel they learned a lot. In September, the Planning Board reviewed a revised site plan for GreenScene Lawn and Garden. Tompkins County EMC: Steve Bissen Not present D. Weinstein shared that he was at the last EMC meeting. 42 of 43 UNA sites that were re mapped were presented to the Committee but the vote was tabled until next month. Agriculture Advisory Committee: Craig Schutt Last month the Ag Committee did not meet to allow the members to attend a Farm Bureau policy meeting. Community Science Institute overview/update: D. Weinstein Postponed
Page 2 of 2 Draft Continuing Business: Maintenance Guidelines for Dryden Trails & Parks update: Bard Prentiss B. Prentiss asked the Board to read his draft of the guidelines and provide feedback. He feels the relationship with Highway Supervisor Young is positive and he appears to agree with the suggestions provided. Campbell Meadows Rain Garden Sign update: Gian Dodici He doesn t have any new information. He has sent out his latest draft but has not received any feedback. He shared the quote he has gotten from Signarama but he doesn t know the details about how long they will last or what they are preserved with. He will follow up to get more information, talk to Andy Zepp about his suggestions and get some more quotes. The Board agreed that they want the sign to have color. New Business: Rail to Trail proposal: Freeville to McLean (then to Cortland) R. Beck has talked to the Sherman and Beck Farms regarding the trail crossing their property. They were both agreeable to the idea. N. Munkenbeck moved that the Conservation Board send following resolution to the Town Board: See attached C. Schutt seconded the motion. The resolution was passed unanimously. Open Space/Natural Resources Conservation Plan (refocus): B. Prentiss moved that the Conservation Board send the following resolution to the Town Board: See attached N. Munkenbeck seconded the motion. The resolution was passed unanimously. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:15PM Respectfully submitted, Erin A. Bieber Deputy Town Clerk
30 September 2014 Town of Dryden Conservation Board Resolution to Town Board Proposed that Town of Dryden trail plans include a Freeville to McLean rail trail (ultimately linking to Cortland) Major rail lines once converged and crossed in Freeville, making the village a vital rail center in Tompkins County, The Town of Dryden's proposed rail trails converging at Freeville will link the Village of Dryden with Freeville, Etna, Varna and Ithaca to the west, A Freeville to Cortland rail trail would link Ithaca and Town of Dryden villages and hamlets with McLean and Cortland to the east, In the Town of Dryden, one mile of the Freeville to Cortland rail bed has been, for many years, informally maintained and used as a pedestrian trail (between W. Malloryville Rd. and Fall Creek Rd. near McLean), In Cortland County the Freeville to Cortland rail bed is maintained as a pedestrian trail from the Tompkins/Cortland County line through the Lime Hollow Center for Culture and Environment to the outskirts of Cortland, Initial discussion with several rail-bed landowners has been positive, Increasingly across the country, people appreciate and use off-road pedestrian and bicycling trails and support their communities' commitment to development and maintain them, Now, therefore, be it resolved that, The Conservation Board recommend that the Town Board set the goal of establishing a rail trail from Freeville to McLean and a plan to begin public outreach and landowner contact, And further resolved that, Recognizing that from McLean to the Cortland County line the rail bed lies within the Town of Groton, cooperation be sought with the Town of Groton (while also exploring the possibility of developing, north from Freeville, a Freeville to Groton rail trail, thus linking Groton to Ithaca, Dryden and McLean within Tompkins County) (over)
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30 September 2014 Town of Dryden Conservation Board Resolution to Town Board Proposed that the Conservation Board prepare a Town of Dryden Natural Resources Conservation Plan The Dryden Town Board issued an Open Space Plan Directive, dated August 15, 2013, outlining a plan to be prepared jointly by the Conservation Board, the Agricultural Advisory Committee, the Dryden Recreation and Youth Commission, and the Planning Board, The Town Agricultural Advisory Committee is now commencing work on an Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan, The Town Recreation Department and the Dryden Recreation and Youth Commission are beginning a Recreation Needs Assessment, The Town Planning Board is beginning work towards updating the Comprehensive Plan, The Town Conservation Board proposes to refocus its work towards preparation of a Natural Resources Conservation Plan, Now, therefore, be it resolved that, The Conservation Board recommend that the Town Board withdraw its Open Space Plan Directive, And further resolved that, The Conservation Board recommend that the Town Board assign the Conservation Board the task of preparing a Natural Resources Conservation Plan for the Town of Dryden which, with support from the Planning Department, shall identify resources of conservation concern throughout the Town, to include but not be limited to: Enduring landscape features Water resources Biological resources Productive land resources Scenic and recreational resources and which shall assess threats to those resources and provide guidance for public education and outreach, voluntary action, land use planning, land development, land acquisition and conservation that will help the Town sustain its diverse natural resources, its valued rural character and its quality of life for generations to come.