MINUTES
COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT
Tuesday, June 12, 2001
3:00 P.M.
PRESENT: M. Kaplowitz (Chair); V. Pinto; J. Maisano.
STAFF: C. Ryer (Sec’y.).
ALSO PRESENT: Susan Shapiro (W/LWV, NRC); Barbara Wilkins, Tom Cogger, David Jackson (AFPB); Hope Corbin (Intern-MK); Carol Coggeshall (Ag. Dist./S&WB); James Wood, Anne Farrell (Ag. Dist.); Peter Kamenstein (AFPB/WAC); Gina D’Agrosa, Michael Saviola (Plng. Dept.); Bill Randolph, Michael Glickstein (CE’s ofc.); Richard Coombe (WAC); Matthew Silvestri (Intern); Katherine McLoughlin (NY/LCV).
DISCUSSION:
The meeting was called to order at 3:10 p.m., by Chair Kaplowitz with a quorum. The minutes of May 29th were reviewed and approved on the motion of Legislator Pinto, seconded by Chair Kaplowitz, with a vote of 2-0. (Legislator Maisano was out for the vote.)
Chair reviewed the various communications next. A letter (06-05-01) from Rick Morrissey for reimbursement of travel related to the Pest Management Committee was referred to Steve Bass for his follow-up. Chair Kaplowitz met with Putnam County Executive Robert Bondi, and invited him to discuss the proposed Putnam County sewage diversion, at a committee meeting. The related correspondence will be distributed to the committee members for their review, in order to prepare to meet at a later date.
Mike Saviola of the Planning Department and Barbara Wilkins of the Agricultural Farmland Protection Board (AFPB) were introduced next. Chair Kaplowitz noted that the AFPB was established by the full Board of Legislators, last year, under direction of County Executive Spano.
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Recently, the AFPB has gone through the process leading up to the July 19thdate to enact the AG&F Districts, and the last phase would set up the AG&F Plan. Ms. Wilkens (Chair), introduced the Board members, and asked Mr. Saviola to give a little background information. Mr. Saviola distributed the “Agricultural Planning Initiatives” chart (copy in ENV & Planning Dept. files). He explained the agricultural initiatives affiliated with the County, through the Planning Department and two (2) Boards; (1) Soil & Water Conservation Board, and (2) AG & Farmland Protection Board, noting that NYS has available money through the Clean Air/Clean Water Bond Act, and a grant application is available from State AG & Markets, where a 50/50 matching grant is available to complete the AG & Farmland Protection Plan for the County. He further explained that the AG&F Board is largely responsible for the district creation, mapping, and initiating the protection plan. The plan would identify lands eligible for future purchase of development rights (PDR) programs. The plan must be certified by both, the County Legislative body and the Commissioner of AG & Markets, before any farms could be accessed. Mr. Saviola gave an example, emphasizing that Suffolk County has been very successful in obtaining funding for PDR and for the purchase of agricultural conservation easements, adding that there have been other successful counties, as well, who have also benefited from the funding. He stated that Westchester County is currently in the process of drafting the grant application for the plan, getting the appropriate signatures, endorsements and letters of support and possibly, a Resolution from the BOL. With regard to the Water Agricultural Program segment, Mr. Saviola noted that the County has been working with the Soil & Water Conservation District on a program called the “AEM-Tier 1&2 Farm Assessments”. (AEM= ag environmental management), it’s a way to inventory and prioritize farms, based on their pollution potential. Tier 3 would be the next phase, that would be designed to protect the water quality on the farms, as well as enhancing the producer and saving the farms money. It was also noted that well-managed agriculture is preferred a preferred land use for water quality
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protection, and by keeping the large tracts of farms in place, the watersheds are protected.
Ms. Dodds read agenda item #41-01, from the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, noting that the State government has approved the Agricultural Farm Board to commence on July 19, 2001, for a term of eight (8) years. Ms. Wilkins expressed that she is delighted to be in this position, and added that she would like an endorsement from the Environment Committee to ask for a line item to be added to the County Budget in support of the Farmland Protection Plan.
Richard Coombe distributed a copy of the “Watershed Agricultural Council for the New York City Water Supply Watersheds – 2000 Annual Report” to the ENV committee members. He gave a brief background of the Council’s mission, which is to help and encourage farmers to protect the water quality in the NY City watersheds.
Gina D’Agrosa noted that the purpose of creating the plan is that there is over 11,500 acres of farmland that would be protected by the tools implemented in the plan. Mr. Saviola added that funds are immediately available for research for acceptable lands and open space.
With no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 4:10 p.m., on the motion of Legislator Pinto, seconded by Legislator Maisano.