Minutes of the Sierra Club, Niagara Group Meeting of July 24, 2001

The Niagara Group of the Sierra Club
Minutes of the July 24, 2001 Meeting

Clean Money/Clean Elections: The Implications for the Environment

The Guest Speaker this month was Brent Draper Scott of Citizen Action of New York, formerly of Sierra Club of California. Mr Scott is an expert on campaign finance reform and his topic was Clean Money/Clean Elections: The Implications for the Environment. He discussed two bills currently in the state legislature,S.6012 and A.8937, which propose to limit campaign spending and contributions, as well as HR.1637 in Congress. A short video on successful campaign finance reform in Maine and Arizona was shown. It was pointed out that polluters spent $65 million in the last campaign while environmental groups spent only $8 million.

Chairman Mike Kukla announced that we would pass this information on to the general membership to further Group awareness of the issue. Larry Beahan made a three-part motion, as follows:

That Niagara Group support the clean money approach and the two pending state bills,

We appoint a committee to support promotion of the two bills and,

We present material in the Trailblazer and website.

Richard Lippes asked Scott what the National Sierra Club’s position on campaign finance reform was, and was told it was positive. Therefore Richard suggested we drop item 1. of Larry’s motion, since it was redundant. Mike seconded the motion, which passed by acclamation. Mr. Scott will send us more materials.

Attendance

The following were in attendance:

Wesley Bourdette

Charles Lamb

Betty A Withrow

Gen Robins

Jim Hufnagel

Jane Jontz

Mike Kukla

Paul Maine

Jim Bunn

Richard Lippes

Steve Burns

Caitlin Burns

Maria Maybee

Ginger Ursitti

Joe DeMare

Lisa A Jimerson

Jeffrey McMullen

Carol McMullen

Carol Noodin

Treasurer's Report

Mike reported $1417 in the treasury as per Treasurer Murray Warner.

Membership Report

Membership Chair Gen Robins reported that we have gained 58 new members and are 2 short of 2000 members. Mike asked if in the history of the Niagara Group we have ever exceeded 2000, Gen responded no.

Newsletter Report

Trailblazer editor Joe DeMare announced that the Trailblazer mailing party would be Thursday at Gen’s house. He passed around a copy of this month’s issue, and set the deadline for contributions to the next issue as mid-September for the October election issue.

Pfeiffer Nature Center

Carol and Jeffrey McMullen of Portville, NY travelled to this month’s meeting to enlist the help of the Niagara Group in their attempt to save the Pfeiffer Nature Center from logging. Distressingly, the Board of the Nature Center wants to log old growth forest including 120 year old oak trees, as a so-called "demonstration project” in an effort to replenish a rapidly depleting endowment. The endowment was initially around $200,000 thanks to a generous donation by the Pfeiffer family, but has been diminished to $100,000 largely due to the $35,000 annual salary of the Director of the Nature Center. The “cut” is therefore perceived to represent a conflict of interest on the part of the Director. Ms. Noodin says not all of the Board members support it.

Legal Chair Richard Lippes began asking the McMullen's a series of questions regarding the composition of the Board, the membership, the bequest terms of the Pfeiffers (to which Jeffrey responded that there must be easements if any property is sold). Activists in this area have been trying to lobby the Board so far, Richard strongly recommended that they involve the Nature Center membership. Steve Burns asked if petitioning is a possibility. Jeffery will forward a copy of the Audubon Society resolution on this matter to us.

Richard Lippes moved that Niagara Group oppose any logging for profit in the Pfeiffer Nature Center. Mike Kukla seconded and the motion passed by acclamation. Niagara Group will notify the Pfeiffer Board of this position by letter.

Joe DeMare proposed that we make a Group outing to the Nature Center, and will put a date on the listserv.

Larry Beahan informed us that Bruce Kershner, a respected Western New York environmentalist, has actually contacted a member of the Pfeiffer family who lives in Oregon and used to work for the Allegany State Park. Richard said a member of the Pfeiffer family may want to sue.

Niagara Group By-Laws

Mike brought up the subject of the bylaws. He said Sierra Club wants to move to uniform bylaws for Groups across the country, and Richard observed that most of the bylaws are mandated by Sierra Club. Mike will take the approved bylaws to the Atlantic Chapter outing and give to Stu Auchincloss, who will convey them to San Francisco.

Mike Kukla made a motion to accept the bylaws. Jim Bunn seconded. Jim Hufnagel interjected that he wanted to propose the following change to the bylaws, which he passed around, and read as follows:

“Only those members residing within the legislative district in which a candidate is running for public office may vote for or against the Group’s endorsement of that candidate. If no members from that district are present when the endorsement decision is made, then the Group at large may vote on the endorsement.”

Jim explained that the rule would prevent endorsement of a candidate by non-constituent Sierrans over the objections of a constituent Sierran. He pointed out that despite his strong opposition, Niagara Group recently endorsed his congressional representative John LaFalce for Congress, with the overwhelming majority of members who voted for LaFalce’s endorsement not even residing in the congressman’s district. Discussion ensued on the merits of this change. It was decided that Richard would determine if the change conformed to Sierra Club dictates, and that it may be enacted through a motion rather than a change to bylaws.

The motion to approve the bylaws passed with 1 opposed and 1 abstention.

Endorsement of Bill Kindel for Amherst Town Supervisor

Richard started the discussion of the endorsement of incumbent Town of Amherst Council member Bill Kindel by noting that Kindel was 1 of 2 Democrats on the council, and that he was a former Executive Committee member of Niagara Group and an environmentalist of long-standing. For example, he founded the first neighborhood coalition in Amherst. He will run against Amherst Town Supervisor Susan Grelick if he wins the upcoming primary. He turned down the Republican line due to the fact he thought they were too pro-development.

Larry responded that while indeed Bill Kindel is a friend of the environment, many supporters in Amherst are apprehensive that if Kindel is elected supervisor that would leave an open seat on the council which could potentially be filled by another pro-development person. Steve Burns asked if there have been any other pro-environment candidates identified. Richard motioned that we endorse Bill Kindel, Mike Kukla seconded and the Executive Committee voted unanimously “aye”. Mr. Kindel will be notified of Niagara Group’s endorsement by letter pending Chapter approval.

Meeting with Assemblywoman Delmonte

Jim Hufnagel announced an August 30 meeting he has set up with Assemblywoman Francine Del Monte. Several other environmental leaders in Niagara County have indicated a commitment to attend and contribute, including Niagara Group members Mike Kukla, Jim Bunn and Charles Lamb. General environental issues will be the theme, including removal of the Robert Moses Parkway and development along the Niagara Gorge, the CWM rezoning, the Magna Corp. projects and their effect on urban sprawl, and other issues.

Blake Reeves Memorial Tree Planting

Gen Robins proposed that Niagara Group plant a tree in memory of Blake Reeves. All agreed that that was a very nice idea. Richard said to call Debbie Trimble, Executive Director of the Olmstead Park Conservancy for guidance. Joe suggested the tree be planted in a park that Blake particularly enjoyed, and Richard said Delaware Park was just such a park. Gen will discuss this living memorial with Marilyn Reeves.

WEBR Fund Drive

A call was made for volunteers to man the phones for WEBR’s fund drive, and Mike said it will go in the newsletter.

BackStreet Boys Concert Tabling

Mike announced that The Backstreet Boys concert was rescheduled for Sept. 18th. Sierra Club volunteers will still be handing out information for one of the bandmembers new organizations--the Just Within Reach Foundation. The band devotes a portion of their show to environmental awareness and features Sierra Club members during the show promoting green topics to the audience.

Zoo Expansion

Richard reported that Erie County Executive Joel Giambra has reconsidered his position on the zoo expansion issue but a letter may still be good. Joe asked what our position was; Richard replied no intrusion into Delaware Park. The strategy will be to wait on the resolution for now.

CWM Landfill Facility

Mike recognized those who attended the recent Chemical Waste Management, Inc. rezoning meeting. He passed around a Buffalo News photo showing Niagara Group Secretary Jim Hufnagel in a toxic waste barrel and skull mask as he appeared at the Town of Porter Board meeting. Mike said 400+ people attended and the only speakers in favor of increasing the toxic waste landfill to accomodate PCB’s were CWM employees. The Lewiston citizen action group named ROLE may retain Attorney Richard Lippes to fight the rezoning should the Board vote to approve. They also have been talking with UB Law School Dean Nils Olsen.

Charles Lamb reported that the LewPort Board of Education voted unanimously to oppose the CWM rezoning.

Learning Sustainability Conference

Mike described the Buffalo Green Gold conference to take place this fall featuring Jane Goodall and David Suzuki to highlight sustainable techniques for business and that he encourages everyone to go. Joe added that we may have a table there.

Misc.

Mike also brought up the Toxic Tour Bus Ride coming up. Joe proposed a “biodiesel” Club outing, and Mike asked him to put more details on the listserv.

The meeting adjourned at 9:40.

Respectfully Submitted,
James Hufnagel, Sec’y