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Sierra Club, Atlantic Chapter, Niagara Group
Minutes of Monthly Meeting of the Executive Committee
August 24, 2004
Location: United Methodist Church Community Room, Main Street, Williamsville.
Jane Jontz, Chair, presiding.
Attendees
Jane Jontz
Liz Kaszubski
Mike Stroh
Charles Lamb
Gen Robins
Paul Maine
Bill Hojczyk*
Lee Chowaniec*
Jeremy Colby*
Matthew Bova*
Larry Beahan
Steve Burns
Richard Lippes
Jim Hufnagel
Bob Ciesielski
Joe Gardella
Jane Sheldon*
Ginger Ursitti
Name in Bold - Member of Executive Committee
*First meeting for Member or Guest
Business Reports
1. Treasurer Report - S. Burns
$1351.79
2. Membership Report - Gen Robins
55 new members since June
6 single transfers, 7 joint transfers.
Totals to date for 2004:
616 new
37 expired
597 dropped
3 deaths
19 changes
Current Total Membership: 2289
3. Newsletter Report - C. Lamb
Newsletter deadline is September 10th for submission of articles.
Committee Reports
4. Political Endorsements - Jim Hufnagel
Jim introduced Matt Bova, endorsed Democratic candidate for State Senate. Matt presented his candidacy and requested Sierra Club endorsement.
Discussion regarding Matt Bova versus George Maziarz. Jim moved to recommend Matt Bova for endorsement against George Maziarz. Liz second. Passed 8-1. Steve Burns voted in favor as non-ExCom member of the Political Committee.
Discussion regarding Brian Higgins as candidate for US Congress (Jack Quinn's seat) in the Democratic primary election. Opponents are Michael Callesano and two others. Higgins has an excellent environmental voting record according to Sierra Club policy. Jim moved to recommend Brian Higgins to Chapter and Club for endorsement. Liz second. Steve Burns voted in favor as non-ExCom member of the Political Committee. Passed unanimously.
5. Anti-Bush Campaign - Jim Hufnagel
National Organization of Women (NOW) is looking for volunteers at their phone bank on Main Street in Buffalo. Volunteers are calling swing states urge them to vote. To volunteer, call Katy at 855-1122.
6. Forests - Larry Beahan
Richard Lippes sent a letter from the Sierra Club to Erie County requesting that the Erie County Forest Plan call for treating our forests as parks rather than as a logging resource. The letter was jointly signed by ADK, Audubon, and Foothills hiking club. Bruce Kershner is sending a separate letter representing others requesting the same.
7. Niagara Power Project Relicensing Update - Larry Beahan
Sierra Club is to be represented by FBNR (Friends of the Buffalo and Niagara Rivers) as agreed by the Niagara ExCom. Richard said that National has to approve this arrangement to be sure Club policies are not misrepresented.
Barry Boyer said agreement will probably cover the parts of Niagara County outside the Niagara River watershed as an affected party.
One example of the terms of the agreement negotiations: to include $10 million in habitat restoration funds to be applied immediately, and at least $4 million to be set aside for future projects. A total of $100s of millions is on the table.
8. Toxic Waste - Charles Lamb, Joe Gardella
CWM update. Charles announced RRG golf fund-raiser next month.
SLC Carbon plant in Niagara Falls. Joe reported that a new company has proposed to reopen the inoperative plant and have the NYSDEC air permits transferred to the new process rather than apply for new permits. This will allow them to open the plant with no public review and emit unknown substances and quantities into the air. Joe presented a copy of the company's 7-page proposal, which had not been subject to scientific examination. Joe is protesting this request, of which NYSDEC appears to be in favor. Call Gerry Mikol at NYSDEC Region 9 at 855-1122 to protest.
9. Wetlands - Liz Kaszubski
Pleasant Meadows - Guests from Lancaster (Lee, Bill, and Jeremy) presented the issue of a large proposed residential development that will impact a new state wetland, federal-jurisdictional wetlands, and isolated wetlands. Pleasant Meadows to be located between Pleasantview Dr. and Walden Ave., just west of the Stony Brook development and east of Lancaster High School. Showed the Group maps and photos to illustrate the wetlands already impacted by existing development. Bill's house (neighborhood less than 10 years old) is in the 100-ft regulated buffer zone of LAN-16 and appears to be actual wetland. Liz will write a comment letter from the Chapter and the Group opposing the project as proposed. A smaller development with no connector road may be acceptable.
Lewiston Golf Course. Positive news since the July meeting - the State Attorney General is now involved. NYSDEC has agreed that the project requires a mining permit due to the proposed excavation of 11-foot deep water hazards. Steve Doleski (Region 9 Permit Administrator) may consider the wetlands of special significance and name them state wetlands due to the presence of a mature grove of shellbark hickory, a rare tree species.
10. Sprawl - Art Klein
Proposed West Seneca Ice Rink. Art provided information on the indoor recreational facility development proposed for the Buffalo Creek flood plain. The project would fill a natural area with wetlands and flood plains and be in an area away from existing development, therefore sprawl inducing. There are other appropriate sites for the project, but alternative was presented. Art suggested this site be used for passive recreation in its natural state, possibly with a creekside trail. The ExCom unanimously supported Art's proposal to write a letter of protest against this project.
Events
11. Theodore Roosevelt Lecture Series Update – Ginger Ursitti
Repeat Announcement - TR Site's Char Miller lecture at 2:00 pm Sunday October 17th at the Buffalo Museum of Science. Sierra Niagara is providing refreshments for the reception afterward, Ginger to host. Need sale items and education materials for table.
12. WNY Earth Day, August 15th at the Buffalo Zoo - Art Klein
Positive experience, had lots of interest at our table.
13. Strategic Planning Retreat - Jane Jontz
Friday Nov 12th, 2004 at Jane's house - 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm; pot luck dinner.
Saturday Nov 13th, 2004 at Stella Niagara - 8:00 am to 6:00 pm; continental breakfast, lunch on our own, afternoon hike break (Jim to lead).
Attendees confirmed:
Larry
Steve
Joe
Jim
Jane
Art
Charles
Paul
Gen
Mike
Ginger
14. Additional business
Rochester Group - Charles had a discussion with Hugh Mitchell, Chair of the Rochester ExCom. Hugh is raising the idea of forming regional groups. More info needed.
Clinton's Roadless Rule - Steve handed out information, including info on "Bush's spin" on the issue
Meeting adjourned at 9:15 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Ginger Ursitti
874-6769
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