The Niagara Group of the Sierra Club
Minutes of the August 26, 2003 Meeting

The meeting was called to order by Chair Jane Jontz at 7:00 PM.

Attending: Jane Jontz, Larry Beahan, Marilyn Reeves, Jason Brady, Charles Lamb, Mike Stroh, Paul Main, Ray Gang, Gen Robins, Ginger Ursitti, Steve Burns

Treasurer Steve Burns reported a balance of $1285.41 on August 15, but expected to be approximately $785 today as the result of checks that haven’t cleared, such as $125 to Sierra Club for shirts and bags and $15 registration for tabling at Zoo Earth Day.

Membership chair Gen Robins reported 138 new members and 2147 total Niagara Group members.

Jason Brady of the Allegheny Defense Project said that neither the Pittsburgh nor Erie Groups have endorsed the Allegheny Wild! Plan for the Allegheny National Forest as of yet. This is due to the fact that Sierra Club approval is required for a Group or Chapter to take a position on federal land usage. The Pennsylvania Chapter will gain this approval, at which time Niagara Group can act.

Jason gave the background on the Allegheny Wild! Plan, which is an alternative management plan for the ANF. He described that, as opposed to the Forest Service plan, it allows for more wilderness designation, no more re-routing of hiking trails, and no further detriment to endangered species.

Charles Lamb suggested we vote to endorse the Allegheny Wild! Plan subject to national approval. Jim Hufnagel and Larry Beahan disagreed, Larry saying it was a complex issue and document and we should wait for approval. Steve wanted to know if the issue was time sensitive. Jason explained the commenting and scoping processes that will happen, and estimated 2-3 months. He will keep us posted on the progress of this issue.

Marilyn Reeves has questionnaires for both Porter and Amherst. She noted that we should have people doing this in other towns. Charles gave a report on the Porter questionnaire response. He would like endorsements before the primary on Sept. 9. There will be 3 Republicans running for 2 ballot positions, and one Democrat.

Jane pointed out that we vote to endorse here, then get Atlantic Chapter approval.

Larry moved that Janice Zimmerman be endorsed for Town of Porter Board. Jane seconded. Passed 6-1.

Larry moved that David Brooks be endorsed for Town of Porter Board. Jane seconded. Passed 7-0.

Jim advised Charles that he could forward all Niagara Group endorsement designees to the Atlantic Chapter Political Committee this evening, along with the request that a final decision be made by the Committee before the weekend.

Charles read a proposed newspaper article announcing the endorsements. Marilyn suggested a minor change. Jane explained why we are not publishing or otherwise disseminating questionnaire answers. Charles said the League of Women Voters will have a candidates night. Jane outlined how we will contact Porter Sierrans.

Jim asked wouldn’t that be C4 money, Steve replied that it is very small amount of money involved.

Paul Main volunteered to make calls, and moved that we send the mailing to the 30 Porter Sierrans. Jane and Charles offered to call 10 each. Gen seconded, motioned passed 4-3. Charles will actually do the mailing.

Charles also has an article ready for the Trailblazer. Ginger Ursitti suggested that we back up our endorsements with mailings, calls, etc.

Charles reported that the Porter re-zoning lawsuit is due back in court on Sept. 9. He gave a history of the CWM re-zoning issue. He warned that even winning the lawsuit does not guarantee a favorable outcome in the long run if an unsympathetic board reverses it.

Marilyn read the Amherst questions and described the political situation.

Paul suggested we do something in Hamburg, but it is too late.

Jim moved that Paul A. Dyster be endorsed for Mayor of Niagara Falls. Larry seconded. Passed 7-0.

Paul mentioned that PCB’s can now be digested by special microbes, and that what happens in one town affects another. He suggested a more general questionnaire might be more effective.

Ray Gang and Larry have been participating in the Power Project Relicensing Process. Ray went to one of the recent public hearings. He said that there were about 50 people present, half of which seemed to be NIPA employees. Barry Boyer is another who has been active in this process.

Larry went to a Ripley windmill meeting and reported 34 towers are planned from Ripley to Wakefield. They are 400’ high. The EIS is being done now and comments have to in soon. Audubon and Hawk Watch have been keeping track of this major migratory flyway. The best proposal, according to Larry, is to let Chautauqua County do the siting, as there are alternative sites. Ray recently saw seven 100’ high towers near Syracuse. Larry said this Ripley project would span over 5 miles of the ridge. Ginger did research into wind energy, and she reported that while wind accounts for less than 1% of the grid today, it is expected to exceed 6% by 2020. Mike Stroh asked if the Ripley windmills will be on farmland. The answer given was yes.

Charles passed out a rough draft of the October Trailblazer. He told us about the recent Sierra Club Training Academy he attended in Gatlinburg, TN. He thought it was an extremely well spent session with workshops and practice campaigns.

Charles is now in possession of a letter from the New York State Dept. Health reporting on cancer incidence in and around LewPort Schools.

Jim moved that the minutes of the previous meeting be accepted. Jane seconded, all ayes.

A display of Gen Robin’s beautiful oil paintings was presented to the Niagara Group. It was decided to raffle, rather than auction, the larger painting of the seashore in Portugal. Mike Stroh will display the painting on the Niagara Group web site at http://newyork.sierraclub.org/niagara and Charles will do the same in the Trailblazer. An opportunity to obtain raffle tickets will be made available in the Trailblazer.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:12 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,

James Hufnagel
Substituting and Past Secretary
Niagara Group