The Niagara Group of the Sierra Club
Minutes of the November 27, 2001 Meeting

Chairman Mike Kukla called the meeting to order at 7:04 PM.

Art Klein announced that the annual dinner will be held at the Eagle
House the third week of February.

Due to the Christmas holiday, it was decided that the Niagara Group
will next meet on Monday, Dec. 17.

Treasurer Murray Warner reported a treasury balance of $1570.24
as of the 13th of November. He added that in January we will realize $600
from dues. Mike suggested we should save our balance for conservation
causes, since we only have one more newsletter to send out this
year. Art added that since the New York State Environmental Protection Fund
(EPF) will be nonexistent this year due the budget impasse, we will want to
save. Larry Beahan is in favor of saving until a good opportunity, such as
a guest speaker, comes along.

Mr. Warner announced that after more than 25 years of service as
Treasurer to Niagara Group of the Sierra Club, he will retire from this
position as of 1/1/2002. The membership expressed their appreciation at this
time with a round of hearty applause.

Membership Chair Gen Robins reported 131 new members, to make a
total of 2139 Niagara Group members.

Jim Hufnagel presented to the membership a resolution in opposition
to the proposed golf course for the southern portion of Wilson Tuscarora
State Park. The Town of Wilson has written a letter to the State Office
of Parks, Recreation and Historic Places requesting a feasibility study
as the building of said golf course. DEC has dispatched engineers to the
site. Mike Kukla will compose a letter to Commissioner Bernadette Castro of
OPRHP expressing our opposition to this proposed development. Discussion
followed. Vice Chair Jane Jontz moved, Art Klein seconded, resolution passed.

Jim also passed around today's Niagara Gazette which contained a
letter by him denouncing the present
configuration of the Robert Moses Parkway, and calling for its total
removal. He also attended this morning
the scheduled arraignment of Jason Brady and Rachel Martin and one
other activist, which was postponed in Amherst court until Dec.
18. He updated the members on the status of their prosecution for
their protest action to draw attention to the practices of the Staples
office supply chain, which uses virgin pulp for paper production,
and is thus responsible for widespread destruction of forests in North America.

Jim Foster requested a letter from Niagara Group to Congressman
Jack Quinn re: protection of wetlands. It
was pointed out that Rep. Quinn voted to open ANWR and to lower
CAFE standards. Jim Bunn said we should write a letter to Rep. Quinn
on behalf of all 2100 Niagara Group members. Jane suggested that
we meet with him "one on one". A letter from Quinn on energy policy
was read, and it was agreed that it was very non-
committal. An article will be given to Joe DeMare for publication
in the Trailblazer. Mike Kukla pointed out that we already have an
energy resolution. Jim Foster will set up a meeting with Quinn.

Larry Beahan reported on the UMP (Unit Management Plan) for Rheinstein
Woods, a large old growth forest
in Cheektowaga. A meeting will be held tomorrow night (11/28) and
Larry asked for Sierrans to attend and
comment on the plan, to which Art Klein and Paul Maine volunteered.
Mike added that the plan will be posted
on the internet.

Larry also put forward a resolution to preserve the old fire tower
in Allegheny State Park, pointing out that it will reinforce ties
between Niagara Group and various other organizations interested
in the welfare of the Park, and will serve to introduce and enamor
the public to the beauty of the Park. A kiosk costing $60K is proposed,
and Assemblywoman Catherine Young has requested funding from the
State for this purpose. Larry suggested that letters be written
to her to help her justify her request for this important funding.
Larry motioned, Art seconded, all ayes.

Jane Jontz and Frank Mendel went to the first Amherst Master Plan
meeting. They were the only two members
of the general public to attend, and had the opportunity to meet
and present our views to the Amherst Planning Board. Jane contended
to the Board that money spent on a green meridian down the middle
of Main St. might be better spent on open space, and Frank challenged
the Planning Board to integrate the Amherst plan with an Erie County
or regional plan. Marilyn Reeves went to the third meeting, and
informed everyone that the plan is on the internet. Larry added
that comments are accepted on-line.

Charles Lamb told us about a recent hike he took in Zoar Valley,
and read a letter sent him by Gov. George
Pataki in response to his letter advocating the preservation of
350-year-old old growth trees found in the Gorge. They are thought
to be the oldest, largest trees found north of the Smokies in Virginia.
Charles read a letter from Gerald Mikol, Chief of DEC Region 9,
that declared the trees in the Gorge to be beyond reach, but failed
to address buffer forests at the edge of the Gorge. Art pointed
out that Zoar is on the "Open Space" list for New York State open space
acquisitions.

Charles then moved on to report on CWM, which is slated to accept
PCB waste from the Hudson River
despite a determined effort by Atlantic Chapter to prevent this
toxic waste from being trucked and dumped
into Niagara County. A small group in Porter is forming to take
legal action against this eventuality. A protest with a local radio
station will be held Friday morning at the CWM entrance to greet
the arrival of Tom Brokaw's Anthrax contaminated desk, which is to be
landfilled at CWM.

Jim Hufnagel asked for ideas and suggestions on how to increase
participation and in particular, attendance at ExCom meetings. Paul
brought up the fact that members might be put off by referring to
meetings as Excom, and maybe we should simply call them membership
meetings, and also they also may not receive enough postcard reminders.
Mike suggested we contact members with issues as they occur, especially
when specific to a town or area, possibly in the Trailblazer. Larry
questioned whether we really want more attendance at meetings. Jim
pointed out that fewer than 1 in 100 Niagara Group members were in
attendence this evening.

Frank Mendel reported on the progress of Jay Burney's sustainability
initiative. Frank also expressed the opinion that Niagara Group should
think in terms of a comprehensive plan for the region rather than the
piecemeal agenda items we address every month.

Mike Kukla adjourned the meeting at 8:48.

Respectfully Submitted,
James Hufnagel, Sec'y
Niagara Group