Sierra Club, Niagara Group
Minutes of Monthly meeting - November 22, 2005

State University of New York at Buffalo, North Campus, Natural Science Building, Room 306, 7 PM

Art Klein, Vice-Chair, Presiding

Present: Art Klein*, Robert Ciesielski*, Liz Kaszubski*, Larry Beahan*, Joe Gardella*, Paul Maine*, Richard Lippes*, Charles Lamb*, Mike Stroh*, John M. Hague, Jane Sheldon
(*Indicates member of Exec. Committee)

1) MEMBERSHIP REPORT - R. Ciesielski: September minutes have been posted, Proposed October 2005 minutes sent members of Exec Committee for review. L. Beahan made several suggested changes to October minutes which will be completed before posting.

2) TRAILBLAZER- C. Lamb: New printer Inky Fingers seems to offer the best financial package. Charles and Steve Burns will review final costs. Committee approves printing of December 10, 2005 newsletter at Inky Fingers without contract on trial basis. L. Beahan suggests sending all newsletters on PDF format. M. Stroh suggests that we obtain at least half of Niagara Group e-mail addresses before e-mail format is used.

3) POLITICAL COMMITTEE - J. Gardella: Suggests that we inform Chapter political committee that all Niagara Group endorsed candidates were successful except Tim Thielman. L. Beahan suggest that Group meets with Debbie Bucki, the successful Town of Amherst councilperson, about environmental priorities in Amherst. L. Beahan suggests R. Ciesielski contact Debbie Bucki to set up a meeting with interested Exec Committee members. Satish Mohan, new Amherst supervisor, is familiar with Natureview Park. He has appointed Larry Southwick to his transition team.

4) KLYDEL WETLANDS, NORTH TONAWANDA - L. Kaszubski: After community meeting at which L. Kaszubski and others spoke before North Tonawanda School Board, board unanimously voted to rescind their contract with Hunt Real Estate to sell the 9.3 acre Klydel site. Liz active in organizing significant community support opposing sale.

5) ELIOT SPITZER - L. Kaszubski: The Atlantic Chapter had a meeting with Eliot Spitzer in New York City posing questions on his environmental stance. John Stouffer, Liz Kaszubski and Walter Simpson were able to pose questions via telephone. Spitzer sees SEQRA as a tool for the Attorney General to enforce environmental laws. He supports involvement of citizens in helping DEC. Some discussion about Citizen Advisory Committees which are often comprised of industry representatives and friends of local politicians. Spitzer feels DEC is understaffed. He would like more contact between local people and DEC. Spitzer indicated he was positive for use of wind power. He also supported protecting wet lands as small as one acre. J. Gardella mentioned necessity for Sierra Club to develop questionnaire for gubernatorial candidates and local candidates to be used in endorsements.

6) GREAT LAKES AQUATIC HABITAT NETWORK & FUND - C. Lamb: This group published a twenty-four (24) page book "Connecting Communities: Success Stories" dealing with successful grassroots efforts to protect the Great Lakes. Charles contributed an article on Lake Ontario Basin. Booklets distributed to Executive Committee members.

7) CWM TOXIC WASTE SITE - C. Lamb: CWM has filed for expansion permit for its Lewiston-Porter site. Public hearings will be held shortly. Residents for Responsible Government (RRG), will oppose expansion permit. Vince Agnello feels there is a strong case to stop the expansion. RRG somewhat disheartened by loss of CWM opponent Bill Cheyboy in recent Lewiston election. Gary Abraham hired by Niagara County legislature concerning environmental problems including CWM site. R. Lippes mentions political problem with CWM in that is the only hazardous waste site in the Northeast and that choosing another would be politically difficult. CWM is using part of the old Lake Ontario Ordinance Site which manufactured atomic weapons during WWII as its dump. Serious questions as to whether plutonium previously buried is being exposed by CWM activity. Richard stressed that permit process for CWM must continue to be of an adjudicatory nature, as opposed to a legislative/administrative process.

8) MAPPING WETLANDS - L. Kaszubski and J. Gardella: Liz and Joe are speaking with John Stouffer about updating maps of Niagara County and Erie County wetlands. John Stouffer wants maps to be copyrighted to the Sierra Club. Joe is attempting to commence mapping by January 2006.

9) TOWN OF AMHERST - Discussion of whether Amherst would adopt Town of Woodstock model to create local ordinances for stricter land control. J. Gardella suggests that pesticide phaseout in Amherst be discussed with Debbie Bucki.

10) PERRYSBURG - L. Beahan: Friends of J.N. Adams has hired R. Lippes in suit to stop sale of 650 acres of Perrysburg property to developers/loggers. Friends is attempting to expand membership. Larry has written an article on the subject to Western New York Heritage Magazine. M. Stroh put together Friends website. Agreement made to provide village of Perrysburg with water rights from property regardless of ownership. Court hearing scheduled in December 2005. R. Lippes feels SEQRA review is required. Discussion of methods through which property can be kept by State, sold to conservancy, or otherwise kept in public domain.

11) BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR - L. Beahan: NFTA is discussing sale of Outer Harbor to Uniland which won competition for development. Julie O'Neill of Friends of Buffalo Niagara River is opposed to sale. Motion by L. Kaszubski, seconded by L. Beahan to oppose NFTA sale to Uniland. Motion unanimously passed.

12) OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE - A. Klein: Public hearing scheduled for November 29, 2005 to review New York open space plan. L. Kaszubski discussed suggested wording of committee guidelines to preserve as much habitat as possible and leave options open for areas to be protected.

13) NOMINATING COMMITTEE - C. Lamb: Committee recommends the following slate for Niagara Group Exec Committee officers for 2006: Jane Jontz, Chair; Michael Stroh, Vice-Chair; Robert Ciesielski, Secretary; Steve Burns, Treasurer. Election scheduled for Exec Committee meeting of January 3, 2006.

14) BETTER BOTTLE BILL - A. Klein: Meeting held with Mary Lou Rath to discuss including recycling of water bottles and other containers in new bottle bill. Discussions as to how the bill would result in savings for taxpayers by limiting public refuse. Ms. Rath seems to be in favor of new bill.

15) PRESIDENT'S AWARD - J. Gardella: Joe has received the President's Award for Excellence in science, math and engineering. Presentation made in Washington, D.C. Group congratulated J. Gardella.

Meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted
Robert M. Ciesielski