Sierra Club, Niagara Group
Minutes of Monthly meeting - January 3, 2006

State University of New York at Buffalo, North Campus, Natural Science Building, Room 684, 7 PM

Jane Jontz, Chair, Presiding

Present: Jane Jontz*, Art Klein*, Steve Burns-Treasurer*, Joe Gardella*, Paul Maine*, Mike Stroh*, Larry Beahan*, Ginger Ursitti*, Liz Kaszubski
(*Indicates member of Exec. Committee)

1.) Treasurer's and Membership Reports - S. Burns

• Balance in checking account: $2035.83

• Membership at 2244 households as of December 1, 2005

2.) ADK Wetlands Seminar - L. Beahan: Informational meeting to be held at UB, open to the public. Liz to prepare Trailblazer notice; Jane to contact Charles about potential early issue.

3.) Outer Harbor - L. Beahan: Riverkeeper opposes NFTA's proposed development plan. Faults include lack of: open space, public access to waterfront, landscaping. Public opportunity for input was nearly non-existent (2 days). Difficulties the Group faces includes NFTA's lack of accountability as an Authority. Riverkeeper is asking for us to use Riverkeeper website to generate the comment letter. Larry to prepare letter from Niagara Group with the same criticisms. Individuals can also write letters

3.) Wetlands Campaign - L. Kaszubski/J. Jontz:

• J. Jontz spoke to John Stouffer who suggested Niagara Group lobby Mary Lou Rath to support NYS Wetland Law. Art reported a meeting with her in Nov. 2005 regarding BBBB; when wetland bill came up, she could not vote against it, but must be on floor and she cannot go against Bruno to force it to the floor.

• Lobbying for local laws: discussed speaking to Debbie Bucki and Satish Mohan for their support. Bucki has expressed interest in the past. Woodstock ordinance was given to Bucki to review; ask Bob Ciesielski at next meeting to talk to Debbie again, also to Satish and Dan Ward.

• J. Gardella: Mapping project is to create a computerized database of GIS data to identify wetland areas that have been missed by DEC mappers, such as the 100 acres in N. Ton. Will have draft maps ready soon for Erie and Niagara Counties as demonstration project for mapping rest of state. Joe's grad student was hired with Chapter Conservation money ($500). Demo project will show how long (and how much $) it will take; so doing these first and will expand from there. National has approved $3000 to expand beyond Erie/Niagara once it is successful.

• Woodstock

4.) Group Officers - L.Beahan: Larry and Charles Lamb are Nominating Committee. List of Nominees:

• Chair - Jane Jontz

• Vice Chair - Mike Stroh

• Treasurer - Steve Burns

• Secretary - Bob Ciesielski

ExCom vote: all present voted Aye.

5.) Wetland Campaign Update - J. Jontz: Reviewed progress: consists of wetland mapping project and lobbying for Amherst wetland laws.

6.) Group Strategic Plan Update - J. Jontz: Reviewed progress: arranging meeting with Legislators; publicizing ADK meeting in April. Discussed options for "cool booth".

7.) Honoring Gen Robbins - J. Jontz: Soliciting ideas for honoring Gen. Also, Gen is donating another of her original paintings to the Group.

8.) Next Meeting:

• January Meeting here on 4th Tues (Jan. 24, 2006).

• February meeting at Eagle House on Feb. 28th, 2006 at 5:30pm. Short business meeting first, then dinner.

Meeting adjourned 8:05 pm (some attendees to Nature View meeting in Amherst)

Respectfully submitted,
Virginia Ursitti