Sierra Club, Niagara Group
Minutes of Monthly meeting - January 24, 2006

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

Jane Jontz, Chair, Presiding

Present: Jane Jontz*, Steve Burns*, Mike Stroh*, Robert Ciesielski*, Charles Lamb*, Art Klein*, Larry Beahan*, Joe Gardella*, Liz Kaszubski*, Richard Lippes*, Jane Sheldon, Gerald Wochaold, Shelia Carbrey, Lois Schriver
(*Indicates member of Exec. Committee)

1) TREASURER'S REPORT - S. Burns: $2,017.58 in checking account. Reimbursement of $589.00 for Newsletter.

2) MEMBERSHIP REPORT - S. Burns: 148 new members as of January 1, 2006. 49 memberships expired at end of December 2005. Current membership is 2, 356 active member in 2,303 households. 2,244 Trailblazers mailed. There is a membership and fundraising conference scheduled in San Francisco for April 29-30, 2006. March 1, 2006 deadline for sign up.

3) ATLANTIC CHAPTER POLITICAL COMMITTEE - J. Gardella: National has initiated a program, recommended to Chapters, to support environmentally winnable State election candidates. Proposal is to support candidates approximately 10 election districts with environmental issues, and use funds for campaigns.

Sierra Club and approximately 60 other organizations have challenged proposed DEC brownfield remediation standards and are demanding statewide hearings. If regulations are too weak, there may be a suit brought to block adoption.

Chapter discussed conflict of interest issues. Group is looking into endorsements for special election to State senatorial seat vacated by Byron Brown.

4) GREENWAY COMMITTEE - L. Beahan: Committee is interviewing three consultant organizations to see which will be chosen to formulate a Greenway plan. Julie O’Neill and Larry Beahan have complained that additional consultants should be interviewed.

5) NATURE VIEW - L. Beahan: Town of Amherst Supervisor Mohan has put off signing Nature View agreement with Western New York Land Conservancy until further reviewed. A resolution of the Town board at its first meeting in January requested supervisor to sign the agreement. R. Lippes is negotiating with Town attorney. Feels confident agreement will be signed.

6) ATLANTIC CHAPTER - L. Beahan: Meeting held in Brooklyn on January 21, 2006. The North East Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) covering 7 states, has an objective to limit carbon dioxide emissions. Chapter failed to endorse because of provision for corporations to trade pollution credits. Larry feels initiative should be endorsed. Ginger Ursitti was elected to an at large delegate position with the largest number of votes. Some concern that at large positions are generally carried by down state delegations, leaving up-state underrepresented. All Chapter executive committee officers reelected unopposed. Larry elected to one of seven Steering Committee seats. Charles Lamb appointed to Chapter Publications Committee and Richard Lippes to committee on Smaller Ex-comm. Chapter to meet with NYS gubernatorial candidate, Thomas Suozzi on February 4, 2006. Larry discussed Chapter treasury report. Chapter annual budget is $340,000.00. Discussion of allocating greater portion of budget to newsletters. Hugh Mitchell seeking to rank conservation priorities to determine where Chapter funds should be allocated for Groups.

7) TRAILBLAZER - C. Lamb: March 1, 2006 is the deadline for submitting material for the next issue. Wetlands seminar at UB is scheduled for April 1, 2006.

8) LOCAL WETLAND LEGISLATION - R. Lippes: Discussion of implementing local wetland laws in the Town of Amherst. R. Lippes believes that John Stoufer in Albany is working on drafting proposed model legislation for towns to adopt to protect wetlands greater than one acre in size.

9) VETERANS PARK - A. Klein: Appears that some officials in the City of Tonawanda and developers are attempting to use alienation law to convert Veterans Park into a development site for approximately 50 houses. Request for information made and Town engineer denied plan. Art has sent out Freedom of Information Request.

10) GRAND ISLAND WETLANDS - Lois Shriver and Gerald Wachaold: Lois introduced G. Wachaold. Gerald has a home on Fareway Drive in Grand Island built on a filled in creek bed and has suffered cracks in basement. Developer John Stickel is proposing a 28 ½-acre sub-division between Fareway Drive and Fix Road near Baseline Road. Suggestions given to Gerald concerning checking Federal and State Wetland maps and soiled types. Stickel hired Wilson Environmental, which generally minimizes wetlands impact for environmental study. Public meeting scheduled in Grand Island library February 9, 2006 concerning development.

11) FLUORIDATION - Sheila Carbrey: Ms. Carbrey spoke of the dangers of artificial fluoridation of drinking water.

12) ANNUAL DINNER - J. Jontz: Dinner scheduled February 28, 2006 at Eagle House Restaurant. Gen Robins to be honored.

13) WETLAND MAPPING - J. Gardella: Indicates combined federal and state Wetland maps are being worked on and that Niagara County map is almost completed.

Meeting adjourned 8:45 PM.
Respectfully submitted Robert M. Ciesielski