Lake Plains
Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc.
446 West Avenue Albion New York 14411
July 28, 2009
To: Lake Plains RC&D Council Members, Cooperating Agencies Personnel, and Other Interested Individuals.
The Lake Plains RC&D Council will meet at 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., on Thursday, August 13, 2009
At
Alasa Farms (Cracker Box Palace)
6450 Shaker Road, North Rose, NY 14516
315-483-2493
http://www.crackerboxpalace.org/
** All Meetings OPEN to the Public. All those interested are encouraged to attend. **
Agenda
10:00am Meeting Call to Order
Introductions
Quorum Determination
Minutes of Previous Meeting
Treasurer’s Report
Internal Fiscal Year Audit – Proposed Budget Vote
10:15am Old Business
National Association of RC&D Councils – Conference June 14-17, 2009 -Report
Lake Plains RC&D – By-laws
10:30am New Business
Approval/Cancellation of Project Measures
Coordinator’s Report
Other Business
11:45am Next Meeting, Date, Time, Place
12:00pm Adjourn
*Meeting Dates for 2009 – OCT 8, and DEC 10*
Visit the Web Site: www.lakeplainsrcd.org
Our vision is a prosperous diverse community that is effectively utilizing, conserving, and sharing the natural resources of the region.
Telephone: 585-589-5320 ext. 4 Fax: 585-589-7709 E-mail:
All programs and services of the RC&D Council are offered on a non-discriminatory basis, without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital or family status, disability or political beliefs.
K. Watt called the meeting of the Lake Plains RC&D Council to order at 10:10 a.m., June 11, 2009 at Orleans County Workforce Development Center, 458 West Avenue, Albion NY 14411, 585-589-5335.
Introductions: Those in attendance introduced themselves. Welcome to Miguel Chavez an Earth Team Volunteer for NRCS and working with the NRCS and RC&D office through a Summer Hire Program at the Orleans County Workforce Development Center.
Quorum Determination – YES
Minutes – A motion to approve the meeting minutes of February 12, 2009, made by T. Belling, seconded by G. Walder, and carried by those present.
A motion to approve the meeting minutes of April 9, 2009, made by R. Bell, seconded by T. Belling, and carried by those present
Treasurer’s Report – A copy of the treasurer’s report provided for review.
A motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report for Audit made by G. Walder, seconded by G. Squires, and carried by those present.
RC&D Coordinator Training – J. Hovanesian presented the following information, a letter to the Board of Directors, Lake Plains RC&D Council; and all parties on its member/guests list “RE: RCD Concepts Training Class, Report to council members; and supporters” and a survey titled “LPRC&D Council Member & Supporter Survey.” The survey is to gather information about the current state of the Lake Plains RC&D Council and its members. The RC&D program is in jeopardy of not being funded in the future. Also, passes a document from the Three Rivers RC&D Council in Florida as an example of what an RC&D can do.
Lake Plains RC&D - By-laws – The By-Laws and the February 2005 Amendment were handed out for review. A question was asked about the County Government Representative. The answer is that the County Government Representative does not have to be a Legislator. There was a review of the Representatives and Alternates that are appointed by the individual County and a review of the February 2005 Amendment that allows the Lake Plains RC&D Council to appoint individual Members-at-large by a vote. Also, discussed was the issue of students/young individuals under the age of 18 as members of an RC&D Council. Are the students/young individuals attending as NRCS Earth Team Volunteers/employee or interested individuals? Issues arouse as to liability and voting membership. The students do not have to be members and are welcome to attend any RC&D meeting. Is there a conflict of interest if attending as an NRCS Earth Team Volunteer/employee and also attending as an interested individual?
National Association of RC&D Councils – 2009 National Conference – K. Watt will be attending the National Association of RC&D Councils 2009 National Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, June 14-17, 2009, along with J. Hovanesian.
A motion to reimburse K. Watt for expenses to attend the National Association of RC&D Councils Conference made by G. Walder, seconded by G. Squires and carried by those present.
New York Federation of RCD Councils Alternate –A motion to elect R. Bell as replacement for T. Goodwin and G. Squires as Alternate made by J. Bennett, seconded by G. Walder, and carried by those present.
Old Business
Area Plan – The Area Plan is finalized. New projects will be incorporated at a later date. The NRCS State Office needs a finalized Area Plan by September 2009.
A motion to approve the Area Plan made by R. Bell, seconded by G. Walder, and carried by those present.
Civil Rights Assessment and Outreach Plan FY09 – The Civil Rights Assessment and Outreach Plan for FY09 is now ready for signatures.
A motion to approve the Civil Rights Assessment and Outreach Plan FY09 made by G. Walder, seconded by G. Squires, and carried by those present.
New Business
NRCS – The Workforce Development office has a Summer Hire program. C. Troy and C. Lonnen of the Workforce Development office are working with M. Posey of NRCS Batavia Area Office and the Earth Team Volunteer program to place some of the Summer Hires in the NRCS Albion Field Office and Lake Plains RC&D office. Currently M. Chavez is assisting the Lake Plains RC&D office. M. Chaves is interested in biology and is attending Randolph College in Virginia.
Approval/Cancellation of Project Measures – No Approval/Cancellation of Projects to report at this time.
Coordinator’s Report
Current Projects
Community Development
Albion Main Street Alliance (AMSA)– J. Hovanesian is a non-voting member of the Albion Main Street Alliance. The Lake Plains RC&D has a vested interest in the Albion Main Street Alliance. The Western Erie Canal Alliance (WECA), National Trust for Historic Restoration (NTHR), Erie Canal National Corridor (ECNC) and Lake Plains RC&D may provide input to the AMSA. The Western Erie Canal Alliance (WECA) needs to invite the Lake Plains RC&D Council to participate.
Seneca Indian Language School at the Tonawanda Seneca Tribe – The Seneca Indian Language School has asked for assistance from the Lake Plains RC&D in applying for 501 (c)(3) non-profit status.
Saint Mary’s Athletic Club – The Saint Mary’s Athletic Club is a civic club. The St. Mary’s Athletic Club owns a building that is in need of repair and renovation. The Club is looking for funds for the repair and renovations of the building. The recommendation is to send a letter of support.
Shoreline Fruits (Atwater Foods, LLC) – Shoreline Fruit, LLC recently merged with Atwater Foods, LLC and Cherry Country FruitWorks, LLC. “Shoreline Fruits, LLC is focused on growing, processing and marketing premium fruit products.” (http://www.shorelinefruit.com/) One of the products is dehydrated Tart Cherries. A second meeting will be held this week with Jim Whipple of EDA which used to be IDA and Shoreline Fruits. The discussion will focus on funds and major costs of running the operation, such as the energy costs to run the dehydrators. The Lake Plains RC&D can look for energy efficiency grants.
Education and Workshops – An example of an Education event is the Envirothon. What other Education / Workshops might be of interest or subjects that need to be presented to the public?
New York – Biomass – New York State has received a $7million for Biomass Grants. The $7million is for “shovel ready” projects.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Great Lakes Initiative – New York State NRCS is working with the EPA on near shore health and nonpoint source pollution. The EPA has $30million in funding. EPA and NRCS are putting together a partnership concerning toxic substances, and habitat for wildlife.
New Partnerships – New Partnerships are being developed with NRCS, EPA, Army Corp of Engineers, and the State Universities of New York (SUNY).
New England SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education)
Deer and Elk Farming – The Lake Plains RC&D could host workshops for information on deer and elk farming. The workshops may have to be broken into two (2) or three (3) workshops. Currently the deer and elk meat market is underserved.
Other Business
Membership Nonvoting Members – M. Posey, NRCS to add S. Haytt and M. Chavez as ex-official members of the Lake Plains RC&D. This subject is tabled so further research can be done on any possible legal issues with age, the two students being NRCS Earth Team Volunteers and any ethics issues. If there are no legal or ethics issues do the By-laws need to be amend?
A motion to table the issue of amending the By-laws for nonvoting members made by J. Bennett, seconded by G. Walder, and carried by those present
A motion to accept D. Green, and C. Culhane as At-large members made by R. Bell, seconded by G. Squires and carried by those present.
C. Heintz would like to make an inquire through his county before being voted on.
Alasa Farms (Cracker Box Palace) – The Alasa Farms is in the Sodus Bay area of Wayne County. It is a 670 acre farm on Shaker Road, North Rose NY. The buildings are classified as historic buildings. The Strong family is looking to sell the land. Alasa Farms is looking for funds to purchase the land and buildings for historical preservation. The Cracker Box Place part of the farm is an animal rescue. The Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program (FRLPP) maybe a possible resource. A land trust of 25% of the vale donation is available if the FRLPP funds come through.
Next Meeting - The Lake Plains RC&D Council will meet at 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., on Thursday, August 13, 2009 at Alasa Farms (Cracker Box Palace), 6450 Shaker Road, North Rose, NY 14516
*Proposed Meeting Dates for 2009 – OCT 8, and DEC 10*
*Proposed Meeting Dates for 2010 – FEB 11, APR 8, JUN 10, AUG 12, OCT 14, and DEC 9*
“For information on facilities or services, or to request sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids at the meeting, please contact John Hovanesian, RC&D Coordinator at 585-589-5320 x4, at least 10 days prior to the meeting date.”
Karen Watt Date Judy Bennett Date
President Secretary/Treasurer