Agriculture/Planning/Environmental Committee

August 31, 2004 at 7:30am

DRAFT MINUTES

Committee Present: Danny Ross, Chairman; Tom Hartnett, Vice Chairman; John Steger, Dave Wern, Carol Tytler, Merwin Armstrong, Paul Allen

Others Present: Scott Steve, Legislative Chairman; Scott Schrader, County Administrator; Angie Wyatt, Secretary to Scott Schrader; Dan Dineen, Planning Department Director, Benji Manton, Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board.

The meeting was called to order at 7:38a.m. by Chairman, Danny Ross

MOTION BY JOHN STEGER – 2ND BY TOM HARTNETT TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES FROM THE JUNE 29, 2004 MEETING – ALL VOTED IN FAVOR - PASSED

RESOLUTIONS:

  1. Support of Military Missions and Service Units Operating at Hancock Field,

    2. Syracuse, New York-Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board (Planning Department) MOTION BY PAUL ALLEN – 2ND BY CAROL TYTLER – ALL VOTED IN FAVOR – PASSED

    Justification: The Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board serves Cortland, Cayuga, Madison, Onondaga and Oswego Counties. They provide such programs as Economic Development, Water Resources Protection, Environmental, Land Use, Transportation and Regional Information Services. The purpose of this resolution is to retain Hancock Field. Benji Manton made a presentation entitled "Base Realignment and Closure – BRAC 2005 – Hancock Field". To review the presentation in more detail, please see Carletta Edwards, Clerk of the Legislature or Angie Wyatt, Secretary to the County Administrator.

     

     

  2. Supporting an application for State Assistance Payments under the New York State Bond Act to Purchase Development rights on the Gary and Christine & Charles and Diane Slade farm, Town of Homer, Cortland County; the William and Jeanne Underwood farm, Town of Preble, Cortland County; the Stanley Connelly farm, Town of Virgil, Cortland County; the Stephen Sr. and Joyce Zelsnack farm, Town of Lapper, Cortland County; the Paul and Maureen Knapp farm, Town of Preble, Cortland County; and the Laura and Collen Currie farm, Town of Preble, Cortland County, and Cortland County Planning Department. MOTION BY CAROL TYTLER – 2ND BY MERWIN ARMSTRONG – ALL VOTED IN FAVOR – PASSED

Justification: Under the New York State Bond Act, there is State assistance available for Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan for Cortland County for the use of such techniques as the acquisition of development rights and conservation easements as a method to protect the availability of agricultural soils for farming and to lower the cost of maintaining farming from generation to generation. The above named individuals and farms have applied for said assistance. These properties, if approved by the state, cannot be used for anything except agricultural purposes.

DISCUSSION/PRESENTATIONS:

Flooding Damage in Town of Scott: Dave Wern discussed the flooding damage to the road caused by the extensive rain. It was suggested that the County contact Onondaga County to see if they applied for state grants to improve drainage. The Otisco Valley area was locally declared a state of emergency. Scott Schrader indicated that unless a State of Emergency is declared by the Governor no funds are available.

MOTION BY MERWIN ARMSTRONG – 2ND BY TOM HARTNETT TO ADJOURN AT 8:10A.M. – ALL VOTED IN FAVOR – PASSED

Minutes prepared by Angie Wyatt, Secretary to the County Administrator

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