2/28/01, 7:00 – 9:00 P.M.

Tompkins County Cornell Cooperative Extension

Ithaca, New York

R=designated representative for municipality

RA=designated alternate representative for municipality

*Municipality has signed and submitted the “Call for Cooperation” (intermunicipal agreement)

1. Welcome, Introductions, Approval of Minutes: Meeting began at 7:05 P.M. S. Hurlbut welcomed everyone. Introductions were made. Acceptance of minutes from 1/24/00 meeting moved by D. Morehouse. J. Sipos seconded. No discussion. All in favor. Motion carried.

2. Financial Update: Financial summary sheets for the project through 12/31/00 and an IO account statement were made available for review. Questions will be entertained at the March meeting.

S. Hurlbut thanked the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network for its recent documented match contribution of $53,466 as well as the City of Ithaca, Environmental Laboratories for their documented in-kind contribution of $20,000.

3. Watershed Models as Management Tools: Mark Johnson, Graduate Research Associate at the Center for the Environment at Cornell University requested volunteers to participate in a collaborative effort he is sponsoring in support of his MS Thesis development. Participants will be asked to identify issues/parameters they would be interested in modeling given their backgrounds and personal/professional areas of interest. M. Johnson will collect this information while demonstrating how participants can step through a number of considerations that should be considered prior to selecting a watershed model. This type of “strategic planning” promotes better model selection and improved viability of modeling activities. A sign up sheet was passed. Volunteers will meet prior to the March IO meeting in Seneca Falls at 6:00P.M. Confirmation of the meeting date and time will be made in the March meeting announcement letter.

4. Promoting Inter-County Water Quality Strategy Communication: D. Grantham proposed a strategy to involve the County Water Quality Coordinating Committees (WQCC) in the Cayuga Lake watershed management effort. The proposal, developed jointly by D. Grantham, J. Lozano and K. Hackett, outlined a process for further engaging the County WQCCs as follows: reiterate invitation to provide input to IO documents; invite WQCCs to attend IO meetings on a regular basis; invite WQCCs to present water quality strategies and current projects to the IO; work with the IO to identify common goals and efforts; and apply for joint funding to conduct work on specific issues across the watershed.

Following some discussion it was agreed that each WQCC will be invited to present their individual Water Quality Strategy to the IO during the June 27th IO meeting in Ithaca. Each WQCC will be given 10 minutes to make their presentation. IO house keeping issues will be taken up during a brief meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m.

5. Future of the IO: S. Hurlbut stated that the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has offered to provide funding to hire a consultant to work with the IO in developing a structure and strategy that will allow the IO to move forward and advance implementation of the RPP upon its completion in July. DEC is willing to provide funding up to $20,000. The exact funding source was not identified by DEC; however, it will require a 25% local match.

DEC can grant the funds only to an incorporated entity such as the Town of Ledyard or the CNY Regional Planning Board; however, the IO will be responsible for writing the RFP and selecting the actual consultant. The selection process should be underway within one to two months.

D. Morehouse made a motion to inform DEC that the IO is interested in the offer and supports the DEC taking the next steps required to advance the process. L. Fabbroni seconded. No further discussion. All in favor. Motion passed. A sign up sheet was passed for IO members interested in participating in the RFP process.

S. Hurlbut hopes the consultant will provide direction with regards to membership dues. She stated that the Town of Ledyard has included $900 in this year’s budget and plans to make payment in March. She hopes other municipalities will do the same. J. Sipos stated that the Towns of Varick and Covert have included IO membership dues in their budgets.

It was asked if a membership dues invoice was sent to municipalities last year. It was not. To simplify the dues process, S. Hurlbut agreed to send invoices to municipalities this year.

6. Committee Reports: EOPP Committee: A total of 177 people attended a series of 4 public participation

meetings during the month of February. At 3 of the 4 meetings agriculture and the relationship between ag. and non-ag. neighbors was identified as an area where the IO might play a greater role, possibly in the form of providing positive public relations on behalf of the agricultural community. Interest in the following issues was also expressed: septic systems; regulatory and non-regulatory programs; model ordinances; and education.

S. Anderson thanked the Education Committee for their efforts. Feedback on the meetings has been positive. Thanks to S. Hurlbut for arranging to have the Cayuga County Dept. of Health address well contamination issues at the Poplar Ridge and Seneca Falls meetings. The information was especially well received and appreciated.

Technical Committee: Sections of the RPP rough draft can be accessed on the IO’s web site through links from the table of contents. The plan is changing quickly. Members are encouraged to check the web site often and to provide feedback on new materials.

D. Kieffer questioned the change in the name of the final document from the Cayuga Lake Management Plan to the Cayuga Lake Watershed Restoration and Protection Plan. She would like the word “Management” to remain in the title as it reflects what watershed municipalities originally bought into. The fact that municipalities did not argue against “management” is a positive statement.

J. Lozano stated that the concept of a management plan is on-target, but not for July. The actual management plan is projected to be completed sometime in the future (3-5 years). The document to be released in July will not be the final management plan and it is best not to give a false impression that it is.

D. Kieffer would prefer if the website stated that development of the “management plan” is being approached via this route and would like to see the document published on the website referred to by the original title. She feels that the outline presented on the web site is comprehensive.

The Technical Committee will meet again on March 22, 1:00 P.M. at Wells College. The Agriculture Committee will meet on March 12 at 9:30. The location will be announced.

D. Grantham stated that it is difficult for her to make committee meetings that are held during regular working hours. Meetings held in the early morning or late afternoon would allow her to participate in more meetings more.

Grant and Finance Committee: The Cayuga Lake Watershed Intermunicipal Organization’s balance sheet was presented. The balance as of 2/28/01 was $22,422.13. The bill for production of the Characterization CD-ROM

was paid in February and the IO received part of a $5,000 DEC grant provided as a member item through Gary Finch’s office.

7. Other Business: On March 20 in Seneca Falls, the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network will sponsor a forum entitled “Seneca Meadows and the Local Watersheds: Questions and Answers.”

The Hamlet of McGee is investigating the development of a 200-unit truck stop just off of the NYS Thruway in the Town of Tyler. Development will require an extension of water and sewer lines from Seneca Falls. Details are being worked out now.

Jim Bair, attorney for the Town of Ledyard, has been working on paperwork necessary for the IO to incorporate. Fees for associated assistance will total $500. J. Sipos moved to approve a $500 expenditure to Jim Bair for IO incorporation. D. Allee seconded. D. Grantham asked if the IO would be able to directly receive funding once it is incorporated. S. Hurlbut stated that it would. No further discussion. All in favor. Motion carried.

8. Set Agenda Items and Date For Next Meeting: The next meeting of the IO will be held on March 28th in Seneca Falls. Agenda Items include an update on the draft plan and public participation meetings. Members will also be asked to sign up to staff IO Committees as outlined in the by-laws.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 P.M.