HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/20/2019 Town of Southold
Agricultural Advisory Committee Meeting
Minutes of February 20, 2019
Members Present Members absent Guests
Chris Baiz Jim Glover Karl Novak
Douglas Cooper Tom Stevenson Adam Suprenant
Karen Rivara John P. Sepenoski Katie Sepenoski
John B. Sepenoski Jr. Councilman Bill Ruland
Mark VanBourgondien
Opening:
The meeting of the Agricultural Advisory Committee was called to order at 7:00 pm on February 20,
2019 in the Southold Town Hall conference room.
Minutes and Administration:
• Acceptance of meeting minutes of February 6, 2019.
o Motion made by John B. Sepenoski Jr., seconded by Mark VanBourgondien to
adopt the Agricultural Advisory meeting minutes of February 6, 2019. All in favor,
motion carried.
• Terms expiring March 31, 2019:
o Chris Baiz, Douglas Cooper, and John B. Sepenoski Jr. have all submitted letters to
the Town Clerk addressing their expiring terms and agreeing to continue their
service on the Agricultural Advisory Committee.
Next Meeting:
• The next regular AAC meeting is scheduled for Wednesday March 6, 2019 at 7:00 pm in the
Southold Town Hall Conference room.
• AAC agreed to meet with the Code Committee at their next meeting on March 14, 2019.
• Following AAC meeting will be March 20, 2019.
Review Proposed Acquisition of Development Rights:
• No new applications submitted to the committee from the Town Board or Land Preservation.
• Doug Cooper and Scott Russell met to discuss PDD issues. Enacted Agricultural PDD
legislation reviewed. NYS 6 page document concerning development rights submitted to
Scott Russell for review.
• Discussion on disapproval of Town purchasing of Development rights unless On Farm
Processing is allowed on PDR land.
Proposed Agricultural Revisions to Town Code:
• Jim Glover's email outlining conflicts within the Town Code regarding Chapter 70 was
submitted to Scott Russell for review.
• Committee discussed submission of an added comment or"side bar" to the Town Board
regarding on farm processing percentages referencing the difficulty the AAC had in settling
on a percentage due to the diversity of farms in general. The committee is in agreement
with the Town Board that the goal is to keep farms successful now and in the future.
• Discussion on Code enforcement being primarily complaint driven.
Town of Southold
Agricultural Advisory Committee Meeting
Minutes of February 20, 2019
• Review of 2/8/19 Draft-Chapter 280-Permitted Uses AC to R-80 handout and assessed
each section in preparation of the upcoming Code Committee Meeting.
• General past consensus of the Town has been to disallow anything not addressed in the
Town Code. For Agriculture specifically, items not addressed in the Town code should be
allowed giving the farmer every means to maintain the success of the farm.
• In preparation for meeting with code committee, AAC members will meet with Chief Building
Inspector, Mike Verity to streamline "Farmstand" language in the Town Code.
• The recreational floating zone on "R" zoned land was discussed.
Review of Agricultural related Site Plan Applications/Sub-Divisions:
• No new applications submitted to the committee for review.
• No response from Brian Cummings or the Town Attorney regarding the Amended Site Plan
for Tenedios Farm Greenhouse on the determination if a site plan is required for an
already approved and conforming building lot.
Review Proposed zoning changes in Agricultural Districts:
• No new proposed zoning changes submitted to the committee.
Local, County, State and Federal Legislation related to Agriculture:
• Karl Novak attended a DEC meeting and informed the committee of a new law relating to
composting. Any facility registered with the DEC must have a site plan and over 3000 yards
of composted (organic) material will require 3 water test monitor wells.
Review Applications for structures related to Agriculture on parcels with Town /County
owned development rights.
• No new applications submitted to the committee for review.
New Business:
• Review of NY Times article handout"How to grow hemp".
• Review of 8 chart handouts from an Agricultural Labor Law meeting addressing Labor
issues.
• Discussed the sexual harassment policy. Training available for employees to be reviewed
annually with an interactive quiz.
Adjournment:
Motion to adjourn at 9:05 pm by Chris Baiz seconded by Doug Cooper.
Motion carried, all in favor.
Minutes respectfully submitted by: Cheryl Kaswell