HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAC-07/22/1980 A regular meeting of the Southold Town Conservation Advisory
Cour).cil washeld at 7:30 p.m. , Tuesday, 'July 22, 1980 at the Town
Hall, Main Road, Southold, New. York.
Present were:
Frank Cichanowicz III, Chairman
Margaret L. Conway, Member
John B. Tuthill, Member
John Plock, Sr. , Member
Robert Hood, Member
The secretary was directed to write a letterwith copy to the
Supervisor to Mr. James F. Bagg, Principal Planner of , the Suffolk
County Council on Environmental Quality. ' The Council has reviewed
the matter of SEQRA lead agency status and environmental concerns . '
relative to the proposed reconstruction of. Mud' 'Creek, Downs Creek
and West Creek Bridge crossings' in 'the Town of Southold. It was
noted by the Council that the areas in question are very sensitive
environmentally. The Council feels that the Town of Southold
should be the lead agency with the Council involved in the process.
The Council would require an environmental impact statement. As
the Council itself has no- approval power and is strictly an advisory
board, this matter will be referred to the Town Board for action.
The secretary was directed to write a letter to the Town Board
strongly recommending that if the Council has no voice in the town
where the Town Board doesn't take action on the advice of the
Council, then there is no reason for the group to exist and a
budget provided for it. If no advice is taken from the Council,
it is a waste- of taxpayers ' money.
The following report regarding the Robins Island field trip by the
Council was to be forwarded to the Southold Town Board.
"As the Southold Town Conservation Advisory Council, we are
supposed to represent the public and, therefore, take an unbiased
view of each project assigned to us.
"As one of our assignments, we were asked to visit Robins
Island and report facts as we saw them.
"We feel that these facts do not support some of the statements
being made about the island.
"The island is not in a 'pristine' natural state. Some
natural condition is killing the cedar trees. There must be at
least a thousand dead trees. The only healthy cedar trees were
on the mowed lawn around one of the existing houses.
"There does not seem to be any small game such as rabbits,
pheasant, racoons, squirrels, etc. In fact, we saw very few
songbirds.
"There are many ponds and some fine wetlands with evidence that
migratory water fowl are here in considerable numbers.
"The only upland wildlife in evidence is a herd of deer.
. There is every indication that there are too many deer for the land
available. They seem to be eating all the vegetation. Even
ordinary briars are eaten down to within a few inches of the ground.
"We would recommend that from a 'kindness to animals ' viewpoint,
at least two-thirds of this deer herd be removed from the island.
"In summary, it is our opinion that this island is not a
natural wildlife sanctuary since ,many trees are dead and the island
does not seem to support upland animals and birds.
"We feel that these facts should be considered by those who
are proposing to keep it in its present natural state. "
On motion made by Mr. Tuthill, seconded by Mr. Plock, it was
RESOLVED to recommendto the Southold Town Board approval as
submitted of the wetland •application of Joseph L. Townsend, Jr. ,
to build a walk-way over wetlands at private property of the
applicant at East Marion.
Vote of the Council: Ayes: Cichanowicz, Conway, Tuthill, Plock,
C Hood
There being no further business to come before the Council,
Mr. Plock made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Conway and carried to
adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Muriel Tolman, Secretary