HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAC-09/10/2025 Carol Brown,Chairperson y Town Hall,53095 Route 25
Lauren Standish,Secretary � P.O.Box 1179
• '� Southold,NY 11971
4-4 Telephone(631)765-1889
Fax(631)765-1823
Conservation Advisory Council
Town of Southold
MINUTES
Wed., September 10, 2025
4:30 PM
Conference Room and Zoom Online Platform
A meeting of the Southold Town Conservation Advisory Council was held Wed.,
September 10, 2025 in the Town Hall Conference Room and via Zoom.
Present were: Carol Brown, Chairperson
Maggie Merrill, Member
Inga Van Eysden, Member
Nancy May, Member
Burke Liburt, Member
Barbara Friedman, Member
Brian Mealy, Town Board Liaison
Liz Gillooly, Trustee Liaison
Lauren Standish, Secretary
Absent: Jocelyn Kaelin, Student Member
Yan Albaladejo, Student Member
Guests: Anne Murray, NFEC
Randy Wade
CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Carol Brown called the meeting to order at 4:30pm.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Fall 2025 Town of Southold Compost Bin and Rain Barrel Sale will be held on
September 27t" from 9am-12pm at the Southold Town Transfer Station.
2
Carol Brown asked for consideration in skipping the CAC meeting in August 2026 meeting
as the month is a busy time for all.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Moved by Barbara Friedman, seconded by Maggie Merrill, to Approve the Minutes of
August 6, 2025.
REPORTS
Nancy May attended the Board of Trustees meeting held on Wed., August 13th. The
application made on behalf of 3121 Oaklawn Ave., Southold was Tabled, and noted that
the public hearing was contentious. Overall, the meeting was business as usual.
CLIMATE SMART COMMUNITIES PROGRAM-UPDATES
Councilman Mealy will follow-up with Gwynn Schroeder on assisting the CAC with
department head reports.
NEW BUSINESS
Suffolk County IR 1520 to conserve working waterfronts — a Letter of Support was sent by
Supervisor Krupski and the Southold Town Board to the members of the Suffolk County
Legislature.
Councilman Mealy and Town Clerk Denis Noncarrow are working on forming a
Communication Committee. It's the Town's responsibility to get the word out and they are
taking ownership of this. The first step will be to update the town's website.
Councilman Mealy announced that Mark Terry, LWRP Coordinater has retired and
Heather Lanza is now the LWRP coordinator.
CONTINUED DISCUSSIONS
• Letter to Town Board re: Police Headquarters— no response
• Letter to the Town Board re: Zoning Update— no response
• Orient Water Resources Study— Barbara Friedman shared her presentation on the
Orient Water Resources Study dated June 2025, prepared by the Orient
Association. Historically, Orient has been known to have salty water and PFAS.
She will e-mail the presentation to the CAC members and provided a hard copy for
Brian to bring to the library. A forum will be held on October 25th at Poquatuck Hall.
• Reuse/Repair Cafe proposal for Spring 2026 — Maggie Merrill shared the memo
with Nick Krupski and will provide an update to the CAC when she has heard back
from him.
• Orient Point Water Project— Burke Liburt will continue his research on PFAS to
share with the group.
3
• Leaf Blowers: documentation and review, health impacts, lawn maintenance
devices - The CAC members reviewed Inga's draft letter to the Town Board
regarding gas-powered leaf blowers.
Moved by Barbara Friedman, seconded by Maggie Merrill, it was
RESOLVED to Support the final draft letter to the Town Board, as amended.
Vote of Council: Ayes: All
Motion Carried
The CAC will present their recommendations at a future work session with the
Town Board.
Burke Liburt shared his research on gas-powered equipment and the negative
impacts of 2 cycle agricultural machines. He noted that the CAC can be the
"engine" to bring about an effective program, working with the community, lawn
maintenance companies and the Town Board.
• Trustee Draft Update to Code Section 275 and CAC Response — Liz Gillooly
provided the following update: the draft amendments to Ch. 275 have not been
voted on. The Town Attorney is drafting the code changes and will present them to
the Town Board for a vote. The draft will not be referred to the code committee.
The CAC members reviewed Carol's draft letter responding to the Trustees code
changes.
Moved by Burke Liburt, seconded by Maggie Merril, it was
RESOLVED to Support the final draft Letter of Support to the Town Board, as
amended.
Vote of the.Council: Ayes: All
Motion Carried
• Planting natives in front of Town Hall — no update at this time
• Review of Trustee/PEP w/Jade 'Blennau — how can the PEP help with education.
• Incorporate new irrigation legislation into the Resident Guide —the CAC agreed to
include the new legislation in the Resident Guide and to send to the
communication's team.
UPDATES ON OTHER TOWN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEES
Water Advisory Committee — Maggie Merrill reported that a sub-committee has been
created to review the zoning updates with Heather Lanza. The first meeting was held on
4
Sept. 4th via Zoom. There was a question as to whether the new legislation was helping,
as there is no way to measure-. Many residents do not know about it. Councilman Mealy
suggested the Water Advisory Committee send a recommendation to the Town Board to
place an Ad in the local newspaper, once it's been confirmed that it has been filed with the
Secretary of State. Maggie mentioned that the Civis will be hosting a water meeting in the
Spring.
Nancy May will attend the Board of Trustees meeting scheduled for Wed., September 17,
2025.
The next meeting of the Conservation Advisory Council is scheduled'for Wed., October
8th, 2025 at 4:30PM in the Conference Room.
There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned
at 6:15 PM.
Respectfully submitted by,
Yo
Lauren M. Standish, Secretary
Conservation Advisory Council