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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/24/2002 S, ..~ ' '. ~ I, ',. :yr' ' 1~i\ J;Y/ i) ~ I~\.. W '"t,..-. 1=-' ~C\\\1\V . l!1SHERS ISLAND CONSERVANCY ANNUAL MEETING l!1SHERS ISLAND SCIIOOL SATI1RDAY, AUGUST 24, 2002,4:00 PM The Annual meeting of The Fishers Island Conservancy was called to order at 4:10 PM Present at the meeting were: John Thatcher, President, Barry Bryan, Alicia Cleary, Chip doPant, Bob Geniesse, Ed Horning, BaIbie Riegel, Elsie Parsons, Nick Spofford, Chris Vartati/m and Jacqueline Williamson. I. The minntes of the July 29' 2002 meeting were approved after the correction of a typo "monitored" for'lnaintained" in section ill. II. Report of the Nominating Committee - Jackie Williamson . a. The committee wishes to recognize the long and deep commitment of one of the Conservaney's founders, Cherry Rafferty, by creating the new designation of Honorary Board Member. The motion was approved enthusiastically. b. Mr. Robert Geniesse, our board member is retiring. He has given valuable advice and coUDScl over many years and we thank him for his devoted service. c. For reelection to a further three year term - Chip doPant, Ed Horning, Leila Luce and Cindy Scott d We propose the election for three year terms of- Rossie Carter Hutcheson and Laurie Carney To fill a one year term - Stephen O'Neil The nominations were seconded and approved unanimously. III. The Treasurers Report - Nick Spofford The Conservaney has currently SI61,000, which includes S8O,OOO recently received from the government in settlement of the Navy Dumping Case. The report was accepted IV. Navy Dumping Case Settlement - John Thatcher We settled rather than appealed because the Navy dumping permits expired in December 200 I and because an appeal would have gone back before the Same hostile judge. We agreed to drop our case in return for S 100,000 since we felt that the judge would drop it for us on appeal. Lawyers' fees ofS20,000 were deducted, The ouly reason the Army Corp and E.PA agreed the Ocean Dumpiug Act applied to Long Island Sound was because of the Fishers Island Conservancy lawsnit. Without that, they would have continued to ignore the requirements of the law. They are now complying with the law in designating dumpsites in Western and Cc;ntral Long Island. ~ on notice that if they do not comply with the law as to the Eastern part of Long Island, we will fight them. John Hesse congrato1ated John Thatcher and the Conservaney on the tenacity and determination exhibited in dealing with the dumping iSSUe. . . V. Lobster FISMA - Conservation Zone - Barry Bryan Last Friday, we got the good news that the D.E.C. has agreed to the minimal position taken by our lobsternlen. There will be a base amount of 75 pots for l!!!Ym!!< to fish in the conservation zone. In addition, if such persons agree to give up the right to fish anywhere else - they can fish another 225 pots. The Montauk and Connecticut people will vel)' probably be unwilling to limit themselves to 300 pots - so should no longer be a huge factor. Our lobstermen say 300 pots isn't enough but this compromise is the best possible. The closed season we wanted has been agreed to by the D.E.C., March I to 31 or April 15. The enforcement authority will be the D.E. C. using a pot tag system of identification. The D.E.C. and the New York Attorney Genera1 expect appeals from Montauk and Connecticut but are prepared and confident The contributions ofFIDCO and Ball)' BI)'an's firm were recognized and applauded We hope that our lobstermen will be able to survive and that the lobster stock will rebound. VI. Shell Disease - John Thatcher We have completed the study on shell disease. The Luce Foundation was most generous in this case and President Thatcher thauked Hank Luce sincerely. The study did not come up with a cure, but our material has been requested by at least 6 major university labs (e.g. Woods Hole) and Lobstermen's Associations. The Rhode Island lobstermen have a severe shell problem and are facing a plan by the Army Corps of Engineers to dump dredge spoil in their waters. . VII. Feral Cat Control- Jackie Williamson Last year there was a snrprising up swell of opinion that we have too many feral cats on the island Most people favored trappiug and euthanis.ing the cats - but there was a significant group that was totally opposed So we decided, with the help of an anonymous donor to lI)' a pilot program of Trap, Neuter and Release. We have bought traps and are getting organized Our volunteer is Cynthia Riley who has already spent 70 volunteer hours on the project. Eleven cats have been removed from the breeding pool, which reduces the future kitten population somewhat, but makes only a tiny dent in the problem. Cynthia needs an easity cleaned vehicle to transport traps and cats/and a spot which can serve as a surgeI)'. B1dg 98 has an area but no walls and doors to contain the cats or safeguard supplies. The local contractors will be approached when the season slows down. Cynthia has trapped in four different locations in a learning experience. She believes that Fishers Island will need a paid animal control officer to deal with cats, dogs, raccoons and such. Such a person would have to be trained and have a whole range of inoculations. All tested animal. have been disease free. Connecticut and Suffolk have no interest in taking any trapped animals,so it is our problem. Since there are vel)' strong opinions on buth sides, the Conservancy has opted to lI)' Trap, Neuter and Release. The problem will be revisited after this trial period. Some feral cats are necessary to keep down the rats and mice but the estimated 400 are too many. . . . . . , A coyote appears to be present on Clay Point. Raccoons are everywhere. Deer sightings have occurred near Mark Andrew's and Grey Gulls. We may need an animal control officer very soon. VIll. Dredging of Hay Hatbor It has been too many years since the Hay Hatbor channel has been dredged to recreate the proper flushing action. The Conservancy has approached the Hay Hatbor Club with an offer to assist in such a project, both with money and in getting the proper pennits. Darby's Cove is also in serions need of dredging and has never been done. The cost to do Hay Hatbor is a manageable $50,000 but Darby's Cove would cost around $300,000. Getting initial permits and dredging would be too expensive to contemplate at this time. IX. Water and Sewage Testing in Hay Hatbor and West Hatbor - John Thatcher This year's testing will be done between now and Labor Day. A new lab will determine whether any contamination is due to human or bird waste. It will take a while to set up but results should be available by the fall. A request was made to test Dock Beach and Mid41e Farms Pond also. Mid41e Farms Pond is quite a popular swimming hole now. President Thatcher noted that sma1lleeches are present in that pond A sign "Swim at your own risk" will be posted there. The results of the tests will be posted publicly somewhere. Future tests will be around the 4th of July and around Labor Day. x. Canada Geese and Cormorants - Pollute heavily Canada Geese can be shot in season with a permit. Cormorants come under the Migratory Bird Act and cannot be shot. The eggs can be shaken or coated with oil legally, which works but is labor intensive. XI. Kaiulani Lee Production "A Sense of Wonder" - BaIbie Riegel Kaiulani Lee is a professional actress who transforms herself on stage into Rachel Carson. She produces an extraordinary play. Surprisingly few people know about Rachel Carson and her impact on the environmental awareness of this country. The Conservancy has undertaken to present this production in conjunction with related programs at the school, hbnuy and the museum. Special Events are tentatively scheduled for the week of July 14, 2003 with the production of the play on Friday, July 18, 2003 at the movie theater. The object is to raise awareness of the fragile ecosystem everywhere and particularly on Fishers Island The school, ferry district and museum are cooperating enthusiastically. XII. Mosquito Control - John Thatcher West Nile Virns has appeared in many states and many places - but so far NOT on Fishers Island Our mosquito girls, employees of Suffolk Counly, use BTI that kills off the larvae. Full-grown mosquitos are not affected but the "Mosquito Magnet" works very well on adults. .' .' . . XIII. Questions Speedy Mettler inquired about the disposition of the settlement money ($100,000) after a ship ran aground many years ago. Some of that was spent on an unsuccessful attempt to seed scallops in Hay Harbor. Some was spent on the drainage project near the public landing. The rest of that trust fund is floating aroutId somewhe(l', maybe being used to stody the disappearance of eelgrass. Barry Btyan was asked to do some research on the status of the money. A question was asked about the overabundance of the invasive plant, Phragmites, on the island The D.E.C. in New York State loves phragmites. The Connecticut D.E.C. is eradicating it wherever it can. One of our former mosquito girls is working for the Connecticut D.E.C. and will be contacted to see whether the Connecticut D.E.C. can convert the New York D.E.C. - or whether it can influence it in some way. A question was raised about the truck tire in the pond at Race Point. The pond is now dry and the tire is accessible. John Thatcher said he would try to have it removed XIV. The meeting was adjourned at 5;20 PM Respectfully Submitted, . Jacqueline Williamson .