HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/12/2007Minutes of the "Greenport West" Stakeholders Group meeting
Monday, November 12, 2007
5:30 p.m.
Peconic Landing, Greenport, NY
Attendee Stakeholders:
Victor Brown
Diane Gilmore
Sylvia Holtzberg
Melanie Norden, Co-Secretary
Nelia Purnhagen
Ural Talgat
Jill Dunbar
Absent:
Mariel Dobler, Co-Secretary
Don Leslie, Jr., Chairman
Tanya Padmore
Peter Russo
Mayor David Nyce, Greenport
Michael Osinski, Greenport Trustee
Michael Acebo, President, Greenport Business Improvement District
Jim Dreeben, owner, Peconic Paddler
Ural Talgat chaired the meeting. The group reviewed and approved the minutes of the
10/22/2007 stakeholders' meeting.
The group welcomed its newest member, Diane Gilmore, who was appointed as a stakeholder by
Greenport Mayor, David Nyce. The group welcomed guests --- Greenport Mayor David Nyce;
Michael Acebo, President, Greenport Business Improvement District; Michael Osinski,
Greenport Village Trustee, and Jim Dreeben, owner, Peconic Paddler.
Ural presented a map outlining a proposed kayak waterway trail with access points. Ural
prepared the map with the assistance of John Sepenowski, Deputy Town Supervisor. Smaller
maps which Ural had provided were also distributed.
Ural explained the general parameters of the proposed project and asked attendees to identify and
mark possible kayak launch sites and walking trails in the Silver Lake, Hashamomuck Pond,
Budds Pond, Dam Pond, Inland County Park, et al areas.
Michael Osinski also shared a map he had prepared illustrating walking and kayak trail sites in
Greenport. Most attendees agreed that the project should extend through East Marion, Southold,
Greenport and include Orient. Guests echoed stakeholder sentiment that the project would be a
positive one for the Town.
Mayor Nyce explained that he has been in touch with the DEC regarding permits and possible
funding for the project; the Village appears ready to go ahead with its own nature/kayak trail
project. Some trails through Moore's Woods already exist, he explained, but others could be
developed. Mayor Nyce stressed that he thought it important that walking trails be included since
we have an aging population (tax payers) living on the North Fork who don't kayak but who
might use walking trails. He felt that if trails were wide enough (as did other meeting attendees)
bikers would also be welcome. He expressed enthusiasm about working with the Town to
develop the project, as did Trustee Osinski.
The group discussed a number of aspects of the project. Mike Acebo and Jim Dreeben stressed
the need for overnight camping (possibly Squirrel Island; no fires; access only by water; take
your own trash; platform "chickees") and toilet facilities (eco-friendly Swedish composting
toilets were suggested, e.g. Clivis Moltrim).
Some attendees embraced the idea of sponsoring two kayak and/or bi-tri-athalon races --- one in
June and the other in conjunction with Village's Maritime Festival in September. Possible race
"routes;" "kick-off*'/ending points and their parking facilities; race length; timing relative to
prevailing tides, race observers; a poster contest funded by the Village BID; setting up a race
committee; contacting area and NYC kayak clubs, and a public awareness/press campaign were
discussed, among other subjects. It was thought that the races would serve as fundraisers for the
project.
Stakeholders decided that the focus of its next meeting on November 26th would also be the
nature trail/kayak trail project. Guests who attended the meeting were invited to return on the
26th for further discussion.
The group requested that Melanie Norden invite members of the Town's "Implementation"
Committee to the meeting on the 26th (Jamie Richter/James McMahon and John Sepenowski),
and that Ural invite the Chairpersons of the Orient and East Marion stakeholders. Victor Brown
suggested that the Chair of the Town's Transportation Committee also be invited.
The group's next meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 26th at 5:30 p.m. in the Board
Room at Peconic Landing (Main Reception Building).
Respectfully submitted,
Melanie Norden, Co-Secretary