January, 22 2004 Meeting Minutes
Saw Mill River Coalition
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, January 22, 2004, 10:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M.
Pace University, Pleasantville, NY
PRESENT: Justin Bloom, Riverkeeper; Carol Capobianco, Saw Mill River
Coalition; Joanne Dittersdorf, NPS Rivers & Trails; Joan Jennings,
Yonkers Downtown/Waterfront BID; Joe Kiernan, Scenic Hudson; Rick
Magder, Groundwork Yonkers; Dick Manley, Beczak Environmental Education
Center; Diane Miller, Westchester County Planning Dept.; Ann-Marie
Mitroff, Dobbs Ferry; Marie Rippo; Groundwork Yonkers; Alix Schnee,
Rockefeller State Park Preserve; Lucille Sciacca, Philipse Manor Hall
State Historic Site; Angelo Spillo, Pace Environmental Center
INTRODUCTIONS: All present introduced themselves. Carol handed out to
each person an 8×10 color reproduction of a map of the Saw Mill River
Basin, the file of which was provided by the Westchester County
Planning Department. She will email an electronic file to all coalition
members. Marie Rippo of Groundwork Yonkers once again recorded the
minutes. Carol announced that this would be Marie’s last meeting, as
she is leaving Groundwork Yonkers. The coalition thanked her with a
round of applause. Since the coalition is not a voting board, review of
meeting minutes was not deemed necessary. Copies of the minutes will
continue to be sent to all coalition members via email.
REPORTS:
• Army Corps/Westchester County Project: Carol has been in touch with David
Kvinge, Director Environmental Planning for the County, who spoke about
the project at the coalition’s last meeting. Carol reiterated the
coalition’s desire to be part of the decision-making process for all
plans along the Saw Mill River; she will send a written request to the
county. David has said he would like to keep the Saw Mill Coalition
up-to-date and involved, as it represents a variety of perspectives and
issues and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table.
Carol asked the coalition how it could ensure that the plans eventually
designed for the project incorporate the most up-to-date and
environmentally sensitive methods. Joanne and Anne-Marie suggested
identifying specialists who could review the plans. Justin reminded us
that any plan would be subject to a full environmental impact study.
Rick wanted specifics on the locations that will be impacted. Carol
mentioned that though a few had been determined in the preliminary
analysis, the scope might be expanded. A suggestion was made to set up
a sub-committee for the project. At present, the contract between the
County and the Army Corps is being finalized, after which the two
parties will have an initial meeting to discuss financing, strategy,
responsibilities, and community involvement. Carol will remain in
contact with David.
• Environmental Security: Carol has sent a letter
to the County Executive on behalf of the coalition, thanking him for
starting up the environmental security unit. Ron Gatto, the director of
the unit who attended our last meeting, recently told Carol that he
again got a tipoff from a jogger on the South County Trailway of
another dumping site along the Saw Mill River, which he is
investigating. A question was raised as to whether there are signs
along the river or pathway asking citizens to report dumping, etc. Rick
indicated that the coalition could perhaps help with signage.
• Identity: Members voted to retain the name of the group as the Saw Mill
River Coalition. Joanne has contracted with a designer to create a logo
for the coalition.
• Organizational: Carol is now set up with a
computer and space at the Groundwork Yonkers office, where she now
works on Mondays and Thursdays.
• Daylighting: Ray Curran of Scenic
Hudson, who has been working on this project to uncover the river in
downtown Yonkers, told Carol that things are moving along. He will have
more to report at the next meeting. Carol received a call from Dan
Richmond of Zarin & Steinmetz in White Plains, which represents
“Save Our Stores” (C&H Martin and others). The
group has filed suit against the city on the proposed stadium issue at
Chicken Island, in part challenging the environmental findings
(contaminants, stormwater) of the EIS. Carol explained to the attorney
the mission of the coalition and that it would not be inclined to join
the lawsuit. She told him that Scenic Hudson’s plans to resituate the
stadium by a few feet so that it isn’t built atop the river might help
some of the stores. He said he would call Ray. But in conversations
with Carol, Ray said he had not received a call. Justin said that the
law firm had first contacted Riverkeeper, which passed on litigation.
Joan informed us that only three of the 19 stores affected have joined
the lawsuit. She said that the BID is working to relocate the
businesses nearby.
• Stormwater Monitoring Program: Work on this EPA
grant project is under way. Carol has arranged a conference call for
February 9 with key people to determine protocol, parameters, and
logistics for the monitoring project. Doug Reed of Hudson Basin River
Watch has helped to identify the list of advisors and will be
instrumental on the project. He and Carol will be joined on the call by
Harry Hall, the Saunders High teacher whose students will help with the
monitoring; Gary Wall of USGS; Kevin Malone of DEC; Karis Tenneson of
Westchester County; and Rick Magder of Groundwork Yonkers, who wrote
the grant.
STRATEGIC DIRECTION:
• Action Plan: The committee (Carol, Joanne, Diane,
and Scott Cuppett) has been working on an action plan to help focus the
direction of the coalition for the next few years. Carol handed out a
list of possible projects identified by the committee and asked the
coalition to help determine the priorities, beyond those determined by
grant obligations. Much discussion ensued as to how to prioritize the
list, whether it could be prioritized without a firm mission statement,
what the coalition will do as a group, and the need for the coalition
to develop an organizational foundation. Angelo said creating structure
is difficult but essential and will ensure a professional image. He
suggested that the coalition form a committee to tackle such issues as
bylaws and mission statement. He will share with Carol the bylaws and
process as decided on for KEEP (his Kensico group). Some members were
not aware of the working mission statement, which is as follows: The
Saw Mill River Coalition is a dynamic partnership of nonprofit groups,
government agencies, municipalities, and businesses dedicated to
revitalizing and protecting the Saw Mill River, a tributary of the
Hudson River. Its mission is to improve water quality, encourage
sustainable land use, restore habitat and wildlife, promote
recreational opportunities, and raise awareness of the river’s history
and significance. Coalition members shared their ideas of what the
coalition should focus on and whether the coalition should initiate its
own projects or support and coordinate the activities of each member as
it relates to the Saw Mill River. The action plan has elicited many
diverse ideas and opinions, even at the committee level, necessitating
several drafts, and has taken up much of the limited time Carol has to
spend on fulfilling other grant requirements. To alleviate the demands,
Joanne and Rick volunteered to take the action plan to the next stage.
• Funding: Rick spoke about the need to continue supporting the
coordinator’s position long-term and to expand it to a full-time level.
The first of two HREP grants is winding down. The second one will kick
in later this year. Most of the funding for Carol’s two-day-a-week
position this year will be generated from the EPA grant. Rick would
like to explore the possibility of county support for the position.
Diane suggested looking to municipalities for funding as well.
NEW BUSINESS:
• Great Hudson River Sweep: Joe Kiernan, volunteer
coordinator for Scenic Hudson, presented information about the 7th
annual Great Hudson River Sweep, which will be held April 17-25 this
year. He said the cleanup can be along
the Hudson, its tributaries, or even a park near the river, and
encouraged the coalition to get involved. Scenic Hudson provides trash
bags, refreshments, and helps with publicity. Because much of the trash
in the Saw Mill collects midstream along fallen trees, safety is a
concern. Rick asked if volunteers were covered in case of injury. Carol
has spoken to Cynthia Fowx of Beczak, which traditionally has been
involved with the event on its Hudson River beachfront and extending to
the mouth of the Saw Mill River. The coalition may want to assist the
Beczak, or Cynthia said she can help supply volunteers if we decide to
do a cleanup on the Saw Mill River itself. Rick recently spoke to
businessman Tom Minozzi, who in the past has hired men to clean up the
Saw Mill in front of his business in Hastings-on-Hudson. We may
coordinate a cleanup with him. The Westchester Environmental Club high
school students may also be interested. Carol will coordinate
interested parties either for a river cleanup or for direct contact to
Scenic Hudson.
• Imaging of the River field trip: This exhibit at the
Hudson River Museum features a segment about the Saw Mill River. Carol
is arranging for a private tour of the exhibit for coalition members
either on a weekday or weekday evening. She will send out information
as plans develop. Members also were interested in visiting the Saw Mill
River Brewery. Discussion earlier in the meeting spoke of the river’s
historical role in running liquor during Prohibition.
• Save Water, Safe Water Conference: Ann-Marie said brochures will be available in
February for the conference, to be held March 24 at the County Center.
The Saw Mill River Coalition will be a co-sponsor of the event.
• Yonkers Canoe and Kayak Club: Joan reported that the county is trying
to evict the group because of a perceived environmental threat to the
wetlands that are being developed. The City of Yonkers and the Downtown
BID are supporting ways to keep the club on the waterfront.
• National Trails Day: Lucille said the event is June 5. She would like to
coordinate a joint venture with Philipse Manor Hall and the coalition,
perhaps a hike or bird walk. She’ll be in touch with Carol.
• Stormwater Management: Diane reported on a workshop in April by the
Center for Watershed Protection. More to come.
• Photo exhibit: Carol announced that her husband, Joseph Squillante, has been asked to
exhibit his work at the opening of the Rivers and Estuaries Center in
Beacon on February 14. She will send out invitations via email to all
coalition members.
NEXT MEETING: End of April. Date to be determined.
