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August 21, 2025 Approved Meeting Minutes

ERIE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL & FARMLAND PROTECTION BOARD MEETING MINUTES

August 21, 2025 | 6:00 PM

Roycroft Power House | 39 South Grove Street | East Aurora, NY 14052 

Board Members in Attendance: Brett Kreher, Diane Held, Len Janiga, Dan Henry, Dan Castle, Bryant Zilke, Mark Gaston, Mayda Pozantides, Rachel Chrostowski

Board Members Excused: Scott Bylewski,

Staff in Attendance: Sarah Gatti, Mark Rountree

Guests in Attendance: Valerie Weisbeck 

  1. Welcome
  2. Consideration of the May 2025 Meeting Minutes: Mark Gaston made a motion for APPROVAL, seconded by Bryant Zilke, and carried by all voting members.
  3. WNY Land Conservancy Letter of Support: Ms. Chrostowski recused herself and left the meeting room. Sarah Gatti explained an updated letter of support is needed for the Gerhardt FPIG project due to the addition of an additional parcel in the Town of Alden. Mark Gaston made a motion to APPROVE the updated Letter of Support for the Gerhard Farmland Conservation Easements, seconded by Bryant Zilke, and carried by all voting members (Ms. Chrostowski recused).
  4. Department of Environment and Planning Updates
    1. November Storm/Tornado Fund: Project work continues and funds are nearly expended. The goal is to close the fund out this calendar year.
    2. Agricultural Districts
      1. Southeast District Review: The District has been certified by the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets.
      2. Open Enrollment: The open enrollment period begins on September 1. Letters have been sent to landowners receiving the agricultural assessment who are not in the agricultural district and to those with land partially in a district.
  5. Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
    1. Summary of Changes: The Plan has been updated to address public comment where appropriate. Changes are minimal from the last draft. Each change was presented to the Board. The Board discussed comments received at length, noting a potential mismatch between perception and reality of what the Plan is intended to accomplish.
    2. Approval: Mark Gaston made a motion to ACCEPT the draft Plan and FORMALLY SUBMIT it to the Erie County Legislature with the recommendation that the Legislature approve the updated Plan, and carried by all voting members (see full resolution).
  6. Other Business
    1. Sky Lantern Ban Education: A ban on sky lanterns has been enacted by the Erie County Legislature. Ideas to educate the public on the ban include reaching out to businesses, retailers, wedding venues, wedding planners, municipalities, bridal expositions, and to advertise on billboards.
    2. Agricultural Tour: Other NYS counties host agricultural tours for elected officials and media. This was previously done in Erie County but has not happened since 2017. The Board is interested in an event of this nature or similar. The Board and staff will look into what other counties are doing.
    3. Miscellaneous: The Monroe County Soil and Water Conservation District is hosting an urban soil health event. Erie and Wyoming County Farm Bureau and developing a solar lease educational event, the date of which is to be determined. Pace Law School is hosting a Land Use Leadership Alliance from September 29 - October 1 in Buffalo, the focus of which is solar development. The Department of Environment and Planning is hosting an agricultural land use training on September 16 at the Elma Senior Center.
  7. Adjournment: Bryant Zilke made a motion to ADJOURN at 7:16pm, seconded by Mark Gaston , and carried by all voting members.
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