November 13, 2025 DRAFT Meeting Minutes

November  13, 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 Castle, Bryant Zilke, Mark Gaston, Mayda Pozantides, Scott Bylewski,

Board Members Excused: Rachel Chrostowski, Dan Henry

Staff in Attendance: Sarah Gatti

Guests in Attendance: Victoria Valentic, Laura Valentic, Lynn Lombardo, Brett Lombardo

1. Welcome

    

2. Consideration of the August 2025 Meeting Minutes: Mark Gaston made a motion for APPROVAL, seconded by Bryant Zilke, and carried by all voting members.

    

3. New Business

   1. Agricultural Districts 303b Discussion and Public Comment: Ms. Gatti stated that the AFPB is an advisory board on agricultural issues to County Legislature. In this capacity, the AFPB provides a recommendation to the County Legislature on agricultural districts pursuant to Agriculture and Markets Law Sections 303b. The Legislature is the body who votes to modify, continue, and/or consolidate agricultural districts. The County Legislature’s public hearing is the agricultural district law’s forum to provide public input to the County Legislature on this issue. Each applicant or member of the public will have the opportunity to provide comments at the public hearing. The public hearing has yet to be scheduled but applicants will be made aware of the date once available. Following the public hearing, the County Legislature will examine all the information provided, including the public comments provided at the public hearings and will formally vote on the proposed actions. The resolutions are then sent to the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets in Albany, who makes the final determination. Regarding the Open Enrollment period, Ms. Gatti provided a brief overview of each modification request, followed by a Board vote on each application. A detailed voting record is included as Attachment 1.

       

4. Old Business
   1. Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan Update: The Plan has been accepted by the County Legislature and will be submitted to the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets for approval.
   2. November Storm/Tornado Fund Update: Project work continues and funds are nearly expended. It is unlikely all projects will be closed out by the end of the year, although that is the goal.
   3. Agribusiness Park Update: The road and sewer are under construction and marketing and promotion are ramping up.
   4. Sky Lantern Ban Outreach Discussion: Suggestions for outreach include including a blurb on the ban in the Erie County Soil and Water Conservation District and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County newsletters. Adding the local law number to the informational postcard was also suggested.

   5. 2026 Farm Tour: A June tour visiting the Eden Valley was suggested. 

       

5. Other Business
   1. Nomination of Officers for 2026: Diane Held made a motion to NOMINATE Brett Kreher as Chairperson and Bryant Zilke as Vice-Chairperson of the Erie County Agricultural and Protection Board (AFPB); seconded by Mark Gaston and carried by all voting members (Brett Kreher and Bryant Zilke abstaining). Sarah Gatti advised that elections would occur at the January meeting.

   2. Approval of Meeting Calendar: Four quarterly meetings to be held in January, May, August, and November 2026 and will be held at the Roycroft Power House. Calendar invites will be sent following approval of the meeting calendar. Bryant Zilke made a motion to APPROVE the 2026 meeting calendar, seconded by Dan Castle and carried by all voting members.

       

6. Adjournment: Mark Gaston made a motion to ADJOURN at 7:23pm, seconded by Scott Bylewski , and carried by all voting members.

ATTACHMENT 1