Meeting Minutes

October 18, 2022 | 6:00 PM

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

Board Members in Attendance: Brett Kreher, Earl Gingerich, Leonard Janiga, Diane Held, Bryant Zilke, Mark Gaston, Dan Henry, Dan Castle, Rachel Chrostowski, Scott Bylewski

Staff in Attendance: Sarah Gatti

1. Consideration of the May 19, 2022 Meeting Minutes

   Bryant Zilke made a motion for APPROVAL, seconded by Dan Castle, and carried by all voting members.

2. Membership

   Ms. Gatti stated that Brett Kreher and Dan Henry’s terms on the AFPB are due to expire at the end of the year. Both are willing to serve another term. Ms. Gatti explained that the Bylaws stipulated that members may serve beyond two consecutive terms, if the Board feels it is beneficial for them to do so. The Board felt it would be beneficial to have Mr. Kreher and Mr. Henry serve another term. Ms. Gatti stated she would work to finalize the reappointments before the end of the year and thanked Mr. Kreher and Mr. Henry for their continued service to the County.

3. Nomination of Officers

   Mark Gaston made a motion to NOMINATE Brett Kreher as Chairperson and Bryant Zilke as ViceChairperson of the Erie County Agricultural and Protection Board (AFPB); seconded by Diane Held and carried by all voting members (Brett Kreher and Bryant Zilke abstaining). Ms. Gatti advised that elections would occur at the January meeting. 

4. 2023 Meeting Calendar

   Ms. Gatti proposed four quarterly meetings to be held in January, May, August, and October 2023. The meetings will be held at the Roycroft Power House, with the exception of the August meeting which will be held at the Erie County Fair if the space is available. Ms. Gatti will send calendar invites following adoption of the meeting calendar. Dan Castle made a motion to ADOPT the 2023 meeting calendar, seconded by Rachel Chrostowski, and carried by all voting members.

5. Agricultural Districts Eight-Year Review and Consolidation and Open Enrollment

   1. Overview: Sarah Gatti stated that the AFPB is an advisory board on agricultural issues to the County Legislature. In this capacity, the AFPB provides a recommendation to the County Legislature on agricultural districts pursuant to Agriculture and Markets Law Sections 303a and 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 hearings scheduled for November 3 at 2:15PM (for 303a modifications) and 2:30PM (for 303b modifications) at the County’s Legislative Chambers located at 92 Franklin Street, Buffalo NY, 14202. Following the public hearings, the County Legislature will examine all of 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.
   2. Public Comment: Chairperson Kreher opened the floor to public comment. There being none, the public comment period was closed.
   3. Discussion: Regarding the Agricultural District Eight-Year Review and Consolidation, Ms. Gatti provided a brief overview of each modification request, followed by a Board vote on each application.
      1. Application #1: The Board voted to REMOVE this parcel. 
      2. Application #2: The Board raised concerns regarding the removal of what appears to be actively (or recently) farmed land from the District. Mr. Gingerich made a motion to recommend DENIAL of the landowner’s request for removal, seconded by Mr. Zilke and carried by all voting members.
      3. Application #3: The Board voted to REMOVE this parcel.
   4. Regarding the Agricultural District Open Enrollment, Ms. Gatti provided a brief overview of each modification request, followed by a Board vote on each application.
      1. Application #1: The Board voted to INCLUDE this parcel.
      2. Application #2: The Board voted to INCLUDE this parcel. 
      3. Application #3: The Board voted to INCLUDE this parcel. 
      4. Application #4: The Board voted to INCLUDE this parcel. 
      5. Application #5: The Board voted to INCLUDE this parcel. 
      6. Application #6: The Board voted to INCLUDE this parcel.
      7. Application #7: The Board voted to INCLUDE this parcel.
   5. A detailed voting record is included as Appendix A of these minutes.

6. Agricultural Planning Grants

   Ms. Gatti stated that she had hoped to announce which towns receive grants but is unable to do so. She indicated that recipients of the 2022 agricultural planning grants would be announced within the month.

7. Other Business

   Commissioner Castle informed the Board that the County’s Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan would be updated in 2023. The updated Plan will address topics that have emerged since 2012, such as large-scale solar developments and urban agriculture.

8. Next Meeting

   Scheduled for January 19, 2022. Scott Bylewski made a motion for ADJOURN, seconded by Mark Gaston, and carried by all voting members. The meeting concluded at 7:03PM.

APPENDIX A

OPEN ENROLLMENT

EIGHT-YEAR REVIEW AND CONSOLIDATION