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October 19, 2023 | 6:00 PM

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

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

Board Members Excused: Earl Gingerich

Staff in Attendance: Sarah Gatti

Guests in Attendance: Barbara Johnston

  1. Consideration of the August 2023 Meeting Minutes

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

  2. Town of Wales Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan

    At the request of Chairperson Brett Kreher, this agenda item was moved up to expedite discussion. Sarah Gatti explained the process involved for the approval of the Wales Draft Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan (AFPP). Barb Johnston of LaBella was in attendance to answer questions and address concerns related to the Plan. The Board noted the high quality of the plan, including both maps and text. Diane Held noted an inconsistency in numbers on page 16 and an error regarding who manages the Erie Grown program on page 42. Mark Gaston and Ms. Johnston did not foresee any issue with making those changes. Mr. Zilke made a motion to APPROVE the Wales Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan, CONTIGENT UPON THE INCLUSION OF REVISIONS RECOMMENDED BY THE AFPB, seconded by Scott Bylewski, and carried by all voting members. Ms. Gatti will send a copy of the motion to Ms. Johnston once signed by the Chair. 

  3. Nomination of Officers for 2024

    Dan Castle made a motion to Mark Gaston 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). Ms. Gatti advised that elections would occur at the January meeting.

  4. 2024 Meeting Calendar

    Ms. Gatti proposed four quarterly meetings to be held in January, May, August, and October 2024. The meetings will be held at the Roycroft Power House. Ms. Gatti will send calendar invites following approval of the meeting calendar. Ms. Gatti noted that there may be more meetings due to the Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan update. Mr. Castle agreed, noting that Plan update meetings may be held virtually.

  5. Department of Environment and Planning Updates

    1. Agricultural Districts: 303b Ms. 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 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, which will be held on November 1 at 2:15pm. 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. No members of the public attended the AFPB meeting and there was no public comment given. Regarding the Open Enrollment period, Ms. Gatti provided a brief overview of each modification request, followed by a Board vote on each application.

      Application #1: The Board voted to INCLUDE these parcels.

      Application #2: The Board voted to INCLUDE these parcels.

      Application #3: The Board voted to INCLUDE these parcels.

      Application #4: The Board voted to INCLUDE this parcel.

      Application #5: The Board voted to INCLUDE these parcels.

      Application #6: The Board voted to INCLUDE this parcel. 

      Application #7: The Board voted to INCLUDE this parcel. 

      Application #8: No action required; parcel already enrolled in an Agricultural District.

      A detailed voting record is included as Appendix A of these minutes.

    2. Agricultural Districts: 303a Ms. Gatti informed the Board that the public hearing for the 303a process is scheduled for November 1 at 2PM.
    3. Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan: Ms. Gatti provided an update on the Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan update, noting that consultant interviews will be held on October 20, 2023, and thanked Ms. Held and Ms. Chrostowski for their participation on the selection committee.
    4. November Storm Fund: Dan Castle provided an update on the November Storm Fund, noting that the program is now live. Mr. Gaston stated that several applications had been received.

  6. WNY Land Conservancy Letters of Support

    Ms. Chrostowski explained that a Letter of Support was needed for a NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets grant. The grant can be used for agricultural outreach activities and is only available to land trusts. Ms. Chrostowki then recused herself from the discussion and left the meeting room. Mr. Gaston made a motion to APPROVE the Letter of Support for the Land Trust Grand Round 5 – Agricultural Outreach Activities grant, seconded by Bryand Zilke, and carried by all voting members (Ms. Chrostowski recused). 

  7. Other Business

    Mr. Zilke inquired about the sky lantern memo. Ms. Gatti explained that it had been clocked in at the Legislature. Mr. Castle agreed to follow up. Dan Henry asked for an update on the Evans Agribusiness Park. Mr. Castle noted there had been progress but there remains uncertainty around wetlands and sewer capacity. The site will most likely host distribution, warehousing, and cold storage facilities.

  8. Adjournment

    Mr. Zilke made a motion to ADJOURN at 7:14PM, seconded by Mr. Henry, and carried by all voting members.

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