Environmental Advisory Council

VILLAGE OF OSSINING Planning Department Zoom 101 Route 9A, Ossining, N.Y. 10562 Tel: (914)762-6232 www.villageofossiningny.gov ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COUNCIL AGENDA HELD VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85716200282 or Dial-in by phone: 1+(929)205-6099 Webinar ID: 857 1620 0282 Tuesday, April 7, 2026 7:00 PM PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: The Environmental Advisory Council meeting will be conducted remotely. There will be no in-person meeting. The Board will use Zoom, a web-based video conferencing service, to conduct the meeting. The public will have an opportunity to see and hear the meeting live and provide comments during the appropriate time. Comments can also be emailed before and during the public hearing to Plan@villageofossiningny.gov. The meeting will be recorded and a transcript of the meeting will be available at a later date. __________________________________________________________________________ I. CONTINUING BUSINESS OF THE BOARD A. Tree Removal Permit - 28 Park Drive 28 Park Dr. Tree Application 28 Park Dr. Wetlands Application 28 Park Dr. Arborist Report (3-17-26) II. ADDITIONAL BUSINESS OF THE BOARD A. Meeting Transcript EAC Mtg. Transcript 4-7-26 Environmental Advisory Council April 7, 2026 Page 1 of 42 Agenda Item #A. VILLAGE OF OSSINING BUILDING DEPARTMENT John Paul Rodrigues Ossining Operations Center 101 Route 9A PO BOX 1166 Ossining, NY 10562 (914) 941-3199 Application Submitted Details Application Number#: 2025-A-5052 Submitted Date: 12/27/2025 TYPE OF WORK : TREE Licenses and certificates for all associated subcontractors will be required at time of application. SITE DATA Zone: S-125 Section-Block-Lot 90.13-2-5 Street Address: 28 Park Dr Ossining, NY 10562 Project Description: Requesting approval to remove a total of 9-10 trees located at behind my house. Several of the trees are dead, while others are in visible decline, including reduced leaf growth over multiple seasons. The proposed removals are intended as a preventative safety measure to mitigate future risk to the property. Cost of Construction: $N/A Square Footage: CONTACTS Name Address Phone E-mail Type Applicant Responsible Zaira A Franco 28 Park Dr Owner  Ossining, NY 10562 Zaira Franco 28 Park Dr Owner   Ossining, NY 10562 Number of Trees to be removed 10 Page 2 of 42 Agenda Item #A. To whom it concern, I, the property owner and applicant, hereby agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Village and its representatives from and against any damages or injuries arising out of or related to the proposed tree removal, in accordance with Section 248-18 of the Village Code. Zaira Franco, 28 Park Dr Ossining NY By Village of Ossining Planning Dept. at 9:34 am, Jan 20, 2026 Page 3 of 42  By Village of Ossining Planning Dept. at 9:34 am, Jan 20, 2026 Agenda Item #A. Page 4 of 42 Agenda Item #A. 1 3 2 7 4 9 8 10 5 6 Page 5 of 42 Agenda Item #A. Village of Ossining Building Department John-Paul Rodrigues Ossining Operations Center 101 Route 9A, PO Box 1166, Ossining, NY 10562 914-941-3199 Applications must be submitted to permits@villageofossining.org ONLY. Applications submitted by mail or fax will not be accepted. Wetlands Review Application As per the Village of Ossining Freshwater Wetlands Ordinance enacted January 1, 2021, properties that are identified as being located in freshwater wetlands or wetlands buffer, will be subjected to a $50 fee for wetlands review by the Village of Ossining Consultant, depending upon the scope of proposed work. APPLICATION CHECKLIST □ Completed Permit Application □ Architectural Plans, signed and sealed (if applicable) □ Completed Owner Authorization Form (if applicant is other than homeowner) □ Application Fee $50.00 Note: Submit documents ONLY in PDF form; do NOT submit password-protected documents or photos as they will not be accepted. Page 6 of 42 Agenda Item #A. § 149-5 Allowable, regulated and prohibited acts. No regulated activity shall be conducted in a wetland, watercourse, water body or buffer area without a written permit from the approval authority and full compliance with the terms hereof and other applicable regulations. A. Allowable activities. The following uses shall be allowed without a permit within a wetland or buffer area as specified below: (1) On a private residential lot, normal ground maintenance, including mowing, trimming of vegetation and removal of dead or diseased vegetation. (2) Repair of existing walkways and walls. (3) Maintenance of existing decorative landscaping and planting in buffer areas only. (4) Public health activities and orders of the Westchester County Department of Health and/or the New York State Department of Health for emergencies only. (5) Normal gardening activities and the composting of leaves, grass clippings or other vegetation in buffer areas only, located within a private residential lot. (6) Operation and maintenance of existing dams and water control devices, excluding the adjustment of water elevations over 18 inches in height. (7) Maintenance of existing drainage channels where impedance of flow may cause flooding or threaten public safety on highways or in dwellings or other structures. (8) Maintenance and repair of any best management practice (BMP) installed for stormwater management purposes. (9) Manual removal of accumulated sediment, up to a maximum of two cubic yards, located within five feet of the end of a pipe which crosses under a road or driveway. B. Regulated acts which require a permit. It shall be unlawful, in the absence of a written permit issued by the approval authority, to do any of the following activities in any wetland, watercourse, water body or buffer area: (1) Placement or construction of any structure that requires a Building Permit. (2) The installation of an impervious area over 150 square feet. (3) Any form of draining, dredging, excavation or removal of material, or any dumping, filling or depositing of material, either directly or indirectly. (4) Installation of any private service or utility lines, cable, or conduits (including but not limited to sewer, water, gas, or electric). (5) Installation of a septic tank, the running of a sewer outfall or the discharging of sewage treatment effluent or other liquid wastes into or so as to drain into a wetland, watercourse, water body or buffer area, provided the approval of the Westchester County Department of Health has also been obtained. (6) Grading. (7) Alteration or modification of natural drainage patterns or watercourses. (8) Construction of dams, docks or other water-control devices, pilings or bridges, whether or not they change the natural drainage characteristics. (9) Operation of existing dams and water-control devices, involving the adjustment of water level more than 18 inches or any adjustment of water level which is in place for more than one week. (10) Installation of any private pipes or wells. (11) The cutting of more than three regulated trees pursuant to Chapter 248. (12) Deposition or introduction of organic or inorganic chemicals, including pesticides and fertilizers. (13) Grazing of horses or other animals (except as provided in Chapter 75). (14) Any other activity that may impair the natural function(s) of a wetland as described in §149-1.C of this chapter. C. Prohibited acts. It shall be unlawful to place or deposit chemical wastes or to introduce influents of such thermal content so as to cause deleterious ecological effect in any wetland, watercourse, water body or buffer area. Also unlawful shall be the installation of a septic tank, the running of a sanitary sewer outfall or the discharging of sewage treatment effluent or other liquid wastes into or so as to drain into a wetland, watercourse, water body or buffer area without the approval of the Westchester County Department of Health. Page 7 of 42 Agenda Item #A. Village of Ossining Building Department John-Paul Rodrigues Ossining Operations Center 101 Route 9A, PO Box 1166, Ossining, NY 10562 914-941-3199 Email your application and all required documents to permits@villageofossining.org Wetlands Review Application Street Address: 28 Park Dr, Ossining NY ________________________________________________________________________ Date:_______________ 3/3/2026 Section – Block – Lot: 90.13 ________________ -- 2 ________ -- 5 ________ Zone: S-125 ______________ Description of Work (Identify the improvements proposed within the wetland buffer): __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Removing 9-10 trees closest to the house that are in declining health/and or could cause damage to property or life in the future. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Is this Wetlands Review Application associated with the submission of a Building Department Application? □ x Yes □ No Type of Application: □ Building □ Plumbing □ Electrical □ Demolition □ x Tree □ Sign □ Other (specify) ____________ OWNER: Name: Zaira A Franco _________________________________________________________ Home Phone _ _____________________ Address: 28 Park Drive, Ossining NY _______________________________________________________ Cell Phone _ ________________________ _______________________________________________________________ Email _____________________ APPLICANT: Applicant is x Owner Architect/Engineer Contractor Other _____________________________________ Name: _________________________________________________________ Home Phone _______________________________ Address: _______________________________________________________ Cell Phone _________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ Email _____________________________________ ARCHITECT/ENGINEER: Name: _________________________________________________________ NYS Registration ____________________________ Address: _______________________________________________________ Office Phone ________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ Cell Phone _________________________________ Email __________________________________________________________ Page 8 of 42 Agenda Item #A. Plans & Specifications: Note: See §149-1 of the Village Code for all requirements. Detail plans and specifications for the proposed wetland activity, drawn to a scale of not smaller than 1” = 50’, shall show the following: 1. Estimated quantities of material to be deposited or removed. 2. Pre- and post-development impervious surface area. 3. Location of any well and any septic or other waste disposal system with 50 ft. of the area to be disturbed. 4. Details of any proposed drainage system, both for the construction and the final development and maintenance requirements. 5. If creation, modification or enlargement of a pond is proposed, details of the construction of any dams, embankments, outlets or other water-control devices & deposition of the spoil material. 6. List all beneficial functions of the wetland, waterbody or watercourse which will be affected by the proposed activities. 7. Erosion and sediment controls must be provided and a schedule for their installation & maintenance. 8. Additional information may be requested by the approving authority. AUTHORIZATION: I certify that the above information is accurate, and I am the property owner or authorized by the owner to file this application on their behalf and that I will indemnify and hold the Village harmless against any damage or injury that may be caused by or arise out of any entry onto the property in connection with the processing of the application, during construction or performance of the work or within one year after the completion of the work. State of New York, County of Westchester _____________________________ being duly sworn deposes and says they are the owner or authorized representative by attached completed proxy statement and are duly authorized to perform or have performed said work and to make and file this application; that all statements are true and to the best of their knowledge and belief, and that the work will be performed in the manner set forth in the application and in the plans and specifications filed therewith. Sworn to before me Owner or Authorized Representative Signature: _______________________________________________ This 3 ________ day of March ___________________ 20 26 ____ Print Name: Zaira A Franco _______________________________________________ Notary Public: ________________________________ Seal ====================================================================================== FOR VILLAGE USE ONLY: Wetlands Review Consultant Recommendation: □ Wetlands Permit not required for proposed development. □ Wetlands Permit required. Further review required? □ YES □ NO Permit Fee: □ Referred to Planning Board for Wetlands Approval Signature ______________________________________________________________ Date March 18, 2026 _________________ Page 9 of 42 Agenda Item #A. Village of Ossining Building Department John‐Paul Rodrigues Ossining Operations Center 101 Route 9A, PO Box 1166, Ossining, NY 10562 Telephone (914) 941‐3199 Tree Warden Recommendation  Accepted  Denied 28 Park Drive (#2)  Needs to be altered _______________________________________  Replanting Not Required  Replanting Required 3 rear Replant __________ trees in area __________ from Group __________ Replant __________ trees in area __________ from Group __________  Grind Stump(s)  Cut Stump(s) as Low as Possible  No Requirement re: Stumps Tree Warden notes or reason for denial/alteration: 10 trees of diverse species and diameters to rear of residence. All clearly _____________________________________________________________________________________ dead/declining, including some leaning. All hazards. Recommend _____________________________________________________________________________________ removal. Replace with 3 medium-size trees of resident's choice. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Signature of Tree Warden ___________________________________________ Date _______________3/17/26 Jean Zimmerman, Consulting Arborist NY-6012A By Village of Ossining Planning Dept. at 1:32 pm, Mar 18, 2026 Page 10 of 42 Agenda Item #A. WEBVTT 1 00:02:55.200 --> 00:02:56.080 Nick Tedrow: Hey. 2 00:03:07.950 --> 00:03:09.600 Kate Schlott: Do you know if Pat is coming? 3 00:03:10.550 --> 00:03:12.820 Planning Dept.: I did not hear from him either way. 4 00:03:18.490 --> 00:03:22.079 Planning Dept.: And I don't think we heard from, Jennifer Ramirez either. 5 00:03:22.080 --> 00:03:22.710 Kate Schlott: No. 6 00:03:48.910 --> 00:03:50.660 Planning Dept.: What do you say? Should we get started? 7 00:03:56.080 --> 00:03:57.290 Planning Dept.: Up to you, you wanna wait a few more minutes? 8 00:03:57.960 --> 00:03:59.779 Kate Schlott: Give them a couple minutes, just in case. 9 00:03:59.780 --> 00:04:00.880 Planning Dept.: Okay, you got it. 10 00:04:00.880 --> 00:04:01.470 Kate Schlott: And… 11 00:04:08.110 --> 00:04:17.130 Kate Schlott: In the meantime, actually, no, I don't know if it's… It's official… EAC business or not. 12 00:04:17.410 --> 00:04:27.749 Kate Schlott: the booth at Earth Day, are we doing it as separate booths, or are we going to do it as, a combined booth with the town? 13 00:04:27.750 --> 00:04:40.190 Planning Dept.: You can have whatever you'd like. I know the supervisor had said that the town plans on doing a booth. I did not get the sense that it was the EAC. I got the sense that it was just the town doing the booth. Page 11 of 42 Agenda Item #A. 14 00:04:40.190 --> 00:04:50.280 Planning Dept.: And I know that Project Mover, will have a presence there as well, but if Village EAC wants their own booth, we're… we're good with it. Just, you gotta let me know soon. 15 00:04:50.280 --> 00:04:50.880 Kate Schlott: Okay. 16 00:04:52.970 --> 00:04:55.980 Valerie Monastra: Do you, have contacts for the town EAC? 17 00:04:56.240 --> 00:05:00.319 Valerie Monastra: Because… I can send you Mitzi Elks, who runs the EAC. 18 00:05:00.320 --> 00:05:05.670 Kate Schlott: No, yeah, Mitzi… Mitzi, I know, is gonna be there already, but she's going to be with a different booth that day. 19 00:05:05.670 --> 00:05:06.310 Valerie Monastra: Okay. 20 00:05:17.860 --> 00:05:28.069 Kate Schlott: Alright, you know what, May… it's 7.05, so I guess, you know, at this point, let's… we should actually get started, and if people, pop in, then, 21 00:05:28.260 --> 00:05:38.300 Kate Schlott: Great, they can join us. But for the interest of time, I think it would be good to… to move on. So, Maddie, are we good? 22 00:05:38.680 --> 00:05:40.249 Planning Dept.: We are good, we're. 23 00:05:40.250 --> 00:05:40.690 Kate Schlott: Alright. 24 00:05:40.690 --> 00:05:43.550 Planning Dept.: And we have one attendee in the audience. 25 00:05:43.940 --> 00:05:57.409 Kate Schlott: Okay, so this is the, Village of Austining Environmental Advisory Council meeting for April 7th, 2026. I am Kate Schlott, Chairperson for the EAC. 26 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:00.700 Kate Schlott: And I am present. Katie? Page 12 of 42 Agenda Item #A. 27 00:06:00.930 --> 00:06:03.269 Catherine Alberte: Katie, Alberti member, present? 28 00:06:07.180 --> 00:06:08.010 Kate Schlott: And Nick? 29 00:06:08.620 --> 00:06:09.829 Nick Tedrow: Sorry about that. 30 00:06:10.180 --> 00:06:13.040 Nick Tedrow: Yeah, Lulu. Lulu, present. 31 00:06:13.840 --> 00:06:16.569 Nick Tedrow: No, Nick Tedro, councilperson present. 32 00:06:16.770 --> 00:06:17.460 Nick Tedrow: EAC. 33 00:06:22.990 --> 00:06:28.170 Kate Schlott: Alright, so, I know on tonight's, agenda we have, 34 00:06:28.520 --> 00:06:34.500 Kate Schlott: Let me just pull it up, 28 Park Drive for the tree application. 35 00:06:34.720 --> 00:06:48.359 Kate Schlott: And this is a follow-up from our meeting, I believe it was in February, when they were last year to go over the tree permit removal, or tree removal permit. 36 00:06:48.480 --> 00:06:50.049 Kate Schlott: process. 37 00:06:50.350 --> 00:06:57.649 Valerie Monastra: Maddie, you might want to see if for some reason, that the attendee is associated with this application. 38 00:07:00.230 --> 00:07:04.430 Valerie Monastra: If… if you are, you might want to… can you raise your hand? 39 00:07:04.950 --> 00:07:10.230 Valerie Monastra: Okay, yes, so maybe bring… That person over, so that… 40 00:07:11.560 --> 00:07:14.669 Valerie Monastra: Because if this way, they can explain maybe the project. Page 13 of 42 Agenda Item #A. 41 00:07:14.820 --> 00:07:17.019 Planning Dept.: Yeah, sorry, I was just plugging in my laptop, I didn't want it to run. 42 00:07:17.020 --> 00:07:21.520 Valerie Monastra: Oh, okay, I hear him being silent, and I was like, well… 43 00:07:21.520 --> 00:07:33.990 Planning Dept.: Yeah, we have, Zyra Franco. So Zyra, I'm gonna bring you over, as a panelist. If you could just, unmute and put on your camera when you come over, that would be great. 44 00:07:57.450 --> 00:08:00.219 Zaira Franco: Hey everyone, can you guys see me and hear me okay? 45 00:08:00.970 --> 00:08:01.979 Kate Schlott: This weekend, hi! 46 00:08:01.980 --> 00:08:02.710 Catherine Alberte: Fair enough. 47 00:08:02.840 --> 00:08:05.180 Zaira Franco: Apologies about the hair, I didn't know this was gonna be a cat. 48 00:08:05.180 --> 00:08:07.460 Kate Schlott: Curly hair issues. We get it. 49 00:08:07.460 --> 00:08:08.360 Zaira Franco: I, you know. 50 00:08:09.090 --> 00:08:10.370 Zaira Franco: Very nice to meet you all. 51 00:08:11.880 --> 00:08:19.849 Kate Schlott: Welcome. So are you, you the, are the applicant for 28 Park Drive for the tree removal, correct? 52 00:08:19.850 --> 00:08:21.169 Zaira Franco: Yes, that is correct. 53 00:08:22.170 --> 00:08:29.219 Kate Schlott: All right, so, did… was there anything in particular that you wanted to walk us through on the project, or… 54 Page 14 of 42 Agenda Item #A. 00:08:29.220 --> 00:08:43.300 Zaira Franco: Not really. I mean, the project is just removing about 10 trees that are close to my property. Some are in declining health, some are already leaning, and overall, I'm just looking to remove them so they don't… 55 00:08:43.299 --> 00:08:50.379 Zaira Franco: become a problem in the future, either to anyone that's in the backyard, or eventually my, my… 56 00:08:50.490 --> 00:08:51.640 Zaira Franco: house. 57 00:08:51.980 --> 00:08:52.510 Kate Schlott: Yeah. 58 00:08:53.630 --> 00:09:10.689 Kate Schlott: I do see that we got, I know the last time that, this was before us, we didn't have, any information on, on what the plan was as far as the replacement or whatnot, and I see that was, was put in, in the meantime, 59 00:09:11.020 --> 00:09:26.029 Kate Schlott: So I know that the arborist came out to… to see the trees, and that, she had suggested replanting 3 trees in the area that's in the rear, and basically said that it was pretty much up to your… your choice 60 00:09:26.030 --> 00:09:36.039 Kate Schlott: of which trees you wanted to put in, of course, being native species as well. So we want to make sure that we're not putting in anything that's going to be invasive. 61 00:09:36.040 --> 00:10:00.940 Kate Schlott: so there is actually a list on, the EAC section of the Village's website that has a great list of trees that you can go through. There might also be some recommendations that if you're working with someone, they might have in addition to what is on that list, but definitely start from there, as an opportunity. But yeah, this, like, for what we were looking for 62 00:10:00.940 --> 00:10:05.029 Kate Schlott: from last time, it looks like we've gotten a lot of stuff. Was, 63 00:10:05.470 --> 00:10:08.260 Kate Schlott: And you're not located on wetlands. 64 00:10:08.810 --> 00:10:09.720 Catherine Alberte: Actually, yes. 65 00:10:09.720 --> 00:10:10.820 Kate Schlott: Yep. Page 15 of 42 Agenda Item #A. 66 00:10:11.130 --> 00:10:11.680 Catherine Alberte: Yes. 67 00:10:11.830 --> 00:10:12.610 Kate Schlott: Okay. 68 00:10:13.190 --> 00:10:13.840 Catherine Alberte: Fair. 69 00:10:14.510 --> 00:10:15.520 Catherine Alberte: Please stop chatting. 70 00:10:15.520 --> 00:10:16.550 Kate Schlott: I see, yeah. 71 00:10:16.550 --> 00:10:19.190 Catherine Alberte: Yeah, the impression I got from the application. 72 00:10:19.700 --> 00:10:34.140 Valerie Monastra: Yeah, so I think I can speak to the wetlands issue. So they technically did… they were flagged for potential wetlands, but then, we actually… they actually had somebody go out to the… the site, and it was not… 73 00:10:34.330 --> 00:10:39.810 Valerie Monastra: The site does not have wetlands as defined by the village. 74 00:10:40.710 --> 00:10:53.130 Valerie Monastra: So the way… the way it works with the village, record keeping, if… so there are certain properties that are, like, automatically flagged for potential wetlands. 75 00:10:53.230 --> 00:11:03.360 Valerie Monastra: And, so somebody will have to fill out, like, the wetland permit, and somebody goes out to the site, and then we'll determine whether that's, you know, really rises to the… 76 00:11:03.520 --> 00:11:14.060 Valerie Monastra: like, necessary to actually have to pull the final permit and to proceed with the wetlands regulations. And I believe this one did not. 77 00:11:14.460 --> 00:11:17.050 Valerie Monastra: And Zyra, I think you would, 78 00:11:17.150 --> 00:11:19.040 Valerie Monastra: Be able to confirm one way or the other. Page 16 of 42 Agenda Item #A. 79 00:11:20.120 --> 00:11:32.690 Zaira Franco: Yeah, as far as I know, not wetlands, at least from my own research that I did. I think I looked up a map somewhere, and it didn't seem like it. There's wetlands close by, but now within 100… 80 00:11:32.850 --> 00:11:36.780 Zaira Franco: feet, I believe, was the… Range, needed. 81 00:11:42.630 --> 00:11:47.100 Kate Schlott: Does anyone have any questions for… The applicant? 82 00:11:49.340 --> 00:11:50.870 Catherine Alberte: I guess it does sort of… 83 00:11:51.130 --> 00:11:59.730 Catherine Alberte: the pieces do seem to work, you know, are all there. The trees… I'm not sure exactly what the arborist meant by medium-sized trees, but. 84 00:12:00.850 --> 00:12:07.150 Zaira Franco: I was gonna ask that, too. Is it, like, mature growth has to be a certain… 85 00:12:07.670 --> 00:12:10.680 Zaira Franco: Sort of height, or width. 86 00:12:12.320 --> 00:12:13.710 Catherine Alberte: I noticed… I pulled that up. 87 00:12:14.190 --> 00:12:19.759 Catherine Alberte: Actually, in the ordinance, if I've got the right section, it, 88 00:12:20.780 --> 00:12:25.100 Catherine Alberte: And I'm not sure if this… Let's see… 89 00:12:26.440 --> 00:12:38.209 Nick Tedrow: The 50%, I think, is, like, you know, relative to the cumulative diameter of everything that's being cut down, so I assume the arborist or… and or inspectors, hopefully, would be 90 00:12:39.810 --> 00:12:47.679 Nick Tedrow: checking for that, but, you know, that is just, you know, speaking to what the ordinance is anyway, I think. I'm paraphrasing, obviously, but, 91 00:12:48.320 --> 00:12:57.059 Nick Tedrow: Yeah, so hopefully, I mean, as long as 3 trees satisfy that… that requirement, that, you know, but that'll be up to the inspector to determine, I guess, after Earth's done. Page 17 of 42 Agenda Item #A. 92 00:12:57.060 --> 00:13:03.980 Catherine Alberte: And, yeah, what Nick was talking about is in the ordinance, it says that The minimum requirement to replace 93 00:13:04.630 --> 00:13:08.830 Catherine Alberte: The replacement shall satisfy no less than the minimum requirement to replace 94 00:13:08.970 --> 00:13:18.780 Catherine Alberte: 50% of the total aggregate diameter of all trees as proposed for removal with new trees, which sounds really complicated. 95 00:13:18.780 --> 00:13:23.349 Kate Schlott: I think medium-sized is referring to an actual specific. 96 00:13:23.670 --> 00:13:26.639 Catherine Alberte: Oh, there isn't specific? Oh, good, good. 97 00:13:26.640 --> 00:13:38.379 Kate Schlott: And that's what I'm trying to look up, and what I'm seeing is medium-sized being in terms of the size of the tree, being how much it's going to add per year of growth. 98 00:13:38.380 --> 00:13:47.979 Kate Schlott: So I want… I want to be careful on what we're going to recommend, if that's the case, because that was something that I know when it comes to, like. 99 00:13:48.410 --> 00:13:53.080 Kate Schlott: Using the term medium-sized tree, that was not something we accounted for. 100 00:13:53.080 --> 00:13:53.670 Catherine Alberte: Right. 101 00:13:53.670 --> 00:13:57.249 Kate Schlott: in the ordinance. So I'm… oh, go ahead. 102 00:13:57.250 --> 00:14:15.919 Valerie Monastra: Oh, I was gonna say, I just want to clarify or correct something. So, the 50% replacement is required for all site plan or subdivision applications where you're having tree removal. When you're actually having just the property owner do the tree removal, it doesn't necessarily require 50% of the diameter breast height to be replaced. 103 00:14:15.920 --> 00:14:24.250 Valerie Monastra: But the arborist has the ability to identify, based upon what's being proposed to come down, recommendations for tree replacement. Page 18 of 42 Agenda Item #A. 104 00:14:24.250 --> 00:14:38.570 Valerie Monastra: And that's what the arborist did. So, a lot of times, I think typical caliber inches is somewhere between, like, 4 to 6 inches to start off with for, like, a smaller tree, so they're probably suggesting something a little bit larger than that. 105 00:14:38.570 --> 00:14:58.029 Valerie Monastra: But, you know, I think this board, if you want to, like, provide, you know, if you want to provide a recommendation, or one of the recommendations could be for, especially for the homeowners, just to have the arborist clarify what's the caliber interest that they're looking to, have the homeowner replace with. 106 00:14:58.030 --> 00:14:58.420 Planning Dept.: Yeah, and I. 107 00:14:58.420 --> 00:14:58.899 Kate Schlott: I think they'. 108 00:14:58.900 --> 00:15:03.029 Planning Dept.: There's also… we had, I'm sorry to chime in from outer space, guys. 109 00:15:03.030 --> 00:15:27.889 Planning Dept.: We had also spoken, with the arborist, Gene, about developing a list for us, which I… I don't know at what stage it is in development, that's sort of small trees, medium trees, large trees, and then sort of giving recommendations on, you know, what does best in… in wet soil, or rocky soil, or… or things like that. And that's something, obviously, that's gonna be primarily native species trees, but then also something that could sort of be updated from year to year. 110 00:15:27.890 --> 00:15:40.920 Planning Dept.: Based on, you know, particular conditions of climate and things of that nature. So, Jean's awesome. I'm sure that she would be very happy to assist with just giving you a, you know, a range of things that, you know. 111 00:15:41.560 --> 00:15:51.430 Planning Dept.: in various price ranges and things like that, but also what Valerie was talking about, about, you know, exactly how mature they have to be when you plant them. I think that she can be very helpful with that. 112 00:15:51.800 --> 00:15:59.509 Zaira Franco: Yeah, that would be great, just so I can get a sense of what… what I should be planting. Otherwise, I have no idea what a medium tree is. 113 00:15:59.510 --> 00:16:15.629 Kate Schlott: Yeah, we want something that's going to be good in Westchester County and the soil that we have here. So that would be great. Again, because I'm looking up stuff right now, and just a quick look up, it's looking at things that are, like, 20 to 40 feet high, and I'm not really sure if that's what… 114 Page 19 of 42 Agenda Item #A. 00:16:15.780 --> 00:16:18.669 Kate Schlott: she means by putting in a medium-sized tree, and I think. 115 00:16:18.670 --> 00:16:19.459 Valerie Monastra: Yeah, I think… 116 00:16:19.460 --> 00:16:22.890 Kate Schlott: Verification would definitely be helpful. 117 00:16:23.490 --> 00:16:29.740 Valerie Monastra: I think they wouldn't… I mean, you wouldn't put something like that in there, and that's really, really… those types of trees are very expensive. 118 00:16:29.740 --> 00:16:36.070 Kate Schlott: Yeah, so I just want to, yeah, make sure that we're being realistic on what What we might recommend. 119 00:16:39.350 --> 00:16:44.499 Kate Schlott: That, you know, Nick, did you have any, questions in particular? 120 00:16:44.720 --> 00:16:52.140 Nick Tedrow: Nope, I don't… I appreciate Valerie correcting me, because I just know enough to be dangerous and not say the exact right. 121 00:16:52.140 --> 00:17:02.290 Valerie Monastra: Oh, no, it's just, you know what, because I didn't want the applicant to walk away, or everyone to walk away thinking that, you know, something wasn't met in terms. 122 00:17:02.290 --> 00:17:02.849 Nick Tedrow: No, no. 123 00:17:02.850 --> 00:17:03.770 Valerie Monastra: requirements of the code. 124 00:17:03.770 --> 00:17:07.019 Nick Tedrow: Yeah, I… that wasn't tongue-in-cheek at all, so, yeah. 125 00:17:08.420 --> 00:17:12.290 Catherine Alberte: Based on what we've learned here, it does sound like the application has 126 00:17:12.810 --> 00:17:24.780 Catherine Alberte: Has checked all the correct boxes, and with the additional information you need about the recommendation of what to plant, it sounds like you'd be, you know, in a good spot. 127 Page 20 of 42 Agenda Item #A. 00:17:27.040 --> 00:17:30.850 Zaira Franco: Yeah, I mean, if you guys have… don't need anything else from me. 128 00:17:31.330 --> 00:17:33.740 Zaira Franco: It sounds like we are in a good spot. 129 00:17:35.190 --> 00:17:53.009 Kate Schlott: No, I think at this point, other than the clarification, I think we're good. I think that was what we were waiting for last time, was to just get this letter from the arborist to see what the condition of the trees were. That was what was holding us up before, so now that we have this, and we see what her recommendation is, 130 00:17:53.010 --> 00:18:02.149 Kate Schlott: this is everything that I believe that we needed. So just the clarification on what she means by medium-sized trees, and you should be good to go. 131 00:18:02.470 --> 00:18:03.120 Zaira Franco: Awesome. 132 00:18:03.120 --> 00:18:12.030 Planning Dept.: And I see that we do have the tree removal permit in the system also, which would… I assume is what triggered this conversation in the first place, but just belts and suspenders, I checked, and that's there. 133 00:18:12.320 --> 00:18:19.439 Valerie Monastra: Yes, yes, and it triggered it because, technically, 10 trees falls under the clear-cutting definition. 134 00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:20.299 Kate Schlott: Yeah, true. 135 00:18:20.300 --> 00:18:22.479 Valerie Monastra: required the re, review. 136 00:18:25.660 --> 00:18:26.620 Valerie Monastra: All right. 137 00:18:26.620 --> 00:18:27.420 Kate Schlott: Right. 138 00:18:27.660 --> 00:18:48.659 Valerie Monastra: So, ABC, how do you want to handle, getting that recommendation back to Joe? I mean, I don't think it has to be… if you want, we can do, like, if you want to do an email, and you can send an email to me so that I can send it, you know, that, I think, would suffice for the record, if that's easier, as opposed to having, like, something written, especially with this particular one. Page 21 of 42 Agenda Item #A. 139 00:18:48.660 --> 00:18:54.020 Valerie Monastra: I think this one's pretty straightforward versus maybe a more complicated one in the future. We might… 140 00:18:54.020 --> 00:18:55.169 Valerie Monastra: Need to have something. 141 00:18:55.170 --> 00:18:58.259 Kate Schlott: Yeah, I can send you… I can send you an email, and I'll. 142 00:18:58.260 --> 00:18:58.580 Valerie Monastra: Okay. 143 00:18:58.580 --> 00:19:03.799 Kate Schlott: put, everybody on the email, make sure we're all CC'd, and send that out to you. 144 00:19:03.960 --> 00:19:04.650 Valerie Monastra: Great. 145 00:19:09.470 --> 00:19:10.420 Kate Schlott: Okay. 146 00:19:11.230 --> 00:19:17.220 Kate Schlott: I don't have any further questions for, the applicant. 147 00:19:17.540 --> 00:19:19.360 Kate Schlott: And in that case, yeah. 148 00:19:19.360 --> 00:19:22.170 Zaira Franco: Well, thank you so much, everyone. Great meeting you. Great meeting you all. 149 00:19:22.170 --> 00:19:23.170 Nick Tedrow: Thank you. 150 00:19:23.170 --> 00:19:24.290 Catherine Alberte: One, bye. 151 00:19:25.170 --> 00:19:25.850 Kate Schlott: Bye. 152 00:19:28.640 --> 00:19:29.940 Kate Schlott: Okay. Page 22 of 42 Agenda Item #A. 153 00:19:32.040 --> 00:19:37.250 Kate Schlott: Alright, so I just want to make sure I have my… I had my email open before. Here we go. 154 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:55.749 Kate Schlott: Alright, so let me just… I just want to at least get this email up and going and get it started so I can send this out to you tonight. 155 00:19:57.650 --> 00:20:02.500 Kate Schlott: Okay, and… Alright. 156 00:20:02.670 --> 00:20:04.680 Kate Schlott: How was everybody? 157 00:20:07.080 --> 00:20:14.840 Catherine Alberte: Doing well, I'm… Now moved into the living room with my foot in a cast, so it's… a banker. 158 00:20:14.970 --> 00:20:16.570 Planning Dept.: You're evolving. Okay. 159 00:20:16.570 --> 00:20:18.120 Catherine Alberte: I'm evolving and upgrade. 160 00:20:19.210 --> 00:20:20.239 Planning Dept.: How are you feeling? 161 00:20:21.160 --> 00:20:23.669 Catherine Alberte: Not bad. Bored. I mean, the. 162 00:20:23.670 --> 00:20:24.050 Planning Dept.: Oh. 163 00:20:24.050 --> 00:20:26.190 Catherine Alberte: actual operated foot. 164 00:20:26.390 --> 00:20:32.079 Catherine Alberte: doesn't hurt much at all. It's the rest of my body that has to, like, hop around on one foot. 165 00:20:32.340 --> 00:20:33.279 Planning Dept.: Oh my gosh. 166 00:20:34.070 --> 00:20:38.150 Page 23 of 42 Agenda Item #A. Catherine Alberte: You know, it's a challenge to keep busy, but I found plenty of ways to do it, so… 167 00:20:38.880 --> 00:20:43.659 Catherine Alberte: My husband's doing all the cooking and cleaning and laundry, so… It's great. 168 00:20:44.320 --> 00:20:53.970 Kate Schlott: So I can't, like, send you running around on Earth Day, and, like, having you out from 7 in the morning, and setting… lifting heavy things. 169 00:20:54.890 --> 00:20:58.810 Catherine Alberte: Yeah, I think we won't be able to be weight-bearing until the middle of May. 170 00:20:58.810 --> 00:21:00.180 Kate Schlott: Oh, wow. Okay. 171 00:21:00.180 --> 00:21:00.780 Catherine Alberte: Yeah. 172 00:21:02.510 --> 00:21:07.339 Kate Schlott: I hope you feel… I hope you're feeling good, though, in the meantime, and you recover quickly. 173 00:21:07.340 --> 00:21:11.249 Catherine Alberte: I am, thank you so much. Get all those bones knit together. 174 00:21:13.660 --> 00:21:17.609 Catherine Alberte: And Kate, you… finished your PhD, correct? 175 00:21:18.310 --> 00:21:27.820 Kate Schlott: I wish. It's almost there, it's almost there. I actually did finish writing it, and I have to set my date with the rest of my committee in the next month or so, so it's… 176 00:21:27.820 --> 00:21:28.590 Planning Dept.: It's coming, it's. 177 00:21:28.590 --> 00:21:39.130 Kate Schlott: coming. It's just been a long process. And with the whole plumbing saga I had this past month, it's just been a nightmare. Which… 178 00:21:39.130 --> 00:21:51.390 Kate Schlott: I've actually been using it as an example in my environmental policy class, with some of the struggles of what we go through in updating infrastructure, in very old houses. 179 00:21:51.630 --> 00:21:59.809 Page 24 of 42 Agenda Item #A. Kate Schlott: And sometimes you don't know what you're getting until after you buy the house and your plumbing fails after a snowstorm. 180 00:22:00.470 --> 00:22:01.020 Kate Schlott: Okay. 181 00:22:01.020 --> 00:22:01.639 Catherine Alberte: Oh, God. 182 00:22:02.740 --> 00:22:03.190 Planning Dept.: Awful. 183 00:22:03.570 --> 00:22:10.930 Kate Schlott: Yeah, so it turns out we didn't have a pipe connecting our out… so our outflow pipe wasn't actually connected to 184 00:22:11.260 --> 00:22:17.470 Kate Schlott: a pipe flowing out to the sewer or anything. It was going into a… 185 00:22:17.670 --> 00:22:20.999 Kate Schlott: It went into some sort of a cesspool containment. 186 00:22:21.480 --> 00:22:27.749 Kate Schlott: Thing that was in there, and it was flowing out through, like, kind of like a leaching system instead. 187 00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:28.890 Catherine Alberte: Hmm. 188 00:22:28.890 --> 00:22:35.419 Kate Schlott: So we had to have the whole thing pumped out with a special, septic tank 189 00:22:35.620 --> 00:22:50.339 Kate Schlott: Because there was so much gravel and rock and stuff in it, and they're like, we're not… we can't touch this until it's all pumped. So once they did that, they were able to find the pipe they had to connect to, but it was just… it was a whole… a whole thing. 190 00:22:51.480 --> 00:22:57.059 Kate Schlott: No, but it was, I learned a lot about houses built in the late 19th century. 191 00:22:58.670 --> 00:23:00.899 Catherine Alberte: It's a hard way to learn a lesson. 192 00:23:01.470 --> 00:23:13.470 Page 25 of 42 Agenda Item #A. Kate Schlott: Yeah, yeah, luckily we actually, we have, we had insurance on our external pipes, because… and this was something that I think about now with upgrading things for, you know. 193 00:23:13.580 --> 00:23:18.290 Kate Schlott: New energy policies and things, like… we… 194 00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:37.769 Kate Schlott: we started having a lot of plumbing issues after we moved in, and it was recommended, oh, you know, you should, you know, insure your external pipes just in case. So we did that, and we are so fortunate that we did, because it's actually that insurance that's paying for the majority of the repairs. 195 00:23:38.360 --> 00:23:39.200 Catherine Alberte: Oh, gosh. 196 00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:50.280 Kate Schlott: We don't have an itemized bill yet. I'm hoping we get one soon, but I'm assuming it probably would be somewhere between the range of, like, $40,000 to $50,000. 197 00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:51.150 Planning Dept.: Jeez. 198 00:23:51.150 --> 00:23:52.709 Kate Schlott: All said and done by the end of… 199 00:23:53.410 --> 00:23:54.180 Catherine Alberte: Wow. 200 00:23:57.800 --> 00:23:58.540 Nick Tedrow: No. 201 00:23:58.540 --> 00:24:00.650 Kate Schlott: Being an adult is fun. 202 00:24:00.930 --> 00:24:01.530 Catherine Alberte: Yes. 203 00:24:01.530 --> 00:24:02.740 Nick Tedrow: Roll that right. 204 00:24:03.100 --> 00:24:08.510 Catherine Alberte: But there… but there was a way… you were able to connect to the source… the main source system, that's about. 205 00:24:08.510 --> 00:24:14.450 Page 26 of 42 Agenda Item #A. Kate Schlott: Yeah, yeah, we were able to do it, it's just when it was done back in the day, whoever did it. 206 00:24:14.520 --> 00:24:15.570 Catherine Alberte: wouldn't bother. 207 00:24:15.570 --> 00:24:21.860 Kate Schlott: they did a quick fix, or however it was. We don't know how long it was like that. It's… 208 00:24:22.040 --> 00:24:23.960 Kate Schlott: So it's… we don't know… 209 00:24:24.250 --> 00:24:31.369 Kate Schlott: what the policy or regulations were even back in the day when that was done, so we can't… we can't say either way, so it's… 210 00:24:32.280 --> 00:24:34.629 Kate Schlott: But it was definitely an experience. 211 00:24:36.650 --> 00:24:38.310 Catherine Alberte: You have a very good attitude. 212 00:24:38.310 --> 00:24:44.319 Kate Schlott: I have to. I've learned to just smile at the things I can't control. 213 00:24:44.610 --> 00:24:45.290 Catherine Alberte: Yes. 214 00:24:47.010 --> 00:24:48.380 Catherine Alberte: Some way to keep it going. 215 00:24:48.830 --> 00:24:49.570 Kate Schlott: Yeah. 216 00:24:51.030 --> 00:24:53.190 Valerie Monastra: We had something like that happen to us, too. 217 00:24:53.630 --> 00:25:00.960 Valerie Monastra: So, with a pipe… but it was a little bit different, but it was a pipe that broke. And but it turned out, like, our pipe… 218 00:25:00.990 --> 00:25:17.829 Valerie Monastra: was, like, we had to re-line it and everything, and it was, like, literally 40 feet away from our house before Ken acted into the village's sewer system. So it was, like, a tremendous amount of just, like, relining. Page 27 of 42 Agenda Item #A. 219 00:25:17.830 --> 00:25:19.620 Kate Schlott: Oh, gosh. Oh, doll. 220 00:25:19.620 --> 00:25:25.679 Catherine Alberte: All these stories make me have my fingers crossed. We don't know exactly where our sewer line 221 00:25:25.870 --> 00:25:34.709 Catherine Alberte: coming from the house to the village line actually runs. We had a geothermal system installed in the backyard, which is where the pipe goes. 222 00:25:35.320 --> 00:25:45.169 Catherine Alberte: 4 years ago, 5 years ago, and they had, people out trying to locate the pipe and couldn't find it. We know it's out there somewhere. 223 00:25:45.400 --> 00:25:51.880 Catherine Alberte: But it's, hiding under my husband's garden, so we're just hoping nothing ever happens. 224 00:25:57.350 --> 00:26:02.040 Valerie Monastra: Yeah, there was a lot less thought put into that many years ago when all these things were thrown in. 225 00:26:02.180 --> 00:26:02.820 Kate Schlott: Yeah. 226 00:26:06.020 --> 00:26:06.719 Valerie Monastra: Alright. Alright. 227 00:26:07.050 --> 00:26:11.480 Planning Dept.: Gang, do we have anything else on the agenda for tonight? Any continuing or new business? 228 00:26:12.900 --> 00:26:26.820 Nick Tedrow: I might just like to throw out a topic of conversation, or maybe just a statement for myself, but possibly a topic for conversation people understood. It might not concern Valerie at all, so I wouldn't hold her hostage, but just about, you know… 229 00:26:27.670 --> 00:26:28.680 Nick Tedrow: the… 230 00:26:28.800 --> 00:26:36.149 Nick Tedrow: potential, you know, purpose of some of the things we could be doing with the EAC, you know, in a more global sense. 231 Page 28 of 42 Agenda Item #A. 00:26:36.360 --> 00:26:39.849 Nick Tedrow: So, yeah, I won't hold you hostage, Valerie, that's… 232 00:26:39.850 --> 00:26:57.009 Valerie Monastra: Okay, so I mean, I can… I can… happy to… but if, when you do come up with a list or something like that, you know, happy to take a look at that list, and maybe there's certain things that we already have, or certain things that, like, you know, we could provide you information for, and then you can build on top of, so… 233 00:26:57.010 --> 00:26:57.929 Nick Tedrow: Yeah. Do you think it… 234 00:26:57.930 --> 00:26:58.560 Planning Dept.: It might be… 235 00:26:58.560 --> 00:27:09.030 Nick Tedrow: Yeah, it was just more of just, like, general purpose, or utility of the people, and the skill set, and the fact that, you know, certain 236 00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:18.589 Nick Tedrow: Yeah, just, I guess, to back up a step, just thinking of, you know, my experience with other CACs and communities, and the work I do with the City of New Rochelle, and 237 00:27:18.590 --> 00:27:29.979 Nick Tedrow: Stuff like that, and having conversations with folks who have been prospectively interested in joining the EAC here, but then learning maybe more of, kind of, like, the limited 238 00:27:29.980 --> 00:27:36.060 Nick Tedrow: scope of things we're doing, and being less inclined after that, and I think the dwindling, kind of. 239 00:27:36.730 --> 00:27:48.160 Nick Tedrow: state of our council here, kind of demonstrates that there's, you know, maybe some lost opportunity on the table, by virtue of the EAC being underutilized for 240 00:27:48.160 --> 00:27:59.360 Nick Tedrow: certain things, whether that takes the form… and again, I don't have, like, necessarily an itemized list of things I would throw out there, but whether we were a designated CSC task force and supporting the village and going and doing some of that. 241 00:27:59.360 --> 00:28:06.230 Nick Tedrow: DEC stuff that could be beneficial, you know, for CSC, and, you know, other things that 242 00:28:06.650 --> 00:28:25.180 Nick Tedrow: you know, span the sphere of what other CACs might do, or anything like that. I know we play an important role for certain very specific functions, whether it's the LWRP or whatever else, and now we're Page 29 of 42 Agenda Item #A. doing a lot of tree ordinance reviews, which is great. You know, it would be, I think. 243 00:28:25.220 --> 00:28:28.459 Nick Tedrow: More of an attractive prospect for… 244 00:28:28.460 --> 00:28:45.400 Nick Tedrow: folks who have been considering it that I've talked to, that are outside of, sort of, the, like, the pools that Katie and Kate and I swim in in Green Austin and all of that, who are more on the peripheral of the core environmental group within our community to be more inclined to engage, so… 245 00:28:45.400 --> 00:28:54.950 Nick Tedrow: These are just my, sort of, thoughts and musings about my experience over the last few years, having been on it and having conversations with people about it in my own social network and stuff. 246 00:28:55.230 --> 00:28:56.490 Nick Tedrow: So… 247 00:28:56.490 --> 00:29:13.629 Valerie Monastra: I think you can… you have the ability to take on more and to do more, right? I think a lot of the times you're seeing the applications before this and being put onto the EAC agenda, because those are the applications that we actually have to get your review and approval on. 248 00:29:13.630 --> 00:29:29.419 Valerie Monastra: But you have the ability, like, you know, you were gonna undertake, like, the natural resources inventory, you were also going, you know, you have that ability, like other EACs, if you want to do an education campaign on particular issues, if you want to, like, even just, like, with, like. 249 00:29:29.420 --> 00:29:48.019 Valerie Monastra: you know, work with the arborists to come up with that, like, tree list. Like, there's a number of different things that you have the ability to do, to take on. I mean, even, like, climate-smart communities, I mean, you're more than welcome to, you know, review the point systems, and then if there's particular points that you think that the village 250 00:29:48.020 --> 00:29:57.579 Valerie Monastra: has done, could do, you know, because that also benefits the, you know, the village for potentially being able to get additional grants and stuff like that. So, I mean… 251 00:29:57.640 --> 00:30:09.549 Valerie Monastra: I think… I think it might be good to maybe schedule a time for you to, like, brainstorm as to, like, what kind of work you want to do, and then we can, like I said before, we can help identify 252 00:30:09.550 --> 00:30:32.899 Valerie Monastra: you know, data, resources, you know, even get you started, and then getting you to the point of, like, for example, like what we did with the tree ordinance, right? We put together a draft, and then kind of gave it to you to get feedback and really dive into it, and I think that was, you know, helped you get and help achieve, hopefully help achieve your goals with getting some of those edits and revisions. Page 30 of 42 Agenda Item #A. 253 00:30:33.700 --> 00:30:37.260 Nick Tedrow: Yeah, and I think, you know, not trying to sec… 254 00:30:37.280 --> 00:30:46.939 Nick Tedrow: step out of the bounds of what our prescribed role is, but… and also serve the function of supporting whatever the village's priorities are, I sort of… 255 00:30:46.940 --> 00:31:00.789 Nick Tedrow: come at it from that perspective of thinking, well, you know, I want to, or at least for me personally, you know, be supportive of whatever those priorities from the village are, and I don't know if there's a whole lot of direction, or, you know. 256 00:31:00.790 --> 00:31:07.759 Nick Tedrow: From my own prerogative, again, of what would be, you know, taking on, 257 00:31:08.120 --> 00:31:12.410 Nick Tedrow: you know, as a focus, or that we're getting much of a message, I guess, from that, you know? 258 00:31:13.480 --> 00:31:16.539 Nick Tedrow: In my sense of things, just having… 259 00:31:16.640 --> 00:31:26.780 Nick Tedrow: not much of a… you know, I guess the lived experience of a month-to-month is a pretty much dead silence, and I hear what you're saying, that there's a lot that, you know, can be… 260 00:31:26.910 --> 00:31:37.389 Nick Tedrow: on our own accord, kind of presented, if we want to do research, or whatever, and say, hey, this grant might be good for the village for this reason, or that reason, or whatever, and… and so on and so forth, but. 261 00:31:37.390 --> 00:31:40.230 Kate Schlott: Nick, let me ask you then, 262 00:31:40.680 --> 00:32:00.529 Kate Schlott: after Earth Day planning, because I know this month is very hectic with all of the environmental events that are going on, and then we have Riverkeeper Sweep the first May, first weekend of May. And Katie as well, this is not just meant to… for Nick. Do you want to get together to have a brainstorm session? 263 00:32:00.530 --> 00:32:04.560 Kate Schlott: So that we can start putting together ideas for that. 264 00:32:04.630 --> 00:32:09.870 Kate Schlott: Because I think that, I think, you know, would be helpful, and then we can start tackling Page 31 of 42 Agenda Item #A. 265 00:32:10.130 --> 00:32:16.060 Kate Schlott: some of what, you know, what Valerie's saying and what you're bringing up, I think this could be a great way to… 266 00:32:16.680 --> 00:32:22.000 Kate Schlott: Start maybe addressing those gaps and putting us in a better position moving forward. 267 00:32:22.390 --> 00:32:34.909 Nick Tedrow: Yeah, I mean, that sounds perspectively good. I mean, you're… part of what preempts this is, you know, I know you're off the board now, you know, after this coming year, so then we're a band of, well, 3, I guess. 268 00:32:34.910 --> 00:32:44.950 Kate Schlott: for a year! I'm happy to come back. Like, it's not to say I don't want to give the impression, like, oh, I'm never gonna work with you guys ever again. No, I… it's… part of it is… is I've reached my term limit. 269 00:32:44.950 --> 00:32:47.770 Nick Tedrow: No, I don't understand that. I'm not suggesting you're abandoning us. 270 00:32:47.770 --> 00:32:49.669 Kate Schlott: I'm not abandoning anyone! 271 00:32:49.670 --> 00:32:52.249 Nick Tedrow: I know, it's just a reality, a factual reality. 272 00:32:52.760 --> 00:32:53.710 Kate Schlott: Fortunately. 273 00:32:53.710 --> 00:32:54.190 Nick Tedrow: But I… 274 00:32:54.190 --> 00:33:01.429 Kate Schlott: I want to make sure that the Council is left in a good position, so that whatever is happening at that time 275 00:33:01.820 --> 00:33:20.330 Kate Schlott: you… the council is good to go moving forward with whoever's there, and whatever is… is on the table. So, like, I… and I'm… I'm always here to provide support, in any way that I can. And when my year is up and I have to take my break, and if you want to have me back, you know, I'm happy to come back. 276 00:33:20.330 --> 00:33:29.410 Kate Schlott: But, you know, that's definitely, I think, something that if we have those brainstorm sessions now, while you have a good 6-7 months before. Page 32 of 42 Agenda Item #A. 277 00:33:29.540 --> 00:33:36.620 Kate Schlott: I'm leaving, we can… we can set something up that could be… Success… successful. 278 00:33:37.210 --> 00:33:46.800 Nick Tedrow: Yeah, and I'm just putting out there as a conversation, it's not necessarily… I'm certainly not being accusatory towards any of us individually here within this call, or necessarily the village either, it's just… 279 00:33:46.800 --> 00:33:47.310 Kate Schlott: Yeah. 280 00:33:47.310 --> 00:33:51.950 Nick Tedrow: you know, I think about this for myself with my term ending at the end of the year, like, what is… 281 00:33:52.350 --> 00:33:57.359 Nick Tedrow: You know, important to have conversations now about maybe what we could be doing, you know. 282 00:33:57.360 --> 00:34:14.729 Nick Tedrow: more if it's… if it's important for any of us individually, but also anybody, prospectively we might be trying to encourage to participate, especially since right now, it looks like we're just losing one member, at least, and not gaining any, and… and so, I think there's just, yeah. 283 00:34:14.730 --> 00:34:28.159 Kate Schlott: nudge some people, too. There are people that I've spoken to over the last few years that express interest, and I'm gonna continue to nudge them. But I think it's also, like, you know, what we're all feeling is… 284 00:34:28.530 --> 00:34:41.920 Kate Schlott: with a lot of grant funding being taken away, a lot of things, the difficulties of being in environmental fields right now, there's just a lot of stress going around and limited resources and bandwidth that people have, so it's, you know, I… 285 00:34:41.920 --> 00:34:42.560 Valerie Monastra: Love. 286 00:34:42.699 --> 00:34:55.329 Valerie Monastra: We'll keep hoping. I mean, one thing you might want to… I mean, from my perspective, things that I think are really… I mean, it seems minor, but, you know, in terms of the population in Ossining, I do think, you know. 287 00:34:55.330 --> 00:35:08.139 Valerie Monastra: something about urban tree canopy, I think, is something that's really, you know, you see more of it, disappearing, you know, and I think that, you know, with, like, with so much of, like, climate Page 33 of 42 Agenda Item #A. change and heat islands and stuff like that. 288 00:35:08.140 --> 00:35:18.819 Valerie Monastra: So, like, really looking at maybe some of those aspects, or how to create, like, a little bit more of, like, that urban canopy, but then also, I think a lot of people don't understand about invasive species. 289 00:35:18.820 --> 00:35:31.650 Valerie Monastra: You know, and understanding, like, when to identify as ancient species, or even just cutting of vines, and some simple things like that. Like, people just don't… people don't even know, like, they're even… they should be doing that. Like, the amount… the fact that… 290 00:35:31.740 --> 00:35:38.910 Valerie Monastra: I have a neighbor who has vines all the time on the trees, and I'm always cutting them, and I'm like, you're supposed to cut these things, right? 291 00:35:38.910 --> 00:35:40.280 Kate Schlott: Yeah. 292 00:35:40.280 --> 00:35:43.770 Valerie Monastra: But also, between that, and then also just the fact that, like. 293 00:35:43.770 --> 00:36:04.190 Valerie Monastra: you know, there's a lot to be said now with, like, pushing for, like, trying to do… not even just native plantings, but how do you turn some of your lawn area into a native garden, which can become a habitat of its own? So, I mean, these are just things, like, in terms of just Austin in general, things that I see, you know, even when we were looking at site plan reviews and stuff like that, it's just that people… 294 00:36:04.190 --> 00:36:05.230 Kate Schlott: This… and this doesn't 295 00:36:05.960 --> 00:36:17.920 Kate Schlott: other things that the EAC would have to potentially address in the future, because this does come into conflict with some of the ordinances that we do have. And these could be things where, you know, we have to update ordinances. 296 00:36:17.920 --> 00:36:20.500 Valerie Monastra: Exactly, exactly. 297 00:36:20.570 --> 00:36:26.339 Kate Schlott: Right. You know, so this might be a great way to identify ways that the EAC could 298 00:36:26.660 --> 00:36:44.680 Kate Schlott: could do those things in an active way, rather than being reactive and it coming at a cost of something happening before we do something. And since I'll be, I'll have a lot more free time after mid-May, this could be something that, Page 34 of 42 Agenda Item #A. 299 00:36:44.780 --> 00:36:47.580 Kate Schlott: Could be fun in keeping me occupied. 300 00:36:47.580 --> 00:36:50.059 Nick Tedrow: Well, Kay and don't take it the wrong way or anything about it. 301 00:36:50.060 --> 00:36:50.810 Kate Schlott: Oh, no, no, no! 302 00:36:52.500 --> 00:37:00.439 Catherine Alberte: So if you want to… oh, I was going to say, if you want to have a brainstorming session, I'm totally on board with that idea. I think these are some great ideas. 303 00:37:00.440 --> 00:37:01.030 Kate Schlott: Yeah. 304 00:37:01.030 --> 00:37:12.179 Nick Tedrow: Yeah, and I just wanna… I am coming at it from the purpose of, like, I'd love for there to be more symbiosis, I guess, between the community level, us, and then the village board and staff, to the extent that 305 00:37:12.660 --> 00:37:13.780 Nick Tedrow: where… 306 00:37:13.780 --> 00:37:37.479 Nick Tedrow: and maybe Earth Day's a good way to, like, get feedback from people if we have very limited purposes there, getting feedback. What do you care about the most, if you're a Village of Austin resident or whatever, and what are the things that the EAC should be thinking about? And then, you know, from the top end to, like, whatever the village is working on, obviously, we get looped into, but if, certainly, obviously, it would be great if there was a lot of intentionality around that, which, not to say there isn't, but, you know, as much as we're able to… 307 00:37:37.640 --> 00:37:42.600 Nick Tedrow: Kind of, like, you know, make that connection and… the… 308 00:37:42.780 --> 00:37:53.269 Nick Tedrow: I don't know. I spend my time here, I want to, you know, volunteer my time in a way that's most useful, and I think everyone feels the same way, so, you know, that's all that is. 309 00:37:53.270 --> 00:38:03.449 Planning Dept.: Well, I can just add one thing, sort of, like, from the village administration perspective, which is, you know, we did a lot of, 310 00:38:03.460 --> 00:38:20.909 Page 35 of 42 Agenda Item #A. Planning Dept.: clean energy community, you know, grant gets, sort of early on in that program. And climate smart communities was something that the village had intended to do in partnership with the town, and then, you know, due to a lot of the village projects really picking up speed at the same time, the town kind of had to go on without us. 311 00:38:20.910 --> 00:38:24.060 Planning Dept.: So I would be… 312 00:38:24.280 --> 00:38:33.939 Planning Dept.: welcoming of any, you know, additional support in trying to resurrect the climate-smart communities, because I think bronze certification, you know, we've probably already earned it. 313 00:38:33.940 --> 00:38:34.810 Nick Tedrow: Not enough already. 314 00:38:34.810 --> 00:38:35.860 Planning Dept.: Documented, right? 315 00:38:35.860 --> 00:38:37.500 Nick Tedrow: You can make the points and submit them, yeah. 316 00:38:37.500 --> 00:38:56.129 Planning Dept.: Yeah, so, I mean, I think that the first thing was coming up with, I forget what they call it, it's something like the Green Task Force, or something like that. You know, I could use some assistance, not only, you know, having some ideas about what to tackle next, but also some other hands on deck. 317 00:38:56.130 --> 00:38:59.909 Planning Dept.: So I think this conversation is well-timed. 318 00:38:59.910 --> 00:39:06.849 Valerie Monastra: Right, and if you would like me to participate or help, part of that brainstorming session, I mean, I'm familiar with the Climate Smart Communities. 319 00:39:06.850 --> 00:39:31.799 Valerie Monastra: like, I'm familiar with a number of these things, or even if you talk about certain data, I'm familiar with where to pull the data. I mean, we work on… we do, like, natural resources inventories, open space plans, like, and I also know what other communities have done, right? Because I've worked with their other EACs and stuff like that. So, I mean, this is just so that, you know, I can, you know, and I also know that we're working to update some of the zoning, and some of it is, like, you know, trying to tackle a little bit 320 00:39:31.800 --> 00:39:40.510 Valerie Monastra: more of, like, some of the lighting and landscaping issues and stuff like that, so that might be something that, you know, you also might want to weigh in or become involved 321 00:39:40.860 --> 00:39:43.430 Valerie Monastra: Develop a best manage… best practices, sort of. Page 36 of 42 Agenda Item #A. 322 00:39:43.430 --> 00:39:53.480 Kate Schlott: Not for nothing. Invasive species was an idea that Stuart threw out maybe, like, a year and a half ago to me at one point, so these are definitely… 323 00:39:54.390 --> 00:40:01.379 Kate Schlott: to consider. Yeah. And I know we also have to do the update for our wetlands ordinance, too, because New York State 324 00:40:01.490 --> 00:40:02.469 Kate Schlott: If I'm not mistaken. 325 00:40:02.470 --> 00:40:05.670 Valerie Monastra: So, we… we started moving on that already. 326 00:40:05.670 --> 00:40:05.990 Kate Schlott: Okay. 327 00:40:05.990 --> 00:40:16.880 Valerie Monastra: Cool, cool. Because we have the wetlands, the villages wetlands Consultant, is assisting with us in reviewing that and making those edits. 328 00:40:16.880 --> 00:40:34.110 Valerie Monastra: So that it reflects the new New York State regulations. So it's less… I'm gonna say, I mean, you're more than… I mean, we'll say… you're clearly gonna get sent the edits, but it's less of, like, making wholesale changes and just making sure that it's consistent with, like, the New York State regulations. 329 00:40:34.880 --> 00:40:35.800 Kate Schlott: That sounds good. 330 00:40:37.050 --> 00:40:53.620 Nick Tedrow: Yeah, thanks for the comments, everybody. And yeah, Maddie, the reason I even brought up CSC, it's a, you know, we would need… I think the EAC, that would be smart if we were designated as the CSC Task Force, which is, I think, what you're referencing for, like, 20 points. So now that I'm… I'm working for the City of New Rochelle now in a sustainability role, and getting together… 331 00:40:53.620 --> 00:40:54.780 Planning Dept.: Congratulations! 332 00:40:54.780 --> 00:40:55.879 Nick Tedrow: Yeah, thank you, I left. 333 00:40:55.880 --> 00:40:56.390 Planning Dept.: Awesome! Page 37 of 42 Agenda Item #A. 334 00:40:56.980 --> 00:41:13.329 Nick Tedrow: a little while back, so I'm, like, compiling all the documentation because they've done enough to be silver certified, but just no one's really tracking it, and it's pretty straightforward. Like, you know, I know the village of Ossing, we've done the climate vulnerability assessment, we've done a lot of things that account for a lot of things, the solar on the… 335 00:41:13.330 --> 00:41:28.520 Nick Tedrow: the operations center, that's Community Solar Project, like, there's tons of points out there, like, you know, the village might be silver, you know, certified at this point. So, yeah, coming at it from the perspective, like, we could, you know, put ourselves to use maybe in a lot of different ways, and if it's. 336 00:41:28.520 --> 00:41:33.060 Kate Schlott: We can get the grunt work done that needs to… that needs to happen. 337 00:41:33.620 --> 00:41:35.819 Planning Dept.: Yeah, and you know, look, you know. 338 00:41:35.950 --> 00:41:45.380 Planning Dept.: hope springs eternal, right? Like, a lot of, you know, what we talked about last time, you know, pendulum swing, and grant funding comes and goes. Like… 339 00:41:45.510 --> 00:41:54.819 Planning Dept.: there will be a day again where this will be of primary interest, because we simply don't have a choice for it not to be. So, I think, you know, getting… 340 00:41:54.820 --> 00:42:12.770 Planning Dept.: getting, you know, everything teed up for when those opportunities come around isn't a bad idea, but even if those opportunities don't come around in the foreseeable future, I think it's important that we sort of demonstrate to the community that this is something that is top of mind, and, you know, at the same time as we're doing things to help folks 341 00:42:12.770 --> 00:42:31.309 Planning Dept.: you know, with their bottom line and transportation and things like that, we also have, you know, our eye on, you know, the environment, which, you know, without which, we have none of these things. So, I think there's room for all of it, and like I said, I welcome, you know, any and all, you know, comments, support, and guidance. 342 00:42:31.860 --> 00:42:36.409 Kate Schlott: all of what you said all ties into the environment. So… 343 00:42:36.660 --> 00:42:45.089 Kate Schlott: Whether it's transportation, housing, all that, it all does tie in, whether we see it on the surface or not. 344 00:42:45.280 --> 00:42:46.960 Page 38 of 42 Agenda Item #A. Kate Schlott: It's all interconnected. 345 00:42:47.830 --> 00:42:49.239 Valerie Monastra: Yes, it is. 346 00:42:49.240 --> 00:42:49.770 Kate Schlott: M. 347 00:42:50.490 --> 00:43:06.359 Nick Tedrow: And the CSC is a good, you know, given what we're saying about opportunities, particularly at the federal level, you know, the DEC's, gonna be funding things annually through CSC, because that's such a big priority, and there's always going to be annually rounds of different grants available and stuff, so strengthening the villages. 348 00:43:06.360 --> 00:43:19.570 Nick Tedrow: Standing there with bronze or silver certification only stands to put us in a better position to, win grants and win, you know, higher award grants and so on and so forth, and, you know, that's a reinforcing effect there as well. 349 00:43:19.570 --> 00:43:27.399 Nick Tedrow: Yeah, I'm… I'm interested in talking about that, or, you know, more kind of, like, individualized, specified things that, you know, 350 00:43:27.450 --> 00:43:32.530 Nick Tedrow: If we want to talk about tree canopies and things like that, you know, it's all important, but 351 00:43:32.790 --> 00:43:37.150 Nick Tedrow: Yeah, I just felt like I needed to throw it out there at the time with Kate. 352 00:43:37.150 --> 00:43:53.169 Kate Schlott: follow up in May's meeting, and if anything, if we're not meeting in May, we'll still follow up and schedule a time to do some brainstorming, the three of us, and if Jennifer can make it, Jennifer as well, and we can come up with the list and go from there. 353 00:43:54.230 --> 00:43:55.230 Catherine Alberte: Sounds great. 354 00:43:55.390 --> 00:43:55.970 Kate Schlott: Yeah. 355 00:43:58.150 --> 00:44:00.390 Nick Tedrow: Well, thanks, everyone, for listening to mine. 356 00:44:00.580 --> 00:44:01.090 Nick Tedrow: Thank you. Page 39 of 42 Agenda Item #A. 357 00:44:01.090 --> 00:44:02.300 Kate Schlott: Thank you for bringing it up. 358 00:44:04.720 --> 00:44:12.190 Kate Schlott: Alright, I don't have any new business to bring up. Is there anything, Katie, that you would like to bring up before? 359 00:44:12.190 --> 00:44:16.510 Catherine Alberte: No, I just want to congratulate Nick for bringing that up. Useful. 360 00:44:17.200 --> 00:44:25.750 Nick Tedrow: Yeah, and Valerie, we should rely on you. I've seen you at other… in my prior job, you've probably not noticed me, but I'd see you at, like, Town of Lewisboro meetings, or other 361 00:44:26.130 --> 00:44:29.739 Nick Tedrow: You know, talking about various things, so I'm, I'm, 362 00:44:29.880 --> 00:44:33.009 Nick Tedrow: From the sidelines, familiar with your expertise on a few things. 363 00:44:33.380 --> 00:44:37.369 Valerie Monastra: Yeah, so, Ralph, just feel free to reach out. 364 00:44:37.370 --> 00:44:39.220 Planning Dept.: Whoa, fan club! 365 00:44:39.220 --> 00:44:39.940 Kate Schlott: No. 366 00:44:41.010 --> 00:44:41.980 Nick Tedrow: Hello, Valerie fans. 367 00:44:41.980 --> 00:44:42.780 Planning Dept.: Love it! 368 00:44:43.740 --> 00:44:46.480 Planning Dept.: Valerie's fan club is, is, is robust. 369 00:44:47.390 --> 00:44:49.029 Nick Tedrow: Wow. I believe it. 370 00:44:49.710 --> 00:44:54.519 Page 40 of 42 Agenda Item #A. Valerie Monastra: I'm glad… I'm glad New Rochelle finally has the Sustainability Director, so… 371 00:44:54.520 --> 00:44:56.880 Nick Tedrow: Oh, I wish I was a director, just a coordinator right now. 372 00:44:56.880 --> 00:44:58.060 Valerie Monastra: Yeah, coordinator. 373 00:44:58.060 --> 00:45:06.330 Nick Tedrow: I was the director of my last job, and I'm down at the bottom of the pecking order now in the city of New Rochelle, but maybe one day, if things go well enough. 374 00:45:08.870 --> 00:45:14.090 Kate Schlott: Alright, well then, in, in that case, I'm… we are cl… 375 00:45:14.390 --> 00:45:25.999 Kate Schlott: closing out our meeting for the Environmental Advisory Council for April 7th, 2026, and I will see everyone, next month, and we'll follow up with 376 00:45:26.210 --> 00:45:28.109 Kate Schlott: That brainstorm session. 377 00:45:28.470 --> 00:45:29.960 Planning Dept.: And don't forget about Earth Day! 378 00:45:29.960 --> 00:45:37.089 Kate Schlott: An Earth Day! Yes, and Earth Day! Maddie, I will email you in the morning and let you know whether we need a separate booth. 379 00:45:37.310 --> 00:45:38.160 Planning Dept.: Wahoo! 380 00:45:38.470 --> 00:45:40.929 Kate Schlott: Alright, but we will definitely be there regardless. 381 00:45:40.930 --> 00:45:41.690 Planning Dept.: Sweet. 382 00:45:41.980 --> 00:45:42.610 Kate Schlott: Alright. 383 00:45:42.610 --> 00:45:45.080 Planning Dept.: All right. Thanks, everybody. Have a good rest of the week. Page 41 of 42 Agenda Item #A. 384 00:45:45.080 --> 00:45:45.430 Kate Schlott: Nate. 385 00:45:45.430 --> 00:45:46.810 Catherine Alberte: And not everybody. 386 00:45:46.810 --> 00:45:47.650 Planning Dept.: Bye. Page 42 of 42