MINUTES FROM APRIL MEETING:
In attendance were Valerie Rockney, Jeff Gilmore, Pat Evans, Lisa Ripperton, Kevin Carruthers, Steve Nicholson, Peter Bardaglio, Klaus Paasche, Francis Vanek, Fred Schoeps
Talk About: Our second Talk-About was about EVII committees and what our bylaws say about committees and work groups. We reviewed the section in the bylaws about committees and work groups - Article Five: Committees and Working Groups. We subsequently talked about the Land Partnership and Built Environment committees.
Jeff Gilmore shared about the Built Environment committee. Along with Jeff, currently Steve Gaarder, Bill Goodman, Sue Wolf and Lenore Ferrill serve on the committee. This committee serves two organizations: EVII and the Village Association dealing with 'build' as it relates not only to the EVII land but also the Village and neighborhood lands. This allows for a holistic approach. The committee makes recommendations and each board then makes decisions based on those recommendations. The Built Environment committee has served to make recommendations related to building the third neighborhood, relocating the water system up the hill, recommending road remediations, reviewing lease holder requests related to development, etc..
Valerie Rockney shared about the Land Partnership committee. Members on the committee include Tony Henderson, Lisa Ripperton, Pat Evans, Valerie Rockney, Terry Hadley, Pat Pingle, Kevin Carruthers. The committee serves a dual purpose advising both the Village Association and EVII as it relates to land use and management. Some of the many activities that Land Partnership has been involved with include: planting native and useful trees and shrubs (over 100 trees), north woods stewardship, educational events (e.g., with Akiva Silver), tree planting led by Tony Henderson, stewardship of trail system, cleanup over the years, mapping of property, inventories of trees and animals, survey of the forest, etc.. Land Partnership gets ca $1000 funding from VA. Question raised is how EVII may be able to contribute financially in the future, e.g., through member donations, through fundraising events.
We discussed the role Land Partnership played and can play in the future in terms of agriculture on the land in context of Groundswell, West Haven, Kestrel Perch, in terms of experiments such as Shangri La, future projects such as a demonstration permaculture garden for others in the region.
We concluded that an Envisioning Process to engage members and villagers as a starting point for revisiting strategic use of the land. What are the priorities for the land? What guiding policies make sense now? What permaculture principles could/should be applied? What is the implication of the conservation deed in place with the Finger Lakes Land Trust over 50 acres? What additional perennial good crops make sense in context of self reliance? Are there any burning souls among membership or villagers to lead future agricultural endeavors?
We will invite Andy Zepp and/or Chris Olney, the director of stewardship to share with us current and future FLLT directions to one of our future meetings. (Lead: Fred S.)
Practically speaking what guides us now in context of a master plan? We are designated in terms of land zoning as a PDZ - planned developmnet zone and previously had been known as a special land use district. We need to locate what had been put in place as it relates to these designations.
Request to access documents by members. We will make these available on line. Maps created in the past will also be gathered.
How best do we go about long range planning? Need to think Vision vs. End state; directional vs. end game. Importance of flexibility. The board members will bring forward a plan for how we might proceed and review it at our next meeting in May. Of course all members are encouraged to share possible methods/processes as part of our conversation at the next meeting.
Old Business:
Minutes - approved
Communication - this blog was put in place since our March meeting. Will continue to enhance usefulness; next step is links to documents so that members may review them for themselves. We've continued to send emails to members inviting participation and to bring forward suggestions, requests, issues, propose events, etc..
Board Member status: We have reached out to some potential non-resident board members; are still seeking two non-resident members.
New Business:
Culvert Requests - West Haven Farm and Groundswell have requested the installation of a culvert for accessing in the first case the greenhouse in the second case the incubator farm off of Helen's way. Reviewed and discussed by all attending. Motion made to allow West Haven Farm and Groundswell to install a culvert as described and to be overseen by Built Environment - lead: Jeff Gilmore. Passed.
Camping Request on EVII land at West end of property beyond Song neighborhood - Elan Shapiro sent email outlining request dated 4/22/15. Group discussed legal, insurance, precedence ramifications as well as sponsorship of such a request on the part of a neighborhood, length of stay, work exchange and why not a request to use existing camp sites vs. a new location. No decision was made; tabled until May meeting with the understanding that sponsorship by a neighborhood or inter-neighborhood group sponsorship should be in place first; second alternatives to house the individual for which this request was made be thoughtfully discussed by the sponsoring group and then if needed a request for EVII land use be made. No Motion made.
Annual Meeting - have concluded we are not ready before July to hold such a meeting.
NYS Mandated Bylaws - Fred will contact David Kay who had previously gathered information as to what is needed. Our understanding is that it should be do-able with boiler plate like inserts.
2015 Events - None at this time. We should consider another members get together like we had earlier this year and include annual meeting business.
Action Items:
Jeff and Francis will continue outreach to neighbors for possible candidates for board
Fred will request David Kay to provide information related to NYS mandated bylaw requirements
Fred will contact Andy Zepp and invite FLLT to a briefing at EcoVillage about FLLT and our role in context of our conservation deeded land.
Jeff will seek to get electronic versions of previously developed maps of the property for access by all members.
