Southtowns Record

EC 10.15.26 DRAFT

Government
Town of West Seneca
Board
Environmental Commission
Meeting
Oct 15, 2026, 6:30 p.m.
Posted by publisher
Oct 30, 2026
Kind
Minutes
Topics
Roads and traffic, Budget and taxes

Original document

Same meeting

Motions and votes

Copied word for word from these minutes. Who moved and seconded, the tally and the roll call appear only where the minutes state them. Picked out automatically: the minutes themselves are the record. All votes for this government.

  1. Motion by Mr. Wyeth, seconded by Vice Chairperson Szablewski, to approve the Environmental Commission meeting minutes from September 17, 2026. • Ayes: All Noes: None Abstain: None Motion: Passed

    Carried unanimously · Moved by Mr. Wyeth, seconded by Vice Chairperson Szablewski

    Page 1 of the minutes, motion 1

1 routine motion (minutes, bills, agenda, adjournment…)
  1. Motion by Vice Chairperson Szablewski, seconded by Ms. Lakomski, to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 PM. • Ayes: All Noes: None Abstain: None Motion: Passed

    Carried unanimously · Moved by Vice Chairperson Szablewski, seconded by Ms. Lakomski

    Page 3 of the minutes, motion 2

Text · page 2 of 4

Read the whole document on one page (all 4 pages, each with its own heading)

o Robert Amadon presented the presentation from October 2025 entitled “Town of West
  Seneca Grant for a Tree Inventory and Community Forest Management Plan”, for
  background information.
  ▪ Grant implemented in 2023; delayed until December 2024. In spring of 2025, DRG
  Resource Group (DRG) was chosen; August 2025, grant kickoff meeting between
  Town, DRG, and regional foresters from NYSDEC. Inventory began mid-August
  2025 focusing on Town right of way (ROW). Grant funds dependent on completion
  of work and quarterly status reports.
  ▪ Mr. Wyeth asked how the Town determined the Right-of-Way (ROW) on Town
  owned streets and wondered if the lack of sidewalk was considered. A member of
  the public was also concerned about trees being planted in ROW vs outside.
  ▪ Councilmember Robertson said the ROW is an average of 30 feet from center of a
  Town Road on either side (60 feet total).
  ▪ Jim Jenkins (DRG) said that during data collection, they use digital parcel mapping
  info which allows them to see the ROW boundary. That is also in the Tree Keeper
  program. (It is important to note that DRG provided the Tree Keeper program and
  data collected to the Town at the completion of the tree inventory.)
  ▪ They also use a measuring tool to mark each individual parcel to give rough
  approximation of how many feet wide the ROW is. Typically, it is 60 feet, which is
  30 feet on either side of centerline. This let them know which trees were and were
  not in the ROW during field survey.
  ▪ Mr. Wyeth asked if soil type and condition were considered for tree planting
  locations. Chairperson Amadon said the Town would need to know this
  information. Jim said when they do tree inventory, they look at parameters of
  locations for tree planting and base recommendations on those parameters in
  context of small, medium, and large mature-growing trees. Data indicates if there
  is an available vacant area for a tree. Conditions (soil and depth) are important, but
  it’s imperative that correct species are chosen for planting which are amenable to
  the available space and soil conditions.
  ▪ A member of the public asked if DRG found butternut trees during inventory. Jim
  showed database on a screenshare. Jim Jenkins showed the Tree Keeper map on
  the screen and three butternuts were found. A member of the public asked which
  streets they were on. The butternuts were on Holland Avenue (one tree), and
  Manhassett Street (two trees). The two trees on Manhassett Street were
  confirmed to be the ones the member of the public was aware of.
o Robert Amadon presented a presentation entitled “The 10 20 30 Rule” for additional
  information as this is referenced in the presentation from DRG.
o Jim Jenkins of DRG Resource Group (DRG) presented his presentation entitled “Town of
  West Seneca Tree Inventory Summary”
o Robert Amadon presented a presentation entitled “Use of Tree Keeper Data by the Town of
  West Seneca Highway Department”, which included input from Brian Adams, Highway
  Superintendent.
o Questions and Answers.
  ▪ Mr. Wyeth asked about potential budget allocation concerns for large trees only.
  Was wondering if larger trees may not be in the budget because of size, equipment
  needed, time, etc. Jim Jenkins stated that the benefits of large trees over their
  lifetime outweighs the maintenance of the tree. Individual trees, over their lifespan,
  provide more benefits than the costs to maintain them.