A Meeting of the Energy & Environment Working Group (“Group”) of Western New York Coalition for Progress (“Coalition”) was held on January 8, 2007, at 7:30 PM at JP Bullfeathers Restaurant, 1010 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, New York. The following members were present in person: Steve Rao, Rachel Brancato, Robert Matecki, Jan Barton, Jenny Gnanendran, Nelson Starr, Christa Vidaver, Alan Bedenko, Don Sleight, Christina Falsone, Ruth Starr, Andrew Jennings, David Schmahl, Melissa Golpl and Mark Poloncarz. Steve Rao acted as chairman, and Mark Poloncarz acted as secretary of the meeting.

The Chairman opened the meeting and discussed the informed the attendees about the rules of the working group approving proposed items. Mark Poloncarz noted that the working group is just one group of others that the Coalition, and that any major proposal of the Group must first be approved by the Group, and then approved by the Board of Directors of the Coalition (“Board”) before any action can be taken.

Jan Barton then began a discussion issues related to the Zoar Valley in Cattaraugus County (“Valley”). She noted that she intended to bring a speaker to the meeting, Albert Brown of the “Friends of the Ancient Forest,” but that he had to cancel. Jan then discussed that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (“DEC”) had issued a proposal to manage the Valley, and that she objected to the plan. The plan can be found on the web at http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dlf/publands/ump/reg9/zoarump.pdf. She passed out to all in attendance a letter she wrote to the DEC objecting to the plan.

She noted that she was told that the comments received by the DEC to the plan had been pro-logging, and that she did not believe that could be the case. She noted she was against all logging and wanted to send a freedom of information law (“FOIL”) request to the DEC to get copies of the public comments to the plan. She stated she did not want to send a FOIL request herself, but that she thought the Coalition could do so instead.

At this point a number of attendees asked Jan what it was that she really wanted to accomplish. Melissa Golpl asked whether Jan wanted to get a more thorough environmental impact statement. Nelson Starr questioned whether what she was looking for was a re-evaluation of the Valley plan by the DEC. Mark Poloncarz questioned whether any consensus could be reached on the matter. Jenny Gnanendran noted that as someone who works in the environmental field that there is no consensus on the issue and that she is not certain she could agree on one specific point. Mark Poloncarz then asked Jan if she had asked the DEC for copies of the public’s comments to the plan, and Jan said she had not. Mark noted that the Coalition should not be making any FOIL requests until we find out whether the DEC has publicly released the public comments. Other members agreed and Jan said she would contact the DEC to see if the public comments to the plan have been released and inform the members of the Group about what she finds.

The Chairman then asked Jenny Gnanendran to present an update on the “Green Roofs” proposal. Green Roofs is a program where trees, grass and other vegetation is planted on top of buildings which helps lower the cost to heat or cool a building, and also helps the environment. Jenny passed around a book to the attendees that showed how the concept was applied elsewhere. She noted that once her proposal was complete she would like to approach a local school(s) with the implementing the idea in WNY. She also noted that a power-point presentation could be prepared by the Coalition and presented before local school districts. She noted that she was still putting together the project’s details and would report back at the next Group meeting.

The Chairman then asked Jenny to give an update on the effort to get big box retailers to reduce their stores temperatures by 1 degree. Jenny noted that she has the data assembled and now just needs to put the information together and propose it to the Group at the next meeting.

The Chairman then discussed the possibility of the Group hosting a movie screening and discussion on a topic related to the Group. He proposed screening the documentary the “End of Suburbia,” a movie about America’s oil dependency. The Group discussed the possibility of holding such an event, which was positively received. Steve agreed to find out more about the movie and locations for holding it. Christa Vidaver suggested the “Screening Room” in Amherst, where the Coalition held the “Wal-Mart Movie” and panel discussion, and Steve agreed to check into its availability. Alan Bedenko noted that the Coalition would have to pay at least $50 to hold an event at the Screening Room, but we could ask for a nominal donation from attendees.

Nelson Starr then began a discussion about setting a protocol for preparing an agenda for future meetings. He stated that we need to devote time on the agenda only to actionable items and prepare an agenda accordingly. Rachel Brancato noted anybody wishing to have something placed on the agenda must present it to her or Steven Rao at least one (1) week before the meeting. After some discussion, and upon the motion of Nelson Starr, seconded by Christa Vidaver, it was unanimously

RESOLVED, that any member wishing to present an issue before the Group must present the issue to the Group’s co-chairs Steven Rao and Rachel Brancato at least one (1) week before each meeting and that only items in which some action can be taken at the meeting will presented on each agenda.

The Group then decided to hold its next meeting on February 5, 2007 at 7:30 pm at JP Bullfeathers.

There being no other items before the Group, and upon the motion of Jenny Gnanendran, seconded by Mark Poloncarz, the meeting was adjourned.

Dated: Buffalo, New York
January 8, 2007

Mark Poloncarz, Secretary