Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board
Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board, established by the Steuben County Legislature, includes five active farmers, one agribusiness person, and ex officio members, as required by New York State Agriculture and Markets Law. The board advises the Legislature regarding Agricultural District Reviews and leads the effort to implement the Steuben County Agricultural Development and Expansion Plan that was approved in December 2001. The board also reviews Notices of Intent for the reasonableness of proposed actions in Agricultural Districts that involve government funds or acquisition of land by a government. The board may also ask the New York State Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets to review state agency rules and regulations that affect farming in Agricultural Districts. Steuben County has a right to farm law and the Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board is sometimes called upon to mediate disagreements between farmers and their neighbors as outlined in the law.
Members
Terms ending 12/31/13:
Andrew Merry, 8507 Canaseraga Rd., Arkport, NY 14807
Ken Ward, MJ Ward and Sons, PO Box 747, Bath, NY 14810
Terms ending 12/31/14:
William Brown, 9230 W. Waneta Lake Rd., Hammondsport NY 14840; Chairman
Patricia Rice Gurecki, 126 W. Williams St., Bath NY 14810
Terms ending 12/31/15
Robert V. Nichols, 743 Thompson Rd., Addison NY, 14801
Mike Slayton, 7195 County Route 27, Hornell NY 14843
Ex-officio members:
Chairman, Soil and Water Conservation District Board, 415 W. Morris St., Bath NY 14810
James Grace, Cornell Cooperative. Extension., 3 East Pulteney Square, Bath NY 14810
Amy Dlugos, Director, Steuben County Planning Department, 3 East Pulteney Square, Bath NY 14810
Wendy Flaitz, Director, Real Property Tax Service Agency, 3 East Pulteney Square, Bath, NY 14810