The use of chemical herbicides and pesticides was the main topic at a meeting of the village’s environmental conservation committee meeting Tuesday morning.
By the end of the meeting, the committee had crafted a recommendation to the board of trustees that all chemical herbicide and pesticide use on village property be halted.
Primarily at issue is the use of the herbicide Roundup and a fungicide on Doubleday Field. Groundskeeper Joe Harris told the Doubleday Field committee those are the only chemical he uses. His fertilizer choice is organic.
The committee that oversees the field is headed in the right direction and is looking at transitioning away from the use of chemicals.
We, too, believe it is time to once and for all get rid of the chemicals.
There is more and more evidence that chemical herbicides and pesticides pose a serious health threat.
During the meeting Tuesday, Pine Boulevard resident Sam Wilcox brought up the New York State Child Safe Playing Field Act that went into effect a year ago. The act prohibits the use of turf management chemicals on school properties and playing fields.
“The Legislature deemed it was not safe for the welfare and health of children to spray the grounds,” he said, adding that the committee should employ the precautionary principle and seek a ban.
We agree. The board of trustees should come to the same realization and prohibit its use on village property.
And we would like to see such a ban extended to prohibit the use of those weed killing chemicals anywhere in the village.
At least Joe Harris is a DEC-certified applicator he should be aware of and take safety precautions when using the material. On the other hand, homeowners who buy a product like Roundup to kill weeds in their lawn, garden, sidewalk or driveway are not certified applicators and may or may not read and heed the instructions and warnings. Unless they are careful, they could easily put themselves, their family, the neighbors, pets and the environment at risk.
Our Opinion
May 3, 2012
Our Opinion: Put an end to the chemicals
- Our Opinion
-
- Congratulations Cooperstown softball It is hard to believe that Cooperstown's softball team had never won a division or playoff title until this week.
- Happy CYB has found a home Cooperstown Youth Baseball has finally found a home. However, it is a bit sad it could not be in the village that is often referred to as the "home of baseball."
- Change is never taken lightly We are glad the Cooperstown Central School Board finally chose a nickname, but were surprised by the plummeting attendance rate at meetings pertaining to the matter. What seemed to be a hot-button issue attracting nearly 100 people for and against a name change at initial meetings seemed to simmer to complete no shows toward the end.
- Tax cap is deceiving As if figuring out one's tax bill isn't mind boggling enough. In its second year of implantation, the 2 percent limit on property tax increases makes things all that more complicated. One cannot just assume his or her individual taxes will not increase more than the cap threshold.
- Earth Festival is a good start to spring We hope Mother Nature brings us some sunshine and spring weather this weekend. But if not, there is a predominantly inside event coming up that should help get visitors thinking about spring.
- Education heading in wrong direction It is good to see that with teachers changing their curriculums to teach for the Common Core State Standards that there is still some hands-on learning going on locally.
- Good luck, Tommy Perhaps the third time will be the "charm" for Cooperstown Central School seventh-grader Tommy Knight.
- Eliminate the gap elimination adjustment Despite Gov. Andrew Cuomo's promise in his budget address to increase funding for education, local school officials are saying they are not receiving enough state aid to fund even basic services.
- Groff is off to good start Former Cooperstown Central School student and athlete Sarah Groff visited Cooperstown in November to share her dream of making it to the Olympics. She had just missed the podium at the London Games.
- Blindsided by CV-S vote As we all know, school districts are facing financial insolvency and are being forced to reconsider the ways they do business. That includes mergers when fielding athletic teams.
- More Our Opinion Headlines
