Citizens Advisory Committee

Purpose

The Long Island Sound Partnership (LIS Partnership) Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) is a volunteer organization that provides ongoing advice to the Federal, state, and local government Management Conference partners working on implementing the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) for the restoration and protection of Long Island Sound. The CAC is governed by its Bylaws enacted in 1988, and last amended in 2019 (see sidebar).

Membership on the CAC is open to individuals representing environmental organizations, businesses, industries, local governments, and other public and private organizations in Connecticut and New York with a demonstrable interest in the restoration and protection of the Sound and its ecosystems.

The CAC meets quarterly on the second Thursday of March, June, September, and December in New York City and Stamford, Connecticut. Meetings are open to the public. Membership is limited to 60 voting members, who are approved by the CAC. Members are committed to the restoration and protection of the Sound, and must abide by the CAC Bylaws to remain in good standing.

Meetings

See Events & Meetings web page for announcements of upcoming committee meetings for MC, STAC, CAC, and HRSWG.

Committee Members

Co-chairs

• Holly Drinkuth, The Nature Conservancy, CT Co-chair
• Nancy Seligson, Town of Mamaroneck, NY Co-chair

New York

• Patricia Aitken, Whaling Museum and Education Center at Cold Spring Harbor
• Sally Connelly, City Island Oyster Reef
• Sarah Deonarine, Manhasset Bay Protection Committee
• Allison DePerte, Atlantic Marine Conservation Society (AMSEAS)
• Maureen Dolan Murphy, Citizens Campaign for the Environment
• Meagan Fastuca, Town of North Hempstead
• George Hoffman, Setauket Harbor Task Force
• Michelle Lapinel McAllister, Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor
• Peter McCartt, Westchester County Dept. of Sustainability
• David Miller, NY League of Conservation Voters Environment Fund
• Daniel Natchez, Revitalize Our Waterways
• Victoria O’ Neill, Audubon New York and Connecticut
• Christine Suter, Friends of the Bay
• Eric Swenson, Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee

Connecticut

• David Ansel, Save the Sound/ CT Fund for the Environment
• Phil Brencher, The Sound School Regional Vocational Aquaculture Center
• William Cavers, Darien Advisory Committee on Coastal Waters
• Bridget Cervero, The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk
• Alicea Charmut, Rivers Alliance
• Andrew Ely, Project Oceanology
• Margarett Favretti, Alliance for Mystic River Watershed
• Megan Granato, Town of Groton
• Carl Harvey, Menunkatuck Audubon Society
• MaryEllen Mateleska, Mystic Aquarium
• Dan Mullins, Eastern Connecticut Conservation District
• Denise Savageau, Connecticut Association of Conservation Districts
• Leigh Shemitz, SoundWaters
• Nikki Spiller, Earthplace/Harbor Watch

Science and Technical Advisory Committee Member Liaisons to the CAC

• Maria Tzortziou, PhD, City College of New York
• Jamie Vaudrey, PhD, University of Connecticut Department of Marine Sciences