Bordentown City Environmental Commission (BCEC)

Minutes of September 11, 2013

Carslake Community Center Senior’s Room

Minutes prepared by Leah Ducey

Meeting called to order at 7:35 pm

Attendance: (Quorum present) Ralph Tolomeo (Chair), Joel Dowshen (Vice-chair), Michael Tunney, Leah Ducey, Don Stein, Charlie Kunkel, Mike Lahr, Andy Richardson

(Members of the public present): Mayor Malone, Cathy Elliott-Shaw

July minutes approved.

Public comment:  none

Communications and Announcements:

1. Lime Kiln Park update:  possible rain garden on steep slope; no rocks are going around parking area, Dianna Raichel needs help planting more plants and weeding butterfly garden 9/26  or 9/27.
2. Oliver Street Park update: brush hog in fall.
3. Green Team updates: lighting fair and compost workshop on 9/7 were well attended; Sustainable Jersey application coming along, going for silver certification; sewer plant tour sat 9/14. People in the community have asked for a map on trails and kids activities; possible weeding day for Railroad ave?
4. Library Native plant garden– needs to be cleaned up and new plants added and thin older plants. Best time for this is spring.
5. The Creative arts committee has been added as a new sub-group of the BCEC.
6. Staffing for Cranberry festival needs help.

BCEC Events:

1. Green Team  sewer plant tour 9/14.
2. Earth talk about the Abbott marsh 9/18.
3. Cranberry festival 10/5-6.
4. Ramble on towpath 10/19.

Planning Board: No news

BCEC 2013 Budget:

1. $2500 has been approved for Green Team.
2. Mayor Malone said we raise money but must be deposited in city account. No raffles.

Meeting Adjourned at 8:55 (the next meeting will be October 9th, 2013 at 7:30pm.)

Bordentown City Environmental Commission (BCEC)

Minutes of October 9, 2013

Carslake Community Center Senior’s Room

Minutes prepared by Leah Ducey

Meeting called to order at 7:30 p
 

Attendance: (Quorum present) Ralph Tolomeo (Chair), Joel Dowshen (Vice-chair), Michael Tunney, Leah Ducey, Don Stein, Charles Kunkel, Mike Lahr, Andy Richardson

(Members of the public present): Mayor Malone, Cathy Elliott-Shaw, Cindy Gallagher

September minutes approved with changes.
 

Public comment:  none
 

Communications and Announcements:

1. Lime Kiln Park update:  On  9/27 the butterfly garden was weeded and new plantings planted with the help of Diana Raichel and volunteers. Mike Tunney and Don Stein will brush hog in 2 weeks.
2. Oliver Street Park update: brush hog in 2 weeks,
3. Greenteam updates: The Greenteam would like a page on the BCEC website; they would like to update the recycling guide; railroad ave was weeded and so was the jug handle on Crosswicks and 130 and mums were planted.
4. Library Native plant garden– needs to be cleaned up and new plants added and thin older plants. Best time for this is spring.
5. Community Garden- Mayor Malone received a go ahead on the Clare Estate Property, he will finalize and then the CG committee will begin garden plans.
6. Great turnout for Cranberry Festival with a lot of people showing interest in BCEC events.

BCEC Events:

1. 10/9 Abbott Marsh Tour- meet at light rail parking lot.
2. Possible talk on energy audits Dec 3 or 10^th.

Planning Board:

1. The Park st Townhouses are moving ahead with Illumiati construction- dealing with light and drainage issues.
2. New duplex on Willow St is being approved.

BCEC 2013 Budget:

1. $500 has been allotted for Greenteam.
2. Mayor Malone said we raise money but must be deposited in city account. No raffles.

Meeting Adjourned at 8:45 (the next meeting will be December 11th, 2013 at 7:30pm.)

Bordentown City Environmental Commission (BCEC)

Minutes of March 13, 2013

Carslake Community Center Senior’s Room

Minutes prepared by Leah Ducey

Meeting called to order at 7:35 pm

Attendance: (Quorum present) Ralph Tolomeo (Chair), Joel Dowshen (Vice-chair), Michael Lahr, Michael Tunney, Leah Ducey, Andy Richardson, Don Stein

(Members of the public present): Cathy Shaw, Sallie Miller

February  minutes approved.

Public comment:

1. 1.       Cathy Shaw announced that the next Greenteam meeting is March 26^th at 7pm at Carslake Center. Meeting will discuss Green Fair and Sustainable Jersey Actions—volunteers needed- (Cathy asked if the BCEC could send out a Greenteam volunteers needed email through their email list).

 Communications and Announcements:

1. Lime Kiln Park update:  Ralph, Mike T, and Joel met with Diana Raichel regarding new maintenance plan- schedule was updated and new park map plan received; Shipp’s building at the end of the right of way is gone.
2. Oliver Street Park update: we are waiting for the house being built adjacent to the park to be completed before restoring the land that was damaged by the builders; Diana Raichel will provide maintenance schedule, area  needs to be brush hogged.
3. The D and R Greenway spent $1,178,000 to buy park land in the city.
4. The township will lend the city their brush hog when one is needed.
5. Community Garden update: Leah is planning on mapping it out over spring break.
6. Sustainable Jersey recertification:  There is a new Sustainable Jersey website; Pat Skelly is putting together a list of actions that the city can try to get points for, the BCEC 2011 and 2012 annual report is needed for recertification, we have 100 out of 150 pts for Bronze level, application needs to be in by June and work completed by the end of the summer.
7. Leah will contact city about waste being dumped at Hilltop Park, the status of the CO on the house on Oliver by the park and limbs being down in local play areas.
8. Sallie will ask Bob Erickson about a possible sandwich sign that may be in public works to use for advertising Earth talks.
9. Volunteers are needed for the Citywide Shade tree planting-4/13.
10. City engineer, Matt Pey contacted BCEC about working on storm water management in the city.
11. BCEC will apply for ANJEC open space grants of $1500 to maintain and complete new projects at Lime Kiln and Oliver Street.

BCEC Events:

1. Rainbarrel workshop is to be set for a Saturday, 4/20, 9am to 1 pm.
2. Street fair May 18^th and 19^th– Updated newsletter needed and people need to volunteer to staff time slots- see Andy.
3. 6/8, Sat- Green Fair at Carslake Center
4. 9/7, Sat – Walk of Lime Kiln with Diana Raichel

Planning Board:

1. Turning the old pants factory into a senior home was brought up: tax credits are needed to make plan work. Nothing is approved.
2. Construction on the unfinished townhouse at the corner of Park and 2^nd should begin by the end of the month.

BCEC 2013 Budget:

1. 1.       $400 was spent on ANJEC dues
2. 2.       $70 was spent to reserve a spot at the May Street Fair
3. 3.       $90 was spent to make 2 rain barrels to be raffled off at the street fair and Cranberry festival by the BCEC.

Meeting Adjourned at 8:55 (the next meeting will be May 8, 2013 at 7:30pm.)