Bordentown City Environmental Commission (BCEC)

Minutes of July 9, 2014

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), Andy Richardson, Leah Ducey, Mike Tunney

(Members of the public present): Cathy Elliott-Shaw, Patrick Froelich

May minutes approved.

Public comment:  Patrick Froelich is running a water monitoring workshop 6/12 at 508 Hughes Dr  Hamilton NJ.

Communications and Announcements:

1. Lime Kiln Park update:  Maintenance has to be kept low, we need to establish a maintenance plan.
2. Oliver Street Park update: Need to establish maintenance plan.
3. Greenteam updates:  Green Fair Recap: Most exhibitors and attendance since 1^st Green Fair. 6/13/15 next fair.
4. Community Garden Update– Member of the green team and BCEC met with Jill Popko of the Bordentown Township greenteam to discuss their challenges and successes of starting a community garden; the BT greenteam would like to pair with BC greenteam to start a garden at the high school.
5. Andy Richardson attended NOFA’s Symphony of Soil film and suggested it as a possible Earth Talk.
6. Library Garden looks great!  Marsha Dowshen and Leona Lee have cleaned up garden and marked native plants with new plant ID markers.
7. Bordentown City is going to single stream recycling- we can now recycle # 3,4,6,7
8. Sean Murphy of the Burlington County Times would like to know what’s going on with the BCEC for an article.
9. See Andy for staffing the booth for Cranbury Festival
10. We are co-sponsoring events with Abbott Marsh

BCEC Events:

1. Cranbury Festival 10/4 and 10/5
2. GreenTeam Earth talk on Vultures In december

Planning Board:

1. No update

BCEC 2013 Budget:

1. No new news

Meeting Adjourned at 8:50 (the next meeting will be August 13th at 7:30pm.)

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)), Michael Tunney, Leah Ducey, Don Stein, Charles Kunkel, Andy Richardson

(Members of the public present): Cindy Gallagher

January minutes approved. No meeting February because of snow.

 Public comment:  none

Communications and Announcements:

1. Lime Kiln Park update:  Kiwannis to volunteer on trail maintenance 4/5 from 9-1.
2. Oliver Street Park update: Mike Tunney and Don Stein will brush hog. We to come up with a plan for spring maintenance.
3. Greenteam updates: 5^th annual Green Fair June 14, won a $2000 grant from Sustainable Jersey to help with Green Fair, need people to help with the following Sustainable Jersey Actions: Companion animal management and Wildlife Interaction plan- please email greenteam if interested. Next meeting is March 15^th at 7:00 at Carslake.
4. Community Garden- on hold until next round of Sustainable Jersey grants.
5. Brooke McMinn and Father Tucker will not be reappointed to BCEC. Need to replace them.
6. Held the following Earth Talks and they went well: How to Boil a Frog and Energy Audit Info session.
7. The BCEC will buy a sandwich board to advertise events in town.
8. Shade tree planting is 4/5 and volunteers are needed.

BCEC Events:

1.  4/26 Rainbarrel Workshop at Carslake
2. 4/26 Kids Creek Exploration with the Watershed Ambassador.
3. Street Fair May 17-18^th.

Planning Board:

1. Senior Center Pants Factory needs to expand basement and city has to make a larger contribution.- BCEC has no concerns.
2. Lot on Willow will be developed into a duplex house- BCEC has no concerns.

BCEC 2013 Budget:

1. Paid $70 for May Street fair registration
2. Paid $350 for ANJEC dues

Meeting Adjourned at 8:30 (the next meeting will be April 9th at 7:30pm.)

Bordentown City Environmental Commission (BCEC)
Minutes of April 9, 2014
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, Leah Ducey, Don Stein, Andy Richardson

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

March minutes approved.

Public comment:  none

Communications and Announcements:

1. Lime Kiln Park update:  Dianna Raichel from the D&R Greenway brought 2 volunteers and cleaned up the butterfly garden; benches for Lime Kiln?
2. Oliver Street Park update: Dianna Raichel is going to give the BCEC advice on the next plan of action for Oliver Street Park; the Mayor is looking into fencing for the culvert; Don Stein and Mike Tunney brush hogged the park.
3. Greenteam updates: 5^th annual Green Fair June 14- volunteers needed please reach out to bordentowncitygreenteam@gmail.com; in touch with USDA about a working on the People and wildlife Intercation plan for sustainable Jersey- an expert on vultures is being contacted for a possible EarthTalk.
4. Community Garden- Meeting with Roger from BTEC about how the township went about setting up a Community Garden May 3^rd.
5. Kiwannis club helped clean up Native Plant Garden at the Library.
6. Mayoral Report– Hilltop Park hill is being cleared to enhance view of Crosswicks Creek and the Marinas, vegetation will be put in place to control erosion. Canopy in park will also be thinned to allow more natural light into park.
7. Lambertville has an optional town composting program- Ralph will look into details.
8. Leah will email Joel BCEC spring eco event flier.

BCEC Events:

1.  4/26 Rainbarrel Workshop at Carslake
2. 4/26 Kids Creek Exploration with the Watershed Ambassador.
3. Street Fair May 17-18^th.

Planning Board:

1. 2^nd and Park Street Parking issue is being resolved to add greenery and control storm water runoff to Hamlet.
2. Marcellos is upgrading the deck area to an enclosed area- BCEC has no objections.
3. 2 lots on Chesnut St are being made equal size.

BCEC 2013 Budget:

No update

Meeting Adjourned at 9:22 (the next meeting will be May 14th at 7:30pm.)

Bordentown City Environmental Commission (BCEC) Minutes of May 14, 2014 Carslake Community Center Senior’s Room Minutes prepared by Leah Ducey

Meeting called to order at 7:40 pm Attendance: (Quorum present) Ralph Tolomeo (Chair), Joel Dowshen (Vice-Chair), Michael Lahr, Leah Ducey (Members of the public present): Mayor Malone, Cathy Elliott-Shaw April minutes approved.  Public comment:  none Communications and Announcements:

1. Lime Kiln Park update:  Mulch needs to be spread on trail.
2. Oliver Street Park update: Mike Tunney and Don Stein will brush hog. Mayor Malone asked that the BCEC come up with a list of needs for the park and he will see if there is grant money to help obtain supplies.
3. Greenteam updates: Postcards need to be delivered to local businesses for Green Fair, help promote the Green Fair on Facebook, there are yard signs on Cathy’s porch you can take and display.
4. Community Garden Update– Member of the green team and BCEC met with Jill Popko of the Bordentown Township greenteam to discuss their challenges and successes of starting a community garden; the BT greenteam would like to pair with BC greenteam to start a garden at the high school.

The BCEC bought a sandwich board to advertise events in town.

5. BCEC Events– 9 people attended the rainbarrel workshop, the drug drop off was a huge success and the stream walk was cancelled the day of.
6. Hilltop Park is almost finished and the fence should be up shortly.

BCEC Events:

1. Green Fair 6/14
2. Possible Vulture Talk with APHIS-USDA rep October 16 or 23?
3. Native plant talk?

Planning Board:

1. Park st water management issue passed and construction can start
2. Old Roma bank to reconfigure parking lot- no concerns.

BCEC 2013 Budget:

1. No new news

Meeting Adjourned at 8:40 (the next meeting will be June 11th at 7:30pm.)

Bordentown City Environmental Commission (BCEC)

Minutes of September 10, 2014

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), Andy Richardson, Leah Ducey, Mike Lahr

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

No minutes to approved.

Public comment:

Communications and Announcements:

1. Lime Kiln Park update:  Butterfly garden needs to be weeded- looking for volunteers.
2. Oliver Street Park update: Need to establish paths and maintenance plan.
3. Greenteam updates:  Cathy Elliott-Shaw met with Principal Lynch and Jill Popko for high school garden, asking teachers and students for input on what type of garden they would like.
4. Community Garden Update–  Leah Ducey, Ralph Tolomeo and Ellen Werhman met with the School Superintendent to discuss the use of Clara Barton Annex lot. Superintendent supported idea and school board will vote on decision 9/17/14.  Leah also met with Temple design class on 9/3 and the students are including Community Garden ideas for project.
5. Library Garden looks great!  Marsha Dowshen and Leona Lee have cleaned up garden and marked native plants with new plant ID markers.
6. See Andy for staffing the booth for Cranbury Festival 10/4 and 10/5- people needed to staff booth
7. We are co-sponsoring events with Abbott Marsh and this posted on BCEC website
8. BCEC is looking for a place to store street fair materials.

BCEC Events:

1. Cranbury Festival 10/4 and 10/5
2. 9/23 Earth talk and video on new single stream recycling
3. 12/9 Earth talk on vultures by APHIS

Planning Board:

1. New member- Deborah Branson
2. 2 lots on the corner of Spring and Ann st were approved for building houses
3. Part of Tutek office is approved to be converted to residential

BCEC 2013 Budget:

1. We have $2460.20 left from $3200 and are looking to purchase reusable shopping bags.

Meeting Adjourned at 9:15 (the next meeting will be October 8th at 7:30pm.)