Bordentown City Environmental Commission (BCEC)

Minutes of September 9, 2015

Carslake Community Center Senior’s Room

Minutes Prepared by Joel Dowshen

Meeting Called to Order at 7:30 P.M.

Attendance: Ralph Tolomeo (Chair), Joel Dowshen (Co-Chair), Mike Tunney, Leah Ingalsbe-Ducey.

(Members of the public present): Cathy Elliott-Shaw, Paul Ordog, Ed.D. Chairman of the Florence Township Environmental Commission

Minutes: There was no meeting in August.

Communications, Announcements, New Business:

• Ralph is updating.
• Mike Tunney and Mike Lahr appointments have expired. Awaiting re-appointment by Mayor Malone.
• New Earth Talks
  1. Still awaiting dates for Tours of Burlington County Resource Recovery Complex: Up to 20 people per tour on weekdays only. Ralph checking with Anne Moore.
  2. September 22, 7PM: Earth Talk on the Pinelands (still pending call back confirmation).
  3. November 10, 7PM: Earth Talk by either Cedar Run or Pollination Station. (still pending call back confirmation).
  4. Late winter/early spring talk about Community Garden discussed.
• No Planning Board report. Asking Katie Nosker to attend next Planning Board meeting in Mike Lahr’s absence.
• Green Team Report: Cathy noted that they are focusing on the Community Garden and other ongoing activities. No current grant requests. Robbinsville has come to the Green Team for ideas/help setting up their own Team.
• To date, budget balance is $2234.05. Expected expenditures are $1,500 for Community Garden shed. $200-300 for Community Garden supplies, cover crop, etc. $200 for printing of new Library/Lime Kiln Butterfly Gardens brochure.
• Cranberry Festival: Ralph is organizing staffing schedule (10-1, 1-4) and people for set-up and break-down. A composter will be raffled off.
• Fall/Winter BCEC Newsletter: Joel is putting together material, potentially oriented to City gardens.

Ongoing Projects:

• Community Garden Update: Leah reported that we are waiting for gate and lock. Don Stein will help til. Need a core group of people to organize the Community Garden records, spaces, charges, bylaws/rules, et
• Lime Kiln Alley: Agreed that the meadow should be cut between now and fall. Ralph will discuss with Mayor Malone. Leah will help oversee Unitarian Church members work plans to keep the Butterfly Garden in good shape.
• Oliver Street: no discussion.

Other Business:

Paul Ordog, chair of the Florence Township Environmental Commission commented on their efforts to get the Waste Management Tullytown landfill closed, and their ongoing effort to prevent Elcon from potentially polluting the air drifting over to Florence. He wanted to be sure we understand that both Waste Management and Elcon have plans that would directly effect the Bordentown area and advised that meetings are coming up in which we should take interest. Joel had already forwarded some comments received on the BCEC website to Mayor Malone and Ralph. Ralph will talk to Mayor Malone to see if the BCEC can help organize and publicize any public information effort in this area.

Adjournment:

The meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm.

Next BCEC Meeting: Wednesday October 14, 2015 @ 7:30 PM.

Bordentown City Environmental Commission (BCEC)

Minutes of October 14, 2015

Carslake Community Center Senior’s Room

Minutes Prepared by Katie Nosker

Meeting Called to Order at 7:30 P.M.

Attendance: Joel Dowshen (Co-Chair), Leah Ingalsbe-Ducey, Katie Nosker, Andy Richardson, Keith Onsdorff, Mike Lahr

(Members of the public present): Cathy Elliott-Shaw, Pat Skelly

Minutes: Minutes from September 9, 2015 approved.

Communications, Announcements, New Business:

• Group updated BCEC Membership List
• Schedule for Fall-Winter Earth Talks and Events:
  1. Pat suggests that the Conserve Wildlife group could do a talk on eagles’ nests
  2. Ralph is setting up a tour of the Burlington County Recycling Center
  3. Ralph has tried contacting Cedar Run, Pinelands, and Pollination Station but has not heard back
  4. Pat mentions that Tony from Buzzy Bee coordinates the Native Plant Society, and could provide a presentation and answer questions
  5. Joel suggests that we could do an event in late winter related to the Community Garden
  6. Andy suggested that he could do an earth talk next September on butterflies
• Planning Board Report
  1. Mike Lahr reports that there will be an emergency meeting regarding the McGuire Chevrolet Redevelopment Site on Sept 19^th
  2. Ralph reports that final approval was granted for the construction of 5 houses on Ann Street between 3rd and Spring.
  3. A subdivision from 1 to 2 lots was approved on the corner of Bank and 3rd.
  4. A homeowner on Willow Street was given approval to extend the rear of her house so as to enlarge her kitchen and create a 1st floor bathroom.
• Green Team Report
  1. Cathy reports that the next priorities will be to review actions for continued certification with Sustainable Jersey
  2. On November 28^th Cathy and Cindy will be on a panel regarding small town Green Teams at the League of Municipalities conference
• 2015 BCEC Budget Report – Funds will be spent by the end of the year including expenditures for the Community Garden and newsletters
• 2016 BCEC Budget Proposal – Green Fair, Community Garden, Green Team were agreed upon priorities
• Cranberry Festival Review – Group agrees to start earlier next year recruiting volunteers to work the booth. Perhaps this could be included in the meeting calendar presented at the start of a year
• Fall/Winter BCEC Newsletter – Joel will work on this. Community Garden will be the focus. Leah will provide Joel with information on the community garden
• Lime Kiln
  1. Pat noted that the DDUU’s have taken over maintenance of Lime Kiln Alley’s butterfly garden. Leah will help create signs to this effect
  2. Leah noted that there has been a tree down in Lime Kiln Alley for quite some time. She and Andy will look into this

Ongoing Projects:

• Community Garden Update
  • Leah stated that the shed has been ordered, and the garden has been limed and cover cropped.
• Oliver Street Maintenance – Group suggests that it would be good if a loop could be maintained

Other Business:

• Keith suggests that BCEC survey community interest in environmental-related items. Keith said he can put together a list of questions. He would like to include questions about whether the community finds it helpful for the BCEC to have booth space at the fairs. The group can work together to put together a survey with google or survey monkey
• Group would like to spend meeting time sometime soon to go through materials in Sally’s office. The suggestion is to include this clean-up in a meeting agenda
• Group would like more information on the two gazebos that are going in around town. Leah and Andy will look into this

Adjournment:

The meeting adjourned at 8:20 pm.

Next BCEC Meeting: Wednesday November 11, 2015 @ 7:30 PM.