December 14, 2020 Regular Meeting

STILLWATER TOWNSHIP  ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION

December 14, 2020 – (ZOOM ONLY MEETING)

MEMBERS PRESENT: Mrs. Emmetts, Mrs. Tracey, Mr. Szabo, Mr. Dvorsky, Mrs. Branagan, Mr. Svendsen, Mr. Branagan

MEMBERS ABSENT: Mr. Nause

Mr. Branagan called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. with the statement that this meeting is in compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act. This was a regularly scheduled meeting of the Stillwater Township Environmental Commission. Regular meetings are held on the second Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. This meeting was a ZOOM meeting due to the COVID epidemic. The flag was saluted and roll call taken.

ALSO PRESENT: Mayor Chammings

Minutes

Mrs. Emmetts made a motion to approve the minutes of October 15, 2020, seconded by Mrs. Tracey.

Roll Call Vote: Mrs. Emmetts, yes, Mrs. Tracey, yes, Mr. Szabo, abstain, Mr. Dvorsky, abstain, Mrs. Branagan, yes, Mr. Svendsen, yes, Mr. Branagan, yes

Bills

Mrs. Emmetts made a motion to approve the following bills, pending availability of funds, seconded by Mr. Dvorsky.

Secretary: $232.69

ANJEC 2021 Membership: $375.00

Roll Call Vote: Mrs. Emmetts, yes, Mrs. Tracey, yes, Mr. Szabo, yes, Mr. Dvorsky, yes, Mrs. Branagan, yes, Mr. Svendsen, yes, Mr. Branagan, yes

At this point, this portion of the meeting was opened to the public at 7:12 p.m.

There being no members of the public present, this portion of the meeting was closed at 7:12 p.m.

Correspondence:

PSE&G: Application for Extension of Freshwater Wetlands General Permit No. 1

NJDOT: Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program Grants

E. Szabo: NJH 11/19/20, “The Climate Hustle”

ANJEC: Governor Murphy Signs Plastic Pollution Reduction Bill

OEM Hazard Mitigation Plan 2021: Mayor Chammings reported a category was added for HABs, infectious diseases and pandemic.

Mrs. Emmetts reported the Swartswood Lake Watershed Association received two grants from the NJDEP for the development of a watershed management plan and updating and repairing aerators in the lake. Once a lake plan is approved by the NJDEP, they are obligated to follow it.

Old Business

Stream Water Testing Quote: $3,350.00 (Eurofins)

Mr. Branagan reviewed the water testing parameters. He reported results were received for all ten sites but many parameters are noted as having undetected levels which does not make sense. The EC agreed payment should be held until clarification is provided by Eurofins. Mrs. Wunder will forward the results to Mr. Svendsen for his review and he will contact Eurofins to resolve the matter.

2020 Beautification Project Update:

Mr. Branagan will visit the properties to see if the property issues have been addressed. He invited those EC members interested to join him.

Mr. Svendsen noted the owner is working on cleaning up the Laurel Drive property. Mr. Branagan reported he is waiting to conduct a site visit with the Zoning Officer and the owner at the Hardwick Road property. Mr. Szabo offered to contact the owner to schedule an inspection as he knows the owner well and hunts on the property. Mr. Branagan and Mr. Szabo agreed to schedule a time in the next week or so.

Fishing Line Collection: All line is to be cleaned of leaves/litter, hooks and lead sinkers. Lead sinkers are to be provided at the meeting for recycling.

Mr. Dvorsky will repair one of his receptacles.

New Business

Volunteer Recognition:

Mrs. Emmetts: Annual Report 2020

Mr. Branagan/Mrs. Branagan: Removed road salt from area of vernal pond.

Mr. Dvorsky/Mr. Branagan: Water testing samples.

Endangered and Threatened Species Sightings:

-Red-Shouldered Hawk

Annual Report:

Mrs. Emmetts drafted the 2020 Annual EC Report. The EC reviewed the report and made minor changes. This item will be added to the next agenda for approval.

EC Membership:

Mr. Branagan reported he met a resident who may be interested in joining the EC. She is a former service member and a map reader. Mr. Branagan will drop off an application for her to complete.

Bird Houses:

Mr. Branagan asked for assistance cleaning out the bird houses at Veteran’s Memorial Park. Mr. Dvorsky agreed to do so.

NJDEP Permit: Block 2001, Lot 2

NJDEP Notice of Approval for Flood Hazard Area Verification; FHA Individual Permit SFH/Duplex

The EC reviewed the approval noting there are many standard and special conditions required. Mrs. Wunder will email a copy to Mr. Szabo.

Planning Board Liaison Report: Mr. Branagan

-An application was reviewed for Block 3302, Lot 4. The plan needed to include clarification of the steep and critical slopes on the property and a conservation easement for fishing was recommended. The application will be heard on January 20, 2021 as the legal notice was not advertised in a timely manner.

Township Committee Liaison Report: Mayor Chammings

-Nathaniel Sajdak emailed the Mayor regarding planting and protecting more trees. He plans to do so with his group on their own before the end of the year.

-Tax Sale will be held on Tuesday, 12/15/20 in the meeting room at the Municipal Building at 11 a.m.

-Mayor Chammings visited a property with a soil importation issue and noted it is very difficult communicating with the NJDEP during the pandemic.

-Mayor Chammings was contacted by the OPRA office in Trenton regarding 992 Fairview Lake Road (Gallagher’s). They have boxes of information that can be reviewed by the township. The progress on the property has been stalled due to a $63,000 NJDEP lien on the property.

-A sale of township owned properties will take place in January.

-Budget review will begin at the 12/15/20 Township Committee meeting, which will be held by ZOOM only due to the COVID increase. The county is currently experiencing an increase in numbers and longer wait times for test results.

Mayor Chammings wished all Happy Holidays and thanked the EC for their service.

With no further business to come before the Commission, Mrs. Emmetts made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Mrs. Tracey. In a voice vote, all were in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

_____________________________

Kathy Wunder, Secretary