February 10, 2025 REGULAR MEETING

STILLWATER TOWNSHIP
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
February 10, 2025
Regular Meeting
In-Person/Zoom

MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Branagan, Ms. Coriston, Dr. Lippencott, Mrs. Tracey
MEMBERS ABSENT: Mrs. Emmetts, Dr. Mattes, Mr. Szabo

Ms. Coriston called the meeting to order at 7:00 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., at the Stillwater Township Municipal Building located in Middleville, New Jersey.

The flag was saluted and roll call taken.

Member Appointment:
Dr. Robert Lippencott – Regular Member, filling the unexpired term vacated by Emily Wills and expiring 12/31/26 – Planning Board/Environmental Commission liaison. Dr. Lippencott was welcomed by the Chair.

Minutes:
The minutes of 1/13/25 were tabled to the February meeting due to the lack of eligible voting members present.

Bills:
Ms. Coriston made a motion to approve the following bill, pending availability of funds, seconded by Mr. Branagan:
Secretary: $255.00

Roll Call Vote: Mr. Branagan, yes, Dr. Lippencott, yes, Mrs. Tracey, yes, Ms. Coriston, yes

At this point, this portion of the meeting was opened to the public at 7:09 p.m.
There being no members wishing to speak, this portion of the meeting was closed at 7:09 p.m.

Presentation: Christine Dunbar, Paulins Kill Watershed Coordinator, Foodshed Alliance Video Presentation (Video #1 of a four-part series) Welcome to the Paulins Kill, Chapter 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k25h6siqmKU

Also present: David DeWit who directed the video; Brian Sayre – an employee of the Foodshed Alliance; and Linda DeWit

Prior to the video presentation, Ms. Dunbar provided an update on the Paulinskill Watershed Community and working with the Foodshed Alliance.
She spoke about the Winter Salt Watch Program which provides water sampling near salted roads. They are currently interested in monitoring three locations in Stillwater and are in need of volunteers – Veterans Memorial Park, Paulinskill Lake and Saddleback Road. She reported there will be a 5th grade Stillwater School student field trip introducing the students to the watershed and its maintenance. She would like to partner with two to three teachers at Kittatinny Regional High School to coordinate with their curriculum. Class lessons have been conducted with Blairstown and Sparta students including training sessions, education and salt monitoring. Winter Conservation Volunteer Days will continue on Fridays into April from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at
Footbridge Park in Blairstown. Volunteers are needed. The program will include collecting data on the health of the trees planted, recycling and reusing shelter tubes and stakes, and winter tree identification. A simplified map of the Hyper Humus property was provided to the EC with a history of the Paulins Kill Meadows.

Ms. Dunbar introduced David DeWit who directed the video series and she thanked him for his hard work.

Mr. DeWit stated the video is a more modern overview of the Paulins Kill Watershed and what one end of the river has to do with the other. He spoke further on bike trail rides, Hyper Humus, the removal of plastic shelters and stakes on trees in the floodplain, noting all plastic is recycled through TREX. He spoke about macroinvertebrate testing for the NJDEP and State certification, providing validation of the vertebrate and that it can be utilized for the State report.

Mr. DeWit stated the video series is meant to be motivational and he is hoping schools will use it as part of their program.

It was noted the Paulins Kill Watershed Community website is shutting down and from this point forward all information can be found under the Foodshed Alliance. The Paulins Kill Watershed website should automatically direct users to the Foodshed Alliance.

At this point in the meeting, the video was presented.

Following the presentation, Ms. Dunbar provided a brief history on the background of the video, receiving grant funding and the use of drones and videographer. Mr. DeWit noted that Video #1 is an introduction to the Paulins Kill and Video #4 focuses on macroinvertebrates. He noted his favorite part
of Video #2 is the Mill at Morris County Park. The EC briefly discussed the Grist Mill on Main Street in Stillwater which the town is currently working with the State to have opened for tours. Mayor Chammings stated the Grist Mill is owned by the State so there are parameters as to how much can be done and what it can be used for. Stillwater would like it restored for tours and would need permission to access it. She noted Andy Martin of the Historical Society has been diligently working on the project.

Mayor Chammings stated Stillwater’s Bicentennial Celebration “Then & Now,” will be held this year, including 1825-1925 overseen by high school students and 1925 to the present overseen by the Recreation Commission and Stillwater Day to be held on June 7th at Veterans Memorial Park. The Mayor stated if the Paulins Kill Watershed and Foodshed Alliance have anything they can offer or contribute as a vendor that would be great. Mr. DeWit noted he has video footage of the Mill from the Musconetcong Wild and Scenic River that can be used and he will forward it to the EC. Ms. Dunbar expressed interest in attending. Mrs. Wunder will have Tara Tosti, Recreation Chair, contact Ms. Dunbar and provide an information packet.

Ms. Coriston thanked them for their presentation and commended Mr. DeWit on the video production.

The EC members enjoyed the well-done video, noting the views were beautiful, and the images of the highway vs. the river landscape and development were striking.

Correspondence:
Articles submitted by Mr. Szabo:
-WSJ, 1/8/25, “The Global EV Calamity”
-WSJ, 1/15/25, “Newsom Has a Permitting Epiphany”
-WSJ, 1/15/25, “End of a Climate Delusion”

Old Business:
40-Year Surface Water Quality Report (1984-2024): Dr. Lippencott
Mrs. Wunder will provide the links for the report and appendices to Municipal Clerk Val Ingles and Deputy Clerk Julie Leatham to be placed on the Home Page of the Stillwater Township website. She will include a thank you to Dr. Lippencott and determine the best placement of the report on the Home Page. The links will not be placed on the EC webpage at this time as the page will be updated in the future. The Stillwater Township Committee adopted Resolution 2025-035 To Accept The 40-Year Surface Water Quality Report (1984-2024) on February 4, 2025, and a copy is attached to the minutes.

Ms. Coriston stated the next step is to determine EC actions. She provided her list as follows:
-Provide the report on the website
-Provide a presentation inviting the public and organizations
-Over the next few years develop a public education series, one-hour program for the public
-Determine what testing needs to be done from this point forward Dr. Lippencott suggested developing a plan over the next few meetings and prioritizing the items Ms. Coriston mentioned. The EC members will provide their actions and what they would like to see.

Ms. Coriston would like to educate the public on the report and how it will be used in the future.

Dr. Lippencott spoke about GIS mapping and technology involving students combining all the information and possibly forming an “Adopt a Streamway.”

Mayor Chammings stated the elementary school has the technology to do so and there may be teachers interested. She suggested inviting the schoolteachers to a presentation in the near future, possibly April or May. Dr. Lippencott noted he has taught science classes in Frelinghuysen on the trail for homeschooled students and they may be interested. Mayor Chammings noted Barefoot University uses Veterans Memorial Park on Thursdays and may also want to participate.

Ms. Coriston stated at this point, the first step is to get the report on the township website and next work toward a presentation in the spring.

TREX Program Update: Ms. Coriston
Ms. Coriston reported that over 300 lbs. has been collected for this cycle. The trash issue has been addressed effectively.

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

New Business:
Energy Audit with 6th Grade Students at the Community Center – 1/23/25:
Ms. Coriston reported that she and Mayor Chammings attended the audit. Ms. Coriston spoke about the EC and noted how in tune the students were on the role of the Commission. Mayor Chammings stated the students conducted the audit for 3-4 hours and measured each room for square footage. Craig Metzger, an Environmental Engineer, was present. The student discussed the possibility of a rain garden. Willco will install two smart thermostats on each furnace which will be funded through a grant. The Mayor noted there are some top-notch students and teachers involved in the project. The students will
provide a presentation to the Township Committee in the future and the EC will be invited.

Site Surveys: (2)
Mr. Branagan volunteered to conduct the site surveys on two Zoning Board applications.

Environmental Commission Volunteer Recognition:
-Ms. Coriston for the TREX program.
-Dr. Lippencott for the 40-Year Surface Water Quality Report which has been officially accepted as a Township document.
-Mayor Chammings/Ms. Coriston for attending the 6th Grade Student Energy Audit at the Community Center

Endangered/Threatened Species Sightings:
-Eagle and bobcat sightings.
Mrs. Tracey mentioned the increase in the number of Eagle sightings in the Veterans Memorial Park area. She explained this is due to that being the only portion of the Paulins Kill River that is not frozen so it is a food source attracting many.

Cooperative Extension of Sussex County – Rutgers:
Ms. Coriston reported the Cooperative Extension is partnering with County Commissioner Jack DeGroot connecting with seniors on seed starting programs and three have already been scheduled. Ms. Coriston will reach out to Tara Tosti, Recreation Commission Chair to bring the program to Stillwater seniors.

At this point, this portion of the meeting was opened to the public at 8:39 p.m.
There being no members wishing to speak, this portion of the meeting was closed at 8:39 p.m.

Planning Board (PB) Liaison Report: Dr. Lippencott
1/15/25 Meeting:
Reorganization Meeting:
Karen Puccio – Chair
Bob Pierce – Vice-Chair
Bill Haggerty – Attorney
NJH/Sunday Herald – Official newspapers
2025 Meeting Dates accepted
-Bill approval and routine business were conducted.
-Draft Open Space and Recreation Plan was presented with suggestions and modifications. The final report will be presented to the public in March.
-Greenway trail connections were discussed.

Township Liaison Report: Mayor Chammings
-An ordinance was adopted providing the 2008 Ford Ambulance to the Stillwater Fire Department.
-A resolution was adopted to place a referendum on the November ballot to increase the Open Space Tax.
-A resolution was adopted accepting the 40-Year Water Report.
-A resolution was adopted to appoint Dr. Lippencott as a member of the EC.
-Pat Murphy, Electrical Subcode/Inspector has resigned.
-Jackie McDonough was appointed to the Planning Board.
-The Clean Communities 2025 Calendar and coloring book designed by Sabrina Leonard was distributed.

With no further business to come before the Commission, Ms. Coriston made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:55 p.m., seconded by Mr. Branagan. In a voice vote, all were in favor.

Respectfully submitted,
_______________________________________
Kathy Wunder, Secretary