October 12, 2023 Regular Meeting

STILLWATER TOWNSHIP

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION

October 12, 2023

Regular Meeting

In-Person/Zoom

MEMBERS PRESENT: Ms. Coriston, Mr. Szabo, Mrs. Tracey, Mrs. Tsadilas, Mr. Dvorsky, Mr. Branagan

MEMBERS ABSENT: Mrs. Emmetts, Dr. Mattes, Ms. Wills

Chairperson Branagan 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.

Minutes

Mrs. Tsadilas made a motion to approve the minutes of 9/11/23, seconded by Mrs. Tracey.

Roll Call Vote: Ms. Coriston, yes, Mr. Szabo, yes, Mrs. Tracey, yes, Mrs. Tsadilas, yes, Mr. Dvorsky, abstain, Mr. Branagan, yes

Bills

Mrs. Tracey made a motion to approve the following bill, pending availability of funds, seconded by Mrs. Tsadilas:

Secretary: $255.00

Roll Call Vote: Ms. Coriston, yes, Mr. Szabo, yes, Mrs. Tracey, yes, Mrs. Tsadilas, yes, Mr. Dvorsky, yes, Mr. Branagan, yes

At this point, this portion of the meeting was opened to the public at 7:05 p.m.

Bob Lippencott was present and provided an update on the water quality report. He has made progress updating graphs for 10 locations and reviewed data. He currently has a graduate student from Drew University assisting him. Mr. Lippencott reviewed the State website for known hazardous sites using it as a basis for some of the mapping as part of the report. Overlay locations with land use and hazardous sites and sample data provided a comprehensive view. He is looking for a correlation of different contaminants although water quality data has been very good. He felt water quality parameters may have to be adjusted or reconsidered moving forward. Mr. Lippencott would like to have a final report completed by the end of the year or early 2024.

Mr. Dvorsky questioned if underground tanks not located near the streams are pertinent. Mr. Lippencott responded that only those near the vicinity of subsurface water testing sites are important. Mr. Branagan referred to the four wells that are tested at the Recycling Center/former landfill site. Ms. Chammings stated the testing is done 1-2 times per year and the site is considered officially closed. It is monitored less frequently and has good results. Mr. Lippencott stated he could include the landfill in his evaluation.

Mr. Branagan thanked Mr. Lippencott for his report.

Mrs. Tsadilas asked if there was any update on the photo Mr. Lippencott took last year at Fairview Lake. Mr. Lippencott felt it was an algae bloom on the southwest part of the lake. Mrs. Tsadilas suggested revisiting the site again.

There being no further members of the public wishing to speak, this portion of the meeting was closed.

Correspondence:

-Emailed 10/1/23: SC Agriculture Development Board Minutes of 5/15/23 and 7/17/23

-Emailed 10/3/23: “The Military is Turning to Microgrids to Fight Global Threats – and Global Warming,” 10/2/23 – New Jersey Public Radio – Mr. Szabo felt this article provided little information and was very negative.

-Emailed 10/4/23: 2023 ANJEC Environmental Congress – Mr. Dvorsky expressed interest in attending the Environmental Congress and will pay up front and be reimbursed.

-Emailed 10/4/23: Aquarius Systems – “Saving Our Wetlands”

Recreation Commission Report:

Mrs. Tsadilas reported the Trunk or Treat will be held on 10/22/23 at 1 p.m. at the Community Center. There will be arts and crafts, cider and donuts. She asked for candy donations which could be dropped off at town hall.

Old Business

TREX Program Update:

Ms. Coriston reported Laura Ciccolella is the new STEM teacher/recycling club co-advisor and will be running the program. Weigh-in begins on November 1^st. Ms. Coriston will continue to collect from town hall. She asked about the location for a second collection receptacle. She will update the website with new literature. Summer collection will need to go to the school and will have to be done over an extended time period as there are 20+ bags. The new goal for this year is 1,000 lbs.; 768 lbs. were collected last year. Ms. Coriston is the liaison and will arrange transporting the collection to Weis. Ms. Coriston will forward Ms. Ciccolella’s contact information to the EC; she is very open to having environmental projects for the students. Mrs. Tsadilas stated she is not in favor of placing a collection receptacle at the Community Center. The EC determined the second receptacle will be placed at the Recycling Center in November. Mrs. Tsadilas again suggested providing a handout detailing the TREX program.

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. Mr. Dvorsky noted trash in the fishing receptacles is still an issue.

New Business

Site Surveys (2): Mr. Branagan/Mr. Szabo

Mrs. Tsadilas made a motion to accept the following site surveys, seconded by Mrs. Tracey:

1) Block 3603, Lot 23 – Emmons Lane – steep slopes were reported.

2) Block 3306, Lots 2.04-2.07, 2.99 – 932 Saddleback Rd/Twin Rivers Dr. – no issues were found.

Roll Call Vote: Ms. Coriston, yes, Mr. Szabo, yes, Mrs. Tracey, yes, Mrs. Tsadilas, yes, Mr. Dvorsky, yes, Mr. Branagan, yes

Budget Review 2024:

Following review of the budget worksheet, Mrs. Tsadilas made a motion to accept the 2024 Budget Request to be forwarded to the Township Committee, seconded by Mr. Szabo as follows:

Advertising: $125.00

Forms/Books: $100.00

Office Supplies: $200.00

*Membership: $500.00

Stream Water Testing: $3500.00

Community Outreach/Events: $200.00

Seminars/Training: $400.00

Brochures: $250.00

Printing: $250.00

*Mileage Reimbursement: $175.00

Total: $5,650.00

Salary & Wages: Percentage increase as determined by the Township Committee.

*$75.00 was moved from the Mileage line item to the Membership line item.

Roll Call Vote: Ms. Coriston, yes, Mr. Szabo, yes, Mrs. Tracey, yes, Mrs. Tsadilas, yes, Mr. Dvorsky, yes, Mr. Branagan, yes

Volunteer/Member Recognition:

-Mr. Szabo/Mr. Branagan for conducting the two site surveys.

Endangered/Threatened Species Sightings:

-Red-shouldered Hawk

At this point, this portion of the meeting was opened to the public at 7:52 p.m.

There being no members of the public wishing to speak, this portion of the meeting was closed at 7:52 p.m.

Planning Board (PB) Liaison Report:

Ms. Chammings reported the September meeting was cancelled.

The AF & EJF LLC application will be reviewed for completeness at the October meeting.

Township Liaison Report: Mayor Chammings

-Committeeman Barta resigned at the October meeting. The County Committee will make a recommendation for three candidates to be considered. Ms. Chammings wished Mr. Barta well. She noted the Planning Board has an opening due to the resignation.

-Tier A Stormwater Prevention Plan – ordinance introduced; public hearing will be on 10/18/23.

-Training being completed as required by the stormwater mandate. The EC may also have to participate in training.

-DPW is busy working on the Mt. Benevolence Road paving project.

-Douglas Vaughn was hired for the DPW.

-Interviewed two additional DPW candidates and one will now be interviewed by the DPW. Once hired, the DPW will have a total of six employees, a full staff for the first time in two years.

-Working on stormwater management ordinances.

-In-rem foreclosures have been halted as there is a case currently before the New Jersey Supreme Court regarding townships foreclosing on properties. TC is waiting on that ruling before proceeding further and receiving a legal opinion from the Township Attorney.

-Sandyston Township has opposed the Delaware designation change proposed by the Sierra Club and Stillwater will propose a resolution in support of Sandyston’s stance. The federal acreage in Stillwater is 182 acres and in Sandyston it is 5,200 acres. Federal property is tax exempt and there is no longer in lieu of taxes.

Mr. Lippencott asked if the County or Hardwick are involved in supporting the opposition to the designation change. Ms. Chammings was not sure, noting the County may have adopted a resolution. She suggested visiting the County and Hardwick websites for further information. Mr. Lippencott wondered if it becomes a national park what the positive and negative impacts would be.

With no further business to come before the Commission, Mr. Szabo made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Mr. Branagan at 8:17 p.m. In a voice vote, all were in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

_______________________________________

Kathy Wunder, Secretary