September 14, 2020 Regular Meeting

STILLWATER TOWNSHIP
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

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., at the Stillwater Township Municipal Building located in Middleville, New Jersey. The flag was saluted and roll call taken.

Minutes

Mrs. Branagan made a motion to approve the minutes of August 12, 2020, seconded by Mrs. Emmetts.

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

Bills

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

Secretary: $232.69

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 7:06 p.m.

There being no members of the public wishing to speak, this portion of the meeting was closed at 7:06 p.m.

Correspondence:

ANJEC: Plastic Ban Bill A1978

The EC discussed Bill A1978 which is scheduled to be voted on by the Assembly Appropriations Committee on September 17^th. The ban would be the strongest in the nation. ANJEC has asked for the support of EC members and requested they contact their local representatives and members of the Appropriations Committee urging them to vote in favor of the proposed bill. Emails were provided by ANJEC for the Assembly members. Mr. Szabo expressed concern with there not being enough information. He felt it was a federal issue and asked if there was an alternative. Mr. Branagan stated the alternative would be cloth bags. Mr. Szabo felt members could respond individually and not as a Commission. Mrs. Branagan was in favor of responding as a Commission and the initiation of a ban on plastic while seeking an alternative. She referred to the Paulinskill River Clean Up and the debris/plastic that enters into the Delaware and eventually into the ocean. Plastic needs to be recycled and not everyone is doing so. Mr. Dvorsky was also in favor of responding as a Commission. Following the discussion, Mr. Branagan made a motion to contact the legislators of the Appropriation Committee in addition to local legislators Assemblyman Space and Assemblyman Wirths, asking for their support of Bill A1978, seconded by Mr. Dvorsky.

Roll Call Vote: Mrs. Emmetts, yes, Mrs. Tracey, yes, Mr. Szabo, no, Mr. Dvorsky, yes, Mrs. Branagan, yes, Mr. Svendsen, yes, Mr. Branagan, yes

Mr. Branagan noted EC members could also choose to contact legislators individually.

Old Business

2020 Beautification Project Update:

The following properties were submitted to the Zoning Officer: 1024 Fairview Lake Road, 1019 Fairview Lake Road, 937 Mt. Holly Road, 988 Old Foundry Road and 1054 Old Foundry Road. The Zoning Officer has contacted the owners and sent out violation notices. Mr. Branagan followed-up with the Zoning Officer and there is no status change. Mr. Svendsen reported a property on Laurel Drive has had a trailer full of trash on it for quite some time. He also noted that the property on Hampton Drive where soil was imported never removed the soil and it is now being spread on the property, encroaching on or possibly crossing into wetlands. Mr. Branagan will contact the Zoning Officer to report the two issues.

Fishing Line Collection: Trout season will begin on October 6, 2020. All line is to be cleaned of leaves/litter, hooks and lead sinkers. Lead sinkers are to be provided at the meeting for recycling. Line was collected. Mrs. Branagan will take over the cleaning of the receptacles at Keen’s Mill and at the boat launch next to the park for Mrs. Emmetts.

Stream Water Testing:

Mr. Svendsen submitted a quote from Eurofins as follows:

Eurofins collecting the water samples: $4,200.00

EC collecting the water samples: $3,160.00

The EC was disappointed in the cost increase for the water testing and Mr. Branagan suggested cutting back on the parameters tested. Mr. Svendsen felt if the EC changed the parameters the data point would be lost. Mr. Szabo agreed and felt the EC should do the sampling. The EC determined that E coli testing was only required for one of the 10 sites. Following the discussion, Mrs. Emmetts made a motion to obtain an updated quote, removing E. coli from nine of the testing sites, seconded by Mrs. Tracey. Mr. Svendsen and Mr. Branagan would obtain an updated quote. Mrs. Wunder will speak with the CFO to confirm availability of funding.

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

New Business

Zoning Board Site Survey Acceptance – Block 2401, Lot44.04, Pole Barn:

Mrs. Branagan made a motion to accept the site survey, seconded by Mrs. Emmetts.

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

Volunteer Recognition:

Mr. Svendsen for obtaining water testing quotes.

Mr. Dvorsky and Mr. Branagan for conducting the site survey on Block 2401/Lot 44.04.

Endangered and Threatened Species Sightings:

Bobcat

At this point, this portion of the meeting was opened to the public 7:45 p.m.

There being no one from the public wishing to speak, this portion of the meeting was closed 7:45 p.m.

Planning Board Liaison Report: Mr. Branagan – 8/19/20 Meeting

-Block 4308, Lots 1, 2, 3: The Board Engineer/Attorney reviewed the lot lines, no variances were necessary and the application was deemed complete and approved.

The next PB meeting will be held on 9/16/20.

Township Committee Liaison Report: Mayor Chammings

-Resolution was passed opposing mail-in exclusion ballots and in favor of in-person voting.

-September 26^th is Clean Up Day

-September 26^th PTA Tricky Tray will be held at the Community Center; groups of 10-25 will be permitted to walk through and place tickets in trays, calling will be done to winners.

-Committeewoman Rumsey and Committeeman Scott walked through the Community Center with DPW Supervisor Josh Raff to determine items that need to be addressed. They focused on outdoor lighting and the bathrooms. Lighting will shine down not out. An energy audit will be conducted if deemed necessary.

-Summer Recreation Camp was held for two weeks in August with 82 participants in total. The Mayor commended coordinators Tara Tosti and Alicia Gardner.

-Town Hall will open on September 15^th by appointment only.

-DPW employee Jeremy Gardner has resigned.

-Town Hall receptionist Dawn Tighe has resigned.

-2021 Budget Review will be scheduled in the near future.

-The Mayor added that she has not heard back from the Township Engineer on the landfill water testing as of yet.

Miscellaneous Items:

-Sara and Jack Branagan displayed an Ash Tree showing the damage an Ash Emerald Borer can inflict.

-Mrs. Emmetts stated the Swartswood Lakes Association meeting will be held on September 26^th at Camp Hoover and Lotus is being harvested at Swartswood Lake.

-Mayor Chammings reported on COVID. Mr. Svendsen noted he has been graphing cases and they are increasing within the County.

-KRHS has resumed classes with two cohorts and Stillwater is doing the same.

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

Respectfully submitted,

_____________________________

Kathy Wunder, Secretary