MINUTES
OF THE
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
CRANBURY, NEW
TIME AND PLACE OF MEETING
The regular meeting of the Cranbury
Township Environmental Commission was held in Town Hall on February 22,
2005 at 7:05 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER
With a quorum present, Pete Sibley,
Chairman of the Cranbury Township Environmental Commission called the meeting
to order and acted as the Chairman thereof, and, Linda M. Scott acted as
Recording Secretary of the meeting.
STATEMENT OF ADEQUATE
NOTICE
Pursuant with the Sunshine Law,
adequate notice in accordance with the Open Public Meeting Act (N.J.S.A.
10:4-6) was provided on January 4, 2005 of this meeting=s date, time, place and agenda, was
mailed to the news media, posted on the Township bulletin board, mailed to
those requesting personal notice, and filed with the Municipal Clerk.
MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE
William Mikula, Thomas Patterson,
and Peter Sibley; Chair.
NON-MEMBERS IN
ATTENDANCE
Connie
& Bill Bauder, Anna Drago, James Gallagher, John Kobland, Peggy Lee, Dave
Stout, and Angela Clerico of the SBMWA.
MINUTES
The minutes of the January 10, 2005
meeting were reviewed, amended, and approved on a. motion by Tom Patterson,
second by Bill Mikula, all in favor.
DISCUSSIONS
The 2004
Annual Year End Report was submitted to the Township Committee on January 26,
2005. The secretary will provide, via
email, the report to ANJEC.
Beth Veghte was present to discuss
the Cranbury Preserve signage. The EC
rules of January 10th along with a revised detailed list of rules
that is currently in attorney review were distributed at the meeting. Beth reported that the detailed rules were
necessary for police enforcement. According
to her, the police informed the Park Board that they could not enforce the
rules and regulations if they are not displayed. Beth is looking for EC to expand on the
Preserve rules and regulations. She
stated that an additional separate sign indicating the direction the playing
fields are located attached under the entrance sign. Pete indicated that when EC submitted the
rules in January, they were taken from the Preserve ordinance. The period for the signage language is the
end of March. This will be placed on the
next 'meetings agenda. In closing, Beth
added that the tallying of the needs assessment survey is being compiled; she
will inform EC of the results when completed.
Angela
Clerico of the Stony Brook Millstone Watershed Association (SBMWA) was invited
to attend for her expertise regarding the implementation of Stormwater
Regulations, along with community outreach.
Some of the suggested programs have been implemented. River friendly programs include items such as
the river friendly certified sampling, soil test kits, turtle projects
including door hangars, car washes using river friendly detergent and bumper
devices over the storm drains for filtration of the run off.
Another item that Angela distributed
was a hand out for the tailoring of a model stormwater control ordinance. She explained that the relationship between
the ordinance and the municipal master plan should work together. She talked of
required elements of the upcoming Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan and the
Stormwater Management Plan coming up in April 2005. Lastly, a resource list was distributed of
informative websites for Stormwater Resources.
She stated that SBMWA could review Cranbury’s plan and volunteered the
GIS resource center that could help with mapping.
The SPPP 4 & 5 forms of the
Stormwater Regulations were received from Cathy Marcelli and will require EC input. Bill Mikula will work on form #5, while Pete
will handle form #4.
Pete Sibley reported that Jim
Applegate walked the area where the beaver dam is under construction. David Stout also walked this area and felt
that due to the environmental structuring of the land, there is no concern for
flooding. Small trees were downed by the
beaver. While walking the site, Dave
found evidence of a NJriver otter.
NEW BUSINESS
The
Township will be updating their web site.
It could be possible for the EC to get educational information for the
public to access on this site. Pete will
talk with Pari regarding this.
Bill Mikula
distributed a draft synopsis of the Stream Corridor Ordinance (SCO) of Clinton
Twp., East Windsor Twp, Hopewell Twp. and Montgomery Twp. to the EC for
perusal. He stated that in his opinion
it appears that
The
Fast-Track Permitting Act can affect Cranbury, which will allow a developer to
make application and have a resolution to the application within 45 days. The good news is that there is temporarily
protection against this. The Master Plan
with a SCO is the key in avoiding this from happening, but they must work
together. The EC will make the Township
Committee aware of this situation and recommend a resolution.
OLD BUSINESS
Currently there are four vacancies
on the EC. John Kobland and James
Gallagher were present to express their desire to join the EC. Both men previously submitted resumes with their
qualifications. Peggy Lee of Cranbury
Green was present to express her desire to join the EC. Pete asked her to submit a letter of interest
and resume. EC is always interested in
having members who are committed and passionate about volunteering for the
community.
The ANJEC Smart Growth Plan is
accepting applications for up to $20,000. in matching grants, with a deadline
of April 1st. Acceptable projects are
natural resource inventory and open space plan.
This grant is especially attractive due because the municipality can
have in kind services with a match up to 50% with the time of volunteers and
professionals working on projects. Pete
feels that an Environmental Resources Inventory (ERI) would make an ideal grant
application. A consultant can be hired
to perform the work. Pete will contact
the Mayor to inform her of this application for matching monies. He will also prepare the grant, Dave will
call his contacts about the cost of this project. An EC volunteer will be needed to take charge
of this project.
Pete
relayed that Jim Applegate contacted Laura Coover at NRCS about developing a
Management Plan for the Cranbury Preserve.
A site visit will be coordinated with Laura and Jim. Any EC member who is interested may attend.
Bill will
contact MaryJean regarding the labeling of the storm drains and how many more
markers will be needed to finish the project.
An idea of informative door hangers to residents who live in close
proximity of the drains could be added to this project. Anna may be able to get a sample of the
hanger through SBMWS.
Funds were encumbered in December
2004 for upcoming expenses. One P.O. is
for the purchase environmentally friendly soap for $250;
Bill would like to upscale the look
of the EC display table during Cranbury Day.
He will investigate the purchase of a professional display board.
One NOV was received for the
construction site of the Police building.
This letter was addressed to the Township. A re-inspection will be performed on February
24, 2005. Another NOV for Monroe Medical
Supply was received, however this was a Certification Letter.
Pete had investigated soil
ordinances. Hamilton Twp. has a very
involved ordinance. It requires testing
of the soil when there is a change in use of land. It stipulates what samples need to be taken,
how to take them, what to test for, how to do the testing and what the results
should be. He found a
CLOSED SESSION
The EC went into closed session to
discuss personnel matters (potential new members).
ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING
There being no further business, on motion duly made,
seconded, and carried, the meeting was thereupon adjourned.
CERTIFICATE OF SECRETARY
I, The undersigned, do hereby certify;
That I am duly elected and acting secretary of the Cranbury
Township Environmental Commission and,
That the foregoing minutes of the Environmental Commission,
held on February 22, 2005 consisting of ___ pages, constitute a true and
correct copy of the minutes of the said meeting.
IN WITNESS
WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed the name of said Environmental Commission
the March 22, 2005.
______________________________________
Linda M. Scott, Secretary