MINUTES

OF THE

CRANBURY TOWNSHIP

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION

CRANBURY, NEW JERSEY

MIDDLESEX COUNTY

 

TIME AND PLACE OF MEETING

The regular meeting of the Cranbury Township Environmental Commission was held in Town Hall on March 21, 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 to 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

James Applegate, James Gallagher, John Kobland, Thomas Patterson, and Peter Sibley, Chair.

 

NON-MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE

            Josh Appelbaum (Cranbury Press), Connie Bauder, Katy Birckmayer, John Reinfelder, and Dave Stout.

 

MINUTES

The minutes of the February 22, 2005 meeting were reviewed, amended, and approved on a motion by Pete Sibley, second by Tom Patterson, all in favor.  Jim Applegate abstained.

 

DISCUSSION

            Pete welcomed the newest members of the Environmental Commission, John Kobland and Jim Gallagher.  Jim has agreed to represent the EC at the DRC meetings.

            There are now only the alternate positions still vacant on the EC.  Two interested residents were present, John Reinfelder and Katy Birckmayer.  John has been a resident for the past 8 years.  He is employed at Rutgers University as an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences.  Katie has been a resident for the past 5 years and is also employed at RU.  Pete asked Katy to submit a letter of interest along with an outline of her background, if she is interested in joining the EC.

            Pete announced that he will be unable to attend the April 18th EC meeting.  Bill Mikula was volunteered to chair the next meeting while Jim Applegate will track the action items and e-mail them to everyone.

 

WORK SESSION        

Pete discussed the Park Rule Signage with Beth Veghte.  Since the last meeting, the list of rules went for attorney review, with no update, so EC will wait for a new list of rules from the Parks Board.  Pete thought that the short list of rules from the January meeting could be on display in a kiosk, located at the entrance of the Preserve.  The kiosk could be a possible Scout Project.

            Pete worked on the draft Fast-Track Resolution, which recommends opposition to the Fast Track Permitting Act.  This was forwarded to the Trishka Waterbury for review.  EC reviewed the draft ordinance. He will forward a one-page fact sheet to the clerk for distribution to the TC.  Pete would like to get this on the next TC agenda (March 28) for approval.  The State hold on implementation of the FTPA will end on June 20, 2005.

            Pete informed the EC that Larry Plevier of Hatch Mott MacDonald is preparing the Stormwater Management Plan and the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan documents.  He is also preparing the ordinances that will result from this effort.  Pete attended a subcommittee meeting and reported that this group is making good progress.  The plans and draft ordinance should be submitted by April 1 to the County.  Final adoption timeline is in 2006.

            The issue of whether Cranbury needs an ordinance regarding grass clippings will need addressing.  Currently, some residents put the clippings near curbside.  This is not the ideal situation because there is the potential for the clippings to be washed down the storm drains when it rains.  A concerned citizen informed the EC that one of the trash haulers will take away grass clippings with the trash.

            The Preserve Management Plan – Jim Applegate will walk the preserve with Laura Coover and Betsy Clarke of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on March 29.  The NRCS is an organization that will help towns to document a management plan for nature areas. 

Pete and Bill attended the Township Committee meeting on March 7 to discuss the Stream Corridor Ordinance.  He explained the desire to develop this ordinance, which the TC supported.  The EC was asked to work with the Stormwater Subcommittee on this issue.  A draft of an ordinance that outlines allowable and prohibited uses will be put together for TC to review.  Bill Mikula highlighted Clinton, East Windsor, Hopewell, and Montgomery ordinances at the previous EC meeting.  Some background work was catalogued by the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Assoc. and bound in a book titled "Water Resource Protection in Your Municipality", which will provide scientific support for the ordinance.

The Township Committee agreed to support the EC and the ANJEC Grant application.  This will provide funding to hire a professional consultant to lead the EC with their Environmental Resources Inventory.  Pete supplied the text and pertinent information for this grant to be submitted by the secretary.  Deadline is April 1. The middle of May is when the EC will be notified of acceptance.  Shortly thereafter, work can commence on selecting a professional.

Pete will contact Joe Rogers regarding the NJDEP ESP grant.

The need for a Soil Testing Ordinance was discussed at the March 7 TC meeting.  This ordinance would require testing of soil when the land use changes from farming to residential.  Pete informed the EC that Trishka will look at the legality of having such an ordinance but she would need an ordinance to look at.  Pete thought the Mt. Laurel ordinance is a fine example of this, which states if there is such a change in the use of the land, testing according to the DEP testing protocol should occur and the results should meet the DEP standards.  Pete will forward the Mt. Laurel ordinance to Trishka for legal review.

The Stormwater Regulations Program requires an educational program for the residents for the awareness of the implementation regarding the new stormwater regulations.  The SPPP 4 form details the program.  There is a requirement for an annual mailing of a brochure provided by the DEP to residents, which will be included in the 2nd quarter newsletter.  The labeling of the storm drains will continue.  Bill will need to contact MaryJean Mucciarone.  Door hangers will be included with this project.

The EC should contact the 8th grade advisor, Andrea Capalena, for the annual 8th grade car wash fund drive in the fall.  The Presbyterian Church also has an annual car wash fund drive.  A contact name will be provided through the secretary.  The EC will donate the drain skirts and environmentally friendly soap.

The Soil Testing Kits are ordered, but have not yet arrived.  They should arrive within the week to coincide with the article in the newsletter.

The EC table during Cranbury Day will have available to the public information about the Soil Testing Kits, the DEP brochure, car washing BMP information, the storm water regulations and other general information.  ANJEC has a 3-panel display board, which they may loan out for functions.  John Kobland volunteered to take the lead on organizing our participation in Cranbury Day.  A suggestion was made that the table be farther away from the band.

            The Township is gathering information for their new web site.  The EC may offer suggestions regarding educational and informational links that the public can benefit.  Possible links could be the ERI, the Preserve, and car washing.  Tom volunteered to take the lead on this task.

            On March 19, John Kobland and Jim Gallagher attended the ANJEC Environmental Commissioners Course.  Both members felt this was an informative program and provided copies of their certificate.

            Katy Birckmayer asked what the role of EC was in Cranbury.  Pete explained that EC is an advisory board with a budget that makes recommendations to the Planning Board and Township Committee regarding environmental issues, reviews site plans and applications, defends natural areas, and pursues deed restrictions on sensitive lands along stream corridors.

 

APPLICATIONS

            Application No. PB082-04, Virginia Neill/Ken Miller, Block 18.07, Lot 27, 106-108 South Main Street, Minor Subdivision.  EC reviewed the plans and had no comment.

 

CLOSED SESSION

The EC went into closed session to discuss personnel matters (potential new member) and review the exec session minutes of February 22, 2005.

 

RE-OPEN TO PUBLIC MEETING

            After review of the closed session minutes, meeting reopened and a motion by Pete Sibley, second by Tom Patterson, all in favor, approved the minutes.

 

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 March 21, 2005 consisting of 3 pages, constitute a true and correct copy of the minutes of said meeting. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed the name of said Environmental Commission the April 19, 2005.

 

 

 

______________________________________

Linda M. Scott, Secretary