Palmer Township Environmental Steering Committee
Meeting Minutes – March 25, 2004
Attendees: A. Yost, T.
Ganssle, T. Dittmar, C. Oatis, D. Halasz, R. Reese, J. Stoneback,
B. Lammi (Liaison/Supervisor)
Guests : Prospective
new ESC members—Larry Bonner, Terry Thomas, Joseph Crompton, Lother Gumberry (?), Bill Barnes, Nancy Nicholas
T. Ganssle explained the ESC Committee to the
prospective new members and introduced
the ESC members.
Approval of Minutes:
Minutes
of the February 26, 2004, were approved with the following change… Rolla
Gregory asked if we pay for compost “bins”. (TG & AY)
WM/GCS
Hauler Representative: No one attended meeting from WM.
Recycling Coordinator’s Report:
C. Oatis
got an e-mail from Neil Durko about creating a recycling program at the High
School. Cindy explained what we’ve done
in the past. Recycling programs have
been difficult to maintain. Cindy asked
where should she go with this? Cindy
explained how she and Kristy Miers (City of Easton) went to Shawnee to start a
recycling program, but it never went through.
The result of a waste audit was that Shawnee has a
lot of kitchen waste containers for recycling.
T. Ganssle stated that the problem at the High
School is that students get involved and then graduate.
R. Reese stated that was is done at the High School
can be a model for other schools.
Composting Seminar: (6-5-04) It’s a
budget issue. The money wasn’t included
in the budget for 2004. A request must
be put in writing and submitted to Bob Anckaitis. Tom Ganssle will draft a letter to Bob. T. Dittmar said we need 100 bins at $30/35 a bin. Dittmar will advise Ganssle of how many bins
will be needed for the seminar.
Composting Center: Revenue
from the composting center brought in $4,100 from January through December of
2003. It was suggested that it be
closed next year in February due to lack of business.
WM Residential Report for Palmer Township was passed
around to all members.
Tom Ganssle asked if the same individuals will be
handling the compost center when it opens 2 days a week. Cindy doesn’t know yet.
Recycling Center: Regarding
the trash containers at the recycling center, Cindy stated that the ESC does
not have the authority to make changes at the recycling center. We must put changes in writing and submit to
Bob Anckaitis. The directive must come
from Bob to eliminate 2 trash bins at the recycling center. The ESC has to outline what we want to do
and why. It was noted that it’s very
aggravating to residents to take dirty bags back home. The workers at the recycling center will
continue to educate the residents.
Tom Ganssle will draft a letter to Bob Anckaitis to
eliminate 2 of the 4 bins.
Grants:
Cindy Oatis is working on the final lap
of the Northampton County Report Base 904.
Other:
Cindy hasn’t received the proof for the
post card that WM will be mailing out.
Jo-Ann Stoneback received a phone call from a resident
as to where to dispose of old computer/computer parts. Tom Ganssle will look into the matter. When we have an answer, give to Bob Lammi
for the website and also Jo-Ann to put in the Newsletter.
Old
Business:
Newsletter: Jo-Ann Stoneback reported that
the next Newsletter will be published around the middle May. She received an article from Diane Halasz
(Footprints) to be included in the Newsletter.
She will write a nature article for each issue.
New
Members: Several
prospective new members attended the meeting.
Hopefully, we’ll see them all at our next meeting!!!!!
YPA: Rob Reese
suggested that, if someone has an expertise, please let us know. We try to work with different groups in the
township.
Palmer
Recreation Open Space Plan: All members received the final draft and are to read
it for the next meeting for discussion.
Bob Lammi headed a discussion about the open space plan, with various
comments from ESC members.
Recycling Awards: Need
criteria. Tabled.
Northampton County Solid Waste
Plan: Rob
Reese stated that it’s not close to being adopted.
Rob Reese stated that he’d rather have time spent
for HHW countywide and not just in Palmer.
It’s an expensive project.
New Business:
Northampton County Open Space Meeting
(3/24/04): Rob Reese stated that the money will be put in a referendum.
Rob explained LVPC
and showed map/draft for open space money. A copy to be given to Amanda Jensen.
Other:
Rep. Rich Grucela is putting together a
sinkhole ordinance. Grucela has Bill
2077 introducing Sink Hole Ordinance statewide. There is an interest in other parts of Pennsylvania for a
sinkhole ordinance.
Next
Meeting: April
22, 2004
Adjournment: Meeting was
adjourned at 8:35 p.m. (TG & AY)
Submitted by:
Jo-Ann M. Stoneback, Secretary
Palmer Township Environmental Steering Committee
NOTE:
In case
you didn’t see it on Palmer’s website, Pennsylvania State Association of
Township Supervisors recently announced the winners of the 36th
Annual Citizen Communications Contest. Today’s
Palmer received first place in
the population over 10,000. Entries in
the publication categories were judged on the usefulness of information
presented, how well the information was communicated, and overall
attractiveness and readability. Judging
criteria for miscellaneous communications media included the usefulness of
information presented, how well the information communicated, technical
quality, and/or visual attractiveness.
As
residents of Palmer Township, we should all be very proud. I’d like to thank everyone who submits
articles or pictures for helping us win this award….Jo-Ann