Palmer Township Environmental Steering Committee

      Palmer Municipal Building

   Meeting Minutes:          October 2, 2003

                                                                                            

 

Attendees:    T. Dittmar, T. Ganssle, R. Kantor, C. Oatis,  R. Reese,  V. Rickert,  A. Yost

 

Guests: Waste Management of PA (WM):  Bill Buskirk (Route Manager)

 

 

 Meeting opened at 7:10 PM

 

1. Minute Approval:

         Minutes from ESC meetings of (7/24/2003) approved (Reese, Ganssle) except for 3 changes:

         1. under “Guest - Bill Buskirk... Front Load Supervisor”  be changed to “- Bill Buskirk …Route Manager”

         2. Under “Discussion” line 12 - “B. Buskirk mentioned… 8 tons of grass/brush per week” be changed to:

                  “B. Buskirk mentioned… 50 tons of grass/brush per week”

         3. Page 2 under Recycling Coordinator’s Report, line 2 - “T. Dittmar suggested…at the composting center

                   for safety.”  be changed to: “T. Dittmar suggested…at the Hartley Avenue Recycling Center for safety.”

 

2. Single Hauler Issues:

         - Bill Buskirk volunteered to email C. Oatis yearly tonnage amounts for possible publication in Palmer

                   Newsletter

                  - B. Buskirk stated no problems with Labor Day holiday pick-up.  There will be no pick-up on Thanksgiving

                            Day

                  - B. Buskirk mentioned it is time for yearly information post cards to be sent out by WM for 2004.  C. Oatis

                            will email B. Buskirk at work with card information and he will take it to print when completed.

                  - R. Reese questioned B. Buskirk if WM could take recyclables other than #s 1 & 2 since

                            other municipalities as Bethlehem do.  B. Buskirk responded with Bethlehem does their own marketing

                            and where WM takes recyclables (Hellers) is the only facility in area.

                  - C. Oatis spoke of a resident complaint of a WM employee “pitching recycling cans on to the lawn.”

                            B. Buskirk inquired of location and responded with there was a new route person and he would speak to

                            him.

 

3. Recycling Coordinator’s Report

         - C. Oatis reported the 904 grant was submitted in September but she wouldn’t have figures until next ESC

                   meeting.

                  - Recycling numbers are slightly down last few months

                  - Recycling Center doing well

                  - Composting Center had some problems of contamination with wooden 2x4s and grass, some areas of

                            fencing down some township employees gave out of town businesses (Suburban Water Authority)

                            permission to use facility, and some township employees not willing to pay the $5.00 / truck fee to

                            use facility.  Cindy worked with T. Sales on issues and resolved that some out of town businesses

                            like Suburban Water Authority will be granted limited use because they work so frequently in Palmer

                            (Facility workers will keep tract of #s of loads and amounts).  Also, a letter was sent out to all township

                            employees reminding them that no one has exemption from fee for usage of facility.

                             - Cindy mentioned that residents were inquiring about the large tree trunks piled at facility to use as fire

                                  wood.   All will be worked out with T. Sales.

                  - Cindy reported that because of the travel her & family must do this year, her responsibilities as Recycling

                            Coordinator need to be lessened, especially the recently added responsibilities of the compost center. 

                           T. Sales is planning on retiring with replacement this spring and perhaps his replacement might take on

                           the responsibility when they commence employment with township. 

                           Cindy suggested that R. Reese & T. Ganssle be present at a meeting of her & B. Ankaitis to discuss the

                            issue.  All agreed and a meeting will be set up.

                            - Cindy informed ESC members that the shed for the Berks St. brush drop-off is now in Ted’s budget and

                                    a phone will be available for the worker’s use.  Also, the fencing which was torn down at brush

                                    drop-off has been repaired.

 

4. Old Business

         - Community Weekend - All agreed it was a successful year and the booth ran smoothly with adequate

                   coverage.  There were no suggestions for improvements except to start planning sooner, especially

                   contacting Waste  Management’s Harry Smith for contributions

         - Open Space - R. Reese updated ESC on last Northampton County Council Open Space Committee meeting.

                  Said committee reviewed 1990 plan to update it.  Almost 25 acres to be allocated for parks, recreation,

                   buffer zones, etc.

         - Bushkill Stream Conservancy - applying for a grant for a greenways plan.  They are looking to PESC for

                   recommendations since ESC involvement is required for application process.

                  Rob informed committee of stream festival at Jacobsburg Park this Saturday

                  Also, meeting at high school on Oct. 3rd for Kunkle Tract update - EAHS students to make a presentation.

                  PBOS members and ESD Board members invited also. 

 

4. New Business

          - Hazardous Waste Day - ESC needs almost a year to plan the next one if we decide to try it again.

                  V. Rickert stated that Northampton County is starting a pilot program to collect hazardous waste on a single

                  day.  B. Ankaitis feels Palmer should not get involved with County on this one.  R. Reese suggested we

                  involve ourselves just to keep County committed to the project.

        

         - Next and last meeting for 2003 - 11/20/03

 

         Motion to adjourn:  9:00 PM  (Dittmar, Reese)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Submitted by: T. Ganssle

 

 

TDG/tg

cc: PESC, PBOS