Palmer Township Environmental Steering Committee

Meeting Minutes – September 15, 2005

Attendees: L. Bonner, T. Dittmar, T. Ganssle, R. Reese, N. Nicholas, J. Olock, C. Oatis, J. Stoneback, B. Lammi (Supervisor and Liaison)

Guests: Bill Buskirk, Residential Route Manager, WM/GCS

Tom Adams, Palmer Twp. Director of Public Works

Approval of Minutes: Minutes were approved for the May (T.G. & R.R.), June (T.G. & T.D.) and July (T.G. & L.B.) meetings.

Hauler Issues:

Bill Gallagher was not present to discuss the toter information (home emergency). Rob Reese asked if Bill Buskirk could forward information to us. Bill said he’d forward it to Cindy Oatis.

Recycling Coordinator’s Report: (Cindy Oatis)

Recycling Center – Cindy was at the Recycling Center yesterday (9/14/05), and it was a mess! She’s no longer responsible for the Center.

Tom Adams said there’s a pile of wood behind the Recycling Center and suggested that we give it to Easton High School for their bon fire.

Compost Center – Cindy sent an e-mail to all ESC members concerning the Compost Center and how the yard waste is being contaminated. Scott Kistler is worried…no one will take the mulch due to contamination (cinder blocks, toys, food). Tony Italiano (Green Pond Nursery) is trying to find someone to take it. Italiano said he’d take it if it’s not contaminated…space is no problem. The Compost Center needs better monitoring. The township has to hire responsible workers who will monitor the site. Scott said residents are very good at hiding debris. We need someone there with a backhoe to turn the waste and check for contamination. The ESC just advises. It’s not Cindy’s responsibility any more. Bob Lammi suggested a meeting with B. Anckaitis, T. Adams, S. Kistler, ESC, and himself to discuss this matter.

It was asked if we could fine/ban residents who contaminate? Bob Lammi said there must be an Ordinance to fine. This is not a committee issue but a management issue. There is nothing in an Ordinance to keep trash out of the yard waste. We need to add something to the Ordinance. We should put something in the Newsletter or also put a sign at the Compost Center. Tom Ganssle reminded us that the yard waste drop-off was started as a temporary solution…wouldn’t want it to close.

Tonnage Report – Bob Lammi presented graphs with the tonnage reports for WM. He will post it on Palmer’s web site. Palmer sends out 6450 bills for garbage yearly.

Other – Cindy mentioned that Bethlehem Township inquired about a joint venture for tub grinding. Palmer isn’t interested at the present time. Cindy will offer help and materials, since we’ve gone through this many times (tub grinder).

Budget – A discussion was held concerning the ESC’s budget for 2006. T. Ganssle asked if we should add e-cycling to our budget. Cindy said it’s already in the budget ($l,000) and a banner for e-cycling ($300).

Old Business:

E-cycling – Will be held on October 1, 2005, at Recycling Center on Hartley Avenue. AERC will be in charge. They will have 10/15 employees who will provide signage, cones, horses, trucks, etc. We will contact county officials…Peg Ferraro, Grucela, Wonderly, Freeman and the Press. WM is responsible for education material; therefore, we should send an article to The Express-Times and Morning Call and send the bill to WM.

Composting Seminar – Will be held on September 17, 2005, at 9:00 a.m., at the Recycling Center on Hartley Avenue. To date, 31 residents have signed up. We should be receiving 100 bins for the seminar. It was suggested that we give bins out even though residents haven’t attended the seminar.

Newsletter – Jo-Ann Stoneback reported that the next Newsletter will be coming out around the third week in November. The deadline for the Newsletter will be October 17.

Community Days – Tom Ganssle thanked Denise for her work on up-dating our booth, T. Dittmar for helping set up and getting one of the mowers, R. Reese for the event lids, C. Oatis for the banner and lids (next year’s lids should be wooden, if possible), and all the ESC members who helped man the booth, and WM for providing boxes.

The mower winners were Kathy Sargent (electric) and Bob Buchanan (gas).

Rob Reese thanked Tom Ganssle for all the work he put into Community Days.

New Business:

Storm Drain Painting – Tom Adams presented a poster and medallions relating to the contamination of our water due to polluting our storm drains. There are approximately 1,000/l,500 storm drains in Palmer Township, and the medallions stay on for 5 years. Bob Lammi suggested that maybe we can get scout groups to help. It was also suggested that we should make developers responsible for future medallions.

Public Outreach – Improve on recycling at the High School.

Next Meeting: October 20, 2005

Adjournment: Meeting was adjourned 8:45 p.m. (T.G. & J.O.)

Submitted by:

Jo-Ann M. Stoneback, Secretary

Palmer Township Environmental Steering Committee