Palmer Township Environmental Steering Committee

Meeting Minutes – February 16, 2006

 

Attendees:  Larry Bonner, Tom Dittmar, Tom Ganssle, Nancy Nicholas, Cindy Oatis, John Olock, Rob Reese, Jo-Ann Stoneback, Andy Yost

 

Meeting was opened at 7:05 PM.

 

Approval of Minutes: Minutes were approved from the January 19, 2006 ESC meeting (RR&TD). 

 

Hauler Issues: 

Contract: T. Ganssle reported that the contract renewal subcommittee is working first on completing the Request for Bid Proposal and secondly on a new contract.  He stated that the committee is making great progress on completing this part of the renewal documentation.  This subcommittee will continue to meet on a monthly basis.

Other: T. Ganssle will request WM/GCS to provide us a 2 month complaint log for our review.

 

Recycling Coordinator’s Report:

Composting Center: C. Oatis said that the revised fees for pickup truck, small dump truck and large dump truck drop offs at the center will need to be approved by the Palmer Township Board of Supervisors.  Also, she informed us that starting on the first Saturday in April and continuing through September there will be a front end loader available to load mulch into people’s trucks.  There will be a no charge for this loading service.

Grants: To date no grant awards have been announced. 

 

Old Business:

Newsletter:  J. Stoneback informed us that the next newsletter will be published in May.

Composting Seminar:  T. Dittmar will schedule this year’s composting seminar for sometime in September.

Bushkill Stream Conservancy: R. Reese showed us the “Birding and Natural History Trail Map for the Two Rivers Greenway area” that was developed by the BSC and other concerned groups.  This map highlights 15 locations, giving directions and describing important habitats and species that can be seen at each. 

E-cycling Event:  R. Reese stated that the EAHS students plan to hold their e-cycling event on April 8, 2006.  Some of the fees charged will be applied to the school’s S.A.V.E. and scholarship fund raising programs.

PEC Grant: We did not have time this year to submit a paper to the Environmental Advisory Council for a possible monetary award.  Now that we are aware of such an award we will plan to have a paper prepared for submission next year.

Storm Drain Painting:  R. Reese informed us that EAHS students will work on marking storm drains that empty into natural waterways as soon as the weather breaks. 

YPA 2006: The committee’s number one project for 2006 will be the preparation of the upcoming collection of trash and recyclables bid and contract.  Other projects are the Composting Seminar, Storm Drain Painting and possible reorganization of the recycling center.

 

New Business:

Village at Mill Race Plantings: R. Reese discussed a spring project to plant plantings, provided by a developer, along the bike path and other areas.

Delaware and Lehigh National Canal Corridor Upgrade:  R. Reese informed us of a planned project to upgrade the condition of the tow path.  There will be a need for volunteers to work on the north shore of the path between Chain Dam and Hope Road.

Other: T. Ganssle informed the committee of the upcoming Southeastern PA Regional Conference for Environmental Advisory Councils being held on Saturday March 11, 2006 from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM.  Contact T. Ganssle for additional information if you have any interest in attending.

 

Next Meeting:  March 16, 2006 at the Palmer Municipal Building at 7:00 PM.

 

Adjournment:  Meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m. (J. Olock & J. Stoneback)

 

Submitted by:

Larry Bonner, Secretary

Palmer Township Environmental Steering Committee