Palmer Township Environmental Steering Committee

      Palmer Municipal Building

   Meeting Minutes:                    August 2,  2007                                                           P. 1 of  2

 

Attendees:    T. Dittmar, T. Ganssle, R. Kantor, R. Reese, J. Stoneback,  D. Veres,  & A. Yost

 

Guests:  Robert Natkie, General Manager & Sam Augustine, Director of Sales for J. P. Mascaro & Sons

       

 

 Meeting opened at 7:10 PM

 

1. Minutes Approval:

        Minutes from ESC meetings of  March & April approved (T. Ganssle, - T. Dittmar, 2nd)

 

2. R. Reese opened nominations for ESC Secretary.  T. Ganssle motioned to nominated Denise Veres with no other nominations

         offered.  Denise was approved with majority vote (2nd- J. Stoneback)

 

3. Waste Hauler Issues:  T. Ganssle read a list of complaints against the service of Mascaro for the past 2 months from an email

         sent by C. Oatis.  T. Dittmar and R. Kantor both expressed complaint lists of similar disservice.   S. Augustine responded with an

         overview of the awareness of Mascaro representatives with the poor service, the fact that the events were unacceptable to the

         company, and remedies already in place and yet to come.  R. Natkie also responded with same.  Explanations from Mascaro were:

         new company and residents were testing limits, 1st month (May) is normally one of heaviest volumes of the year & July 4th also      heavy volume, customers not complying with regulations (as cardboard size limits, commingled contamination, etc.), and there

         were 2 pick-ups of yard waste in two months (June/July) when verbal agreement was one in spring, one in fall.  R. Natkie & S.

         Augustine spoke of remedies in place:  Mascaro supervisors visiting with B. Anckaitis often, B. Anckaitis driving behind haulers

         on a few occasions and witnessing few problems, truck operators leaving tickets with customers for noncompliance, truck

         operators being removed from Palmer route to other contract locations, and supervisors (including R. Natkie) picking up missed

         stops themselves.  S. Augustine reported that complaint numbers/day were down considerably lately.  Other suggestions were:

         educate the public with rule/regulation reemphasizing, better organize next year’s brush pick-up

      - R. Reese inquired if Mascaro could collect plastic containers with #s other than 1 & 2 since Tom Marshall in Bethlehem takes

        all #s of plastic.  S. Augustine responded with: only 1 & 2 have value and it is all they collect.  Rob also requested larger

         containers at Hartley Ave. recycling center for recycling products.

        - T. Ganssle inquired about Mascaro donating some money to defray costs of community giveaway items such as lawn mowers. 

                        R. Natkie provided a fax # for written requests.

 

4. Old Business

 

-          Newsletter – J. Stoneback noted that the ESC’s contribution to the newsletter (June) was the most articles we ever offered for

print. 

                                       


Palmer Township Environmental Steering Committee

   Meeting Minutes continued:        August 2, 2007                       P. 2 of  2

 

 

-          Community Weekend – D. Veres passed around sign-up sheet so members could volunteer hours for weekend.

-          Denise discussed the themes for this year’s weekend will be transportation, community, and family and she will provide props and activities for each.

-          Denise contacted AERC who donated a battery container for small battery recycling at event.  She will also provide a laptop

        for event which residents may calculate their energy impact to compare it to average American.

-          J. Stoneback contacted Palmer Nursery to donate tree/shrub to raffle off.  T. Ganssle will pick up day before event

-          T. Dittmar has electric mower to raffle & will bring to site

-          T. Ganssle has gas mower to raffle & will bring to site

-          R. Reese asked high school SAVE students to volunteer to set up a small site & will work in conjunction with our ESC efforts to educate residents.

        - R. Natkie (Mascaro) will provide yoyos, booklets, and pencil packs for event

-          It was decided to raffle off both mowers and tree/shrub last night of event (Sunday)

 

- Composting Seminar – T. Dittmar announced seminar would occur at Recycling Center Hartley Avenue on September

         15th, 9:00 AM as advertised in Palmer Newsletter.

 

5. New Business

 

-          E-Cycling Event – R. Reese called Northampton County to see when next event would be & he received only a recording

       from county office.  Rob mentioned that Environmental high school students will organize one for fall

        - Rob also mentioned that the County’s next Hazardous Waste pick up would be 2nd week in October

 

 

        Motion to adjourn: 8:15 PM    (T. Ganssle, J. Stoneback)

 

 

Submitted by: T. Ganssle

TDG/tg