Palmer Township – EAC

Environmental Steering Committee

Minutes 4/24/08

Attendees: Chris Briglia, Terry Cooper, Tom Dittmar, Tom Ganssle, Ron Kantor, Nancy Nicholas, Cindy Oatis, Rob Reese

Meeting opened at: 7:00 PM

1. Minutes Approval: March minutes approved – (Ganssle, Dittmar)

2. Recycling Coordinator Report

- C. Oatis discussed Mascaro Company’s intention to pick up yard waste at curbside (in contract) next week.

- Mascaro representatives claims not to enough recycling trucks or man power to handle job necessitating the use of rear packers to make yard waste runs after normal waste pick ups. ESC commissioned Cindy to check the hauling contract to see if wording exists for the disallowance of packer trucks to haul recyclables and to call Pat Mascaro to get a detailed description of their plan.

- C. Oatis discussed the plans of Mascaro Company to collect plastics of all recycling numbers from 1 through 7. Implementation held up in Charles Bruno’s office because plastic #6 contaminated by styrofoam.

- C. Oatis discussed the DEP meeting that her and T. Dittmar attended to report to ESC the DEP’s new regulations to hold up grant approval to townships in noncompliance with litter control and self-sustainability of the townships recycling centers’ operations.

3. Old Business

- The joint E-cycling event of Palmer ESC & Twin Rivers Council was discussed in detail to finalize plans for Saturday, May 3rd at Easton Area High School. Event will run from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM but ESC members should report at around 9:00 AM.

- Cindy and R. Reese will meet with AERC representatives on Monday (4/28, 10:00 AM) at EAHS to plan location of collection and other details

- C. Brigalia volunteered to solicit donations for and provide food and coffee for AERC workers and ESC volunteers

- Cindy will bring township safety vests but ESC members need to bring their own if they have them because the township number is limited.

- T. Ganssle volunteered table, refuse and recycling containers

- R. Reese volunteered to place signage on EAHS property by 9:00 AM

- New members asked if D. Veres could send out the committee member list a second time for not all members have it.

- Palmer Community Weekend was discussed and it was suggested to increase the number of recycling containers to ten. C. Oatis will take care of purchase of containers and 25 insert bags.

4. New Business

- YPA 2008 – R. Reese will contact a person to give a presentation on native plants and have B. Lammi place a webpage of native plants on Palmer’s website

5. Next Meeting: Cindy needs to check to see if Municipal Building schedule may facilitate a change in monthly ESC meeting days from Thursday to Wednesday. Decision will be forthcoming.

6. Adjournment: 9:00 PM

Prepared by T. Ganssle, 4/20/08