BYRAM TOWNSHIP ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
AGENDA, JULY 24, 2014
Call to order and attendance. June minutes for approval.
Correspondence and updates:
Annual renewal for NJ Highlands Coalition membership: Non-voting membership @ $20.
Letter of support for amphibian underpass on Waterloo: EC asked Council to send or approve; Council will hear presentation from MacKenzie Hall in September.
Applying to be Tree City USA: Application submitted to NJ Community Forestry, Alexander McCartney, on July 16, 2014. No response yet.
National Trails Day, June 7: Salt Shakers picked up 12 full garbage bags and six full pick-up truck loads, including several mattresses and box springs and multiple toilets, etc. Provided photos, which Margaret will use at Byram’s County Fair display.
EC pix: Margaret needs photos having to do with our trails for the County Fair display. Please email by Friday 7/25 or Monday 7/28.
Natural Heritage Data request: Margaret obtained for Block 186 Lot 1 on Cranberry Lake; cost $70. Needs EC approval.
More studies/remediation at spill sites: NJDOT garage; Shell Station; Gellers.
Article about community solar gardens: permitted in Massachusetts by 2008 legislation; being built in c.17 states.
Article about Bloomingdale EC very critical of Sustainable Jersey.
Business:
Soil ordinance: Discussion. ANJEC sample ordinances from Ramsey, Englewood, South Brunswick.
Easement monitoring pilot project: EC volunteers to continue to reorganize and identify plats in storage room—more dates? Working on educational materials, for EC review.
Recycling partnership with Patti Poff: Make plans for Byram Day and for drafting two mailings: letter/postcard promoting 50% recycling rate by Earth Day 2015 (or end of school year); joint EC-Board of Health postcard about what can be recycled (discuss further at joint EC/BoH meeting in June—see next item). Who can draft?
Other plans: post ReCommunity flyers at local community clubs; ask ShopRite to hand out flyers at check-out.
Planning Board:
· C-1 regulations at Cranberry Lake: Planning Board engineer is reviewing but no discussion with Planning Board yet. Effect on the three recent approvals of additions?
· Highlands Lake Management Plan Guidance. Touches on points the EC has been making.
Trails:
· Park/trail signage: Janet Meisner and Margaret working with Sign-Art on design of C.O. Johnson Park sign.
· Nine new small trail-head signs: Preparing files to send to Fossil Graphics.
· Work on sign posts at Township garage: John, James, Margaret shaped the tops on July 16 evening. Margaret will ask DPW to install, after new signs are received from Fossil Graphics. Stain posts green after installation?
· EC advocacy for Cutoff trail: Letters of support from Warren County Board of Recreation Commissioners, NY-NJ Trial Conference, Hopatcong EC. 2007 Byram Township Council resolution supporting Cut-off trail. Margaret emailed Knowlton EC again, after speaking to Knowlton mayor. Set a date for a meeting?
Musconetcong River: Michelle.
Protecting/planting milkweed for monarchs: Margaret reserved plants/seeds for August, on recommendation of Toadshade Wildflower Farm, Frenchtown—to be picked up.
New business:
Quarry inspection July 17: Dave and James attended.
Adjourn.