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Minutes
Montville Township Environmental Commission
March
17, 2010
The chair, Michele Caron called the meeting to order at 7:50pm
Roll Call.
Absent with excuse, Angelo Intile
Present: Sergione Angione, Garry
Annibal, Tim Braden, Vic Canning, Michele Caron, Larry Kornreich, Hugh Merritt Monica
Mianecki, James Muhaw.
Minutes of January
Meeting
Larry Kornreich moved to approve
the minutes of the Februrary 17, 2010 meeting.
The motion was seconded by Sergio Angione and with votes of ayes by Commissioners
Kornreich, Angione, Braden Caron, Canning, Merritt, Annibal and Mianecki the
minutes were approved as presented.
Reports byf Environmental
Commission Liasons
Ms Caron reported that the Board
of Adjustment had postponed the hearing of the use variance for the Quick Check
gasoline station on Route 202 to their May meeting. The applicant was seeking waivers from the
requirements of an environmental impact statement and stormwater review. The BOA was also accepting applications for
new cell towers. A demolition application for Milan Restaurant will have to be
heard after the fact, as the contractor has demolished the structure. Ms. Caron also reported the application for
Lowes in Pine Brook was going forward.
Mr. Braden added the Township is working on a developer’s agreement with
the applicant.
Mr. Merritt reported that according to the Board of
Education the upcoming budget shall not have an effect on the Environmental
Commission except the EDC – Every Drop Counts water conservation program will
have to be cut due to budget constraints.
Mr. Muhaw stated that the Economic Development Committee was
considering a website design and was pursuing a potential restaurant on Whitehall Road.
Mr. Annibal said the Board of Health was granting some
additional sewer conversion extensions, accepting Health Department approval of
a proposed barber shop, a health care marketing office, a candy sprinkle
manufacturer and cell towers. The BOH
also was informed of a rabid raccoon.
In Mr. Intile’s absence, Mr. Braden advised that the Open
Space Committee is in the process of conducting negotiations for land
acquisitions but the details are kept confidential until there is an agreement.
New Business
Ms Caron read a letter from the Recreation Committee
regarding Environmental Commission support of their application to ANJEC for
funds for trail development in Montville. After a discussion about the ANJEC funding of
other projects such as the Environmental Resource Inventory, Mr. Angione moved
that the Environmental Commission support the application for trails, the
motion was seconded by Mr. Merritt and upon a voice vote of all ayes, the
motion passed and the chair authorized and instructed to sign and send the
letter of support.
Mr. Canning reported that the Planning Board application: PMN09-Saia,
Sal – 107 Changebridge Rd.
– B 123, L:2 – Minor Subdivision - was seeking variances on the site plan. Ms Caron discussed the garbage and building
material coming down onto the site from above.
Mr. Kornreich reported on the ANJEC Training Courses that
was held on Saturday March 13th and attended by Environmental
Commissioners Kornerich, Mianecki and Annibal. All agreed it was a worthwhile training
session. A good part of the training was
on environmental resource inventories so the reporting led to a discussion of updating
the Montville ERI. Mr. Merritt asked who
was doing the ERI in the Highlands and whether or not the Highlands Commission
would pay for the Montville
ERI update for that part of the town in the Preservation zone. Mr. Braden said he will investigate who is
doing the ERI for the Highlands, who is paying
for it and what is the time frame.
Ms. Caron asked Mr. Kornreich to discuss the progress on one
of the Goals and Objectives for the year, updating the Commission Bylaws. Mr. Kornreich and Ms Mianecki worked at
reconciling the bylaws to the Township ordinance that created the EC. They reported the open issues were: the chair
is appointed by the mayor but there is no language concerning the term
limit. Ms Caron offered that the chair
may not serve more than three terms. Mr.
Kornreich further reported that there an annual report needs to be prepared and
submitted; and that the secretary and vice chair should be offices in the
bylaws and voted in by the commission.
There was also a suggestion to add a category of associate member.
Mr. Kornreich also discussed the other goals and objectives
that had been previously submitted to the Commission and upon a motion made by
Mr. Merritt, seconded by Mr. Muhaw and a vote of all ayes, the Montville
Environmental Commission voted to accept the stated Goals and Objectives for
2010. Mr. Braden said he felt the EC is
responding to the needs of the Township Committee and the township and Mr.
Canning suggested sending a copy of the bylaws and Goals and Objectives to the
Township Committee for review.
Ms Caron updated the Commission on the plans for Arbor
Day. She is still waiting for a
biography from the Honoree, Mr. Matt Meyers and will contact the Lazar School
principal, John Galucci, about planting the tree at Lazar School. Cub Scout Pack 179 will act as a color guard
during the ceremony.
Ms Caron further reported that the winning poster was
submitted by Tammy Roberti of Cedar
Hill School
and Recycling Day plans for May 1 are progressing.
Mr. Muhaw reported on Sustainable
NJ and discussed garbage disposal
and recycling costs as well as the initiative for residential energy
conservation.
Mr. Merritt said there will be percolation tests on March 25
for the site of the proposed Rain
Garden and the training
program and installation will be on May 4 and 5. He further discussed the importance of the
preservation of grasslands and that Rutgers
has a program to set up and manage meadows..
Ms Caron announced that starting at the May meeting; Liz
Johnson will fill the position of recording secretary. A motion made by Mr. Muhaw, seconded by Mr.
Kornreich and with votes of all ayes, the appointment was confirmed by the
commission.
Ms Caron adjourned the meeting at 9:52.
Respectfully Submitted.
Garry Annibal
Recording Secretary, pro
temp, for 3/17/01 meeting.
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