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Minutes
Montville Township Environmental Commission
January 20, 2010
Meeting began promptly at 7:35pm
Roll Call. Absent
with excuse, Sergio Angione. Victor Canning was added to the roll call.
Present: Michele Caron, James
Muhaw, Angelo Intile, Larry Kornreich, Hugh Merritt, Gary Annibal. Monica
Mirnecki, Tim Braden
Annual Commission Reorganization took place.
A temporary Chairperson Hugh
Merritt asked for nominations for Chairperson. Larry Kornreich made a motion
for Michele Caron as Chairperson. Jim Muhaw seconded the motion, all in
attendance voted in favor.
Meeting was turned over to new
chairperson Michele Caron. A motion was made by Michele Caron for James Muhaw
to serve as Vice Chairman. Hugh Merritt seconded the motion. All voted yes, One
NO vote by Angelo Intile.
Environmental Commission Secretaries position was discussed. Frank Bastone will be contacted to
see the status of this request. It is the request of the commission to have a township
employee that has experience in the verbiage and knowledge of Land Use to fill
this vacancy. Michele Caron will report back to the Commission on the progress
made in filling this vacancy.
Introduction of New Commission Members. Ms. Caron made a formal introduction of new commission
members of Gary Annibal and Monica Mirnecki.
Introduction and Congratulations to Township Committee -
Commission Liaison, Deputy Mayor Tim
Braden.
Adoption of Meeting Schedule – 3rd Week of each month at 7:30pm.
New Business
Appointment of Sub-Committees
Board of Adjustment – Michele
Caron
Board of Education – Hugh Merritt
Economic Development – James Muhaw
Health Department – Gary Annibal
Open Space Committee – Sergio
Angione
All commission members will read
minutes or attend meetings to keep open communications from these boards and
the EC. Linda White will be asked to provide minutes or meeting schedules for
these boards to liaisons.
Environmental Inventory was discussed. Members
of commission will probe into whether the ERI study provided by planning board
was a perspective and not an actual study of specific areas of
Montville/Towaco/Pine Brook. Discussion ensued in regards to the price to have
an actual study done. This would assist planning, zoning and township committee
make more informed and scientific decisions when granting permission to
developers. ANJEC and Rutgers University Grad students would be approached as
to their interest and level of participation in a Montville Township ERI area
specific study. Grants will also be examined to relieve township costs to have
such a study completed.
Fostering Environmental Education Outreach to Middle and
High School Students.
Many discussions about High School
programs and Middle School programs were
discussed. Teachers of Environmental Studies will be contacted for their
comments. District Watershed Ambassador will be contacted for their comments
and programs. The Aquifer Study Program will be re-enacted. Charles Perry will
be contacted to see if he has the aquifer study equipment in his garage. The
high school does not have the machinery used in the past. Matt Meyers the middle school science teacher
was also discussed. He has been nominated to be the Arbor Day Honoree for all
of his hard work with the gardens within the Lazar Middle School.
Review of Applications from the Planning Board and Zoning
Board of Adjustment.
Linda White will be asked to
provide the commission with TWO copies of applications. This will enable the
commission members to leisurely and examine the review each application BEFORE
their monthly meetings. Questions will be ready in advance for discussion at
each monthly meeting.
Development of a process where
applicants and items being reviewed by other boards can involve the
environmental commissions concerns BEFORE the projects get to voting process.
Each EC member should be responsible along with liaisons to bring these issues
and applications to each monthly meeting of the EC.
Commission discussed how to work
with other Boards and Commission to limit the number of non-compliances that
jeopardize the town’s natural resources and environment.
This is one of the main objectives
of the Environmental Commission this year.
Sustainable New Jersey Committee was discussed by James Muhaw who was appointed to this
committee by Deb Nielson who is Chairmen of the new board in town. A report will be given by Jim after the first
meeting that will be held next week. He will also provide updates to the
commission on a monthly basis.
Old Business
PMN09-Saia, Sal
– 107 Changebridge Rd. – B 123, L:2 –
Minor Subdivision. No discussion. Waiting on DEP rulings.
Environmental Commission Mission Statement/Goals and
Objectives.
Larry Kornreich and Monica
Mirnecki will make comments and corrections on the by-laws (1st page
article 3, composition of commission).
Next meeting will have a report
and follow-up.
Recycling Day – May 1st. Adam Brewer will be contacted to
discuss use of municipal parking lot. Television recycling will also be
discussed. Angelo Intile will reach out to Shred It Corp and Got Junk in
reference to their participation. Michele Caron will contact Urban Renewal
Corp.
Arbor Day – April
30th Last Friday in April. Matt Meyers, science teacher at Lazar
Middle School in Honoree. Arbor Day Poster Contest winner TBA. State and County
dignitaries will be contacted for their participation.
Rain Garden Project
– Lake Valhalla Garden Club, Hugh Merritt reported to commission that the
Montville Library Site was chosen as the best location for the Rain Garden
Project. Rutgers University and Master Gardeners will participate in this
project. Location was chosen because of its highly trafficked area by residents
of the township. The water will be coming from rooftop and be moving along the
entrance of the auditorium area of the building. All press releases are being
covered by the Garden Club and Rutgers University. Project is being paid for by
Garden Club and Rutgers.
Planning Board – Feb 11th. Re: Kanouse Lane – Stefanelli property. The soil movement error and burying
of a significant Jurassic Rock formation will be reviewed by planning
commission. The serious environmental issues were reviewed. Commission made a
motion and voted to ask Mr. Vic Canning to represent the commission in
requesting that a geologic scientist be solicited to provide the correct
remediation and over seeing the process for this piece of history. All
commission members voted YES.
ANJEC Training Courses – Saturday March 13th
– Environmental Commission Training to Protect Natural Resources, Geraldine R.
Dodge Foundation Building. All commission members were asked to attend. It will
be written into the By-laws that all EC commissioners must attend training time
during each year of their appointment.
Meeting Adjourned at 9:15pm
Respectfully Submitted.
Michele Caron
Chairman & Secretary for
1/20/01 meeting.
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