Environmental Commission Minutes
January 3, 2007
7:30pm
Attendance: Steve Butera, Tom
Carr, Kevin Edwards, Cathy Harvey, Jeana Macleod,
Todd Terhune, Oliver Turner – Total = 7
Absent: Armen Melikian,
Murray Robertson, Chris Stitt, Blair
Wilson.
I. Introductions
& Opening Remarks: The meeting opened with the introductions of the two
new proposed members Cathy Harvey and Oliver Turner. Both individuals have
extensive professional and fiduciary experience in environmental and scientific
research respectively.
Kevin Edwards stated that in the future, all members must
take an active role in the commission and that attendance was part of that
role. In addition, if a member was not able to attend a meeting, that he or she
send their notes in advance to him for presentation.
The Minutes were reviewed for clarity and approved with
minor corrections. The 2007 Objectives will be placed on the EC website for
public comment.
II. Appointment of Secretary: After a discussion in
which the EC reviewed the two alternatives for the recording of the meeting
minutes (a. rotating responsibility or b. single individual), we appointed
Oliver Turner as the Secretary by unanimous vote.
III. EC 2007 Objectives Status Report
- Well
Issues – Due to the holiday season and the unavailability of information,
there was no update to the status of the investigation.
- Deer
Population – As of last month, 11 deer have been harvested. There was no
additions reported; the hunters will be back in the woods relative to the
appropriate license restrictions. In a related matter, the trappers for
the beaver encroachment into the Birchwood Lake
have been contacted. The Woodlands Committee shall be monitoring the
results.
- Hess
& Gulf Stations – No report
- Invasive
Plants – No report. Cathy Harvey was appointed to pursue this item based
on her experience, and current contacts.
- Tree
Cutting – There was a brief discussion on our objective to manage
communication or seek an ordinance with “stronger teeth”. Kevin will
contact Armen M. for a status update. We will
need monthly reports, correspondence, and planning board information if
available.
- Well-head
protection - Steve was advised to reach out to Ellen Emr
and Mark P. for information on the early Mountain Lakes
drafts. He should also initiate research based on the DEP materials.
- Riparian
Buffer - Jeana met with Gary Webb. The DEP has suggested
but not required that we have an ordinance. There is a 25 ft buffer for
lake front property, but neither a policy nor regulations exist for
streams. The EC may find out from Blair Wilson what the Borough Council
may be willing to enact. This ordinance may be placed upon Borough lots
first as a model to show how the Borough will behave. Homeowners may then
take their cue from that once an ordinance is written for the general
public. The issue needs to be addressed in the context of geographic
relevance and scale. For example, it was noted that Mountain Lakes
does not support Class One DEP controlled streams (trout streams).
- Geese
– The EC reviewed the history of the geese population control efforts and
the community’s past reaction. We agreed to initiate some research into
other community’s control efforts. Oliver will contact Susan Ferguson of the
Lakes Committee to review any work on correlating Fecal coliform to the geese population in various lakes
using Allied Biological’s (or another study’s)
data.
IV. Other Business: There was a concern about the
lack of incoming EC mail. The members
benefited from its circulation in past meetings. Kevin will look into this and
the ANJEC notices for the next meeting.
The Meeting was adjourned at 9:10 pm
Next Meeting is February 7th at 7:30 pm.