Environmental Commission Minutes

July 11, 2007     

 

Attendance: Kevin Edwards (chair), Todd Terhune, Oliver Turner, Blair Wilson, Emily Korman, Tom Carr, Murray Robertson

Total = 7

 

Absent:  Steve Butera, Chris Stitt, Jeana Macleod, Cathy Harvey, Armen Melikian,

 

Meeting called to order – 7.47pm

Approval of June minutes by Tom, seconded by Todd

Blair – confirmed that EC will send minutes to Garry Webb

 

I. Goal Updates

 

1. Drinking water and water use (Tom)

 

Drinking Water: Close out of the comments on the letter campaign on water use plus review of ANJEC press release on measures to save water & money. Discussed putting such documents onto the EC website.

 

Blair – suggested sending ANJEC press release to the ‘Citizen’ and Daily Record.

Murray – How do we address questions from the public? How do we do the practical side of things?  Get High School involved?

Emily – Will contact members from the environmental club at MLHS to see level of interest

Tom – Will contact the DPW

 

Murray – Where is the water going?

General discussion of sprinklers….pros and cons

2. Riparian Buffer (Kevin)

 

Riparian Buffer OrdinanceNo further comments – Pending until Jeana returns

 

3. Invasive Plants (Cathy)

 

Results of meeting with Jerry Uhrig discussed. Can someone(s) from EC help with clean up - Invasives clean-up work?  and /or volunteer for Woodlands Commission?

 

Murray – Suggested community service hours should be directed to this.

Kevin will contact - Gary Webb then Jerry

Tom – Spot spraying with ‘Round – Up’ very effective

 

4. Tree Cutting Ordinance (Armen)

 

Closed - Is the draft document correct?

 

5. Well Head Protection (Todd and Emily)

 

Todd – Presented an “Everything you need to know about Well Head protection” document, found from the web - out of Stoneybrook, NJ. Looks like a good starting point.

 

Questions – ML has 3 wells but only two within its jurisdiction. How de we protect our water when well(s) are outside of ML? Discuss with Parsippany etc…

 

Oliver – What is the status of Steve on this issue?

Blair - Will follow up

Todd - Will continue this in September

Kevin – EC members need to review the docs.
 
New Business


Website

 

·        Committee Photos sent to webmaster

·        Shall we add the Riparian Buffer ordinance draft to the site?

·        More ideas for the "What can you do to protect our environment" section

o       Press announcements – e.g. water doc. from ANJEC

o       Oliver - Cats: Increasing stray cat populations - We should not be feeding the wild animals. Consider a statement discussing how to approach this.

o       Oliver - Flags: American flags placed on and around private property to celebrate July 4th without consent. Should the EC send a letter to the appropriate people? Or is this a ML council issue?

           

Oliver will contact Gary Webb on both issues and Blair will follow up.

 

Windmill

 

·        Murray – Windmills for city lights not practical. Try pond aerators. Put a 12-15 foot windmill on Island beach to aerate Mountain Lake.

o       Tom – Impact? May kill birds and bats

o       Blair – should coordinate with Lakes community

o       Blair and Emily - Esthetics?

o       Murray will send out email detailing the windmill and EC members will review for next meeting

 

Solar Power

 

·        Oliver – What Solar Power options are there in ML? Put information on the website.

o       Murray – Solar panels at MLHS

o       Kevin – EC members to consider – Technology, where to buy, state programs.

Other orgs: BOMA, LEED

o       Emily will develop an outline.

 

ERI

 

·        Environmental Resource Inventory

o       EC should update the ERI

o       Apply for a grant

 

King of Kings Property

 

Murray - How to best plan for development in ML? Should the EC get involved?

Blair – Study and make a proposal – affordable housing

            Contact Armen to see what Armen has done

 

Mobil Gas station on 46

 

Murray and Todd – Mobil Gas station on 46. What to do with the pile of contaminated soil?

 

V. Public Comments

 

None

 

EC picnic at Blair’s - Tuesday 7th and 6.00pm,  3 Grove Place.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 9.21pm

Next meeting August 1st at 7.30pm