Bordentown City Environmental Commission

Bordentown City Environmental Commission Minutes for September 13, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom Submitted by Lynn Robinson The meeting was called to order by our new chairperson Cathy Shaw at 7:05pm. The public meeting statement was read. Members present: Cathy Shaw, Joel Dowshen, Dan Preston, Ralph Tolomeo, Brooke McMinn, Lauren Drumm, Lynn Robinson The august minutes were approved. Current Business Farmers Market update (Yasmine Qazilbash) Their was an average of 16-18 vendors and there is a waiting list for next year. The Market will be open through the end of October with the exception of the Cranberry Fest weekend. The music has brought in a lot of people. There will be a Pop-Up Market the Sunday before Thanksgiving. The bakers do a great job with their pre-orders. The Market has been approved to have alcohol on the premises. More publicity might be helpful. Planning Board Report: (Lynn) A subcommittee has been put in place to review the applications for completeness before presentation to the entire board. The meeting was short with no important business. D&R Greenway & Abbott Marshland Reports: Joel has an insert to attach to the minutes. Work on the police area has started. The gym is closed because of fire alarm and safety issues. BCEC membership – Gabriella changed her mind about joining. We still have two alternate positions that are vacant. Green Team - The Green Team needs to be reorganized. Green Team members do not have to be city residents. Green Infrastructure (Cathy)  Presentation at August Commission meeting was a big success and Cathy suggest the presentation be given for the Planning Board Members.  Reduction Action Plan & Feasibility Study (inspections by RU complete) Rutgers did the inspections of selected sites. Rutgers will provide the calculations to show how much water was absorbed. Concept plans will be given to the City. ANJEC Grant for Oliver Street Park: Brooke has created a design and concept plan and has been in touch with Pleasant Run. Brooke has a list of items to be purchased which is just under $500. A November date for planting will be announced. Girls Friendly Society meeting on August 25 at the Discovery Center (Cathy): The event was really well done.  2023 BCEC Budget (& Expenditures) – The City is on a spending freeze through September. Hopefully our requisition ($100) for space at the Cranberry Fest will be approved. Planning Needs for remainder of 2023 & Calendar year 2024  Staffing for upcoming events (see list below)  Need theme and a few folks to organize for Cranbury Fest Flashy sign to show what BCEC has done; Climate change and things that can be done to help; kids’ toys, key chains and pens to give away; rain barrel to raffle Master calendar of events: pollinator garden workdays; storm water planters; maintenance on 2 gardens; New Business Invasive Species Remediation – BCEC role? BCEC can look at report and suggest ways that volunteers can assist. Conversations about the Environment (formerly Earth Talks) o Noise pollution – suggest presentation at Commissioners meeting Upcoming events: Sept 24 Farmers Market, set up @8:30 and break down @ 1 pm Sept 30 Paper Shredding co-op with Township 9 am to noon Oct 7 and 8 Cranberry 11 am to 5 pm (plus set up and break down each day) Date to be determined: planting at Oliver Street Park Note: Rescheduling Citywide yard sale from 1st Saturday in June to May 18 or 25, 2024 Quarterly Check-In Report (Q1 in March, Q2 in June, Q3 in Sept, Q4 in Dec) Representatives of these subcommittees/initiatives will present a status report on a quarterly basis.  Community Garden – Maxine Brimmer reports a wonderful 2023 gardening season. The next project for the garden is to improve the soil with organic matter *****PUBLIC COMMENT**** NONE Adjournment at 8:21pm Next meeting: WEDNESDAY, October 11, 2023 at 7:00 pm (Via Zoom or in person – ???)  D&R Greenway & Abbott Marshlands Update BCEC Meeting – September 13, 2023 Joel Dowshen D&R Greenway  Among its extensive preservation work, D&R has been proudly showcasing Point Breeze with their newly opened Discovery Center (Gardener’s House) and historic garden – all a great draw for people to find out about Bordentown City as an important destination.  Special events coming up at Point Breeze o "Harvest Season: Historic Garden at Point Breeze Walk-About"  Sunday, September 24, 1:00 - 3:00 pm o "Harvest Moon Ball at Point Breeze"  Saturday, September 30, 6:30 - 9:30 pm  Music and Improv Performances Sponsored by Bordentown Arts o Click this link for more information and how to get tickets to these events  Point Breeze Events/tickets.  Click the link below to see D&Rs new video about the history and ecology of Point Breeze – featuring Jim Lynch o Point Breeze History and Ecology Video Abbott Marshlands  The Friends for the Abbott Marshlands continues to offer some exciting new events in the next month or two, all available to you, your families and friends. o Harvest Moon Members Walk  September 29, 5:30-7:30 o Susan Hoenig Art Exhibit “On Lenape Land”  Opening Reception Sunday, October 1, 2:30–4:30 pm o Fall for Trivia in the Abbott Marshlands – Fundraiser  November 2, 6:00 – 8:30 o Click the link below for more information about these programs and all the other offerings by the Friends for the Abbott Marshlands  The link also has a short video about the “Bordentown Bluffs Trail Reboot”, the project we’ve been working on rerouting part of the beautiful trail overlooking the Crosswicks creek. o Abbott Marshlands Special Events & Bluffs Trail Reboot MORE INFORMATION FROM CHAIRPERSON Here's a quick recap of subcommittees that might be helpful, and a list of folks who expressed interest so far. Let me know if you would like to join any of these groups, or have any suggestions: Site Plan review committee, to assist Lynn with plan review as needed. This group has included Mike, Dan, Lauren and Cathy (in addition to Lynn) in the past. Let me know if I missed anyone. Cranbury Festival - Brooke, Dan and Cathy will reconvene to discuss theme and materials in more detail. Oliver Street Park- Brooke is taking the lead and Cathy will help as needed (great concept plan, Brooke!). Planting day is tentatively planned for November. Calendar planning, to include reoccurring events (Green Fair, City wide yard sale, spring and fall festivals, paper shredding, for example), as well as work days at pollinator gardens and stand-alone events we have in mind for the next year or so (park clean ups, Earth Talks, possibly invasive species management.). This will enable us to organize staffing, prepare promotional materials well in advance, and make the most of advertising. I think Brooke and Joel expressed interest (?). I suspect Ralph Simon's wife might help prepare graphics. Invasive species remediation plan - Dan and Cathy (was there anyone else?) the idea here is to coordinate with Joe Myers and Bob Erickson and develop a plan to move forward. Budget - Cathy and Ralph T will review, just to get a handle on what's been paid and what expenses are still pending. ALSO - would Oliver Street Park planting be a good project for Katie's students? The timing seems right, and one of the grant requirements is volunteer hours!