Bordentown City Environmental Commission

Bordentown City Environmental Commission MINUTES of September 11, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. Via Zoom Submitted by Lynn Robinson Cathy Elliott- Shaw called the meeting to order the chairperson. The Public Meeting Statement was read. Present at the meeting: Joel Dowshen, Lauren Drumm, Ralph Simon, Mike MacEwan, Dan Preston, Lynn Robinson, Cathy Elliott-Shaw, (Guest)Yasmine (Farmer’s Market) The July minutes were approved. Farmer’s Market – (Yasmine and Cathy) The Farmer’s Market is very successful again this year. It will be open through October 29, 2024 with the exception of October 6th which is the Cranberry Fest. Everyone is enjoying the entertainment. It would be nice to be able to compensate the musicians even if it is just gas money. Having food truck vendors seems to be a problem because the Farmers’ Market is only open for 4 hours and most trucks are looking for a longer time frame. Everyone likes a little food to eat while enjoying the music so it was suggested prepared foods could be a possibility. There will be a Halloween costume swap. Costumes will be collected every Sunday and then on September 29 anyone can get a costume of their choice for free. Costumes will also be given away at the BCEC table at the Cranberry Fest. Ideas for next year: stipends for musicians; new signage along with a new design; register to be a formal vendor for snap benefit providers; a misting fan to provide relief from the heat; Correspondence (none) Reports and Recap  Planning Board Report (Lynn) We did not have a meeting in September. Our next meeting will be October 7, 2024.  D&R Greenway & Abbott Marshland Reports (Joel) Brooke has been in charge of the garden and has done a spectacular job. There will be native plant sale on Friday, September 13th and Saturday, September 14th. The D&R Greenway is having a program on September 19, 2024 about the Delaware River. There will be an art exhibit along the Delaware River and Crosswicks Creek. On Friday at 6:45 there will be an Insect Discovery Night in Bordentown Township. On Saturday at the Nature Center there will be a program and the topic will be Nature under the Microscope. Volunteers are needed for the Delaware River cleanup around Duck Island. Anyone can go on the website to see all of the activities and events.  Creative Team (Dan) October 26, 2024 – Jack-O-Lantern Event   Green Team highlights and initiatives:  Rain Barrel workshop, led by Watershed Ambassador Carly DeGirolamo, was very successful. There were ten participants, and five participants sent photos of their installed rain barrels.  Wonders of Watersheds @ Farmers Market, presented Carly DeGirolamo and Anna Hart, was very informative and well attended  Weekly garden maintenance – the focus for July/August was the Frank Carr Iris Garden, and the Hilltop Park pollinator garden.  Potluck dinner was well attended  Plastic recycling through the NexTrex Program is underway.  Cigarette waste recycling is underway (partner with TerraCycle)  Halloween Costume Swap – now collecting used costumes for a swap on September 29  Tour of Independent Record Pressing scheduled for October 21 (in lieu of regular Green Team meeting). Registration required. Discussion Items  Value and logistics of volunteer support – The Green Team members do great work as volunteers and they are valuable to us. The volunteers go over and beyond.  Troll Trek – Anna, Joel and Cathy are working on this project. CJ from the Bordentown Business Association will help. The Cost to us is $250. It is sustainable art.  Cranberry Festival – theme and participation – Our topic will be Recycling and Up-cycling. We will add plastic recycling. Cathy will create a sign-up sheet.  Scarecrow Contest – BCEC / Green Team participation? Drop off is Oct. 12. Lauren volunteered to create the Scarecrow. Information and updates (discussion only if needed)  Trails Work Group – kick off meeting was 8/22/24. Dr. Steve Lederman was recently appointed to the committee. Meetings will be held the third Wednesday of the month starting at 5:30 pm. BUDGET: We will make 100 copies of a trifold pamphlet about the BCEC which will cost $130. This was approved by the BCEC. Upcoming events: September 18 Public Works pizza party September 28 Community Paper Shredding – please sign up to participate September 29 Halloween Costume Swap October 5 and 6 Cranberry Festival – please sign up to participate October 13 and November 10 – Invasive species work days PUBLIC COMMENT - NONE Meeting was adjourned at 8:23pm. Next meeting: WEDNESDAY, October 9, 2024, at 7:00 pm (Via Zoom)