City Council

Chatham Township Environmental Commission Meeting Agenda Wednesday December 6, 2023, 7:15pm 58 Meyersville Rd. Chatham NJ 07928 OPEN PUBLIC MEETING STATEMENT: The meeting schedule for 2023 and January 2024 is posted on the main bulletin board at the Township municipal building, in two newspapers and on the Chatham Township Environmental Commission website at https://www.chathamtownship-nj.gov/environmental. The public is cordially invited to attend all meetings, join the discussions and participate in projects. CTEC'S PURPOSE: To undertake projects and make recommendations concerning the protection or use of natural resources, including water resources and air quality, located within or directly affecting Chatham Township. The Chatham Township Environmental Commission's goal is to provide a responsible environmental viewpoint to Township committees and boards and to undertake projects with a strong educational component in order to inform officials and residents about constructive actions that can be taken to preserve the environment. APPROVED DATES FOR CTEC AND GREEN TEAM FOR 2022 AND JANUARY 2023 The first Wednesday except the second Tuesday in January 2023 and the third Tuesday in May: January 10, February 1, March 1, April 5, May 3, June 7, July NO MEETING, August NO MEETING, September 6, October 4, November 1, December 6, 2023 and January 10, 2024. AGENDA ITEMS: 1. Roll Call of CTEC Members: Stacey Ewald (Township Committee liaison), Cara Pacifico Feeser, Amy Mason, Jim Connelly, Matt Palmer, Jessica Romeo, Lisa McHugh, Dan Miller (Planning Board), Pat Wells (alternate 1); Celeste Fondaco (alternate 2) 2. Public Meeting Statement (see above) 3. Approve Meeting Minutes of November 1, 2023. 4. Green Team updates – It is now time to begin looking over our 2024 application. Activities that CTEC manages are all part of the Green Team: clean ups, gardens, plant sales and tree seedling giveaways, educational webinars/meetings, etc. Silver Certification received October 2021. We are up for recertification in 2024. CTEC needs a Green Team leader and team to apply for Sustainable Jersey in the next round. 5. CBT Resolution, review and vote on adoption of resolution to then share with Township Committee, asking for them to pass the same resolution before year end. 6. Rain Garden proposal: discussion of leads to a grant that would support such a project. 7. Possible new project: updating the conservation easement inventory. Thigs have changed since the conservation easement inventory was created in 1999. (Jessica and Lisa to meet w/ Dot in November / December to review). 8. Clean Communities update and adopt a drain program info found here. Plans to start this program in 2024 . 9. CTEC informational articles subcommittee: Lisa, Jessica, Pat. Discuss second article for submission.  10. 2023-24 events (running list): Assign 2024 events/programs to commissioners. -Bear Aware Education Program with the Great Swamp Outdoor Ed Center, 2/9/23 (JR) -EV Expo with Madison and CB Wednesday 4/19/23 (JR) -Spring yard sale set for Saturday 4/29/23 and Fall yard sale for Saturday 9/30/23; moved to Sunday 10/1/23 bc of weather (JR) -Tree seeding giveaway, confirmed for 4/22/23 (CPF) -Plant sale with the Great Swamp Watershed Association, distribution date 5/6/23 (JR and CF) *Cultivating Biodiversity webinar w/ GSWA (1/17/23) *Misunderstood Wasps w/ GSWA (2/21/23) *Native Bees w/ GSWA (3/21/23) *Native Pollinator Plants w/ GSWA (4/3/23) -Town wide “virtual” clean up April 17-30, 2023 (JR) -Fishawack 6/10/23 – (Amy Mason and Celeste Fondaco/Planning team) -Fall Sustainability fair 9/23/23, 8am-1pm – (Amy Mason, Lisa McHugh, Cara Feeser planning team. BUT we need coverage for the day of or we cannot participate) -CTEC table at the Township Fall Festival 9/30/23. Good turnout. CTEC shared educational materials on native plants, leave the leaves, and safe ways to manage mosquitoes -Fall cleanup event: 10/28/23 – Shunpike Field clean up (JR-GV Pond Trail, JC-Nash and LM-Shunpike) -Trail work day: 10/28/23 in conjunction with the cleanup day (JR) -Rain Garden workshop TBC for 2024 (JR) -Native Plant month at the Library in 2024 (JR) 11. The Township NRI is due for an update. The last update was 2013 and they are meant to be updated every 10 years. Preference is to keep the name NRI vs ERI. CTEC to make suggested updates to each section and share w/ Township engineer for advice and input. 12. Reports: a. Township Committee – Stacey Ewald b. Planning Board – Dan Miller c. Open Space – Jim Connelly d. Education and Outreach – Jessica Romeo (new ideas: electrify your home and rebates, interactive program w/ GSWA, make your own composter and hands on compost tutorial, Mosquito management, food challenge – reduce meat consumption) e. Invasive Species – Matt Palmer f. Social Media – Jessica Romeo g. Website – Pending Township updates h. Pollinator / Native Gardens – Jessica Romeo (see above agenda item/explore new locations for 2023) i. Grants – discussion on forming an EC grants team APPLICATION/ENVIRONMENTAL PERMIT REVIEW – Lisa has been doing a great job, attending site visits and preparing comments for Board of Adjustment and Planning Board applications. ONLINE RESOURCES - Good NJDEP website for maps, parcels and environmental information at NJ-GeoWeb, http://www.state.nj.us/dep/gis/geowebsplash.htm - use Internet Explorer. - Very good Morris County mapping utility at https://morrisgisapps.co.morris.nj.us/apps/parcelsearcher/ , hit Map and use the i tool. Gives information about each parcel and has aerials layer. Search for more detailed information about a parcel at https://mcweb1.co.morris.nj.us/MCTaxBoard/. - View open space and Green Acres properties at https://www.state.nj.us/dep/greenacres/ga50/docs/rosi.lite.pdf and https://www.state.nj.us/dep/greenacres/openspace.html.