Environmental Advisory Council

EAC July 15, 2025, Minutes Members in Attendance: Grant Alger, David Reidel, Steve Nelson, Jason Wood, Sustainability Coordinator Grant Rowe, and Karyn Hyland, Planning and Zoning Director. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 6:32 pm. Approval of Minutes, May 20, 2025: The minutes were approved as submitted. Reports: Farmer’s Market/Outreach & Communication: The Conservation District was at the Farmer’s Market and shared the EAC’s table. Grant R. was pleased with the turnout and noted the positive engagement with Borough residents. The EAC will be at the Market again this weekend with a focus on our Bird Town efforts. Grant R. will make a social media post advertising the event. Grant A. would like to have a sign-up list for people who are interested in birds and birding. Grant A. would like a centralized list of Borough plantings. He wondered if there was a way to have the ordinances/policies, etc., in a place where people can easily access the information. This might be a good task for Karen G. to undertake. Additional themes for the remaining Farmer’s Markets also need to be considered. Bird Town: Grant A wrote to the person who did the bird survey. He wants to wait until more research is done before requesting action from the County. The Fall migration analysis will need volunteers to help with counts for those interested. The person who did the survey is presenting his findings to the Township’s EAC in August. Index of Open Areas: None Park Habitat Enhancement Plan: The members of the EAC should review the Park Habitat Enhancement Plan and consider how it will impact the budgetary requests for the EAC. DCAP: Steve says the plan will be ready to be seen by the full EAC membership in August. Staff Report: Grant R. is considering electrifying Public Works vehicles and equipment (mowers, blowers, etc.). New infrastructure will be needed for these projects, such as charging areas. Grant is also making progress on the Borough’s benchmarking efforts, analyzing energy use. EAC Budget: Grant A. has set a deadline of the September meeting to finalize budget requests. Some of the larger budget items include Earth Day costs and special event materials, sustainability games, promotional materials for the Farmer’s Market, and other tabling events. A tent to be used for the Farmer’s Market would be beneficial, too. ICLEI membership is something else to be considered for the future. Grant R. thinks it would be helpful to complete any future greenhouse gas inventory work. Another cost to consider would be any capital projects, especially those connected to the DCAP and the recommendations that come from this document. Grant R. would like to set aside time in the next month’s meeting to develop a full array of future projects. Old/New Business: Grant A. would like to streamline the next month’s agenda and focus on the DCAP, budget, and goals for the EAC. Adjournment: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Respectfully Submitted by: Erika Fellman Minutes Secretary