Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting

Regular Meeting Minutes February 15, 2024 MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTE OF THE BOROUGH OF WALDWICK HELD ON THURSDAY FEBRUARY 15, 2024 OPENING PORTION • Executive Director Mr. Joseph Oravetz called the meeting to order and read the Statement of Compliance. • Mr. Oravetz also took the roll call. Present on the roll call were: Dr. Raina Parnov-Dawson, Dr. Mohammad Quamrul Ahsan, David Isaacs, David Zilkowski, Dan Montella and Thomas McCormick. Town Commission Liaison Mr. Mark Ramundo was also present. • Pledge of Allegiance made. • A motion was made to waive the reading of minutes from January 2024. PUBLIC PORTION • No comments from the public OLD BUSINESS • Beautification Committee: o Mayor passes resolution ordinance for Beautification Committee to be under the Environmental Advisory Committee, along with the Green Team. o Mark Ramundo stated that Borough Administrator Steve Neale explained that this makes more sense from a financial standpoint, as it will open up more opportunities for funding from grants. o The Beautification Committee team and roles will be the same. o Michelle Weber will serve as Chair (and the Liaison) to the town council. o Joe Oravetz will send a letter to Terry to see when the best time is to get Beautification Committee, Environmental Advisory Committee and Green Team together with Mayor to discuss the merger and ideas. March 7 or 14 tentatively identified. (They would like to do it before Spring.) o This change was voted in on January 29, 2024. o There will be an official statement for role and duties of the Beautification Committee under the Environmental Advisory Committee. They will have to start submitting an agenda, quorum and minutes and once a year write up to the Mayor on accomplishments. o A statement on this change will be in the Environmental Spring newsletter. • Environmental Flyer: o Dan shared Final Draft of the Winter Environmental Flyer shared. This included info on EV and composting. o Everyone was good with the draft presented. o Discussed additional things to include in the Spring edition of the Newsletter, such as the Beautification Committee merger. o Mark will ask Borough Administrator Steve Neale about posting and socializing the flyer. 1|Page Regular Meeting Minutes February 15, 2024 • Earth Day 2024: This year’s event (April 22nd) will not be like last years event due to lack of participation. It will likely be more of a town wide cleanup with the Beautification Committee and Green Team. • Bergen Hub: Briefly discussed the January 29 meeting at Borough Hall in Waldwick with Bergen Hub members from surrounding municipalities. • Expanded Polystyrene (EPS): The April EPS collection drive will take the collected material to Ridgefield Park for densifying. Volunteers are needed. • Environmental Committee Website: Mark Ramundo will speak to "Tatiana" about updating the website. • Trex Benches: o Two trex benches have been installed in front of the safety building. o There are three (3) badges/plates, of which two (2) will be dedicated in the name of John Griffin, and another (a child). o Steve and the Mayor would like to have the Environmental Committee there at the re- dedication. o A “bench re-dedication date” is needed. We'll wait for the other bench in December to make the re-dedication. Mark will reach out to Steven Neale on a re-dedication date. • Environmental Survey Questionnaire: Mark will ask Steven Neale about the town wide survey (i.e., to identify or list the town’s most pressing environmental needs/issues) and the best mode of sending it out to residents. • Summer Intern for Sustainable Jersey actions: Mark Ramundo will ask Steve about an offer for an unpaid /volunteer intern (i.e., a college student with a political science, environmental science, or related background) to help with drafting write ups for Sustainable Jersey actions. • Flower boxes: Mark will ask Steven Neale about his counterpart in Saddle River to reach out to regarding the flower pots on their bridges. • Environmental Advisory Committee Tee-Shirts: Pricing is an issue unless it is purchased in bulk. Mark will speak with Steven about getting these. NEW BUSINESS • Open Space: o Steven Neale wanted to discuss an "Open Space" plan and get input from the Environmental Committee (possibly next March's meeting). This will open up funding opportunities for open space money from county, state and private sector. o The town is working with a consulting company to develop an Open Space plan. o There is a plan to purchase lot near Waldwick Gardens by Wyckoff Ave (~3 acres). o This effort will be done under the NJ Green Acres program and will enable the town to get funding for developing things like parks and passive recreation. Steven Neale is looking for input on other sites that may qualify (e.g., by Harrison... old switch yard. 2|Page Regular Meeting Minutes February 15, 2024 o The Land Conservancy of New Jersey (https://www.tlc-nj.org/) will develop an accounting of our open spaces and include it in our Master Plan. • Sump Pumps: There might be a resolution to restrict residents from discharging water from their basement sump pumps directly into the street because this can (in some situations) create hazardous iced over road conditions in cold weather (as observed by McKay Street and a few other locations in town). CORRESPONDENCE None ADJOURNMENT Motion for adjournment made at 8:15 PM. Next meeting (reorganization meeting) will be on March 21, 2024 at the council chambers. 3|Page