Environmental Advisory Committee

WESTWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE Westwood EAC Monthly Meeting Minutes February 2017 Meeting Date: February 27, 2017 Meeting Location: Westwood Borough Hall Meeting Opening & Roll Call Monthly Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) Meeting was called to order at 1938 EST by Mr. Grefrath, Liaison of EAC . . . “This meeting, which conforms to the OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS LAW, CHAPTER 231, PUBLIC LAWS OF 1975, is a regular Environmental Committee meeting. Notices have been filed with our local official newspapers and posted on the Municipal Bulletin Board.” Roll Call Present Absent Philip Bicocchi, Chair, Student member (PB) X Christine Blaney (CB) X Peter Grefrath, Committee Liaison (PG) X Jeanne Guderian (JG) X Joseph Helmy (JH) X Boniface Kiamue (BK) X Angel Nass (AN) X Wilhelm Wang, Minutes, Secretary (WW) X Point of Order Mr. Grefrath announced that he would maintain the minutes of the February meeting. Public Forum Public Forum was opened by Liaison and moved to closure with no participant present: Member Moved Second Ayes Nays Absent Abstain Blaney

Grefrath
Guderian

Helmy
Kiamue
Nass
Wang
Chair Bicocchi Swearing In of New Members New members Angel Nass and Philip Bicocchi were sworn in by Liaison Grefrath and a brief introduction period among members followed. Passing of the Minutes The December minutes were not voted on because there were not enough eligible attending EAC members present. Page 1 of 4  WESTWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE Westwood EAC Monthly Meeting Minutes February 2017 The January 2017 minutes were voted on and approved, and PG indicated he would forward them to the Clerk for posting. Member Moved Second Ayes Nays Absent Abstain Blaney

Grefrath
Guderian

Helmy Kiamue
Nass Wang Chair Bicocchi 2017 Secretary Wilhelm Wang was nominated to continue his role as Committee Secretary after he was endorsed by CB for his fine work in 2016. Member Moved Second Ayes Nays Absent Abstain Blaney

Grefrath

Guderian
Helmy
Kiamue
Nass
Wang
Chair Bicocchi 2017 Chairman Two members indicated that they wished to serve as Chair, and following a lively discussion, Philip Bicocchi was elected Chair for 2017. Member Moved Second Ayes Nays Absent Abstain Blaney

Grefrath
Guderian
Helmy
Kiamue
Nass

Wang
Chair Bicocchi Committee Liaison’s Report Mr. Grefrath provided updates on the following to the EAC: • Reported that he discussed aspects of the Bicycle Program, the Trex Reusable Bags Program, and the Community Garden Program with the Governing Body at the Public Meeting, going into additional detail about the Committee’s involvement assisting Emerson’s Committee with their Community Garden. He also announced the BiState Watershed Cleanup dates and location. Page 2 of 4  WESTWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE Westwood EAC Monthly Meeting Minutes February 2017 Old Business Rain Garden Project: (CB) • CB announced Rain Garden Project Constructions still slotted for April. • CB to connect with Bergen Swan and Rick Woods when dates are more solid. Action: CB to provide Borough with a voucher for purchasing plants. Trex Reusable Bags Program – Public Education and Outreach: (JG/AN) • JG investigating whether we can add Westwood House to our list of collection sites and also has contacted Trader Joe’s as another possible site. PG mentioned that he would inquire about adding a box at the Library. AN recommended we add one at the Roxbury and would discuss with the Roxbury Board. o JG indicated that she had they project under control and pick-ups are now on a regular basis. o AN volunteered to assist JG with the program. • JG said she would contact Rick Woods about the possibilities of weighing bags but PG did and Mr. Woods does not have a method to do it. Anti-Idling Policy: (BK) • No report. Bicycle Program – Public Education and Outreach: (WW/JH) • JH mentioned that he accumulated bicycle rack information and forwarded it to WW. He noted the racks cannot be bolted to the ground but their sheer weight will keep them in place. • WW indicating via email that he was preparing a complete Street Policy and will distribute it to the Committee shortly. Action: WW and JH developing policy and plan and, after approval by the EAC, will report back to the Governing Body during a future Work Session. Community Garden: (B. James, through PG; and CB) • JG gave an extensive report on her and Bob James’s meeting with the Emerson Environmental Committee regarding their creating a Community Garden. Particularly, they asked about foot path lighting, water, and other items that they might not have thought about. She also indicated they liked and are replicating our concept, using our Rules and Regs (Guidelines). JG noticed a few adjustments that should be made in our Guidelines and handed out a copy to each member, asking for their feedback before updating and resubmitting to the Clerk. Action: JG to update our Community Garden Guidelines. Page 3 of 4  WESTWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE Westwood EAC Monthly Meeting Minutes February 2017 BiState Watershed Clean-up: (CB and PB) • Announced next Cleanup will take place on Saturday, April 29. • PB said he would try and round-up additional student volunteers, if possible. • PB mentioned that he would see if he could gather some gift cards from town merchants to offer as “prizes” for those who collect the most debris. Borough Green Team Activities: (N/A) • No report. Action: PG to get information from the Clerk. New Business Earth Day: (AN) • AN suggested that several neighboring towns get together and hold joint festivities to honor Earth Day. She asked if Westwood could create a second, similar group and replicate the type of effort. Extensive work would mean target date is Earth Day 2018. Westwood Email Address: (PB) • Get the Westwood Environmental Committee login and password for Chair Bicocchi so the site can be accessed and possibly used for the Watershed Clean-Up. Action: PG to ask the Clerk for information. Pride Day Booth: (JH) • Additional discussion as date gets closer. Next Meeting – Monday, March 20, 2017 Borough Hall at 1930. Upcoming 2017 Meetings as Scheduled: April 17, May 15, June 19, July 17 (if scheduled), No Meeting in August, September 18, October 16, November 20 (adopt Master Gardiner Resolution), December 18 Meeting adjourned by the CB and seconded by JH promptly at 2051. Page 4 of 4