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Schuylkill Township
Environmental Advisory Council
MEETING DATE: February 24, 2009

Present: EAC –Steve Kunz (ViceChair), Ian Plant, Steve Frasch and Jerry O’Dell.
Board of Supervisors (BOS): Laurie Williams (Liaison to EAC) and Lee Ledbetter.
Citizens Environmental Sub-Committee: Rebekah Bowser.

Meeting called to order at 7:35pm.

EAC Meeting Summary: The meeting summary of the previous January meeting was read and approved.

Announcements:  Mr. Kunz advised that the Delaware Riverkeeper Network will present its annual Schuylkill Watershed Congress on Saturday, March 7, 2009 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Montgomery County Community College's West Campus in Pottstown, Pa. The 2009 Schuylkill Watershed Congress will feature concurrent and poster sessions covering a broad range of watershed topics and exhibits by watershed organizations, environmental consulting firms, and government agencies. The Congress is for anyone and everyone interested in learning more about the Schuylkill River Watershed and how to protect and conserve its vast resources. ( More information at http://delawareriverkeeper.org/aboutus/events.asp#congress )  Mrs. Bowser advised that some of the homeowners in the Maisfield community would be conducting a local area clean-up on either February 28 or March 7.

Public Participation: Mr. Ledbetter clarified that the EAC letter regarding the Safe Kids trail that had been discussed at a previous EAC meeting had definitely been received by the BOS.

EAC Vacancy:   Mr. Kunz announced that the EAC Chair intends to conduct interviews of candidates for the vacant EAC seat at the next (March) EAC meeting.  Two prospective candidates (Douglas White and Claire Annechini) were in attendance.

New Business:  Nil

Open Space Commission Update:  No activity reported, but Mr. Ledbetter remindeded the EAC that a’ proposed trail walk’ was being organized for the Thompson tract, for which EAC attendance would be welcome in concert with OSC members.    Mr. Plant confirmed that he intends to attend, on a date to be arranged by the twp manager. Mr. Ledbetter also indicated that Thompson has produced some plans for the tract showing associated easement proposals, and displayed an initial map showing proposed parcel boundaries for the tract.  

Clean Energy: Mr. Kunz indicated that Mrs. Gregory and Mr. O’Dell had tried hard to gain new interest by manning a sign-up effort at EarthMart on Bridge Street in Phoenixville during the previous First Friday event, but were unsuccessful due to no Schuylkill residents stopping-by.  He also announced that the latest figures show that 219 households have now signed up for Clean Energy, leaving a target of 21 more in order for the twp to qualify for its free 1Kw solar power system.  He noted that Tredyffrin and East Bradford twps have now qualified for their free systems, which are due to be install within a few days. 

Environmental Committee: Mrs Bowser indicated that whilst she is willing to assist with the proposed environmental website, she is looking for someone to lead the project.  Outstanding Actions: Mrs. Gregory and Mrs. Bowser will discuss further the full scope of activities for the sub-committee.  Mrs. Bowser to meet with Mr. Plant to determine a way forward for a Twp Environmental Website.

Grants:

Mrs. Bowser reported that her action to disseminate Treevitalize grant information to HomeOwners Associations was complete.

Mr. Plant reported that following a request from the BOS he had attended a pre-proposal meeting for Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission’s Efficient Growth for Growing Suburbs (EGGS) grant program (http://www.dvrpc.org/planning/community/EGGS.htm ) at West Chester Government Services Centre.  He noted that the available grants were quite small and, in relation to trails, only available for planning and ordinance amendment activities rather than construction, and required a 20% funding match to be provided by the applicant. The application deadline (March 13th) was also very tight and he was not aware of any twp projects which could be developed for a prepared application in this timeframe.  He did consider, however, that the potential trail along the Schuylkill River from the Ink and Coatings property, discussed at a previous EAC meeting, could merit consideration for a suitable grant in a future EGGS grant disbursement. Mrs. Williams enquired whether any of the Toonerville Trolley Trail effort being led by Mrs. Cohen could benefit from an application at this juncture.  Mr. Plant was not aware of any further study work that was needed but agreed to check with Mrs. Cohen.      

Old Business:

Whitehorse Road Bridge:  No activity reported.  Outstanding Action: Mr.Kunz to check with the Twp Manager on the latest developments and advise the EAC at the next meeting.

Trails:  No activity reported.  Outstanding Action: Mr Plant agreed to discuss the East Pikeland and Phoenixville Borough French Creek trail developments with Mrs. Cohen and also look elsewhere to discover if any formal plans exist from which a course of action for Schuylkill Twp could be determined.    Mr. Plant to seek to develop an overlay addition that can identify which lot parcels contain approved trail easements

Environmental Overlay:  No activity reported.  Outstanding Action: Mrs. Gregory to convene a separate meeting of available EAC members to which the Twp Engineer is invited, to address the remainder of the Environmental Overlay review issues.

Pickering Preserve:  Mr. O’Dell indicated that he will contact the Twp Roadmaster to arrange getting the Preserve meadows mown.     Outstanding Actions:  Mr. Cram to arrange later in the Summer for TreeWrap to be applied to the young trees that have been recently planted, to prevent their destruction (when at the same time the fencing is removed) through ‘Buck Rub’.  Mr. Kunz to seek guidance from Mrs. Bowser regarding the long term future for the ‘Rain Garden’. Mr. Cram agreed to seek YMCA approval for the Roads Crew to gain access to the lower Preserve from the YMCA property, in order for the existing pathway to be mown in support of Samuel Stearly’s Eagle Scout project..  Mrs. Gregory undertook to write to the OSC to prompt them to address the issue of placing deed restrictions or conservation easements on the lands of the Preserve (and also the lot containing the Twp building) and make subsequent recommendations to the BOS.

Deer Hunting on Pickering Preserve – No activity reported.   Outstanding Actions: Mr. Cram to contact PGC to seek guidance on deer population control. 

Trash Pick-Up Project – No activity reported.  Outstanding Action:  Mr. Cram to e-mail a list of suitable Community Service Projects to the Probation Department. 

Northern Federation’s Development of a Regional Park and Recreation Strategic Plan (RPRSP):  Mr. Frasch reported that he has contacted Chris McNeil of East Vincent twp and determined that East Pikeland twp is a  Federation member and that some Schuylkill twp participation would be appropriate.  He had discovered that the Federation is applying for a grant for their planning activities, and has secured an invitation for him to attend the next meeting of the group to gain an understanding of the appropriate level of twp participation. 

SALDO Tree List –Mr. O’Dell reported that whilst researching material for the SALDO tree list revision, he had twigged that Lower Makefield twp in Bucks County had developed an ordinance which covers both trees and shrubs,that would serve as a perfect model for what Schuylkill twp needs.  Additionally, a professional colleague from within Lower Makefiled had offered to assist Schuylkill twp to develop associated ordinance language.  After some discussion it was agreed that as a first step Mr. O’Dell should present this list as a SALDO amendment proposal at the next BOS meeting.

Brake Ordinance – No activity reported. Outstanding Action.  Mr. Morrisson to check whether the ordinance had yet been passed by the BOS and report back the status to the EAC meeting, including whether any signs are now being produced (if it has been passed)
                                                           
Old Schuylkill Elementary School (Environmental Showcase Plan):  No activity reported. 

Treevitalize:  No activity reported. Outstanding Action.  Mr Ledbetter undertook to take the issue of the disputed Treevitalize trees planted on the Levin property to the next BOS meeting for twp solicitor advice.

Township Web Site:  No activity reported.

EAC Budget:  No activity reported.

Developments:

EDC – No activity reported. 

Reeves Property – Mr Ledbetter reported that no formal decision had yet been made by the BOS regarding the development proposals, and that following appeals by both Pohlig and the BOS to the Zoning Hearing Board decision, the matter had now moved into negotiation under court supervision, with the twp represented by Mr. Vutz, Mr. Ledbetter and the Twp Solicitor.  Mr. Kunz reported that there had not yet been any response received from PADEP in relation to the latest letter from the twp. 
 
YMCA – No activity reported.  Outstanding Action.   Mrs. Gregory to check on the status of the Rain Garden at the YMCA, development of which was a condition of their planning approval for the recent extension to the property, and report back.

Ink and Coatings – No activity reported.  Outstanding Actions:  Mr. Plant to investigate further the trail proposal through the property and along the Schuylkill River towards Valley Forge.  Mrs. Gregory to pass on the applicant’s request for assistance with gaining a FEMA permit to the next BOS meeting with a request for Twp Engineer and Twp Solicitor advice for expediting the way forward.

Announcements:  Nil

There being no further urgent business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45pm

 

EAC Secretary’s Word of the Month:

twig

verb, twigged, twig⋅ging. British
–verb (used with object)

1.	to look at; observe: Now, twig the man climbing there, will you?

2.	to see; perceive: Do you twig the difference in colors?

3.	to understand.

–verb (used without object)

4.	to understand.

Origin:
1755–65; < Irish tuigim I understand