Present: EAC –Marlou Gregory (From 9.15pm - Chair), Steve Kunz (ViceChair), Ian Plant, Steve Frasch, Earl Cram, Doug White and Jerry O’Dell. Mark Fischer in attendance.
Board of Supervisors (BOS): Laurie Williams (Liaison to EAC) Jim Morrisson and Lee Ledbetter.
Meeting called to order at 7:42pm.
EAC Meeting Summary: The meeting summary of the previous May meeting was read and approved.
Announcements: Nil
Public Participation: Nil
New Business:
Corner Stores: Mrs. Williams indicated that the improvements recently conducted upon the Corner Stores site used by the Total Rental company had not been completed in that plantings had not been made in the beds created for that purpose. Inquiries had revealed that the company had suffered from the economic downturn with less cash being generated to pay for trees/shrubs to be planted. Mrs. Williams enquired whether any trees were surplus from the recent Treevitalize program that could be used to fill the vacant planting area, or whether any other avenues were known of that may produce suitable plants, but none were identified.
Lyme Disease: It was noted that there has been a recent upsurge in cases of Lyme Disease in Chester County and EAC members believed that the twp should play its part in publicizing the public health risk and methods of both identifying and avoiding the disease. It was considered that the most cost effective method would probably be via an information page on the local public service cable tv channel. Mr. White undertook to discuss this further with Mrs. Williams.
NPDES Permit: Mrs. Gregory reported that the twp’s current NPDES is due for renewal and that she anticipates that associated requirements are likely to be disseminated late this year, with submission of an application for a new permit due by March 2010. The EAC will need to monitor the requirements as they become known and via the EAC Chair, quickly provide budget advice for the twp’s 2010 budget, as there are likely to be new costs involved.
Open Space Commission Update: No activity reported. Outstanding Actions: Mr. Plant to participate in a OSC organized trail walk through the Thompson tract on a date to be arranged by the twp manager.
Clean Energy: Mr. Kunz reported that the anticipated feedback from the installer which will provide a list of recommendations for the best site, in terms of both efficiency and ‘visibility’, has not yet been received. He noted that Smartpower has prompted the installer for a response and hopes to have further information by the next EAC meeting.
Grants: No activity reported.
Old Business:
Whitehorse Road Bridge: No activity reported, but it was noted that if work does not start soon, the validity period of some of the associated environmental permits/approvals may be exceeded.
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
Rails-to-Trails (RTT): No activity reported
Toonerville Trolley Trail (TTT): Mr. Morrisson indicated that he had received a report from Bob Mauch that some trees had been recently chopped down in the Valley Forge Woods section of the trail, without any permit. Mr. Plant responded that he walks through this part of the trail on a daily basis and had seen no evidence of tree felling. He had noted, however, that some trees had fallen during storms, which had then been cut to remove trail blockages. He agreed to contact Mr. Mauch do determine whether these were the trees of concern. Mr. Plant reported that he had noted that for almost a year a fallen speed limit sign had been laying between Country Club Road and the trail, close to Brighton Way. Mr. Ledbetter indicated that this was a twp safety issue and requested that Mr. Plant provide its exact location to the twp Manager for remedial action. Outstanding Actions: Mr. Plant to confirm exactly where the trail should be in the peripheral areas of the Fernleigh and VFW developments and then address action to remove overgrowth and blockages through the Twp Manager. Mr. Plant to investigate development of a common sign to be erected to indicate trail locations within the twp, with a design consistent with the twp ‘historical site’ sign.
Operation Safe Kids/Rte 29 Sidewalk: No activity reported.
American Ink & Coatings: No activity reported but Mrs. Williams urged Mr. Plant to engage with the OSC in relation to his trails work so far, as it could influence some of the upcoming decisions of the OSC. Outstanding Action: Mr. Plant to generate a feasibility study proposal by Feb 2010 to determine whether a trail link from VFP to the Schuylkill River Trail at Oaks could be constructed, possibly using funding from next year’s EGGS program, once he has determined whether the land owners (Valley Forge Park and Norfolk & Southern Rail) and other stakeholders would be supportive of the proposal. Mr Plant to share his observations regarding trail potential with the Open Space Commission and the Historical Commission.
Environmental Overlay: Prior to the meeting, a revised clean copy of the draft Overlay had been circulated amongst EAC members. Some issues of concern with this draft were raised before it was decided that a separate series of meetings would be called to discuss the draft in detail before presenting recommendations to the BOS.
Pickering Preserve: Mr. Cram reported that he had redone the signs for some of the trees in the preserve. He had also noted that one of the adjacent road signs is down and undertook to inform the twp Manager of the details for remedial action. Mr. O’Dell reported that the area of backfill soil beside the car park has become overgrown with invasive species and needs cutting back. He undertook to program this with the Roadmaster. The remainder of the meadow will be scheduled for cutting later in the year. Outstanding Action: 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. Williams to ask for the PP deed restriction issue to be included in the agenda for the next OSC meeting.
Deer Hunting on Pickering Preserve – Mr. Cram reported that he had observed that the recently erected deer hunting signs were no longer in position. Mr. Cram undertook to conduct a physical search for them whilst Mr. O’Dell undertook to enquire whether the twp Roadmaster has any knowledge of their whereabouts. Outstanding Actions: Mr. Cram to contact PGC to seek guidance on deer population control.
Northern Federation’s Development of a Regional Park and Recreation Strategic Plan (RPRSP): No activity reported. Outstanding Action: Mr. Frasch to attend the next meeting of the Federation at which the RPRSP is discussed.
SALDO Tree List – No activity reported.
Brake Ordinance – No activity reported.
Old Schuylkill Elementary School (Environmental Showcase Plan): No activity reported.
Treevitalize: No activity reported.
Township Web Site: No activity reported. Outstanding Action. Mr. Plant agreed to generate a set of suitable MWO reference links for addition to the twp website.
EAC Budget: No activity reported.
Developments:
Sue Ellen Masters Property (100 Ferry Lane) – No activity reported.
Reeves Property – Mr. Kunz reported that a letter had been received from John Hangar in relation to the Sedgley Farms wetlands, from which it appears that since PADEP’s letter of last December, a determination for the classification of those wetlands has been made. Under the terms of ‘Right to Know’ legislation, Mr. Kunz has now requested copies of the documentation associated with that determination, because the twp had not been informed that a determination had been made.
Pasquale Pond – No activity reported. Outstanding Action. Mr. Ledbetter undertook to check on the status with the Twp Manager as he was aware that the bid documents need to be issued.
Ink and Coatings – No activity reported.
Announcements: Nil
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:00pm.