Borough of Point Pleasant Beach Point Pleasant Beach Environmental Commission & Green Team Advisory Committee
April 22, 2021 Meeting Minutes
This meeting was conducted remotely, online via Zoom, with the invitation being forwarded by Council Representative, Doug Vitale.
This meeting started at approximately 7:03 p.m.
Adequate notice of the time and place of this meeting was given under the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act and was posted and sent to the officially designated newspapers in compliance with the law.
Attendance
Green Team Advisory Committee Members present: Peter Ritchings, Cathy Sogorka, Rob Mercado and MJ Gradel
Environmental Commission Members present: Chair Peter Ritchings, Anne Lightburn, Cathy Sogorka, Patty Villani, Cary Mulkeen and Robert Hayes.
Absent: Christopher Porzio
Others present: Clem Bremer
Green Team Meeting:
Cathy Sogorka led a discussion of Regarding Sustainable Jersey Goals Objectives and the status of certain actions. The Sustainable Jersey Application Deadline is June 6, 2021. The Green Team Advisory Committee agreed to focus on certain actions including anti-idling and electric vehicle charging stations. MJ Gradel initiated a discussion of several Sustainable Jersey Actions that the Green Team may choose to undertake.
The Green Team is also asking Council Liaison Caryn Byrnes to have the council approve the Green Grounds and Maintenance Policy.
Cathy Sogorko also indicated that the Sustainable Jersey Action related to arts and creative cultures are likely to get underway in May.
Cathy was following up on the enhanced Licensing Compliance Action, Innovative Project #1 regarding inlet cigarette receptacles and sent email to Green Team Members Dee Zoll and Debbie Harris to see if they are interested on working on the Companion Animal Management Plan which would follow the completed Companion Animal Pledge.
Environmental Commission Meeting:
The Environmental Commission Meeting commenced the approximately 7:35 p.m.
There was a brief discussion regarding the status of the 2021 Budget Request.
Shade Tree Commission & Open Space Advisory Committee
Anne Lightburn provided an update of the activities of the Shade Tree Commission including an estimate of the number of shade trees planted throughout the Borough during 2020, and some new Shade Tree Commission initiatives including “Nominate Your Block.”
There was a discussion regarding the efforts of MJ Gradel to have JCP&L re-landscape the area of recent vegetation removal along New Jersey Avenue.
Planning Board
Chair Peter Ritchings advised the Commission of Planning Board Action since the last meeting which focused primarily on ordinance review, comment and approval.
Ongoing Business Status Reports:
There was a brief discussion regarding the Arnold Avenue Relandscaping Project in progress and preliminary preparations for spring planting. A date for completing the planting had been set, April 24, at 1:00 p.m.
There was again a discussion regarding renewing the Commission’s efforts to establish an anti-idling initiative. Cathy Sogorka reminded the Commission of the importance of having an active law enforcement participant in the Green Team Advisory Committee as a successful anti-idling campaign, will at a minimum require, a thorough public outreach effort and the compliance support of the Police Department. MJ Gradel initiated a discussion of several Sustainable Jersey Actions that the Green Team may choose to undertake.
There was also a discussion regarding revitalizing a previously proposed environmental/landscape related municipal ordinance.
Patti Villani offered to spearhead the anti-idling initiative.
There was a discussion regarding the upcoming, May 22, 2021 Point Pleasant Beach Homegrown Fair and Environmental Commission Participation.
The Shade Tree Commission was going to continue to follow up with JCP&L to acquire tree saplings that could be handed out at the Environmental Commission/Shade Tree table at the fair.
The Environmental Commission meeting concluded at approximately 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully,
Peter Ritchings
