Borough of Point Pleasant Beach Point Pleasant Beach Environmental Commission
Thursday, July 28, 2022 Meeting Minutes
The meeting was called to order at 7:05 pm.
Green Team members present: Peter Ritchings, Cathy Sogorka, Rob Mercado, Louise Stillufsen.
There was a discussion related to the Commission/Committee Guidelines and the need for individual Commission/Committee members to provide signatures acknowledging that they have read and agree to the guidelines. All present were in agreement that the Green Team should be condensed to those members that consistently, actively contribute.
Cathy Sogorka led a detailed discussion regarding the status of the Sustainable Jersey submissions and the review comments received by Sustainable Jersey.
Several individual actions were discussed, and Cathy reminded the Green Team of the pending August 28th resubmission deadline.
Environmental Commission members present: Chair, Peter Ritchings, Cathy Sogorka, Anne Lightburn, Carey Mulkeen, Kitty Stillufsen and Council Liaison, Mike Ramos
Commission members absent with reason: MJ Gradel
Chair Peter Ritchings briefly went through commission mail which consisted of a notification of an application to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) for a property at 50 Harvard Avenue.
Anne Lightburn provided an update regarding recent Shade Tree Commission actions.
Chair Peter Ritchings provided an outline of recent Planning Board activities and actions.
Under the agenda topic of Ongoing Business – Status Report to a number of involved commission actions discussed including additional improvements to the Arnold Avenue landscape area, including replacement of the wood fencing.
There was a discussion regarding the actions of some communities limiting the use of gas blowers.
The meeting involved the discussion of the Commission’s anti-idling effort including a review of model resolutions and the discussion of potential signage and sign locations.
There was further discussion of a possible water bottle filling station to be installed at the boardwalk. The discussion centered around the types of water bottle filling stations and possible funding sources for the purchase.
There was an offer by a Green Team member to make and potentially install fishing line receptacles at the inlet.
Chair Peter Ritchings advised that he has been working with Save Barnegat Bay and that an outdoor viewing of the Save Barnegat Bay documentary, Drift, has been scheduled for Friday, August 19th at the band shell.
There was a motion to adjourn the meeting by Carrie Mulkeen, seconded by Cathy Sogorka and the meeting adjourned at 8:28 pm.
