Charlestown Township Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) Meeting Minutes Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Due to Corona Virus measures closing the School to external visitors the meeting was held at a member’s home (address on file).

A quorum being present Pete Goodman (chair) opened the meeting at 6:05pm.

Minutes of the previous meeting were adopted following a motion to approve by Solomon seconded by Walker

Upcoming Meetings

Goodman advised having registered he had a conflict to attend the Regional EAC Network meet on Saturday May 2nd Solomon agreed to take his place and Goodman will advise the organizers accordingly.

Goodman advised the Watershed Congress March 14 has been postponed until September 19.

Goodman attended the Keystone Coldwater Conference and reported there was nothing relevant to Charlestown to report.

Business Awards

Findlay advised Armstrong and he had conducted one interview with the Headmistress of the Charlestown Playhouse School. A transcript of the interview has been agreed by the Director. At the next EAC meet there will be a discussion as to how the Award would be given in general and specifically in the case of the Charlestown Playhouse School.

Riparian Buffers

Goodman made a presentation of the Ed Theurkauf ordinance recommendation Power Point that is proposed to present to the Board of Supervisors. Agreed to revisit the presentation at the next meeting to review whether to support Theurkauf’s recommendation for an update of the Riparian Buffer Ordinance or to recommend full compliance with PA 102.

Upstream Ice Dam

Goodman updated that discussions were still on-going as to reforestation etc. of the forest which lies up stream of the Ice Dam along Pickering Dam Road.

Brightside Farm Park

Three signs were in place and have been favorably received. There had been a complaint from the farm manager through French & Pickering CCT that the plantings had been sprayed as well as a Tree of Heaven. Goodman has spoken to all those who might have done this and gained assurances that no one has sprayed anything at the site.

Goodman advised there was an additional grant award of approximately $2,400 which would be held for establishment and future plantings.

Online Presence

Solomon will work with Linda Csete and the Township webmaster to gain a more prominent link to the dedicated EAC page on the main page of the township web page.

Goodman read the final version of the mission statement drafted by the EAC. A motion to adopt by Goodman seconded by Walker was approved unanimously. Solomon will update the dedicated EAC page with the mission reducing the current paragraph to the statement when the EAC was formed by the Board of Supervisors.

Completed project write ups will be sent to Solomon to add to the page as and when available.

Solomon will liaise with Linda Csete to obtain a specific EAC township eMail address which will then have an auto forward feature to Goodman.

Solomon has tested the current eMail list which approximates to 50 sign ups and has corrected a few miss spellings from transcription.

Newsletter Articles

The deadline is April 15^th. Possible articles trout fishing in Township streams (Goodman): Gardening with planting tips especially pollinators (Armstrong?) are under consideration.

Other updates

Earth day volunteer refreshments can be reimbursed by the Township. Maany will update on EAC participation and plans at the next meeting.

Goodman has received a list of Township owned properties and is working on producing a summary.

EAC membership Goodman will follow up with Nesspor on a possible new member.

Next Education series May 11^th speaker confirmed by Findlay who will draft a save the date announcement.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 7:36 pm.