Charlestown Township Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) Meeting Minutes Monday, February 14, 2022

Meeting was held in Great Valley Middle School, Chorale Room, # 154.

Armstrong opened the meeting at 7:05pm.

January minutes were approved — both sets (organizational and monthly meeting).

There was an issue with the December meeting minutes corrections getting through the EAC@Charlestown.pa.us email address. Goodman believes the problem has been solved. Waiting for confirmation of solution. Armstrong and Solomon to resend comments to Goodman via his private email. We will approve those minutes during our March meeting.

New:

1. Bird Town is open but we are waiting for the application form from PA Audubon.
2. Walker did research and he thinks Google will work as a preregistration form for future events to allow us to get RSVPs and therefore number of potential attendees. He will experiment and send to us. We will do a final review during our next meeting.
3. Need poster, Facebook post, Nextdoor, and all other sources for posting our upcoming tree walk with Will Ryan. Goodman will work on poster. We would like to put it in the kiosk at Brightside however we don’t know who has the key. Armstrong to research.
4. Open Land Conservancy (OLC) – received donated property across road from Jenkins -will be surveying, putting up fencing. Township would like the EAC to work with OLC on township interactions.
5. By-laws discussion – Sharon asked about Article 5 section 5 – member expectations – what does it mean to have subcommittees, ongoing and adhoc? She also asked about Article 8 – meeting in person vs online. Dan raised the issue of allowing associate members a vote in the absence of a quorum. There was a discussion on what constitutes a quorum. The subcommittee on by-laws will meet via zoom to resolve language in section 5. Carol to schedule it. No vote on by-laws today.
6. Homegrown National Parks – EAC likes idea but if we participate, need to ensure we are not over-extended per Solomon. Richardson suggested that we educate residents about Tallamy’s 10 steps to create a “homegrown national park” for private landowners - maybe bring it up during our Earth Day or Charlestown Day events.
7. Walker noted that a second kestrel box was installed in Brightside in center of the field near Hollow Road.

On Going:

1. Recruitment of EAC member and associate members: We should post in kiosk in Brightside. Solomon to ask Linda to put what we have in nature news for recruitment for her weekly email for the next 6 weeks. The Uncle Sam poster for EAC recruitment will be used.

   Solomon, Armstrong and Goodman will work together on a job description revision via the drive.

   Armstrong recommends giving bylaws to interested residents, so they have a better understanding of expectations for participation. No decision on this.

2. EAC Plans for 2022: take this item off agenda for future meetings and just list the updates for the projects we are actively working on.
   1. Weed warrior program – Goodman had sent around Valley Forge Weed Warrior program- it is very comprehensive. Not all members had seen it. Goodman will resend. Solomon has a friend who does not live in the township but is willing to volunteer on this program.

   Carol and Ashlee met and decided that the #1 priority for pulling invasives is Multiflora Rose in Brightside and on Pickering trail. P&R has people that will pull them, but they want community involvement. Ashley wrote an article for the January township newsletter to provide education about this invasive plant. Have recruitment poster.

   Carol and Ashlee scheduled a kickoff meeting at Brightside Park by the community garden. Date is Saturday April 2 with rain date the 3^rd. Needs to be advertised as per our usual avenues. Nothing on EAC page of website yet. Solomon will add to NN before sending. Solomon will send out an email shortly before the kickoff. Poster is attached to these minutes.

   In the summer, one focus will be on removal of Mile-a-Minute. Armstrong suggested writing small articles about each invasive and putting it on our EAC website page. Volunteer targets are gardeners and outdoor enthusiasts. It is manual work.

   Carol and Ashlee added Narrow Leaf Bittercress and Johnson Grass to Ashlee’s already extensive list that she shared with the EAC (Excel spreadsheet).

   2. Maintenance of plantings – Deerfield and Brightside - no update.
   3. Website & Technology: Solomon experimented with Evite application for collecting RSVPs to our events. Walker suggested using Google for this purpose. Before the next meeting, Walker to send the EAC an example of how we can use Google.

      Friends of Charlestown – Solomon will contact Chris Lawrence in March.

3. Natural Resources protective ordinances (trees and others) request per PC & Thomas Comitta Assoc. This was sent around to all members with requests for revisions. Meeting coming up Feb 24^th(just pertaining to SALDO, no discussion of a zoning ordinance that would apply to private property that is not being developed or subdivided). Armstrong and Goodman made suggestions re size and ages of trees that must be replaced, protections for existing trees in construction zones, and inclusion in the tree list of additional native trees and removal of invasive trees from the list. PA is interested mainly in large trees. Goodman’s main concern is about the canopy. BoS has concerns about a tree ordinance that would impact private property rights. Clarification was made that the ordinance document we are reviewing is an enhancement of existing SALDO ordinances.
4. Tree ID walk in April – Richardson: Tree Identification program will be on Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 at Jenkins property on Valley Hill Road. Sharon will ask Will Ryan if he generally brings or distributes flyers or id guides that can be sent to people.
5. Solomon – Nature News topics for April: Solomon suggested a topic on farmers markets and farms in Charlestown and local farms. Please let Solomon know if you have other ideas before the March meeting.
6. Township newsletter deadlines are 4/15, 7/15, & 10/15. One idea - Pam Baxter for Daily Local wrote piece about square foot gardening. Sharon brought up an org called The Wild Ones. Really good newsletter. Everyone to look at the Daily Local articles. No final decision.
7. No update on Ailanthus trees on Charlestown public properties.
8. Beautification of basin off turnpike – a consulting firm was hired to discuss native plantings, and a meeting was set for March 1 for the township to discuss, and the EAC was requested to attend.
9. Goodman mentioned North Coventry seminars – Armstrong sent to EAC.
10. Sign for Brightside is in printer’s hands.
11. Spring – The EAC will plant a persimmon tree in honor of Esther’s service on the EAC.

Meeting adjourned at 9:05.

Join the Charlestown Weed Warriors!

The Charlestown Environmental Advisory Commission (EAC) and Parks and Recreation board have formed a Weed Warrior program to combat invasive species threatening the health and beauty of our township parks. We are seeking gardeners and outdoor enthusiasts interested in beautifying and improving the ecological health of our preserved land. Our inaugural Weed Warrior event will take place 10 AM on Saturday, April 2nd, 2022, at the Brightside Farm Park (park at the community gardens) (rain date 10 AM Sunday, April 3rd). We will be tackling the invasive Multiflora Rose.

James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service,
Bugwood.org

Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) is a highly invasive rose species from Europe that is listed as a noxious weed in Pennsylvania. Prolific seed production and spread allows it to take over cropland and natural areas quickly. It grows in dense thickets with long arching canes that exclude native species and the mass of sharp thorns makes management and removal difficult. White flowers bloom in May - June with small red berries (hips) appearing in August. Multiflora rose can be identified from native rose species by the fringed petiole where the leaves join the main stem (see image at right). Multiflora rose also produces leaves much earlier than other native species, so it stands out in early spring when most other species are still dormant. Read more at: https://extension.psu.edu/multiflora-rose.

To manage Multiflora rose, canes should be cut 1” from the ground 3-6 times per year to slow the growth of the plant and kill it. Seeds can survive for up to 20 years in soil, so cutting the plant back before it flowers and fruits is essential to slowing its spread! Share your progress tackling Multiflora rose on your property with us on Facebook or Instagram (tag @CharlestownDay or @CharlestownPAParks in your post)!

Visit the EAC’s page on the Charlestown website for more invasive species information: http://www.charlestown.pa.us/environmental_advisory_committee.aspx