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

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

New:

1. Armstrong welcomed Stephanie Yocum who is interested in joining the EAC.
2. December and February meeting minutes were approved.
3. Tree Ordinances for Charlestown
   1. Maany talked to N Coventry EAC and got maps of townships in area that have and do not have tree ordinances. Charlestown has no woodlands ordinances.
   2. Chester County Planning Commission reviewed Charlestown’s ordinance and produced a report that was circulated by Maany. EAC will review in relation to what the BoS approves.
   3. Armstrong and Richardson recommended that Carol Stauffer speak to us about other township tree zoning ordinances to educate our residents. EAC will evaluate Charlestown’s ordinances in relation to other similar townships in northern ChesCo.? Goodman suggested this be our first action. Armstrong to reach out to Stauffer to discuss a meeting and invite the EAC team.
4. WeConservePA EAC annual Conference on 2/26/22. Armstrong reviewed projects that other EACs have accomplished: Fine resolution of Air Quality monitoring with Carnegie Melon’s RAMP systems; Methods to Systematically Review and evaluate stormwater basins; Battery Recycling Program; Benefits of Working with EAC Associates; Lawn Conversions to Meadows and Conservation landscaping - Armstrong.
   1. Cranbury Township, PA EAC – (near Pittsburgh) – Pittsburgh has problems with air pollution. Carnegie Mellon developed a fine resolution air quality monitoring device with analysis of results provided by Carnegie Melon’s Risk: Assessment, Mapping, and Planning (RAMP) System. The RAMP tests and analyzes air quality at a local level. Funded by a grant. Armstrong solicited our interest level to get involved. The EAC majority declined to pursue.
   2. MontCo with Penn State Univ. Extension developed a 7-step process to help municipalities better manage stormwater being captured by stormwater basins.
   3. Montgomery Township developed a program for their town to recycle no-tape batteries.
   4. The Watershed Forestry Program Manager at DCNR Bureau of Forestry reviewed possible funding sources for lawn conversions to meadows and woods. They reviewed the steps for such projects.
   5. Tredyffrin’s EAC did a presentation on using EAC alternates e.g. high school students, environmentalists, scientists, and other partners to do contribute to the EAC without needing to meet the constraints of voting members. They can have their own programs to run with after review by the EAC.
5. WeConserve PA EAC – do we want to be on their planning group or hosting their EAC? Armstrong will reach out to them to get more information. No decision.
6. Earth Day participation – Linda Csete is organizing some groups. Some clean up needed on trails in Brightside. Volunteers should ask Linda about clean-up projects or work at Brightside.
7. Goodman writing article on Native Trees for next Charlestown Township Newsletter.
8. OLC – Kendig family site is going to be a preserve. Their mission is to protect, not to build parks. No additional comments.
9. Charlestown Basin beautification program– Maany, Goodman, and Armstrong went to meeting. Seems like a good plan. Maany shared project schedule for this project.

On Going:

1. By-laws – addressed concerns expressed in Feb. meeting. Goodman made a motion to approve the by-laws. Richardson 2nded and everyone approved.
2. Recruitment of EAC member and associate members: Stephanie Yocum joined us and applied to join EAC. She filled out the application, which Armstrong sent to us. Otherwise, no change.
3. Solomon, Armstrong, and Goodman worked on a job description and sent to EAC. The consensus felt it was adequate with the prior suggestions sent to Walker. No other changes recommended. Yocum felt it was simple and clear. Can use in future.
4. Birdtown application – Goodman will complete the materials that we recently received.
5. Tree ID Walk – Armstrong will send Will Ryan the bio information in our poster to review and approve. Goodman needs the link from Walker for the invite. Armstrong will then send to Ryan. Richardson asked Will Ryan if he has handouts and he sent a link to Peterson’s Guides to Trees. Too expensive and not what we are looking for. Goodman still needs to get poster approved and will disseminate to township. Armstrong will send event info to selective people rather than to any one group as we have concerns about too many attendees and about adequate parking.
6. Solomon will work with Walker to finalize the invite content. Has he finalized the content, removed address field and is ready for Goodman to put a final link in the poster? In this order, the following actions are required.
   1. Walker needs to finalize content of email and registration page and provide link to Goodman
   2. Goodman to add link to poster and send back to Walker
   3. Solomon to check with Walker if he is ok receiving responses to the invite.
   4. Solomon will send the final email and registration form to residents on our email list and others selectively (per member choice).
7. Solomon needs to contact Chris Lawrence again regarding the EAC assuming responsibility for the Friends of Charlestown Township website built on Weebly platform. He didn’t respond to first email sent.
8. Weed warrior program– The kickoff of the program is April 2, when Armstrong and Ashlee Beyer of P&R will hold the first meeting at Brightside for interested residents to learn how to differentiate Multiflora Rose and removal methods. See attached notice. Notices are being posted on the EAC webpage. 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. She cannot attend first meeting but is willing to participate. novakassoc@gmail.com. Weed Warrior poster below, will remain at end of minutes. Linda put poster below at Brightside and in township communications and website.

Meeting adjourned at 9:15 PM.

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