Charlestown Township
Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC)
Meeting Minutes
Monday, May 9, 2022

Meeting was held at GVMS Choral Room. Armstrong opened the meeting at 7:03.

Attendees:
Carol Armstrong, (Chair), Meg Solomon (Secretary), Veda Maany, Pete Goodman, Sharon Richardson, Dan Walker (Vice Chair), Visitors; Jill Green, Esther Underhill, Stephanie Yocum.

April 2022 minutes were approved.

NEW BUSINESS

  1. Charlestown Day planning. Date hasn’t been announced yet. Richardson would like to start a conversation, so we are not planning last minute. Richardson and Maany will be a team to start the planning and bring ideas to the EAC. Armstrong suggested we have a table covering for our pavilion. Solomon offered to provide eco laundry detergents for give-aways.
  2. Fall EAC Network participation (work with WeConservePA) – We don’t want to host but might want to participate. Armstrong provided more details and the EAC members felt it was more than we could handle.
  3. Pollinator Week (June 20-26) – Richardson solicited interest. Not this year – too late, we should try to do something earlier in 2023. Richardson will, however write an article for the Charlestown newsletter.
  4. RES Proposal for Brightside – BoS appointed Andy Motel to be Open Space Coordinator. Motel evaluated and solicited RES. BoS has approved the proposal and Task 1 (see proposal sent by Motel- requires no actual work in year 1.) Walker and Goodman will do an inventory of the trees growing in the Hedgerow to learn if there are trees that should be preserved as wildlife forage. There are many cherry trees. No mowing until a plan is approved. They wouldn’t mow until fall anyway. A controlled burn might be used. To follow and get notices for public meetings get on Linda Csete’s weekly email list.

OLD BUSINESS, ON GOING

  1. Friends of Charlestown website – long discussion but no resolution. Status quo for now.
  2. Tree ID Walk went well and people seemed to be engaged. Walker and his son, Carter, worked with Goodman and Carol Armstrong ’s to install the sign. Armstrong thanked them for their excellent work. Also planted Esther Estes tree. Walker provided the email addresses for those who registered and Solomon sent them Tree ID information suggested by Will Ryan.
  3. Sign at Brightside was installed. Walker and his son, Carter, worked with Goodman and Carol Armstrong ’s to install the sign. Armstrong thanked them for their excellent work. Commemorative American Plum tree was planted to thank Esther Estes for her service on the EAC. Picture to be sent to Csete for display on Charlestown website.
  4. Weed Warriors – next meeting is June 4 but invasives to pull (garlic mustard and narrow leaf bittercress) on Pickering trail. Meeting set from 9am to 11am, parking at the Charlestown Mill. Pix to be sent to Csete for newsletter.
  5. Tree Ordinances – SALDO tree protection ordinance will be reviewed again by PC before sent to the BoS.
  6. Birdtown – Goodman is forming a committee to include Motel. Motel has questions that he took directly to Birdtown PA coordinator Heidi Shiver. Goodman sent email to BoS to solicit a member to join the committee. Committee thus far is Yocum, Motel, Goodman.
  7. Township newsletter – July 15 is next deadline. Armstrong writing article about diversity of aquatic and bird species in Riparian area. Jill Green will write an article about the Tree ID walk.
  8. Riparian Buffers – Armstrong and Goodman checked on the Deerfield Riparian buffer. Goodman will do maintenance of Deerfield plantings. Armstrong will do maintenance on buffer along springhouse at Brightside.
  9. Open Land Conversancy – Kendig property, to be a preserve, transects East Whiteland and Charlestown. No update.
  10. Next Education – need topic for fall (October recommended). Armstrong offered to provide presentation on Watershed Friendly Property Certification. Armstrong will ask Philadelphia Metro Wildlife Rehabilitation Center to provide a talk on Wild Neighbors ability to survive in winter. Other topics previously suggested are: Waste - Medical, Industrial, and Hazardous, Invasives species.
  11. Charlestown Riparian Buffer Survey of potential site – Michael Bullard of Green Valleys Watershed Assoc. might be able to provide a GIS map of Charlestown and its riparian buffers and streams.
  12. No update on Beautification Basins

Meeting ended at 9:12