Township of Long Hill
Environmental Commission
Regular Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, January 16, 2006
1. CALL TO ORDER AND STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE
The Environmental Commission (EC) of the Township of Long Hill, in the County of Morris and State of New Jersey convened in a regular meeting at the Municipal Building, 915 Valley Road, Gillette, New Jersey on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 at 7:00 p.m.
The Chairman, Mr. Len Hamilton, called the meeting to order at 7:50 p.m. He read the following statement:
Pursuant to the requirement of Chapter 231 of the Public Laws of 1975, adequate notice of the meeting including the time, date and location was posted on the Municipal bulletin board, the Echoes-Sentinel and Courier News were notified of the 2006 Meeting Schedule sent to them on January 1, 2006. This agenda was emailed to the Deputy Clerk on January 16, 2006 for posting.
2. MEETING CUT-OFF
Announcement is made that as a matter of procedure, it is the intention of the Environmental Commission (EC) not to continue any matter past 9:30 p.m. at any regular or special meeting of the commission unless the members pass a motion then present to extend the meeting to a later specified cut-off time.
3. ROLL CALL
The Chairman called the roll as follows:
All Present: Len Hamilton, Chairman, Michael Bergen, Vice-Chairman, Bruce Meringolo, Member, John J. Walsh, Member, Scott Soldan, Member and Bill Hopcraft, Township Committee Rep., Joan McCloskey, 1st Alternate, Alexandra Hennessey, 2nd Alternate
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The Regular Meeting Minutes of December 19, 2005 were read. The EC unanimously voted to approve minutes.
5. PUBLIC QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
The meeting was opened to the public for questions or comments. Mr. Dennis Sandow was present and asked if a discussion on stormwater would take place. Mr. Sandow requested a Special Meeting be called for this topic, however, it was decided that the EC would discuss this at their next meeting. Mr. Sandow remained for the meeting.
6. SECRETARY’S REPORT
·Follow-up with Planning and Zoning for upcoming meeting hearing dates. All dates have been updated in this Agenda.
·Letter sent to the Board of Adjustment with EC comments on Mellusi.
7. CORRESPONDENCE
·Request for LOI from Dagwood Properties (Copper Springs Property), 200 New Vernon Road, Block 14602, Lot 4.01. Karen will send a letter to NJDEP. Closed.
7. CORRESPONDENCE cont’d
·Letter of Referral- Application 05-12Z, Block No. 13503, Lot No.16, 351 Long Hill Road Gillette. Applicant: Scott & Pamela Monty. Proposal: Two-story addition to single family home. New plans received. Meeting Date 1/24/2006. A letter will be sent to the Board of Adjustment with EC comments prior to their next meeting. Closed.
·Letter of Referral- Application 05-18P, Block No. 12802, Lot 2, Block No. 12802, Lot 3.01, Block 14205 Lot No.1, 1418 & 1446 Long Hill Road. Applicant: P. Wallace, S. Dealty, & M. Priestman. *Application for extension of previously approved preliminary sub-division and lot width variances. Prior Approval date 11/26/2002 under the name of Cotswold Properties. Meeting Date 2/14/2006. A letter will be sent to the Planning Board with EC comments prior to the February 14, 2006 meeting date. Closed.
·LHT Planning Board Organizational Agenda 1/17/2006. EC has no comment at this time. Closed.
·EC Nov Budget. EC has no comment at this time. Closed.
·Warren Township EC Minutes from 11/1/2005. EC has no comment at this time. Closed.
·Invoice form ANJEC for 2006 Membership Dues. Discussion held. Karen will submit a purchase order to pay the ANJEC 2006 dues. Closed.
·An incident involving an unknown contractor, who allegedly graded the soil behind the library was discussed. The soil was pushed into the outer property causing a possible reduction in water drainage. As this area borders wetlands, it raises stormwater run-off concerns. The incident shall be taken up with the Township Committee and the Environmental Commission shall take note of the Township Committee’s response.
8. CHAIR’S REPORT:
Len Hamilton referred to the goals on the Agenda as items that would be a part of future discussion and action. The one item that received brief discussion was the USACE Flood Control Project and FEMA Maps. Len pointed out that if the Army Corps project performed as proposed, the homeowners in the protected region should, perhaps, be removed from the burden of FEMA Insurance. This possibility will be brought to the Township Committee at a future meeting
LHT:Environmental Commission:Goals for 2006
- Improved detail of site plan reviews, especially with respect to stormwater management. Every project should meet no-net requirements.
- Review environmental ordinances and recommend revisions to Planning Board.
- Review environmental element of Master Plan and recommend changes to Planning Board.
- Work to improve Morris County Soil Conservation District’s oversight of development projects.
LHT:Environmental Commission:Goals for 2006 cont’d
- Work more closely with Zoning Enforcement Officer on environmental issues.
- Reinvigorate Passaic River Nature Trail project.
- Improve public education initiatives (ANJEC; Echoes-Sentinel; Library; etc.)
- Encourage and invite additional public input into Environmental Commission.
- Revisit USACE’s Stirling Flood Control Project with respect to FEMA, PRNT, TMDLs, etc.
- Continue and improve interactions with Open Space Advisory Committee and Historic Preservation Advisory Committee.
- Work more closely with Morris County to protect our historic roadways.
- Work with Shade Tree Commission to protect and re-establish canopied roadways.
- Work with the Ten Towns Committee to take advantage of workshops, educational programs, grants, etc.
- Work with DPW to help meet Statewide Stormwater Regulations.
9. STATUS REPORTS
·Environmental Assessment Form: Discussion held. The form is in the process of being re-designed. Open.
9. NEXT MEETING
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Environmental Commission will be Wednesday, February 15, 2006 at 7:00pm.
10. ADJOURNMENT
At 9:25 pm Jack Walsh made a motion to extend the meeting,
Upon proper Parliamentary procedures, the regular meeting of the Long Hill Township Environmental Commission did duly adjourn at 9:45 P.M. by unanimous vote.
Respectfully Submitted,
Alexandra Hennessey for
Karen Shear, Secretary Environmental Commission
