All right, we're good. We're good. All right, I'm going to bring the May meeting of the township environmental committee meeting commission meeting to order and we'll begin with the pledge of allegiance.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. We will have our statement.
Pursuant to the Open Public Meetings Act, notice of this meeting was sent to the Cranberry Press, the Trenton Times, and Home News Tribune on January 3rd, 2025, posted on the bulletin board, posted on the township's website, and sent to those who requested a copy of this notice.
do roll call. All right. John Reinfelder here. Dela Georgees here. Steven Hester here. Gabe Leman here. Gabriel Berini
here. Jason Milderberg here. And I see Teresa coming. It's okay. All right, we have minutes from April's meeting. We could take a quick look. If you have
any changes, corrections, or additions, please let us know. Yeah, we got those numbers in. Great. Do I have a motion to accept the minutes? A motion. Do I have a second?
I'll second. All in favor of approving the minutes say I. I. Oh, okay. You can read them. You're still allowed to vote if you want. If you want and vote,
yes, I approve them then. All right. Minutes approved. Um, we have an issue. I would ask that we can go out of order because we have a member of the public who would like to
bring an issue before the commission. Um, and so not to have her have to wait so long to get to the public, which is at the end. Is that okay to go now? Absolutely. Okay. Very kind of you.
You're very welcome. And you push the button on the right. Yeah. Thank you so much. I'm gonna um please intro please introduce yourself because there are people Yeah. Laura Zurflu. I live uh 19 Bunker Hill. Um and I'm here to talk about the Climate Super Fund Act. I'm
going to give you an information sheet. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Thank you for um for allowing me to speak to you tonight. I wanted to talk about the climate super fund act and I'm going to ask you to make a judgment as to whether the township committee should pass a resolution
supporting this act. Um I did approach the township committee um one of the members and they said that this is something that should go before the environmental commission first. So that's why I'm I'm coming to you guys. The climate super fund act is um is uh legislation that is currently in the
assembly and in the senate. Um and it is waiting it is it has been in each house has been passed out of committee into a se second committee. So it's in committee but it has already been passed out of committee in the Senate. It's been referred out of the Oh jeez, I
didn't write down which committee, but it's been referred and it's now in the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. Um, and in the Assembly, it's now in the Commerce, Economic Development, and Agriculture Committee. In the um Senate, it has two sponsors and 14 co-sponsors. And one of the
co-sponsors is our own Senator Greenstein. In the Assembly, it has three sponsors and 20 co-sponsors. Um it has there what we're asking we're trying to um those of us that are concerned about the environment which I think includes all of you um are trying to get
this uh passed in order to uh what it would do is require uh corporations that have polluted our environment to pay for the cleanup which I don't even think I understand why that's not a thing already because I pay these corporations
for what they do for me and they make a profit from me and then they make me pay for their cleanup, which I think is outrageous. Um, 35 municipalities have already passed a res in New Jersey have already passed a resolution supporting the climate super fund act, including
Princeton just last week. Um, New York and Vermont have sim have similar legislation already on the books. Um so in our own area um Redbank, Franklin Township, Atlantic Highlands, Asbury Park, Rawway, Edison, Highland Park,
North Brunswick, Monroe have all passed this legisl passed this leg, sorry, not passed legislation, passed a resolution to support this legislation. And there's pending uh pending uh it's pending in Matuchen and New Brunswick uh for them to pass a resolution to support the
legislation. Um, I kind of explained it already. I don't want to There's details here, but that's essentially what it does is it says if you pollute our environment, you should pay for the cleanup. Um, and I'll also add that at a time when we're expecting huge revenue shortfalls coming
from the federal government, particularly because they do not support um environmental cleanup. Um, this would be an actual revenue raiser, which is rare to come by in these days. Um, and it would be raising revenue not from the taxpayers but from the corporations that
created the problem. Are you guys allowed to ask questions? I don't know how this we we are and and I open it up to the committee who can ask uh Laura any questions? All right. So um so say they
passed the bill and it you know it says here that New York would raise up to three billion dollars. New Jersey currently funds certain activities. Uh would New Jersey use this on top of the funding that it currently provides for similar activities or would it use it
for in exchange? So if there's three uh New Jersey spends $1 billion, they raise $3 billion. Is it $4 billion or is it just $3 billion and they reappropriate that other billion that would have done good as well? I'm not sure u exactly
because they're not appropriating the money. They're collecting the money from the polluters, right? So there at the bottom it does say what they would be what it would be used for. Um so it'll be used for grants for climate change adaptation, you know, resiliency,
um flood flooding. I mean, is that the question? It doesn't really make a difference to me in any way other than New Jersey has a great history of collecting money for certain causes and saying that it's going to another cause and just uh misappropriating it.
And so I'm just making sure what uh I haven't read the bill. So perhaps there's plenty of safeguards in there that says if New Jersey will use this money on top of what it already spends to support these activities, not in exchange for that money and
reappropriate it elsewhere. I can't speak to the safeguards. I'll be honest with you. That's like minutia that I really didn't um look at. But if you'd like, I can email the actual text of the bill to John. I think this sounds like a good bill. I just am always concerned
when the states involve passing. Yes. Skeptical healthy skepticism. So um if I could jump in is anyone it's okay. Um the thing about this is a long-standing strategy as you may or may not know um
of trying to add the CO2 to the Clean Air Act which it probably should be added to um but it has not been added. many people have tried in many different ways uh and it is just not there. Um
this is this is a I would call as a citizen I would see this as a creative legal strategy perhaps. Um whether it works andor is effective I cannot judge. I simply cannot judge. I
am neither a lawyer or um uh you know an e economist. So um my my feeling about it is you know I think New York State is leading this I believe and other states have joined and it's it's it's a movement and it I think it's
interesting. I think it will raise attention to the issue but I cannot judge its merits per se because um of the technical things that I think are eluding me. But that's that's my opinion and anyone else is free to to
have their own opinion. Um, so can I ask you a question? Yes. Um, so you're saying that it's a ultimately it's an effort to get CO2 included in the Clean Air Act, but I would say even if it fails to do that,
the Super Fund Act, you know, it what it does is it says if you polluted among this set of contaminants, you are liable to clean it up. And the problem I see with it is that CO2 has not been included in the legal
definition of that set of conclusions. So you can see the conundrum that um that um lawyers are going to face on the prosecution and defense of this of this issue. And it has been it has been tried before
in different ways to in to add that [Music] um this this may get there but it's not directly adding it to the list of contaminants. So I think there's going to be a fundamental problem with that down the line. That's my personal
opinion. I'm not a lawyer. I can't weigh in on that. So I you know I I kind of appreciate the spirit of the movement. Um, I feel a little bit uh unqualified sitting here on a township
environmental commission to to recommend one way or the other because I feel like I would be doing so on the basis of, you know, perhaps not the facts that I would like to have at hand. But that's that's my opinion. But the
committee is welcome to reach its own conclusions. And if there are other con, you know, questions, we can, you know, try to find out more about it. You know, I don't, the township did not send it to me, so I don't have it officially from
them. Yeah, I think it would be beneficial at least take a moment to uh do a little bit of research on our own. Yeah, I think so. Um I I mean yeah from what you're saying it
sounds like an endound to achieve a goal and does it you know from my perspective without knowing any better even beyond what I was asking before as far as what they use for these um I guess penalties and grants and
things of that nature. It it's more so What's the back end? This is this is a very easy FAQ that they've provided here. What what does it do? What does it have? And uh knowing that uh Princeton and other municipalities have passed this, um it'd be nice to know if there
was any sort of uh editorial or uh or comment as to Yeah. you know, what they thought of it and what they thought the attraction or detraction for it would be. Yeah. Because I mean I think the township
committee here and elsewhere they can they can make decisions like this. They're totally within their purview. Um if they have specific questions for us, we we can address them, but um I think I
would need a little bit more guidance on what I'm actually recommending. Right. And that's all we make to the township committee anyway is a recommendation. Oh yeah. We're only advisory. We're only advisory. We don't we don't make the app the end
decision, but you know, it's it's it's an important role. So, this was presented to the township commission. No, it wasn't. I I spoke with someone on township committee and I said, "Hey, can I present this?" And they were like, "Well, you should probably go before the EC first and run
it by them because that's their purview." Okay. So, okay. Um, I guess this could make the agenda for next meeting, John. Uh, yeah, definitely. Okay. Definitely put this on the agenda. And, um, is is there any uh is
there a critical time frame associated with this? Okay. I mean, no. And it's moved um is is it anticipated that the uh the state will vote on it? We h I mean, it's it's made it out of one committee into a second committee.
So that it takes a while. You know, it's the state. Well, sometimes it takes a while and sometimes they rush things through, but this is not something they're rushing through. I can tell you that. So, if I had to guess, it might wait until the next election, but you never know. You never know. We have a little election. Yeah, it might be
something that's passed during lame duck. I was going to say a lot of things get through on lame duck, but it might be in the fall. Okay. So, yeah. I mean, I have a quick question. Um in in terms of you mean municipalities that have adopted it as a resolution lending support is there
like is there any harm in just like waiting to because if the state adopts it then we're just like great right it's like I'm trying to see like where the benefit of lending support is is just for like to be on the record to having the the benefit is is to push legislators to pay attention that's
really that's really all it is is a pressure campaign because the bill's where we've got a lot of co-spon I mean there's a lot of co-sponsors um and you know we try to get co-sponsors and we try to get some something to get people
to pay attention uh the legislators to pay attention that people want this and the more pe the more resolutions that are on the on the you know uh pushing them the more co-sponsors the better. Yeah. So, I do find it compelling that so many towns like that surround us that
are literally almost like contiguous to Cranberry have already discussed it and have approved it. So, I'm interested in reading more about it and considering everyone's comments so far. Would you like me to um do some research reaching out to specific towns and asking them
their thought process? And can I I'm sorry. I don't I don't fully understand what So, I understand what you're saying is that they're using this as a tool to get to that. Yes. But I also don't fully understand why it would be a bad thing to get polluters to pay even if even if it doesn't reach that goal. You know
what I'm saying? Well, the thing is you you you the super fund will will not take effect basically unless they can go into a court or or f EPA file basically files a um you know it's called an injunction or
but anyway they fire file a paper saying this p this entity um contaminated this environment with this chemical and then a judge says yes they did and then it begins the super fund process, right? The judge will say, "This is not on the
list, but can't they still file it for the things that are on the list?" Like, why is that a problem? You can you can you can file it for for the things that are on the list, but the the thing that they're talking about is not on the list. So, I'm I'm just Oh, I see what
you're saying. Chemical. Yeah. Okay. I hear what you're saying. That's what I'm saying. So, I think it's going to run into, you know, it'll be a legal process, right? Um, I suspect New Jersey will eventually adopt, you know, join, it's going to be a lawsuit. Basically, they're joining New York attorney
general. Um, I suspect New Jersey will join that lawsuit. Um, but I think it's it's going to be a very very steep um barrier to that lawsuit because it it's there's something that's kind of black and white
right now that's hard to overcome. But it doesn't mean it's not going to raise attention to the connect. What I like about this is it raises the con it makes the connection between the emissions and the effects that happen in New York, in
New Jersey, in each of the states. And that's a very important thing uh to do. And so I think that that will have a beneficial effect, you know, one way or the other. Okay. So, you would like me to reach out to some of the townships and find out what their reasoning was? I think and is
there anything else you'd like me to do if I come back next month? If the township is considering I mean it would be nice if they gave us a little something specific to do on this because um normally they would say, you
know, here's a recycling plan. What do you like, don't like about it? here's an open space thing or here's a a stream corridor issue. So, it's a little more specific for us. And if they I don't know if they've gotten to that stage,
but if they have discuss well it may be beneficial just to know what the resolution stated because most of the time they'll they'll state the title and then what they're supporting specifically. If they have a resolution, a draft resolution, that would be good. Yep. Then then the members can see that
including myself and maybe we can Yep. You know, and then I think something else I mean we could all Google it, but if we could just get a copy of the actual legislation. Well, I can I can email it to John send it out. It's Yeah. Yeah. Otherwise, and I'll see if I can
get the draft resolution state legislation. That way we're all looking at the same. Okay. Super. Thank you. Thank you very much. All right. Um, I'm tempted to
um to to uh jump to new business, but I do want to give the township uh liaison and the parks liaison a chance to speak first. Um, so yeah. Okay. Keep it simple otherwise I
will get lost. Yes. Hello. [Music] Yeah. I I think it's really important for the EC to weigh in on something like that before the township committee looks at it since you are you know would
provide recommendations and having the resolution pro there's always a model resolution that probably you should look at prior because that's what we would approve. So, I appreciate that the extra work. Anyway, I hope everyone's okay.
Um, community energy grant. Okay, they've kicked it back again and they're requiring two pieces of information. I forwarded that to you, John. Um, board of directors and something else is needed. So, I reached out to
Denise to find out what we should put on the grant. But I think it's like board of directors and something else that we this is a township. So I do have a question about that. Um yeah, because have they talked about the timeline at
all? Because the board of public No, they have not. Like I think it's when I think May 31st is when it'll probably stop start because that's the drop dead date of when I need to get this board of ed, you know, board in stuff like that, you know, because the original timeline
was pretty ambitious and um you know, we've been blowing past those things. No, I think they pushed it. So we can we'll have a little more time. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Yeah, that's a great question. No, and they did say once it's approved like once every once it's approved that's when it
starts. Yeah. I mean it is we have the money it's just the paperwork. Yeah. Um um well it was really cool. I went to a keep middle sex moving um annual meeting. That's our transportation um nonprofits quasi nonprofit that deals
with anyway. Um so I went to this annual meeting and um we got bronze level safe routes to school. Um I didn't I you know it was great. Um so that means we do a walk to school event with the um with
the kids and then they also do a program which is it's really was really wellreceived on safety and um you know safe riding and walking and pedestrian they do that in the school. So we have a nice connection um between keeps Middle Sex moving which is an educational
outreach piece um on how to save uh you know how to pedestrians and transportation etc. Um so um I met with Teresa u we were talking about reertifying um for sustainable Jersey. I am not taking the lead for the first
time in 12 years and Teresa has accepted the lead. Thank you. Um, so I'm sure she'll give you maybe I don't know a little report. Um, yeah. And I just, um, uh, they reached out to me saying July 31st is the date, drop
dead date. Um, but there is another date where they'll review our application. So, yes, we will hopefully get another bronze or silver on the plaque behind Stephen. Yes, there it is. Yes.
you never notice. Anyway, 15 years of that. Okay. Um it's really great because it has a lot of really great um best management practices for townships. Uh we would never probably have known about the
community energy grant and a lot of little other grants that are going on. Um uh so just uh want to close the loop that um recycling guidelines. John, yes, I have something to say about that.
Yeah, I was kind of surprised. It's it's mostly clear. Um except number four is sort of is the orphan number. So what happened was the this organization, this body for Middle
Sex County Solid Waste Advisory Council, the SWAC, um met in January and February. And I have a quote from February minutes. The county is no longer telling residents to recycle plastic numbers with a number one number two.
Look under the one. We're going to a simplified message uh to recycle plastic bottles, jars, jugs, and tubs. And they're they have a a graphic on the website that they're going to try to um push around. But let me remember my
notes before I pass that away. Pass away your notes and you're like moving around the room. Um so but there was a communication um between the town and the county and um somebody from the
Middle Sex County Authority basically said ones, twos, and fives are accepted and that's most of the stuff. But what is vehemently not accepted is plastic bags and it's a physical shape and
structure problem. the recyclers that we contract with cannot deal with the bags. They clog the machines. They jam the machines. Then they mess up the other solid big things going through smoothly. So as it stands, my understanding is
one, twos, and fives. One is PET, polyethylene teralate, most of your water and soda bottles. Number two, highdensity polyethylene, your milk jugs, your detergent bottles. Um, and five polyropylene, which is your food containers, like yogurt containers, uh,
cottage cheese, that kind of thing. Uh, but not fours. Fours are mostly bags, but there are some bottles and containers that have four. So, we'll see what happens. The funny thing is Ruters and New Brunswick has been recycling fours and fives, you know, for 15 years.
I don't know what they're going to do. So, did you because this all started because I think didn't you put something in the mayor's update or something? I sent something, but I don't think it's in the mayor's update. They stopped. They I think you had sent it to have it done and then
they wanted to make sure I think I sent and I said check this because this is updated. So, like I mean to I mean it sounds like you have on it. I might have sent it to the administrator. Yeah. Um Yeah, it's important. It's important. I
mean, I think the big message is don't bags. You're gonna have to throw out your bags. I think that's that's Yeah, if you want to write a blurb like in that. Sure, that would be really Yeah, I I can't remember who I sent that to, but I'll find out. I'll I'll take a look. You could send it to me and then I just
send it. Maybe that's what it was. Yeah. Yeah, that'd be great. Um just I'm also a liazison to shade tree and um spring is the time where suddenly people notice trees and they want to cut them down. Um
anyway um or whatever um if they are going to cut them down that's when they want to do it. So, um, there's this new ordinance and just keep, you know, if you could, if you see a, you know, see a tree, you know, and someone's interested in cutting it down,
please let them know that there's an ordinance that they need to get a professional tree, uh, licensed tree arborist um, uh, before they cut it down and to determine whether it's diseased or, you know, whether it counts towards your
quota within the next five years. I think it's four trees within five years on your property and then something else kicks in. I think Well, yeah. And my understanding is there's a form, right? That that's on the township. Yes. So, um
it's on the shade tree shade tree form and that goes to the chair of the shade tree and then she deals with the Kathy East deals with with it. So, um you know, unfortunately people are cutting down trees without doing that. Hopefully, it's because they're not
educated on the new ordinance and they're not just trying to do it. Um, but it's really important because um they're really trying to keep also keep track besides trees being really important environmentally. We're also they're also trying to keep track of our
um tree canopy, overall tree canopy, and we're trying to reach a certain goal um percentage coverage. So, um and that's it. Um, and um, that's all I want to report on. All
right. Thank you, Barbara. Any questions? Any questions for Barb? Oh, and was that last one already? to do the uh ang was