All right. We'll bring the April 21st meeting of the Cranberry Township Environmental Commission to order and begin with our 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. All right. So, we will have a uh
statement. Pursuant to the open public meetings act, notice of this meeting was sent to the Granberry 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.
Okay, roll call. Uh, John Reinfelder here. Uh, Dela is not here. Steven Hester here. Gabe Leman is not here. Jason Milenberg here. Teresa Vicaro here. And we have three vacancy. and
Barbara Rogers is here and Sally O'Rady. Okay. All right. First thing, look at the minutes from March 17th. Let me know if you have any corrections, changes, or
additions. Not seeing any, I move the me or solicit a motion to accept the minutes. A motion. Second. All in favor? I. Okay. Opposed? Extensions? None. All right.
So we will begin with our reports first from the township committee. Committee woman Barbara Rogers. Uh yeah, I have a couple things. Um okay, I've officially registered and
uh for the grant, we registered for that grant for the community energy grant and they received it just in time. Um it wasn't as easy as the first application but got through it which was good. So we are officially
on board with that and um I have here. So I I copied and pasted here and I'm not going to read it but um of some of the benchmarks that we have to make some of the the you know like in 30 days we
have to do this in 60 days we have to do that um John do you have those deadlines or like you know we're when when does the clock start end of March when I applied so it already started So,
we're already kind of in it. Um, yeah, if you could send those along, that'd be great. Yeah, I mean, I have it here like within 45 to 90 days of the grant depending on whatever. Um, they must meet with a sustainable Jersey consultation to go over the work plan, like you know, that kind of stuff like
just Okay, we good to have those because Yeah, that sounds more detailed than what I had. Yeah, I would appreciate that. I just cut and pasted from the grant and threw it on a piece of paper. So, there you go. Um uh oh um I finally became I was wanted
to show Delpha finally became certified by Habitat public. Okay. Um got to keep doing this, you know. We got to keep publicizing, right? And you don't have to house You don't have to get a sign. You do not.
But this was a donation. That's why I did the sign. You do not have to get that. can just do it. Your house would definitely be certified. So go to the um National Wildlife Federation website, please
because if we get what 100 homes, I think trying to get 100 then our whole town becomes certified. So one more closer. Jason, have you done it? No.
Okay. Teresa. Okay. Well, it took me this long. So, yes, let's let's all get on board and support this initiative because I'm sure your your houses have that checklist checked off.
Um, so I'm going to push that and uh because I did it, I'm patting myself on the back of well. Um, anyway, um, Del is not here. I guess she must be when when if she's
late and she comes, I would like to talk in public about um she's applied for an ANject grant and she sent me um the summary um and I sent her some edits back because I have gotten that grant before. It's a $1,500 I think grant um
for the um garden for the school. and um uh um she's requested a letter of support and um she asked me if I had a template and I looked I have to go look
at a at another um at another um hard drive that is probably in but maybe you might know Donna like how to get a letter of support like we've done it before but maybe we could ask Debbie um um what
that would look like because I don't think the grant offered up a model of letter of support because I think you got the town the town the town needs to do that because it's on township prop. Well, it's on school property property but but the money is going to be going
to the EC. So, it's a township commission, right? Yeah. I mean, that's an interesting point. So that was my that was she might want to have the school also. I would say
that's a good point. I think both. Yeah. So I'm asking for you all your appro for Delpha that she apply for this because we need to get it on the agenda for the township committee this coming up Monday. Oh yeah. Because the the due
date for the grant is the 14th of May. Yeah. And we meet on the 14th of May. So that Oh yeah. That's our next one would be on the 14th of May. So, I'm looking ahead. Um, so do you guys approve of her grant
so that I can go in front of the TC? You want to summarize what the grant is? I mean, well, we definitely I mean, she mentioned that last time that she was We've definitely gone into this quite a few times. Okay. So, you guys know what she went through. Should we Should we
poll or how do we do that? See, I need your your support so that I can go just say John or can John just say we support it. Well, maybe an informal one. What do you think? Consensus. I mean, I think, you know, if there's a consensus, but if
there's any discussion, you know, pro and con um what are we deciding on? Well, we're basically giving our you are good. We're giving our uh okay for for the for the essentially the town
is applying but Dela's doing the footwork for a grant, an NJ grant, but the money is to help part of her teaching garden in the school courtyard, but we're contributing to that separately to
buy some science things. So, we talked about it at the last meeting that um I brought up the grant and she said, "Oh, yeah. I'm going to try to apply for that. I think it's a good idea. I'm in favor."
Okay. All right. I think by consensus, acclamation, we're into it. Is this a Cranberry School garden lab? Vibrant outdoor classroom designed to foster hands-on learning, creativity, and environmental stewardship. This thoughtfully curated space provides an interactive and
immersive educational experience blending science, nature, and play in a dynamic setting. So my comment because this is an environmental commission grant is that it needs to be more town focused and not as much school focus. So
what can we do as a township to support that? Like what kind of activities? And I think she mentioned about the the um summer camp. So the summer camp is a great way to, you know, to offer it up as a township, you know, project. So,
um, so I think that's good. We were discussing this. I was Yes. Good. Actually, I think that they're they're due May 12th. Oh, May 12th. Yeah. The Anjek open space stewardship. Okay. So, then it has to be done. Yeah. So, we're just we're by
acclamation we approved the the idea of the township through the commission applying for the grant. Okay. To obtain the money for the school learning garden. Okay. project. Awesome. So, we just did that sort of by consensus. Okay. Um because it has to go before the
township. Okay. Before the due date. Yeah. So, that means the next meeting. Okay. Okay. That's just and the only thing is that um there wasn't a sample letter or any kind of like drafts or resources provided so I didn't know what to even say. Yeah. So we're going to work I mean we're going to try to find a
draft support letter from the town probably something boilerplate but we suggest that perhaps something of support from the school. Yeah. Somebody supporting it from the school. Okay. Together I think might be
important. Yeah. Just leave it like that. Yeah. And the way I don't know if you had a chance to think about this in the way that the township can use it and how the environmental commission can support it because it is an environmental commission grant.
So that I think is really a critical I love the idea of the summer camp using that. Yeah. Oh, and the girl the scouts helping out. Yeah. Um we had sort of discussed sort of using it almost like the way that the cranberry public
library came into the tag of like a meeting like a backdrop in which to like host gatherings. Um it does it make sense? Is this something that the EC does where I I know the school has been open to
having guest speakers, area experts, if there's like topics where the teacher might not necessarily want or need to lead, someone from the EC could come and lead or we could contact an area expert to come in and and lead a talk with
children. You know, things like nature journaling or stream like streamwatch schools, that kind of thing. even the support the climate curriculum. Yes, that's one of the big themes. So if there's ever those shade trees coming in, maybe the sea could come in too.
Yeah. Yeah, I do. I So yeah, so that that's always sort of been the idea of it, but we didn't know if like what you guys thought or if that was something that we could arrange or want to use as a space. But that could be one way of connecting the township to it. I mean, I
think in general you can use the language that it will, you know, further the town and environmental commission's efforts on community education because we are That's perfect because we're supporting the sc the the weather
station, etc. Yeah. Separately to for community education. You need a pen. Yeah, I do. I just realized I had like all these notebooks but no pen. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Um I think that's not a perfect
word. Supporting. How many times? Yeah. Couple. Um Okay. So, Donna, do you want would you mind asking Debbie about the letter of
support and a model letter of support or one that's been used in the past? That would be really great. and get that to Delpha and if you wouldn't mind to me too so that we know what's going on. That's great. Thank you. I appreciate it. Um
uh the other thing is I'm going to be going I'm I'm asking the township committee and it kind of does relate to you guys. Um this bike network plan was how many four or five years ago? I worked as a technical assistance grant
with the Northern Jersey Transportation and Boris Transportation out of Ruters and Sustainable Jersey. And this is the map so of the overall map of the bike plan. And um Can you pass it around? Yeah. And
um I will. And um these stars are the gateway signs. Have everyone seen the white signs around town? Yeah. Beautiful. Yeah. So those um so a lot of the lowhanging fruit of the plan is
being done or is done. That's considered low hanging. It took me four years to get that done. So um so the harder lift now is going to be trying to get this um multi-use path
which is a parallel path. I'll show it to you. parallel path to um Plainsboro Road. The township owns Plansboro Road and um and it's going to be um repaved in 2026 and um hopefully there's funding
and um and uh in order to do that, the township engineer is going to have to do a survey. So on it, I'm going to ask um township committee to support this um initiative just to see whether it's
possible that we could get a parallel off the road 8 to I think it's 8 to 10 feet wide path. It would be safer. It would prevent the road from being widened, which would allow cars to go
faster. Um, so when I when this plan was made, we had over 100 people on the phone. We had a lot of input. We had a lot of positive that yes, yes, yes, let's do a PL. Let's get bikes, you know, let's get us biking. Let's get road, you know, let's get safe biking.
So, just want to let you know that I'm going to be asking the township committee to continue supporting that bike plan. Are you kind of I know I'm kind of throwing this at you, but safe biking in town. So very good. I think
that's an environmental commission thing. Sure. Well, certainly I think if we could put it in the energy plan, too. Don't you? Love it. Okay, that's another action item on
there. Um, yeah. So, that was one thing. Yeah. And here's the rest of the bike plan. So, if you ever want to see that. So, that was one thing. And I just wanted to give you a little heads up on what happened at the last township committee member meeting. Um so there was a discussion on um putting
additional art in Heritage Park and it was a a generous gift from the Helen Cody Foundation um which has done some really great things. Um the where I just wanted to remind you guys as well as um you know
the public that we have an open space um OSRP open space and recreation plan that was just updated in 2023. We had parks on it. We had um we had a member of park. you know, me just members
throughout the public and um it was updated and and it's really the open space is a guide for open space protection and preservation in the municipality. Okay. It examines the needs and goals of existing inventory
and it is considered a roadmap to make additional open space and recreational improvements. So the Helen Cody um offered up a sculpture and it was approved that's it's fine you know but I think we like we need to realize you
know as environmental commissions that there is a roadmap and there are suggestions for open space and we need to go back to see what those suggestions are. So I opposed it because that that wasn't suggested in the open space and
um rep plan. you know, um it takes so much to get open space. Um and once we start adding things, where does it eventually stop and not become open space anymore? So, that's why I oppose it and I just wanted to let you guys
know um that when we do put things in and decide to put things in in our open spaces, whether it's preserves, parks, whatever, um that we refer to the OSP. And that is my statement. Uh, where can that be found? Is that
just on the township website? Yes. Yes. Thank you very much for that information. Um, I would love to see the bike map at some point. Is that going to be available? Yeah, that one. I But I can
look at it later. Yeah. Yeah. All right. This is also online. Oh, that is This is online. The whole thing. And this is inside it. And the map's inside. Yeah. Okay, great. Then I'll look on Okay, great. All righty. Thank you very much. I will
Thank you for listening. I will report that the the DRC did not meet in April. Um so I have nothing to report. Was did the planning board planning committee? Planning board committee, excuse me. I'm pretty sure they did, but
I wasn't there. Okay. So we'll we don't have any information there. We are to parks and recreation liaison sally. Hello for those listening at home or
wherever. I'm Sally O'Grady the parks and wreck commission leazison. I have several information items to tell you. Um most of them are just informative of what happened at our meeting and a couple that we have some discussion. The pickleball court, tennis court in
Village Park will be started soon. The construction on that um apparently they came in under budget. So, um they're going to take out everything that's there and put in a new court system. The pavilion roof and village
park, we have uh gotten a state grant for that. So, they're going to be repairing or fixing that roof and village park. Um, as far as preserves updates, I had let DPW know that there was a tree crossing the trail in Yamami
Woods and that same day they got rid of it. So, which is good. I I appreciate that. Um, also, as far as the Helen Cody Foundation sculpture, parks unanimously approved it and we were happy to have it in our park and would probably uh
welcome more if um someone is willing to donate a sculpture to a park. Um, we we like that. Um, this is something that is not from the parks, but I did notice that if you receive the Middle Sex
County recycling magazine, your Middle Sex, it's actually not recycling, it's just the whole Middle Sex County magazine that I received, there's a part in here that says a recycling update. Middle Sex County is now following the state's lead on a new approach to educating the public about recycling
plastics. It's now easier than ever. just recycle all plastic bottles, jars, jugs, and tubs that are one gallon or less. So, if you are aware, before we can only recycle the ones and the twos. Um, that's it. And they tell you for more information, go to middle sex
county, new jersey.org. And I just thought that was really interesting. And I thought that that's something that I actually brought it to Donna's attention that it should we had should have some kind of announcement go out to the general public about that. uh Donna
brought it up to um the DPW's attention and they were going to have a meeting and I don't know if there are any results on that and u but she did mention to me that recycling is getting all new canisters for the town. Everybody in
town will be getting a new recycling bucket. You can put everything in it at once and it goes by the arm. So individuals you're saying? Okay. Yes. Residents. How big will they be? I don't know. Like my garbage can big? I think
so. Donna said pretty big. And I asked what to do with the old ones and Donna said probably just the garbage. Can we put them in the new ones? Like well that's ironic, you know, because you can recycle all plastic now. It's over a gallon, but less than a gallon or under.
So that was just an FYI that I think that the EC should know about and hopefully we'll be able to get some information. They put um is it effective immediately though? I I heard that was coming, but did it didn't in the book in
the magazine it didn't quite say. I'll check the website. I'll check the website. Check the I I checked the website and and that's exactly what it said. I was always befuddled because in New Brunswick they take one, twos, four fives, but in Cranberry they only take
one twos. Same county for years. They take everything. It says middle They'll Well, okay. That's a different That's a different strategy. I've been telling her you can't do them all. Exactly. Saran wrap. It does say it's now easier than ever. So, meaning now means that I
I started January 1. It started January 1. My understanding. Wow. So, it's just in my opinion, it's a shame that the general public wasn't told in January 1 that we could, you know, all the other things that I've thrown out since. There is there is a a quite complicated
backstory to plastics recycling. I won't go into the gory details but um only less than 15% collected plastics get recycled. So the problem is twofold many
fold one is the mixture of plastics. The other is the markets for plastics recycled plastics. So I'm in favor of recycling. I'm I'm in favor of collecting, but we do have to be aware. We have to be like honest to ourselves
that a lot of that plastic is going to be landfilled or incinerated. I've always wanted to tour a recycling plant. Yeah, they're fascinating. But thank you for bringing that to our attention. Okay. Um I see you have on your agenda coming up trail mansions, but I just wanted to mention that I let
um your chairperson know that June 7th is National Trail Day or something like that. So, I was wondering if we could possibly have a trail maintenance day on June 7th. That is the day. That's the day. So, I'll wait till that comes up later. Yeah. Um, and then the other is
one thing that I'm going to be bringing back to parks and that is what Delpha had emailed me about to see if we can get all parks to be this certified wildlife habitat. Um, and I'm not sure that we're going to want the signs for
them because the signs we're trying to, you know, have as few signs as possible in the parks, but I will talk to them about getting Now, is there anything? Can we do a group thing where we do all parks at once or is each one individual? And
each address counts as like a separate um registration. So, we would have to have a separate application, a separate application for each like Remind me again what the application fee is. Uh, I believe it's $25. Okay. So, so we would multiply that by our parks and maybe put
it in our budget for next year or whatever. Yeah. Um, they're every they only run promotions once a year, the month of May, for 20% off of registration. Otherwise, it's $25. Yeah. Okay. So, it would be $20 otherwise. Yeah. Right. In May. In May. In May,
it's 20. Yeah. Okay. Um, I think that's all I have. Any questions? No, thank you. That's very good. Um, I think we need to Yeah, the recycling thing is interesting. I mean, I think the town
probably if there's new bins. There must be some information coming. Do you think that um I was that I'm glad you brought that up, Sally, because I was thinking that it would be good to have Oh, yeah. Good to have that written in a mayor's
update. Um, I think we could put the link somewhere. That's good. Yeah. Would you guys want to write something or Sally, would you write a little blurb and send it to the township? What do you think? Is that you can copy? That'd be perfect.
You're gonna so we can get that in the magazine because I think that's really I'm really glad you brought that up because someone else had suggested I like that. Are you going to bring up the the Girl Scouts, right? Yes. When when we when we go when we go to discuss
the townwide preserve trail maintenance day, um the the Girl Scouts are available that day as well to lead a walk in the preserve and talk about their kiosk with the with the town. That's right. So, we need to um We're kind of jumping on the agenda, but
coordinate. Yeah, they did. They just want to know what time Well, exactly. Right. to coordinate is the is the to the mayor's update. Oh yeah, definitely. Let's try and get it in the April one if it's the one coming up which will be next Tuesday. So that's
the June 7th. Yeah. No, we haven't scheduled. Well, that's the what needs to be laid out is exactly what's going on. I think I mean there's many ways to envision it.
We can go right to that um new business but it's um there are jobs I guess there are tasks that need to be done um in the Unami in the uh in the Reinhardt property that are pretty
specific things. Uh there are some similar things in the Unami Woods and in the Cranberry Brook Preserve. We want to have this uh info session about the pollinator about the
excuse me the monarch station. So it would have to be scheduled such that people can either concurrently go where they want to go. You know what I'm saying? So that takes a little bit of thought. I would say we should think
about that in the next two or three days and and I will bug you about your ideas. I'll put together a mock schedule. I'll include Sally, of course. Um because it's kind of important that we have an
agenda for the day. What came to mind was when we did the cleanup with the troop BSA. We did it quite early in the morning. I think it was like 8:00 a.m. something like that. Right. So, I I think for most folks, I feel like 8. I don't know if that's early or too early,
but if you do the cleanups more earlier in the day, right, before it gets too hot, then maybe the walk at like 10, that gives time for someone who wanted to maybe clean and then also stroll. So, these are not we're not necessarily cleaning, although we cleaning. We're
we're actually cutting cutting. Yeah. Pruning, I should say. Pruning safely. and uh um fixing signs and blazes on trails. Of course, if we see trash, we collect that. Um but it's
really a trail maintenance day, believe um and also the going from Pump House Road to Unami on the Cranberry Brook Trail will also is something that needs to be looked at in the spring because
that grows over quite thick. So, I like that. Maybe the first thing will be the maintenance activities and then at the gather at the um Cranberry Brook Preserve, which actually probably
has the least need in terms of actual trail maintenance at this point um for this event. Um I'm thinking about that. I don't I mean, you know, guessing people's preferences on time is always risky.
But it could be like 9, meet at 11, 8, meet at 10, something like that. Something like that. Yeah, that sounds reasonable. We'll work on that. Um, do you need uh to create a flyer or anything like that? I also got my Canva services for that. That would be
awesome. Okay, create a flyer. Create something that we can maybe have snacks and drinks for the That was my other question. Yeah, a little break and then before this at at Oh, at that event. Yes. Yeah. So, that
you're a marketing genius. Yeah. Okay. As the kids do in school. So, you have the same idea like this. I like it. And I like the the 9 to 11 schedule. Yeah. I think the other question that kind of came to mind too was um like on the for flyer information like if anyone
has to bring anything or will certain things be provided like if someone's like, "Oh, I want to help but I don't have the tools." like just giving people the least amount of excuses to not come, right? To be like, "Oh, we like we we'll have the bags, we'll have the tools, like just show up with your muddy puddle
boots and ready to go." Right. Proper footwear. Proper footwear is all required. Maybe June tick already. Yeah, they're out already. I know. Tick footwear. What is this deal with the tick
inside? That's why I asked you one preserve that day. Well, that's the thing. I think I would like to do two, but if you know I'd like to do Anami and Reinhardt as the trail maintenance. Now, Pin Oaks needs trail maintenance and we
could do that one instead of one or three, but we would need leaders at each place. AB: Absolutely. You can. Okay, that's fantastic. All right. So I can certainly do Reinhardt or
Oh yeah, we jumped to new business. By the way, we skipped all the old business. And you know how they meet all Yeah. and then go. I think so, too. I don't think folks
like Yeah, I think meet at 11 for snacks. I mean, that'll bring some people who were there and some people who just want to go for the snacks and monarchs. Okay. Right. And I think they people can go to the preserves directly. Yeah. We just need actual meeting
places. Meeting places. Yeah. Right. maps and park here. There's three different entrances. Two on whatever that road is and then the one I think Windwood for forami I think park on Windwood and we do first and
then go down trail. Yeah. Exactly right. And I think that'll be a revelation to a lot of people, you know, and then you can swing back up um to that little grass um easement. I guess the town owns that little easement. That's how the children are supposed to walk to school.
That's how the children are supposed to walk to school. Not through the graveyard. They can. That's fine, too. It's quiet. It is quiet. It's quite quiet. Except October. All
right. So, we'll decide two or three. Okay. You don't have the April one. So, this is a new activity. I'm only asking because spread it out over three places. What if you only get 10 people?
You're not going to accomplish much. I know it feels like you would, but you're going to have to, you know, some of the people might not be as adept at cutting back limbs and doing things like that. So, you're probably going to have some folks, right, most who are interested in helping but not really
necessarily. And I think Reinhardt's going to take a lot. So maybe for the first time we try this, we should just do a Reinhardt. That that's my thought is that you just focus all your Reinhardt trails. Yeah, Unami is pretty actually pretty light. Um it seems like
Reinhardt because it's kind of off the beaten path doesn't get as much. Yeah, I'm open to that. I mean, this is why it's on the agenda because and you might actually show off Reinhardt to a bunch of people who never been through it before as well. So yeah, 9:00 the trail
maintenance folks meet at Reinhardt and then we will migrate to uh the BR Brook preserve for the snacks and um and monarchs. So I guess also this was also on the
agenda for the wellness committee. So we're partnering with the Girl Scouts too. So, this is a a national trail day as well as an activity for the neighbors wildness campaign, which is really great that we're partnering because there was
going to be two official walks and the walk would would help with that. So, I'll throw that on the flyer today. And so it'll be Cranberry Trail Maintenance Day this year focusing on
the Reinhardt Preserve and the Monarch Station. Okay. Really successful. We can do it again in the fall. That's right. Well, and then that's you need it in the fall because there's the the growth is incredible. And who will supply that will be supplied? Oh,
yeah. I said that. Yes. I include verb with say mayor's wellness campaign. Oh. Oh, I'm sorry. There were See, there's We have to focus our too many conversations going on at once. Um, who will supply the I mean, I'm happy to supply them, but they scrutinize the
budget categories. You know how that goes. But we'll find something for outreach. We can supply them. The EC will supply the snacks. You heard it here first. department. Take some of that sweet wreck money.
Sweet wreck money. Interesting. Okay, next. Seems we are swimming in money. Let me know which one because then I can I also want to shout that out on the flyers so that whatever committee
provides those funds gets the credit and it shows partnership between yeah will we have a sign up so you have some idea of how many things to supply sign up ahead of time or just show up. Oh
yeah, a little RSP thing. I think register interest we can set up either. I do those sometime on Zoom, sometimes you know there's lots of online things. Um I know they're not does the always accurate? Oh no, they're never accurate,
but you do get a it's like a poll. You get 50 people saying they want to come. Is there a preferred township venue to do that kind of thing? Yeah, I mean I I know of a few, but the one the way I collect RSVPs looks like a kids birthday party RSVP. So, I'm sure there's like
more government official looking ways to like record people's interest in an event. I I'll I can create those. I mean, those are pretty easy. An RSVP thing. Register kind of call it registration.
Yeah. Do we need to have include like any safety waiver information? I know like for example for the watershed when you do the stream cleanup you have to register and there's like a laser involved I have no idea is insurance
really okay says no but normally um no machetes let's find out machetes that's a good point only lobber So, who would know that? Denise. Yeah. And then snacks wise, it would
need to be something that's school friendly. So, like peanuts, nutree, all that stuff, right? Little bottles of water. Yeah. Little bottles. Very easy. Very keep it simple. Allergy friendly. No, I should write that on the flyer.
Bring your own movie. Bring your own snack. We encourage the use of reusable water bottles. Reusable water bottles, right? Yeah. You don't want your classic water bottle. We're not Yeah, I was wondering about that. See, they do it at
the spring cleanup, do they? Yeah, fair enough. Um, okay. So, tentatively nine at Reinhardt, 11 for snacks and
monarchs. Okay. Very Saturday, June 7th. Can't make it. Okay. Um, so I forget. I know they go in Tuesday, but I it's too quick to put it in
tomorrow. No, no, next. Yeah. All right. Save the date. Trail maintenance. Save the date. Yeah, we know that much, right? All right. So, if you think of things, we you can
let me know that we can consider. I guess we can swing back to old business. Gabe is not here, so we'll skip the catch basin. We did talk about the habitat certification, so I think we're good
there. And the outdoor classroom. Um, trail maintenance kind of folds into this. I do want to I'm on a roll, baby. uh brings us to this the stream cleanup. I just one thing on
trail maintenance that we didn't say is the the side trail. It's not a sidewalk. It's a side trail on Old Cranberry Road adjacent to Pin Oaks Preserve, which is a gray area.
I think we're going to I propose that we look into buying two to three to four yards of the gravel for the first 30 yards of the trail that is has been submerged
basically and start there. See how that goes. The rest of the trail is fine by in my opinion. So, I think we can that's something that we can easily buy and I'll just get the same kind of gravel. It's a
fineish gray grab. So, that's the only thing point of information. Is it stone dust? Is that what it is? Does anyone know if it's stone dust? If I were doing a trail, I'd use stone dust because I have in the past. Stone
dust. Okay. But, uh maybe maybe it is a little bit bigger than that. Maybe it's chips. Looks like chips, but I'll I'll I'll bring it to the store. I'm going to go and scoop a cup and bring it to the the gravel store.
Sorry. And uh Okay. Anyway, the community energy plan we already we already touched on. So um are there any other comments on EC initiatives, plans or objectives?
Yes. EC's budget. Yes. And u I think we're otherwise we're good. And the stream cleanup. Oh, the stream cleanup. That's what I wanted to finish on. We had the stream cleanup. Amazing. A horrible, nasty, cold, rainy
morning and pretty good turnout. I was impressed with the turnout and we divvied up. People went behind the firehouse. People stayed in the Cranberry Brook Preserve. Barbara and I went on a wild goose chase. I mean, we drove to another place. We did both. And uh you know east
of 130 the trash problem is of an industrial scale obviously because of the truck and car traffic and and small truck traffic and the ease with which trash can be jettisoned from the window
onto everything and it's so it's a difficult problem. There's no one answer to that, but we are going to recommend to the township that perhaps they engage with the proprietors and it's not just one,
it's all of them um to think of creatively. I mean, the one thing I remember really was really cool, they would have, you know, huge cans and a target, you know, and you're pulling out just before you getting, right? It's on the property and you try to throw your
can, bottle, cup, what have you, wrapper into the bin, right? So, these are creative, silly ideas, signs that say, "Here's a trash can. Before you head the road, dump your stuff here." you know,
little things, but it's obviously there's no one answer to that problem because it's a littering problem of enormous scale. We like having those activities there, but they bring a lot of litter.
So, I think that's to be continued. Do you have thoughts on that? I mean, we cleaned up. We we we spent about seven minutes and over stuffed, you know, two bags and that was after that was after
the town had collected 15 bags in the same exact location. So, I just want to say um that um it's not the responsibility of DPW and it is we are reaching out the mayor
is reaching out to each one of those organizations to try and find a way that they take care. It's their responsibility and it just got so overwhelming that the town did have to do something. So hopefully we're going to get to the point where we're going to reach out to the organizations and they
need to take care of the stuff. So properties were you guys at? We were at at the next to Amazon, but Toby Reed Road in general. You could drive I mean we went to we went to the old cranberry station. I mean, we drove by that I tons
any property that is like in the midst in the middle, not you change of development, you know, people just think it's a dumping ground, right? Um corners that are kind of public or owned by the turnpike authority. Dumping ground, you know, it's just space that is complain
to the I mean, if it was 130, I'd say complain to New Jersey DOT. If it's turnpike property, complain to the turnpike and let them know. It's a multiaceted thing. Most of it has to come from the town. Yeah. Oh, absolutely. No, it has to come from the town.
But working for a county where people complain about things that have nothing to do with the county, we respond all the time. And 130, you know, I mean, has its spots, but yeah. Yeah, that is very very
true. Um, but yeah, I think people need to take their own individual as well as corporate responsibility. All right. So, any other comments? If not, we could think about a
motion to Hurry up. Hurry up. Public comment. Yeah, let's open the floor. Okay. I said let's open the floor for public comment. Crickets.
Crickets. All right. Ask for a motion. I would ask for a motion. A motion. I'll second it. All in favor? I opposed. Abstensions.