meeting Franklin Township Environmental Commission to the provisions of the open public meetings law. This meeting of January 5th, 2026 was included in a list of meetings notice advertised in local
newspapers posted on the bulletin board in the municipal building posted on the municipal website and has remained continuously posted as the required notices under the statute. In addition, a copy of this notice is and has been
available to the public and is on file in the office of the municipal clerk. Um, >> excuse me. Could you just say something? It's just like my coming in and seeing the back of your head. >> It's like I'm still kind of shocked that
you know maybe just make you know you're here taking the place of >> Right. So, thank you. Um so today is kind of exception because uh Paul is not here and um so he asked me to to chair the meeting. So that just for everyone's
information >> I wanted that to be official. >> Yeah. >> So >> this was all worked out at the last meeting. >> Yeah. I don't recall. >> So So we can do a roll call. >> Remember? >> Sure. Yep. I can do the roll call. Paul Litzky is absent today. We know that.
>> Stan. >> Yeah. I'm present. Yeah. >> Good. That's good. Right. >> That sounds right. Yeah. >> He's like, maybe. Okay. Ted Chase >> here. >> Maria Santiago >> here. >> Um Ellen Vtoa >> present. >> Arnold Schmidt
>> here. >> Um EZ is also absent today. You guys know that. Walter Andrews >> here. >> Okay. I think that's it. I'm not missing anybody, right? >> Okay. >> No. >> Oh, council member Patazy. >> And we have a vacancy. Yes. and Cavalar
Pasnik is not here today. Uh so um the the second point is annual reorganization that was on uh Saturday January 3rd and um what was very interesting that besides um um our
members being uh approved um um all uh uh council people who uh won in elections, they got surprised. Uh they were sworn in by uh coming uh new governor Mikey Sherro. >> Oh, that's cool.
>> I saw I saw it. Great. Oh, wow. >> Like that was saying it too. But luckily the event was very well covered by Philippine reporter. >> That's great. >> That's uh how I know. Um
also Ed had a very good speech. Uh so um and and this year is uh is the 250 year anniversary of founding United States. >> So um Franklin is also celebrating it.
It started actually on Sunday uh with u event in Kingston >> uh who's there. >> I know. I saw um very that was not related to to environmental commission
but uh related to our constitution and >> amazing >> in terms of our annual reorganization. Stan, we're all set with you and Paul, but we have to ask Ted if he wants to still continue to do the minutes >> and be our secretary.
>> I have a question. I looked at the agenda for the council meeting, although I looked at it on Sunday. Yes. >> And they didn't seem to have me down for reappoint to the planning board. Do you know did they do that?
>> I don't I can look and see. Well, I'll I'll look and see if I can find anything. >> I meant to email an Marie today. >> Okay. >> Are you a regular member or are you a liazison from the Environmental Commission? >> I'm a regular member.
>> I think it it's it has both. It's member and likely. Yeah. >> And I am also the environmental >> but you're >> I think it's provided by ordinance that there shall be one member of the planning board who is >> sure. It's just
>> just a mistake. >> I'll look it up and if I can't find anything I would email Marie. >> No. >> But do you want to be the secretary of the environmental commission again? >> I will continue. We didn't >> Okay. Well, someone I moved >> I look back I think I've been doing it
for something like 24 years. >> Yes, I know. Yes, it's been a long time. >> I make a motion that uh that Chase will continue being a secretary. >> Second. >> Second. >> Third. >> Favor. All in favor say hi.
>> Awesome. >> Opposed. >> Um what is the last option? Okay. >> Thank you, Tad. >> So, anonymously >> um Okay. So, that's um uh since I'm not
really chair, I don't feel like giving report other than what I just said. So, oh yes, I one thing but we we have it on our agenda. Uh last week we we were told that uh our reservation in um senior
center for the workshop for um >> uh for the composting was cancelled because uh the construction was not completed yet. >> So we need to discuss it today. >> I'm sorry Ted. Uh I'm sorry. I just remembered I got an email from Paul. >> Okay.
>> He submitted a brief chair report. Is it okay if I read it? >> I didn't know it. I just found it. Customary briefs. Oh, happy new year to all. I hope that this coming year will be as productive and interesting as this past year. The B9 saga continues. Justice Men and held conference meeting
on December 18th and 23rd. The first centered on seven lawsuits filed by different parties. The December 23rd conference concerned the B9 case. That's his remarks. So, I read them in for you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, in terms of that, that
was not on the agenda only because of the late time that it happened. The um, >> and I I follow up and I talked to Rachel on Monday. >> Okay. Do you want to talk about it under >> Yeah. When it comes to >> reports, let's talk about it under there. Okay. >> Because she she still want to help. >> Okay. All right. We can talk about it
under there. Okay. Great. >> So, what what do we want? >> Now we're on public Oh, I'm sorry. Now we're on approval of minutes. >> Okay. Um, can I have a motion to approve? >> I move for approval of the U minutes.
>> This discussion first. >> December 15. Yeah. >> Second. Second. >> Second. >> Yeah. He's had discussion. Yeah. >> Any any comments. So, uh, let's move to approve the m
minutes. Say I. >> I. I. >> Opposed. 16. Okay. >> Thank you, Ted. >> How is it like? >> There you go. Passed. >> Okay. >> Approved. >> Um, actually, should we open to the public?
>> I move that we open the meeting to the public. >> Second. >> Uh, say I. >> I. >> Let's open public. So, if you have something to say, please state your name, your address, and uh there will be
another opportunity to speak up at the end of the meeting. You can go, Lisa. You were here first. >> Go. My name is Lisa Capso Kevos. I live on County Road 518, number 43. The ongoing problem I'm having is that my
neighbors who purchased the property next door approximately 3 years ago um do not seem to have any knowledge of the fact that their land is considered wetlands and they're completely ignorant of this.
In my opinion, no one has informed them of this, although I have tried very hard. I've contacted the DP on several occasions. The D has been extraordinarily unhelpful and unresponsive. No, I take that back.
There's a very nice woman at the D named Melissa Wielden, and she has responded very promptly to tell me over and over that there's nothing she can do. So, I did not give up there. I then contacted another person named Kelly Kaiser after
doing another uh report to the DP, the tip line to the DP. Kelly Kaiser did some research and she came across the fact that the land behind our houses is in fact considered wetlands. And not
only that, she said that there's some endangered species of owl that has been recorded of living behind the area, which this area is adjacent to the township preserved open space. So the neighbors land goes right back to where
the township land starts. So this is my issue. The neighbors are ignorant of the fact that it's wetlands. They continuously go in the backyard and put caution tape. Could you show the pictures? They put caution tape all over
the place because they seem completely obsessed with where their property lines are. >> But then they put this caution tape up and it becomes all entangled and it breaks and it blows around and the animals are going to get entangled in
it. And so this is why I have written to the D on several occasions. I said, "You can't have all this caution tape in woodlands, on wetlands." Like, it just should not be something that should be acceptable. It just shouldn't. And so,
I've written to the town. I've written to the mayor. I've written to the D. I've said, "Please, could we enact a policy that says in essence caution tape should not be used as a property marking tool?" I mean, this is just common sense. It looks horrible and animals can
get caught in it and it just looks terrible. But worse than that, since they've put all this caution tape up, which was last April of 2025, they did this a week before Easter. This has been here almost a year now. And this entire
fall, they spent every weekend coming to the property. They still don't live on the property. They bought this 3 years ago, but they're still renovating the house. So they came every weekend for the entire fall and they cut down everything that was on the wetlands.
They cut down all the bushes. They cut down every living specimen of everything that was >> You mean on their property or behind their property? >> It's their property, but it's wetlands and it's been now confirmed by the D that it's
wetlands and they have cut down everything. They just cut it down to the bare. I mean, this is stuff that's been growing there for probably ever. I don't think anybody's ever gone back there and just cut everything to the ground. So, everything that was there, bushes,
plants, everything cut to the ground, they've just left piles of everything that they've cut down in big piles. If you can see where all the caution tape is, it's just piles of everything they've cut down. And even worse than
that, they still now have many trees with either blue or pink ribbons on them, which I have not been able to determine why the blue or pink ribbons are there, but I'm assuming it means they're planning on cutting down more trees.
>> So, there's this woman at the D named Fiona Bennett who refuses to help me. She refuses >> to go up the chain. She's probably the first person you talk to. Go to her house. Kelly Kaiser is the first person I talked to. Kelly Kaiser is the one who did the research, found out that it is
wetlands, that there is endangered species of owl living back there. Kelly Kaiser referred it to her supervisor, who is Fiona Bennett. Fiona Bennett is the one who's supposed to contact the homeowners, come and observe what they've done, possibly tell them to
restore the property. I can't get her to return my phone calls. I can't get her to return my emails and I don't I'm stuck. I'm stuck. But you can see that this is just not how we treat wetlands or woodlands or or anything like I mean
that's just horrible. >> Well, speaking of the yellow tape, do they have active construction on the property? >> On the house, but not anywhere else on the property. >> It's just internal. >> Yes. >> Thank you. So there's zero reason for
this there. There's just it's just hideous. It's hideous. And they've cut everything down and there was nothing I could do to stop it. But now now it's critical because they still have these ribbons around all these trees. And I'm convinced that they're going to go back. >> They've destroyed like an ecosystem.
Thank you. >> It's not just the plants. It's the animals. The whole ecosystem has been disturbed. >> We had all the turkeys back there. We It was so beautiful. We had Everything was just natural. and I had privacy which was wonderful and now there's nothing
and I have no privacy and they're angry at me because of course I'm mouththing off about all things. >> Have you contacted any of your state legislators? I think my legislator assemblyman Danielson I think he has more of a environmental bent >> legislator
>> county uh office that can help her. Well, I think you see the the D and the T even the township authorities generally get involved only when
uh something is being done sufficiently being to require a site plan and approval by the planning board or the zoning board. If somebody is just doing things around a single family house,
there's no official notice taken except that I we do have some limitations on cutting down trees. >> But I think it's more if somebody cuts down a number of trees, you know, one or
two trees at a time are allowed. >> Does any have anything? I mean, if this is considered wetlands and they have determined that there's endangered species on the wetlands, is there anything at all this commission can do
to I mean zoning can't do anything? I I just don't know who else to turn. >> Are there any faculty at Ruters at Cook? >> The question is whether the commission can do something >> or if you can tell me who to turn to. >> The commission really doesn't have any
powers. The commission is advisory to the township. >> Okay. So, can the commission advise the township to enact a a policy um what you say an ordinance
>> that would prohibit using caution tape around your property unless it's an active crime scene, which is what it's supposed to be used for. Yes. I mean, this it makes my property look like an active crime scene. Like, it's it's
disturbing to me. It's been there for a year. >> Anybody from the township come out to look at the situation >> for other reasons? Yes. >> But not for the not for the yellow tape. >> No, because they say it's not an it's not a violation of any ordinance. And
that's where I'm stuck. If I could get an ordinance to say that caution tape cannot be used for anything other than a crime scene. But cuz they say that caution tape should not be used as a property. >> I'm more concerned about the wetlands. >> I'm concerned about all of it. I mean
function. >> Well, it's a pretty small property. I'm not by any means all of it is wetlands. It's mainly I guess what's behind the house >> and the whole area is adjacent to the township land is all
>> township land is probably has a lot of wetland. >> We do. Yeah, we do. >> But the thing is when you have something adjacent to it, when you disturb an area, that disturbance goes beyond. >> Yes, cuz there's a transition area, then
the wetlands area. But Tara had pulled up a map uh the last time I was here that shows that it's pretty much their whole backyard that's a wet. And also, they were not allowed to get a septic tank in their backyard because No,
because it's wetlands. Yeah, >> they had to put the wet septic tank in the front. So, that's even more proof that it's wetland. >> When you spoke to zoning, did they know that at the time or >> that >> about the wetlands as well? >> Yeah. I mean, I've I've brought this up to Daryl probably a hundred times
already because I know that they also want to now put a fence back there, which you can't do if it's a wetland unless you get approval from the D. But I am not getting the D involved in this. So, I'm afraid that they're going to now
go cut down all the trees that have the little ribbons on them. Then they're going to go put up a fence and they've already cut everything down. Every living plant that was back there is gone. I'm trying to stop this from going any further and I'm not having lunch. >> So, the only other question I had for
you know, I know you mentioned Fiona Bennett and the D was responsible for speaking to the landowners right now. How how are you filtered to her? That's the one part I missed. The first woman you spoke to, >> Kelly Kaiser, who is to her. >> Okay. I first made I called a New Jersey
D complaint tip line or something. Then that case gets referred to someone who was this Kelly Kaiser person who does initial research. She's the one who found out that it actually is wetlands, that there actually is endangered species, okay, registered there. Then
she had to refer it to this Fiona Bennett woman who Kelly Kaiser told me off the record that Fiona Bennett's very hard to get to respond to anything. So she said just keep calling her. Keep calling her. Keep emailing her. Keep So that's why I did my last email to the
mayor and to Bob Bor and to Fiona cuz I was hoping that would wake Fiona up a little bit and be like, "Oh, now she's getting the mayor involved and maybe I should respond to this." So, you also mentioned a name Melissa DP. What was the
>> Melissa? The Melissa. Um, so you said I think she was the responsive person that was >> Kelly Kaiser. Kelly Kaiser. >> No, there was a Melissa. Somebody Melissa Weeden or Weed? No, >> Alyssa. >> Alyssa. Alyssa Wheelen at the D has responded to me every single time saying
there's nothing we can do out of our jurisdiction. So, I don't understand the Different departments. Um, I reached out to Alyssa cuz I thought she was in the wetlands department, something, but she's said that there's nothing she can do. She's
told me to like get some sort of a land survey, some I'm like >> a letter of interpretation probably. >> I'm not going to be doing that. But then Kelly Kaiser said that Fiona Bennett could do something about it, but Fiona Bennett's not doing anything about it. And spring is coming. I mean, spring is
in 2 months now and they're going to go back there and cut down more trees and cause more damage. And I'm trying desperately to stop it. >> I think that there is a great deal of of neighbor relationship which is probably
bigger problem than the environmental. Do you think that if you raise a fence between the property of your choice wouldn't probably that they would take the tape down and uh you would not be bothered. >> See, we can't put a fence because it's wetlands.
We can't put a fence. But >> there are the township it does have some involvement in putting down fences. You actually to put up a permanent fence, you have to pay for some sort of permit.
and whether the township can then at that point tell the applicant that they can't put it there because it's wetlands. That I don't know, but that's what they should be alerted to. >> I told Daryl that if they try to get a
fence, um, they have to get a permit from the D. So Daryl knows to intercept it if they try to get a fence. But where they have this caution tape is along the back portion of the property that's adjacent to the township property. And there's just zero reason for this. I
mean, it's just bizarre. It's it's just hideous. It's bizarre. It's not serving any purpose. And >> I just think that, you know, the turkeys that go back there, the deer that go back there, they're all going to get like tangled up in this caution tape. It
just should not be allowed to be used. >> And caution tape isn't considered fenced already. >> No. No. >> It's not. There's no footings in it or anything like that. So, yeah. >> Do wetlands have to be signed?
>> No environment. No, no, >> it's just they were established by a letter of interpretation because there are state maps, but the state maps are just based on an aerial survey. They're
very rough. Anybody wants to develop a property then they have to get a letter of interpretation. In other words, a s certified expert has to go and look
and see where there's indication of wetlands which is based on the vegetation and where the where there isn't wetlands and sort of puts out a map and that tells >> shouldn't there be a a buffer zone?
There will be there will be if if wetlands are so when we're looking at a map online or like the D is looking at it online we're looking at the general wetlands map which are based off aerial photos to really delineate the boundary the exact boundary of the wetlands you
have to get a surveyor out there and the letter of interpretation >> enforcement. So the enforcement would be if the land the property owner puts an application for a permit then our zoning officer would go out and say you can't put it here because there's wetlands or
you're required to get a letter of interpretation for wetlands. But what would trigger that would be a permit application or that so that's what's missing right now. They haven't put in for a permit. That's the only thing the only mechanism that will trigger that
investigation, not a complaint and maybe you have pictures that would document the destruction of this area. I think depending on the size of the area, I think um you know like if it was say like a property that was like completely
deforested and it was you know 5 acres or 10 acres or something >> um based on the tree removal ordinance. So that's the thing really it has to be something related to an ordinance and there's no ordinance about caution tape which is where Lisa is getting you know
for you. >> So I think that plastic is very harmful in ocean because uh ocean animals tend to get entangled and suffocate. We do not have as much problem with the >> land animals.
>> Land land animals. They go purposefully and try to get entangled or or eat it. >> I read that they chew on it. I did read on the internet the animal. >> I have also seen firsthand animals like eating those things. I've worked a lot with that sort of taste and like deer
will just go up and eat it. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I I'm just trying to think of what we can do because zoning is saying they can't do it because there's no ordinance. Um >> how hard is it to create an ordinance? Like how hard would it be to have an
ordinance that says no caution tape can be used in wetlands or woodlands in Franklin Township? Like how hard is it? I don't understand. >> Ordinance that says uh what are the reasons to use it and uh you cannot use
it for other reasons. Thank you. You can use it for an active crime scene. So that's all >> I mean or construction or if there's a dangerous area. But but construction whatever. >> Yeah.
>> I mean that's something that the environmental commission if they choose could you know try to put something together. But for us to develop that ordinance, we definitely need some time to like we need some research behind it or something to, you know, basically state our case. Um,
>> and it's not >> Yeah, I wish Councilman Patnak would were here because he would be the person that would carry the ball in the council. >> He's our word council. >> Okay. >> So, >> he'll be here next time.
>> Yeah, he should be. Yes, >> he should be. He should be busy. >> The only other thing I mean I think maybe might be helpful if the coun if the commission wanted I could send an email to Fiona Bennett.
But I have to get my direction from them. Like I can't just do that on my own. But if the council want the commission wanted me to do that I could say hey you know I know one of our residents has been reaching out to you. can you please respond to her and that will help us give us some direction
you know cuz D is the wetlands regulator really. So the thing is um we can propose regulation not to use this type of a tape for different than prescribed uses but they can take another tape. They can't use
anything else. Um you know it's just that they had the yellow tip at hand I guess but why did they do it? They're just trying to delineate where their property is a way of delineating. Isn't there a better way?
>> I mean, they could use a snow fence. They could >> This is probably the cheapest. >> It's either the cheapest or it's what they had on hand or it's like, you know, I mean, a caution tape. Yeah. Delineates like visually where your property boundary is, but it's not stopping anybody from getting on it. I mean,
>> you're saying except >> we have strong winds also, so they might >> Do they know where they're putting it? Is it an accurate placement? I I would think not if they're using caution tape. I mean that's like what you do when you're you know that's not No, that's not accurate. >> I would not think it is.
>> Would anyone would I mean would that be helpful for say for me to send an email to Fiona Bennett on behalf of the environmental commission saying like hey can you respond to our resident? Not saying like we think you should do this cuz we don't know but can you please
respond? Would that help get a response? I don't know. >> Tell us again who Fiona is. She's at the D and Lisa has been reaching out to her and that's the person that's supposed to help Lisa with this and she's not responding to her. >> What's her title and who's her boss? >> I don't know. But if I reach out to
Fiona on behalf of the Environmental Commission, if if an email comes from me that basically says, "Can you please respond to Lisa?" >> And I always like a good CC, a good carbon copy that they know this isn't
just out there yet either. I think that would be a start. >> I think at least I have a opinion on >> if she she's really the person that can help you with that regulation part. We really we can't right now at this point, but that's at least I mean help helping
you get an answer. That's the only thing I'm thinking out loud. >> We should do something. >> Okay. And about the fact that they are possibly going to cut the trees down, that's the D who has to address that as well with all the almond ribbons on the
trees. >> As Tara mentioned, we do have a township tree removal ordinance. I don't know exactly what it says. >> Yeah. How many trees are removed? It's
based on a certain size of tree. And then how many trees are removed is what triggers the um requirement for tree replacement or for not you know being able to remove those trees. But on a single family property I have to look it up and see what what it is cuz it's a
single family property >> because of the small size of the property that is like falling between and the cracks. Nobody >> I need to know the boundaries. Are they doing cutting down trees that is only on their property or have they gone beyond it? They haven't gone beyond, but it's
either it's either definitely wetlands or the transition to the wetland. And I don't think they're supposed to be cutting down any trees that are on the wetland. >> Expert on trees, this army. >> Yeah. >> And the shade tree. >> So, what is the ordinance about cutting trees on residential property?
>> Well, first I will say I'm not an expert on trees. >> Tree commission. >> There you go. except Janus. >> Um, that's between you and the planning board, which we don't even know if you're on now.
>> Um, I don't have it memorized that, you know, I think it has to do with the size of the property. This is a residential property >> and it's less than an acre which is why I'm having trouble getting >> they can probably and I'm not saying for
sure but they can probably cut down every tree on their property if they want to >> um but without having to replace them now if it's in the wetlands that's a whole different story >> but they don't know it's on wetlands and that's where this is I'm getting >> you know it's on wetland
>> has have the wetlands been delineated on >> this Kelly Kaiser says without question these their wetland, but these new >> Hold on, hold on right there. So, you're saying that it was officially been designated as wetland area that they are taking down trees.
>> They have ribbons around them. They've cut everything out down. >> Who has ribbons around them? >> The neighbors have ribbons around their trees that I mean, >> who who has said that the trees that are coming down are in the wetland area?
This is what we're trying to determine before it's too late. That's why I'm trying to get Fiona to come out. >> So D has said by looking at like the map, the aerial map that there's wetlands there, but it's not been ground truth. What? So the boundaries have not been >> You don't know if trees in the wetland
area. >> Correct. We have an idea that wetlands are nearby or but it's and that's where this Fiona Bennett comes in because she works for D. The key is >> the key is they can probably cut down trees on their property but not if it's in wetlands area. So it needs to be
determined what the wetlands area is >> and they need to be told >> and that would come from >> whether it's the D or the township has >> the township have records on that also? >> Well, we have records of where wetlands are based on aerial photos, but we do
not do the actual boundary. That's D. Well, they would be designated if there were an LOI, >> right? Which that's what >> because the work they're doing on the house is entirely internal. They have no
need for an L. >> That's the problem. >> I'm looking at the tree ordinance now. Alo exempted from the tree ordinance is the clear cutting of any area of trees in an area of 2500 square ft or less located on a tract of land on which an existing single family or two family
dwelling has been erected and constitutes the primary use. So if they're cutting down trees in less than an area of 2500 square ft, they're not subject to the tree ordinance >> except that it's on wetlands and then that D says that they can't cut down trees without
>> right. That's a violation of of like wetlands regulations which now are into D territory. So you you really need to get in touch with this woman Fiona Bennett. I think that's the key. >> But I've been trying for like >> I I think I think Tara I think it might
have been decided that it would be best if you with your authority reach out to her. >> Okay. >> And let her know that >> we know there are wetlands there. We're just not sure. There are trees that are coming down that are close to the area that we believe might be wetlands.
>> Mhm. >> And so we need your insight or opinion as to whether these trees are on wetlands, >> right, >> that are being cut down. >> Correct. >> And also if they need to restore the area for every single thing that they >> Well, one thing at a time. Let's first
find out if there if they have cut down trees. And if they have cut down trees, then you take the next step. >> No, they haven't cut down trees yet. They have ribbons around them. >> I understand. But okay. So they haven't cut down trees yet. So if it's determined that this area is a wetland
area, then this town this home needs to be told this is designated wetland area. >> Correct. >> I will reach out to her. I'll copy you and then hopefully that'll we can get an answer of some kind or at least start moving toward an answer. >> Yeah,
>> I'll take Let's move on and >> thanks Lisa. >> Thank you. Yes. >> Um I I started doing research. Last um >> last meeting I talked about pre creating a memo that's like for um trying to get
like a prohibited plans list or something like that going. I started doing research for that. But I'm like >> I I don't think anything I have on the memo is ready for people to read. And so I just kind of wanted to ask if like maybe one person could be sort of my contact for that where I could like send rough drafts and get some feedback cuz I
haven't done something like that before. Who is the best person hero or invasive species? >> Endangered species. >> Invasive or endangered? >> Invasive. >> Invasive. >> Invasive. >> Um, I mean, you can make me your contact if you want. Remember Pesh? We worked
with him before on the trails committee. Maybe I would recommend sharing it with both of us because he is an expert in invasive species and native species as well. >> My concern is more with like the formatting of the memo and appealing for like >> Oh, then yeah, send that to me. Yeah. Yeah, send it to me at all.
>> I feel like I've gotten some good background. I know a lot about >> Yeah, I studied them for a couple years. >> So, um it's more like Okay. >> Yeah. If you want to send it to me, that's perfect. >> Yeah.
>> Um and then the other thing which it sounds like the composting thing got cancelled, but I did bring or reschedled. >> That's the last I heard. It's going to hopefully be rescheduled. Mhm. >> I did bring like what we had left over of the trifolds for the save the mo and leave the leaves stuff if you want to have that as a handout. >> Yes.
>> Um yeah, like I was I was going to ask >> although the next one in in line is save them all, right? Because >> they're they're all in the same trifold because we were giving out the signs together cuz they're like both both sides. Um yeah, so I have like what's
left over with that. Probably be good to print out some more. Um, if we have a date and I'm around, I'd happy to have I'd be happy to have like my own table where I have that and the signs and people could come up and talk to me or something. But >> when are you coming back? >> When are you leaving exactly?
>> Well, the job starts February 2nd and then I'm I >> It's not exactly 5 days a week. >> Like there's some weeks where I'll be doing more than 40 hours and then it's supposed to be compensated. So like my availability will probably be more than just weekends. March work for you.
>> What? >> March. >> Um, it might. I don't know. And then I also right now my contract ends June 14th. >> I don't know if there's going to be an extension or >> I don't really know how long I'm staying
for. It could be quite a bit longer. >> We don't have the new date yet. >> Later. >> Yeah. >> I can also talk my mom into doing the table and stuff. >> Considering your availability as well. I was going to say if you want to if you're not here, if they're at your
house and like we could get the trifolds like from your mom or from whoever too if that's easier for you, whatever is easiest. >> She's not moving. So, >> all right. >> Okay. Yeah, that's all. >> Any other
>> This just brings up one quick question that I have. You You specialize in invasive species. >> Um, yeah, a little bit. I'm a plant ecologist. >> Okay. Can I ask her about the honeyloust? >> Yeah. >> Lisa also sent in um correspondence about the honeyloust.
Um so it's aggressively spreading honeyloust. This is the same neighbor's property. >> Same neighbor. Okay. >> They're letting honey locust grow on the whole property line. It's coming over to my property. It's growing into my trees. And I read a lot on honeyloust and it
absolutely terrorized me when I read. >> Yeah. It's am I right or am I >> I I'm not that familiar with that specific one. It is It is not native. Correct. >> I don't I don't All I read is that some honey locus >> small tree of heaven. >> It does.
>> Yeah. I'm pretty sure cuz there's one locust that is like weird because it's like kind of invasive but it's also >> Yeah. It is native but it's also kind of invasive. So yeah, the ordinance that I was hoping for the town to pass would actually target something like that.
>> Thank you. Because I reached out to Daryl on this and he said there is no ordinance covering it yet it's it's really aggressive. I mean it's growing like 6 ft and like one year it's spreading all over the place and Daryl said there's no ordinance covering it
and it's freaking me out. >> There are other towns in New Jersey that have an ordinance. It's a little bit like the language is kind of vague but they do say that if there is a plant that is like spreading rapidly and going onto other people's property then they're responsible for it. So, I was hoping that Franklin is Can you guys do
something about it? It's going everywhere and I I have spent $50,000 planting beautiful trees on my property and this is coming and it's it it's implanting itself like right at the base of my trees and I'm going to have to go
dig it all up and it's the the rapidity with which it it's growing so fast. It's it's absolutely unbelievable. And I read some of the honeyloust have um I don't know how you say this, some sort of a a
thorn on it that is so deadly that it will like go through a car tire. And then I started reading this honeylou and stuff. I was terrorized. >> Freaking ask you a question. So the honeyloust, are you saying that somebody plants it
and then it has roots that go underground and then come up somewhere else? Is that what it >> that I'm not sure how it spreads? >> I'm not sure how it spreads, but they theirs came up like in one place and now next thing I know they have there are six of them and it's growing into my
yard and all of this within the space of a year. Like one of them is literally >> So do they have do they have some kind of fruit? >> A seed pod. A seed pod. >> Seed pod. No >> seed pod. >> Yeah. So the question is you we don't
know whether they're spreading by seeds >> germinating and producing a seedling or by uh root spreading. >> It could be a bird a bird could be eating the seeds flying over and pooping
onto the property. But if I guess the point that I was getting at is if it's something where it's a root that's going underground and popping up over there. The council recently passed an ordinance about bamboo um where you can't plant bamboo in the
ground on your property. If you plant it, it has to be in a pot. >> Um so that exactly that won't happen because it goes so fast underground and into other people's properties. So if it was if that plant is similar to it,
>> thank you. If it is, then you might want to go to the council, stand in front of the council and talk to them about that. >> That's what I would have to do. >> But you don't know. We don't know at this point is is it going underground coming up? Is it from the fruit seeds that are that are doing it, you know?
>> Well, presumably one way you could tell is you you see a small plant appearing, dig it up. If it's by seed, it will have no further connections. If it's by spreading by roots, you will find >> and it will just keep pulling.
>> It says here, "The seeds of the honeyloust tree are primarily dispersed through zuk." Is that zukuri? Zukuri, which relies on animals to spread the seeds. Unlike seeds that are light and winged for wind dispersal, honeyloust seed pods are heavy and do not fall far
from their parent, making animal assistance crucial for their propagation. Deers deer are significant dispers. >> Okay. with the seed pods. It's not underground root system. >> Like they look like this.
>> So they're probably still in the ground. >> Okay. >> Um cuz that would tell you if it's producing seed or if it's going by. If you don't see it, it might be going by root and then digging them up would be good. Yeah. >> But the um thing with the bamboo, it's specific to bamboo, that ordinance. >> Yes.
>> Yeah. How would one get honey locust added onto an invasive species list if that's what you're working on? >> Okay. >> Thank you. And but I should also go to the council and bring it up. >> Maybe the deers.
>> Sure. >> I mean, you're welcome to. Yeah, absolutely. >> Um, >> show me. >> Before you do that, you might want to go to the Shade Tree Commission and and bring it up to them. >> Okay. Yeah, >> J commission meets, I believe it's the
fourth Thursday of every month right here. >> Okay. >> At 7:00. >> Um, so you might want to come here for that meeting and discuss it with them. >> Thankfully, don't they >> they have a list on the township website? Is that
>> But don't they have three out of four meetings by Zoom and only one in person? >> No, that's the trails committee. >> Oh, >> Trails does. >> Oh, Trails. tree has not become that technologically. >> If I look it up on the township website,
I'll see something about the shade tree. >> Can I email them? >> Yeah, absolutely. >> So, football to the meeting. >> Well, you can just show up in a meeting right here 7:00 again. I believe it's the fourth Thursday right here. >> And meanwhile, you'll research it. >> Yeah.
>> Okay. This has been very productive. >> Thank you. Thank you, Lisa. >> Thank you. I have to go. Well, my sick little dog is home alone. >> Can I just take Fiona? What's her last name? >> Bennett. >> Bennett. Okay. For the minutes >> from the D.
>> Thanks, Lisa. >> Thank you. >> I appreciate. Take care. >> Do we have any additional comments from the public? >> No. Okay. >> We close the meeting to the public. >> Second. >> Second.
>> All in favor? I. Good. >> Everybody's eye. >> Um, >> it was good >> correspondence. >> Uh, so the correspondence we had, actually two of the two that I had was from Lisa, the aggressive honeyloust and the caution tape.
>> Um, there was one other piece of correspondence, which is that our new watershed ambassador, her name is Kate Lindsay, she wanted to come to our meeting tonight and just kind of introduce herself and say what she's working on. D has watershed ambassadors. They work for a year in this program
where they're getting educated, they're getting paid, they have to do a certain amount of service hours. She was supposed to come tonight. She emailed me right before the meeting and said she was sick and couldn't come. So hopefully she can come to one of our meetings. And basically the person that can they have to do a bunch of service hours so they can help with the stream cleanup. They
can help with all kinds of >> those ambassadors do. Yeah. >> That was it for correspondence though. >> Okay. >> Okay. Cool. So hopefully she will come next time. >> Yes, that would be excellent. Do we have any plan site plan reviews? >> We do. Just one. I I took care of it
because it just came in. Um it's pretty simple. The mapping system is down right now, I think, for routine maintenance. So, I can't really show you a map of where it is, but it's this one's very simple. It's on 1463 Route 27, which
it's the Wash King Somerset. It's a um a car wash. Uh, and I'll show you, you know, I can show you. Um, >> is the intersection >> close to Bennett's Lane? >> It is close to Yes. >> I know where you went. That's Sinclair Boulevard.
>> Correct. Yes. Yes. Let me >> between Bennett's Lane and where the Jiffy Lube is, >> right? Correct. Yes. >> They show Jiffy Lube is just the other side of >> Here's I Here we go. So, this is >> Veronica. This is what
>> Venet and Veronica >> between >> beyond >> south of it's south of >> Sinclair is that I can't read this my glasses even. So Sinclair Boulevard is here and this is route 27.
So Sinclair 27 that's the property. >> Okay. >> Um what they would like is to put up this sign that says wash king car wash. um they need a variance for it because in this zone they are required to have a 20 foot setback from the road for
signage. They want to put it within 9 and 1/2 ft of the road because the Franklin Township Sewage Authority actually owns an easement right where they want to put the sign and their easement states that you cannot put any signs in that area. So that leaves them
with a space to put a sign and that's 32 feet away and completely obscured by a tree. So they're basically saying if we can't put the sign here, we can't basically have a sign for our business and they don't have an existing sign outside. So they're they're looking for
a variance for that sign. >> But is it >> don't think they're going to get one if it's the sewage authority? >> The sewage authority. Well, they want to put it closer so that they're not in the sewage authorities easement. That's why because the sewage authority won't won't
allow them. They won't make any any authority meets tomorrow night at 6:30 >> and it's a Zoom meeting. >> Okay. >> So, they need to go on to the sewage authority website to see how they can get on to that >> onto that onto that Zoom meeting. Um, if
possible, >> they could. Yeah, absolutely. They have an application before the zoning board right now, which is where this is. Yeah. >> They've already asked permission from the sewage authority to put the sign and then they wouldn't need a variant, but the sewage authority says no. >> Oh, okay.
>> Yeah. That's why they want to move it within the 9.5 ft because I guess the sewage authority easement it must be like strip of grass sewage authority easement and then open. So that would only leave them with a spot way far away. Sorry, I need to kind of understand what
does it constitute environmental issue. >> Well, we have to review every site plan even if we have to say no comment. So, if you have no comment, that's cool, but we have to at least say >> I thought that uh Mark is picking up uh the review site plan that he deems needs environmental review.
>> It could be considered aesthetic, which is environmental. It could be considered it it blocks the view which I don't know if that would be considered environmental or planning. >> Yeah, it's on Route 27. It's an existing car wash.
>> Yeah, they've been >> Well, it's been under development years and years and years. >> They've been building for at least 5 years. >> So, where is the fine line that >> at least 5 years? >> Where is the switch line that it kind of >> Let me see if they show it.
Why the long road? >> Let's see. Indicates vacated by Franklin County ordinance. >> Here's the Okay, so here's the >> sign. Here's the place. Here's where the sign will be. See, it's within 9 and 1/2 ft.
>> Um, >> but it should be more. Should be 20, right? >> It's supposed to be 20, >> right? So, where is the pipe over there? >> So, my thought I don't see it on here, but my Red dot is the 6ft diameter. Blue circle
is the footer. Black shape is the outside dimensions of the sign. So this the whole little drawing they did here. This shows where the sign is going to be. Um it looks like here this is I think this is the or this is the um se
that would be the right of way. >> This is the right of way. Yeah. Vacated by Franklin Township ordinance. >> Yeah. And of course >> I would assume the Oh, here it is right here. S. This is it. This is the sewer authority. Unless it's some other easement, but I don't know what else would be delineated by an S. This must
be it. >> The sewage authority easement. So, see, they can't. >> Yeah. So, they have to put the sign out here because this is like the pipeline easement or I'm sorry, the sewage authority easement. So they really it looks like they are
actually right and they really don't have much of a spot to put the sign >> but it would be more sewage authority easement further back that would prevent putting the sign further back.
If that line is the sewage authority >> that's closer to the highway then >> then they can go further back. Right. Yeah. They were saying that the only spot they can go back is 32 ft from Route 27 and it would be rendered
ineffective because it would be obscured by a tree. So >> we want people to see the sign. >> Oh yeah. No kidding. >> Basically visible. The only thing is a curve. >> The principle of advertisement must be
visible. >> What about an visible? Look at that. Why don't we just get an inflatable? >> Oh, yeah. That might >> So, do we have it? It's a custom pole sign with LED lit cabinets, translucent vinyl, >> wow. >> Yeah,
>> that'll be quite visible. >> What is behind the tree? >> I don't know actually. >> Don't know what's behind the tree. >> I know that they're so worried about. Do we have any comments on this guys? This is the only um site plan we have for today. But
>> I don't see where we have >> a second that tall. >> Mhm. >> Okay. >> How tall is that? >> Say scale. >> Not that that's an atrocious taste. >> Uh 20 ft over 20 ft tall. >> So my question >> it is. Let me
>> I am the beholder. Ted, >> go ahead, Maria. It's a city question with a strong wing. >> Mushroom. >> What happened? I think that's the environmental issue. >> Wait, hold on, Maria. Go ahead. That's a silly question. >> It's atrocious. >> What is it? >> It's a strong wind.
>> Yeah, we'll be, you know, they might be they might build something that it's not become a hazard. >> Oh, I see what you're saying. >> I mean, it's mounted in with um concrete. It looks like at the bottom, >> but I know what you're saying. It's not going to fly or
>> Well, this footing type is 2500 PSI augured footing. So, see here, the footing is like underneath and it's pretty >> it's like built like it's around it's encasing it. So, >> all right. >> You know, I I hate to say it. The
problem is they've spent 5 years at least building this site and throughout the whole process they knew that this was going to be a problem. now that they finally built it. >> Now, now they're coming to say, "Hey, we
have our business running and we can't get a sign out here." >> Right. And it's interesting you say that cuz in their application form, they say basically like due to a complete oversight. They did not realize that the sewage authority would not allow them to build in that e to put the sign. They knew they couldn't build in the
easement. They're saying they didn't realize that they wouldn't be able to put a sign there. >> Like I guess like a sign in their opinion was ignorance. >> In their original application, was there a sign in the application? >> No.
>> They were going. >> So, they weren't approved for a time. >> Probably not because they probably knew it. >> Well, that's Yes, that's probably correct. So, yeah. >> I don't know. What kind of comment do I give them?
>> I mean, it's tall. We could comment on the height of it. the the to height. >> Well, there certainly are limitations on the height. >> So, it's 78 and 12 in tall for that. >> But how how it is 78 and 1/2 in tall
>> and >> it looks bigger than that. They have a human there and >> a very small person then. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. But look here. 7 >> I'm thinking whoever that female is, she could be at least five feet. Well, it says 66.
>> What is it? The sign that's 66 in or >> No, look at the person here. >> So, the top of the the crown is 66 in. >> It says 78.5 in here on the left, right? Am I reading that wrong? >> Why do they have a >> This says 200. Okay, hold on. This says
240 in so 130 is 80. I have less than 80. So it's still >> 240 in. Yeah, >> that's like 20 ft. >> It's tall. >> Yeah.
>> And 98 and 12 in. >> Environmental problem. >> And I bet they haven't bothered to apply for a variance for exceeding the height limit. >> That's not in there. This is just for the use even. Yeah. >> And how many square feet is the side? >> Uh the square. Oh, they put that here.
It is >> the problem is if wind will ne knock it over >> 98. That's what I was ask. >> Is there a curve? >> Is there a uh does a sign ordinance say how big a sign can be over and over?
>> I know the bill the billboard ordinance says how many squares a billboard. >> There is a lot in the sign >> sign ordinance. There's probably an ordinance for that. Oh yeah, there are definitely limit. >> Let me look real quick. both on height and on area.
>> There are no utility poles in the vicinity. >> There is you can see them in the picture. But hang on one second. I just want to see if they did the checklist. >> The utilities would be happy >> cuz there's a list usually that says like here's what we're seeing experience for.
>> Uh oh. What did they black out? >> They've been black. They blocked out all the um addresses like see the address for and the address for the realy company. I think politicians names under those >> right >> the only thing so they're just seek yeah
they're not seeking um for height only for the deviation for the setback >> interesting >> oh um let me show you why >> you can certainly give them comments to make it shorter
>> so see you can see the utility poles >> oh >> they're right over utilities you know would they not be concerned >> it's hard to see But I think it's far enough. But if it knocks over on the street, that that would be concerned. Besides, what is the height of wires
over there? Right. >> Yeah. >> I don't know. >> I will bet they need a permit from the >> Department of Transportation. >> Oh, probably for that size of a sign. Yeah, >> really.
>> You're right. >> It's a state highway. They >> and the size of it. >> Good point. >> Oh, here it goes. Signs unsafe by reason of placement. Signs that are unsafe by reason of placement within a sight line within a sight easement or which
otherwise create a hazard by virtue of their placement shall be removed. Signs which pose an imminent hazard to the public may be removed by a township without notice. >> Makes me a little bit uneasy. >> What's the definition of an unsafe? >> What makes it? What makes it a hazard?
>> Driving. >> You're coming out of Sinclair Boulevard and trying to look to the left to see if traffic's coming. >> How how wide is the post there, though? >> Uh, I don't think they will be inspect
regarding a collision with wires. >> How wide is the sign? Is that what you're >> the post where if somebody's coming out of Sinclair and looking to the left, >> how much is that lower part of the of the >> blocking their view >> post? I don't know. That's something that
engineering will look at for the for uh the placement of a sign. >> They'll definitely look at that. That's under their perview. >> That sign is highly ambitious. >> I'm looking to see. Can we just put in
our comments other than aesthetics? We defer to the planning board or zoning board or whoever it is. >> Well, >> yeah, >> that but we need to make a comment about the aesthetics. >> I said other than the aesthetics. >> Yeah. Like can I make it shorter or what would be specifically our comments
specifically on aesthetics? I mean, I I guess we could say something about uh if we wanted to be sticklers, we could say something about um light pollution. >> Okay. >> Oh, >> you really want to stick it to them.
>> Well, yeah. I'm just trying to think of something from an environmental standpoint. You can be like it's ugly and they're be like, "Okay, I don't care." But I guess he say something about the light pollution. >> Well, uglier is in the eye of the beholder. >> That's true. They might be like, "I think it's beautiful." Now, light pollution is really only going to all
the videos residents in the area are the residents right across the street on 27 that would be impacted by it cuz everybody else around that I believe is is commercial. >> Right. Right. Yes. It's in the GB zone in general. >> Definitely good idea to make reference
to light pollution. Yeah. >> Across. Yeah. Is it internally illuminated? >> It has LED lights, it says. So, Yeah, I'm assuming >> it will be fine. >> I'm just looking to see where I know there's something here that says like the the size of sign you're allowed to
have. >> That's what I'm trying to find. Although maybe there's not cuz there's billboards signs general >> general requirement. >> Usually we get this often we get the
sign as part of the overall site plan. >> Uh but if it's I think recall what the upper limit is for a sign. >> I don't >> I think Tara said that it wasn't in the original application this
>> exactly >> but now here we go. >> There's a limit on the signs you can put up if it's like temporary or if it's a real estate sign. You can't see in Hamilton Street it can't exceed more than 32 square ft on one side. But that's not for every sign
>> for permanent signs. >> I'll have to do some digging on this. But the but even with the size of the sign, I mean planning will come. That'll be planning through you. But for our review, do we want to say something about >> light pollution? That's good.
>> And the aesthetics, it's it's environmental. So, but we are not specific when we say aesthetics. I think we need to be a little bit more specific. >> White pollution. U G L Y. That one
>> specifically about the aesthetics. >> You know, I mentioned aesthetics, but aesthetics, it's really in the eye of the beholder. Who's who is it going to offend the aesthetics? >> So, I don't even know if that can be can be used. >> It says LED signs with lit cabinets. LED
lit cabinets. >> What the heck's a cabinet? So, it's an enclosure. Uh, >> I guess. Oh, this must be It must be in this part, I'm guessing. Yeah. Cabinet. Okay. So, that's going to be lit up basically. So, we could say something
about that. It's LED, but we could just say like the temperature of the light or the >> Is that the Is that the one be um that is before a little mo >> when you come up Bennett's Lane coming
towards 27? you know, been a slave. Oh, >> you look doublesided, >> doublesided like I have seen it um on both sides >> and I have seen the lion but >> because I see one that has the name and
maybe that's the one going >> I think that is clear case of of light pollution. Okay. >> So, we got light pollution. Is that that works everybody? >> Not the only thing I think you know. Yeah. >> Even if we are not specific on
aesthetics, I would throw aesthetic. >> Planning will planning will take care of you know any size issues and engineering will take care of the the sight distance and the review of the road. >> Yeah. It pollutes the >> you know curve.
>> Well, we don't know. We don't know how much it's going to pollute. They'll just be concerned about how much it would shaped like cabinets mounted directly to pole. >> Yeah, that's going to be illuminated.
>> Okay, that was it for site plans today. >> That was enough. >> Seriously? Right. >> We had a big discussion. >> Oh man. Well, that's what we are here for. So,
>> should we go to the business? Sure. >> So, annual report. Thank you for sending us the draft. Um, you guys have uh comments. Um, >> Stan gave me a bunch of comments which I made today and thank you for sending me the pictures and everything. So, I changed the pictures. I changed the all
the comments you sent me. I I uh put in >> one. You could not because I suggested that we should have a picture like we are saying. >> Oh, the picture. But we're not all here. Yes, we Stan made a comment that we should get a picture when we're all here. So, at the next meeting, if we're all here, I can put a picture. You know,
I could always add a picture, but I'd like to finish the annual report pretty soon because I would like to get to the council. And so, for example, one thing, the trails advisory committee, well, we did it last year. We had like a presentation about the environmental commission. Trails had a presentation. I think it's nice if we can get on an
agenda. Um, we definitely can't get on in March, but maybe we could get on in April. So, we still have some time, but I think it would be nice to to present it to the council if everyone agrees. >> If we're going to have a picture of a commission on the 2025 report,
we need Robin. >> Oh, you're right. >> Oh, good. Right. >> Yes. And I sent you pictures with G and Polar. >> You did? Yeah. But we don't have a picture of all of us. >> Yeah. Okay. I mean the commission is
constant people are coming in and out. >> Can a picture be extracted from the video? >> That's >> Oh, probably. Yeah, we could do we could do like a screenshot of the video. Yeah. >> Have to be higher resolution, right? >> No, we could do that. Or we could also take a picture of our commission right
now. It's for the 2025 report, but we could just put in the caption like this is the 2026 commission. >> I like more the idea of extracting. Yeah, we can do that >> because then you can pick uh the meeting where most people were there, >> right?
>> We can do that because Photoshop people in >> that's too laborous. That's too genuine. >> Yeah, I agree. >> So, I sent around the annual report. I now have no highlighted spots left. So, it's b I'm waiting on something from
Stan. Um a paragraph from Stan, but it's basically done. So, unless anyone has other comments that they want to submit, if you want to give it one last look, um >> I'd like to uh could I get >> Oh, of course. >> tomorrow. >> Oh, yeah. Even in the next like before the next meeting. How about that?
Because >> we're not going to get on the council's March meetings because those are the budget hearings. So, we're not going to get on those. So, >> shouldn't we actually kind of move on approving report or how does it work? I don't know. >> Well, Walter So, Walter wants to still
look it over. So the next meeting I guess I'll keep it on the agenda and then yes we should approve it. So before the next meeting which we're not having a second January meeting everyone remember no meeting not until February. Um just if you have any comments before February and then we can move to approve
it in February and then I can send it with a cover letter to the council and say hey can we get on an upcoming agenda and that I think will be really good. Then we can post it on our website. >> Yeah. So >> our next meeting you said February it
would be >> the Yeah. >> second. Yep. >> Wow. >> So if you guys can get me any comments you have before then that would be awesome. >> Preferably on February 1st at 10:00 p.m. >> Yes. Well, not at 10 p.m. Maybe 9:00
p.m. cuz I'll be asleep by 10 p.m. >> Several days before that. Okay. Um any other comments regarding the annual report? >> Okay. Um I I sent you also uh there were
events the the film screening. >> Yes, I put those in >> and which was also and and I included photos. >> I got the photos in. Yeah. If you want, you can actually take those photos and put them if you have space. And >> Yep. I put the three photos you sent. Everything you sent me, I put in. I
changed the picture at the end. Yes, >> 100%. I listened to you this time. >> Right. >> Okay. >> So, we'll do But yes, those were good comments. Thank you. >> Try to Okay. Uh, next one. Committee uh
reports. So you want to go Maria talk about Okay. >> So unfortunately um the event and the workshop that was planned for Wednesday had been cancelled due to renovations at the senior center which is a good thing.
I spoke with Rachel about rescheduling um the event. Um we are going to have the same issue throughout the year because the senior center is being um used for um classes.
So it it won't be available she told me at all but >> at all >> for 12 months at all. >> Well kind of cuz I asked her can you give me a date for March or April? >> Wow. Then when I asked her about the
board of education because that's what one of the choices she put in the email she sent to us. >> She said that um if we want to go go into through that route, the request has to go through her. >> How about council chambers?
>> Oh, that's that's the decision of the commission. I'm just >> issue here that we systematically have problems. Um the building is closed. Um there is no not that we need to record
it now >> for special events. It's it can be open. >> Yeah. Can we have it? >> We've done we've done presentations in council chambers. >> I know. Uh uh we also were planning some
I remember that those for those uh the building was locked and we we had delay we had to wait the only key to the building we had to wait for Paul to to come. >> I'm sure we can if if we get permission
to use council chambers. I'm sure we can work it out to get whether it's Paul or somebody else to have access or the township can have it open for us between 7:00 and 9:00 or whatever it is. >> Well, if if we schedule that something starts at 7:00, they should open 6:30.
>> Well, yeah. >> So, what will be my response to Rachel? Because I told Rachel I will have a response to them and also uh today. So we >> available of of council chambers because this is also quite heavily used room
right >> it is uh let's see if I can uh calendar I don't know if I have access to that room but I I no I only have well hold on let me back up here
council chambers okay what happens. >> So what what um are you looking for like any in are we looking for February, March? >> Well, um >> it would be you Hannah you make Yes, you're >> February, March, whatever.
>> No, I don't think we need to delay it by more than a month. So >> So council chambers is definitely in use the second and fourth. Is it second and fourth Tuesdays? So those that's out. But what about like uh
>> and Jenny is living on 2nd. So if we can do it before that. >> Oh, before that. Okay. >> And second is is our meeting. >> Um February 2nd >> 3 4 and zoning board also meet there. >> They do.
>> Tuesdays and Thursdays. Respectful. Respecting. >> Well, right now doesn't look like there's anything happening. Although, is this my Okay, hold on. That's There's so many calendars. Oh, man. A lot. Okay, council chambers. Here we go. It looks like it's
open on the 28th, the 29th >> of January. >> The 20th. Although there's an open space committee that meeting. So, that would be tough. Like Arie and me, Ted, >> we are postponing almost those three
weeks. I think that's that's okay. So, it's going to be in January 20. >> I mean, we need to have it confirmed by who's in charge. >> January 29th is being a fifth Thursday of the month. There's not going to be
anything scheduled. >> Oh, you're right. Wednesday, too, is the fifth Wednesday. Yeah, the fifth of the month is good. >> Fourth Wednesday. >> Oh, shoot. It is. You're right. Thursday, though, this is the fifth. So, a lot of people have nothing on the fifth week of the month. >> Yeah. So that's why the 28th maybe.
>> The 29th. >> 29th. >> You prefer 29th? >> Yeah. Like like a Thursday or >> off the top of my head? Yes. I don't have my calendar. It's at home. But I think I should be good. >> Okay. Then then we can do 29th. Yeah. >> And then um who will make the
arrangement with the chamber? >> I can. Let me see if I can just enter it into this calendar. I don't know. >> If I bring my flash drive, it has, you know. >> Yeah, they >> it's equipped. >> I can't. Okay. So, I can email Annie and ask her. So, we're looking for Now, let
me do it right now while we're here. So, we are looking at um >> January 29th. >> January 29th. 32nd. No, 29th at >> what time >> was it? 7. >> Yeah.
>> It was. Yeah. 6:30. >> 6:30 p.m. to >> I think they said till 8. I don't know if I'll be talking that long. Say 8:30 p.m. I might be. You never know. I don't think anyone's going to >> Do we have 6:30? >> Yeah, we have 6:30 until 7:30 for Q&A.
>> I I thought that I >> I thought that the official start was seven. No, >> but I seem to recall it stuck out at me looking at the announcement or whatever. I saw it was like 6:30. We can change it.
I just remember >> my next my my >> so my next my question for um Tara and Stan is uh there's going to be an email sent that the event is being cancelled. Right. >> Right. >> And um it's going to be removed from the
um website or updated number. If at the same time when we send cancellation we already have new date we can at the same time communicate not cancellation but reschedule >> and and that way >> well we would still need to send another
communication >> but at least um we want to lower the volume of emails. So in cancellation we say okay we actually resing >> we can say that we are rescheduling and
TPD but uh >> due to unforeseen circumstances we're rescheduling >> this is late running construction that's the problem >> renovation construction >> over yeah it was supposed to be done by today
that's what the original plan was but >> well they were running a t actually physically saw there and it the place is torn apart and everything is out in the hall. Um, >> wow. >> So, they're not done. >> You say at least another week.
>> I've been told we have a meeting on Monday, a week from today in the senior center in that room and we've been told that it will be available. The construction will be done by then. We will be able to use it. I got >> And what is that? Next week.
>> Next Monday. What time? >> Of course, you may >> days later and find that construction is not done. >> Pardon? >> Pardon? >> So you may get >> You may get there and find that construction. >> Well, we we were originally told today that it would not be done, but then we
were told yes, it will be done. >> So there is another week to come back and figure out. >> No, no, you don't know about construction projects. Who's the overseer? The weather forecast is good now. So they should >> All right.
>> Okay. So, uh, who's going to reach out about the Okay. So, you will reach out about the the 29th tour. >> Yes. I already emailed Anmarie. I'm right now emailing it because they're going to put another Nixl out tomorrow as part of the planned like, hey, come to the event or whatever. So, I'm
telling them to do that. >> Yeah. One of my neighbors actually reached out to me uh saying that they would like to attend the seminar but >> they have to pick up someone from the airport actually her husband. >> So now this works for them >> so >> perfectly. Okay.
>> Now I will reach out to Jane to Rachel and I will say that thank you but we made other arrangements >> uh all of you. That's my response to her. Well, it's really kind of disturbing that uh they said that arbitrarily there will be no no
available date for the 12th month >> at that time because they're having classes hip hop I think there are senior senior classes as well cars and craft >> it's have lots of activities. Yeah. >> Yeah. She said um and I asked her is
there something probably not in January, February as March and she said I don't have any answer. >> We are bringing lots of seniors to these events. >> It's like you know they could put it as their event. >> Zumba I think they have a Zumba class. She was telling me all the classes they have every day. >> Wow.
>> At in the afternoon. >> Wow. >> I think that people are paying for those classes and they're getting revenue. >> Yeah they do. Yeah. Now shall we also contemplate since our outreach is generally educationdriven
that we will partner with bord and have this event done in one of the schools maybe high school or SGS is physically close to here >> do they and they probably if we go that route the arrangement could be done with
someone else besides Rachel because if we want to use the consola it seems that she's a person >> yes but consul lot of we didn't like it because the way how it's situated you know people don't know the parking and the entrance door is a side door of the building
>> so unless you come frequently you don't know that it is it >> um so you have to put up big signs with arrows pointing to where it is but you have to make sure that those signs are within >> those
not too big and not not too illuminated that it's affecting other We're not visually unattractive. >> So anyway, so >> so but but uh it is also good opportunity to get more audiences
because we engage uh the board of you know so >> uh both can do this >> and I'm going to I'm going to make a comment here as far as consulada is concerned. We've talked about it. I know Ted's talked about it. Many of us have
talked about it. At this time of the year, >> it's real easy to miss the entrance the consul when it when it's dark. You can drive right past it. >> And I will put it on the record for the teenth time that they need better
lighting at the entrance to consulada. >> Yeah, that's part of >> maybe they don't use it very much at night, so they don't care. >> Too dark before they put >> chicken and egg. Nobody's coming. Why should we put the light?
>> So anyway, um so that's uh another another report. Uh we do not have anything about the energy and infrastructure, right? Communication is derivative of the education. So >> nothing else. >> I'm going to update the flyer when we
have that information so that we can >> Thank you. >> we can actually So it means that at the time of cancellation if we have the date approved then I have to have the flyer. >> Yes. So uh I email Marie so as soon as
she gets back to me I'll let you know >> and if we update the flyer then we >> I can update the flyer regardless. >> Okay. Perfect. >> And if it falls okay you have it and >> I can do it. Got it. That works. >> Okay. Sounds good. So fire
hot topics environmental legislation. >> I mean I thought we already had some today. >> Yeah. >> I would I would say that that would come under uh as far as regulations are concerned that would where I would address the uh
>> leaf blowers. Um, >> oh yeah, >> that I sent out um >> to everybody a week ago or so and said don't share it with everybody because we don't want to >> the quorum situation.
>> So what I did was I sent out a cover letter. I sent out um a justification section and uh and the justification section included um why noise is an issue, why air pollution is an issue.
Um and then I put a put a section for ordinance specifications for prohibition of fossil fuel leaf blowers. Um and then effective dates and times of day. the whole justification and the the ordinance, it's not an ordinance, it's a
it's a proposal that would become a part of an ordinance is all one page. Um, which is the way I hope to keep it so that it can be brief and understandable by our council. Now, I
did re first I received um uh comments from Ted um and one of the main comments was on um one sentence that he thought that we could reverse the order of the the
paragraph and I had no problem with that. That was fine. Um, Ellen then sent a couple of comments that I discussed with her and then um Stan sent a whole bunch of comments uh
yesterday. I believe it was yesterday or today. >> Yeah. >> And I addressed all of those comments. Um so I I leave it up to uh us to discuss it. I would like to keep the
ordinance as brief and simple um to to present it as a proposal to the council. Um so have at it and give your comments and we can discuss it. >> So since the comments were only sent to smaller groups, can you uh describe a
little bit what were what were the comments from Alan? You mentioned uh that that Ted suggested to swap some paragraphs. >> Yeah. Hold on. Hold on. >> I have up on the screen what you sent me today, Arie. Does this include I see it includes Ted's comments,
>> right? And Ted, make sure that what I put up there I added there is what you were talking about. >> Well, I just I had basically two two comments. One one was just uh
changing around the order of the first sentence. But the >> if I could read it here, Ted, I have I have it in how I wrote it. I wrote, "Gasoline or fossil fuel leaf blower shall be allowed to be used within the township of Franklin from March 15th
through May 15th and October 1st through December 15th of each year." And then I put in hyphen in italics um as a note to the council. The reasoning for this is spring and fall cleanups when most powerful equipment is sometimes needed
should be allowed. And then Ted responded back that he sort of reversed the order of the the paragraph and started out instead of saying gasoline or any fossil fuel leaf blowers, he said the use of leaf blowers powered by
gasoline or other fossil fuels should be permitted only during the periods of March 15th through May 15th and October 1st through December 15th of each year and shall be forbidden at all other times. Oh, I like which I I'm fine with
that wording as well. >> Yeah. >> Um, so I don't know if you want to to comment on that. You might have had one other comment, Ted. >> No, that that covers it. >> Yeah. So, >> and I just felt that it it should be stated explicitly that it's forbidden.
>> Yeah. and and and I I think what I said to Tara I and I think what I said to you even though I said I thought that it might be a little bit redundant um but I think it is a good thing to um to you know put a little bit more information
little bit power behind it and say and yeah it should be shall be forbidden even though uh it's in but it is instructive and emphatic so yeah I don't have a problem with putting that in there and then Ellen sent something she was the next person to send something
and Ellen Ellen Ellen Ellen Ellen Ellen I have you somewhere here Ellen >> I'm buried >> um Ellen said we should include decibel levels that the equipment must comply
with um well I will first say that um the township no longer uses decibel levels in their noise ordinances Um, and she said this also impacts the workers using the equipment. This is not something for the workers. This that
would be an OSHA issue. We're talking about the impact on the residents uh of the township. Although it's a good point. Very good point. >> I'm sorry I come from that perspective. >> No, I understand but it's not something that should be in this. Um and then you
also mentioned something about um start times because I had given start times on on another page here ba based on an addendum that I sent in on >> well I no that's a separate thing I I
you did the uh start times based on what other towns were doing other towns were all over the place as to what start times and end times and things like that and Ellen said it should be later than 8:00 Um, that's up for debate as to how you want to do it. We have to be fair to
the landscapers, I think. Um, so I think I had said, let me see if I have it here. >> Yeah, I dealt with the landscaper, my homeowner association. He didn't abide by the contract he started before. >> Well, if there's a contract, that's
that's a se that's a >> I know, but you know, it's like they want to do it on their time, >> right? Well, and there's also in the township ordinance about equipment being started at certain already about equipment being started
>> at certain times. Um, so that's something that it would be up to the township if they were to pick up on this and decide they want to do something, they would be the arbiters as to what time they could start. And what I said, I think it was like during the weekdays,
8 in the morning until 6:00 in the evening, weekends, I think it was 9 in the morning till 5:00 p.m. >> Uh, Saturdays, I mean, and Sundays and national holidays not allowed to be used
at all is is what I had had said. Um, and then we come to Let me just make sure I got everything for Ellen. Is there anything else? >> I think that might have been it. >> I think that was it. Uh, go away. Um,
then we had Stan. Stan had an extensive amount, which is good. Um, so I'm going to read what Stan said and I'm going to read what how he how I responded to what Stan had to say. I said that I agree with some of the
things that you say. I don't agree with I differ with some as well. So he said um since the equipment is allowed is allowed today, we should use prohibited language instead. >> Um either way,
>> I said either way works for me >> and it kind of relates to what Ted says because Ted has uh two languages. you would propose that it's allowed here and all other times it's what was the wording forbidden or something >> right? >> So maybe if we just say it's prohibited
during these times and which means that automatically at all other times it's love because it has been ordered love. So and since the the whole title of this thing is prohibition or how we how do we call it
>> just um it's ordinance specification for prohibition of fossil fuel leaf blowers. So I think that the primary language should be around prohibition as opposed to allowance. >> And and the basic point which you want to have in the introduction is that
fossil fuel powered leaf blowers are very noisy by the the nature of the engine involved. >> Well, electric are quiet. Electric will still blow dust. Right. But and and again, part of what I think we should
send to the to the council is my first page justification for prohibition of fossil fuel leaf blowers. And I wrote this proposed prohibition is based on noise impact and air pollution caused by the most more powerful lawn maintenance
equipment powered by fossil fuels. And then I designate for noise and air pollution. noise. The low frequency sound levels emitted by this equipment travels far and penetrates walls making it difficult to escape. It impacts the ability of people to converse and
concentrate, disrupt sleep, can cause high blood pressure, stress, anxiety, heart heart issues, and is a general nuisance. >> Distraction for people who work from home. >> Oh, the pan. And there's a lot more. Oh,
yes. that my my cat gives. >> Oh yeah. >> Firecrackers when they leave fire. >> The cat I have could give a crap. >> Okay. >> Nuts or deers or you know I mean >> well I don't think we can really get
involved with um wildlife but as far as people's pets or personal pets are concerned I think I think that's >> that should go that's fine. >> That's quality as far. So under air pollution I put stirs up dust particullet. I know you had mentioned
particulates D stand >> from the exhaust. Okay. >> Stirs up dust particulates including but not limited to lawn maintenance products in parentheses eg herbicides pesticides and fertilizers as well as pollen mold and animal feces particulates and
demolition debris such as asbestous and lead. The fossil fuel emissions include nitrous oxides, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds including benzene and formaldahhide, both can both carcinogens as well as
methane. Stan suggested I take out the word methane, I believe. Correct. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> That was so good. >> So the word was just >> No, but it was so good. >> Methane just doesn't belong there. >> Okay. So, and then then we get into the
ordinance specifications. >> Um, and we talked about Ed's way of rewarding that first paragraph. >> Um, which is it's a short paragraph. I know Tara, you would ask me to put this in bulletproof, but I mean bulletproof.
>> Bulletproof. Yeah. >> In in bullet points, but because this is so brief, >> it's brief enough. Yeah. Y >> and this is not a standalone ordinance. It will be something that will be inserted into an existing ordinance. >> And so then I went on to say this
ordinance section becomes effective one year after its passage by the township council to allow operators to convert from fossil fuel leaf blowers to electric or battery operated equipment. And then I said another way and this is in this is in italics. It's not part of
the ordinance but it's just a suggestion to the council. Another way the council can address this is for example if this is approved during the spring of the spring or summer of 26. The ordinance can state this section of the ordinance becomes
effective May 17th 2027 and they can do that with any dates depending on when it's approved. >> During the dates when fossil fuel leaf blowers are allowed there you shall be permitted during the times the following times of day. And this addresses what
you said. I have Monday to Friday, 8 to 6:00 p.m. Saturdays 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sundays and national holidays not allowed. Then I put in a section for violations, but um wait a second. Um oh,
a violation shall be determined based on a person's verified complaint when a resident or tenant is affected at or within his or her property line. I said and then in italics I sort of explained this. I have included this and this is not for the ordinance but for the
council to read. We have included this verified this verified complaint stipulation. So enforcement officer including police are not expected or expect or required to stop and write a violation every time they believe they see or hear someone operate in quot
potentially in violation of the ordinance. Now Stan you had um a >> speaking of that I think you explain it very well so we don't have to go to that violation component. >> Okay. So you're happy with how I
responded to that? >> It kind of makes sense. But when you say verify it means that when the police arrives they have to see that the perpetrator is using the the blower or >> see here. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. which is which is true about any
noise any noise complaint whether it's a state regulation or township model ordinance you know you have to be able to verify it on the complaintants >> they have to quickly look >> yeah unfort unfortunately and as I said
in what I responded to you is noise is a low priority for the police they have a lot of other things to do um but if it's on the books at least it's on the books and you know we can get it to you. So
that's what I have so far. >> Oh wow. That's good. >> There were other comments that I had. Um >> Okay, hold on. Stand right here. >> Okay. Um I know that it's popular to use
the wording the fossil powered fossil fuel but technically I suggested that it should be internal combustion engine powered but if if the majority agrees that it should not change I'm fine with that. It's just that if you take the
equipment and you put bofuel it will be still not >> okay. Oh >> right. >> And so it doesn't matter whether it's fossil fuel or not. It's it's it's the engine that makes the noise. >> Yeah. >> That's why I was suggesting to word it around internal combustion engine
powered >> and as a counterpart would be just electric cuz you had electric and battery electric. It doesn't matter. It's just electric >> and but electric as one of the things that Ted mentioned and something that
I've dealt with in the past is >> um >> an electric can mean a a cord, an electric plug that plugs in somewhere and you have a long extension cord and it's not battery operated >> or a battery operated one.
>> No, cordless. >> It's cordless, >> but it's still electric. So >> if you say electric, it means both corded and cordless. >> Yeah, that's that's >> why we was suggesting to kind of eliminate the wording about batteries because it doesn't matter. It's just
like >> Wait a minute. I have a solution. >> Yes. >> No leaf blowers. Let's go back to rakes. >> Yeah. >> Good old beginning of the 20th century. No pollution, no noise, and you burn a few calories.
>> It's part of our Yes. about how much this is. So now that we're saying to leave the leaves, we don't rake anymore. We don't need to blow anymore. >> I remember raking as a kid >> and then burning them at the curb.
>> I don'tc the day. Not every >> um but you know raking is fine but if you want your landscaper's bill to triple because he's going to need triple the amount of time to do all the >> all the work then that's the way
>> you put it in the contract you negotiate the price but yeah >> and the price is going to whatever quadruple triple whatever. So >> um so um >> sometimes new technology isn't better. Well, speaking of that, uh,
>> let me just let me just hit on one thing. Um, so I think one of the things that you hit on is something that I appreciate you hit on it because it's something that I was thinking and I think I might have touched on it somewhere that I I did in the cover
letter that, you know, over the years these battery operated blowers are going to be all over the place. They're going to be used more and more and more and eventually the gas powered ones or the fossil fuels ones
are going to go out. And at some point then >> if the council accepts this, they would be able to um possibly if they want to change the ordinance to say that as of a
year from now or whenever um fossil fuel leaf blowers are banned from Franklin Township. That's why it >> I think I mentioned that, you know, Princeton has an ordinance and they're even subsidizing
the purchase of electric blowers by landscapers. >> 500 bucks. >> I think I think that's great for Princeton. I think it's a wonderful idea. And Princeton has deep pockets. >> Um, if we had those deep pockets,
>> I'm not suggesting it for us. No, no, no. But I I think it's more >> like they like a model. >> They also have landing library. You can borrow equipment because >> I saw anyone. >> Really? >> Yeah. Yeah. They have >> They also have food waste collection stations.
>> Well, >> they don't have much digress. We already >> Let's just take the leaf blowers. >> Okay. >> So, what were you saying about Princeton has what? >> You can borrow leaf blowers. >> Yes. >> The library is >> part of the library that they have. They
have also other equipment that is related to sustainability. But let's say that somebody is kind of opposed. They say I'm not sure whether it will work out for me. I don't want to invest. And okay, you can borrow it technically for free. I think it's free for the residents of Princeton. Yes. You have to
sign in and something increase their time and then you return it >> and and then you return it and you say, "Hey, you know, I like it. I'll buy it." you know, of course you have to buy >> somewhere else, but >> they are ahead of the game. So, with a few tweaks that we've come up with here,
are you pretty much in agreement with with what I've put together that I can, you know, that maybe, you know, we're not we're not going to vote on it tonight to to approve it, >> but where where I could make some tweaks or based on what we've discussed here
and bring it back to the, you know, to everybody, I will email it to the couple of people that have commented already to to get your input on to make sure that uh I'm getting it right and then bring it back. >> I think you can synthesize all comments
now because we have public discussion and then we send to all >> Yeah. I would just bring the final version to the next like before the next meeting we'll put it on the screen >> and then that's it. >> Yeah. But I want to make sure that I I send it to people so that I make sure
what we put on the screen is what we discuss. >> Oh, like you want to make sure Stan's comments are correctly included and Ted. Got it. Got it. Yep. That's cool. So, yeah, before the next meeting, if everyone can just make sure they get back to Arie on that when he sends it and then we can talk about it. Yeah.
>> And then the and and again, you know, what we put out there, who knows that the council might say, "No, we're not ready to do this, right?" >> Or they might look at it and say, "We'll do it. We'll take parts of it and we'll do it starting two years." You know, all it is, it's a shot in the dark that they
might decide to do. It's given we are advisory committee advised them >> and the addendum that I prepared that I sent to all of you. I saw that >> uh shows one two three four >> five six different towns that have
implemented it and it shows uh what the dates are that they are either >> what you suggest is pretty much >> keeping them or allowing them. >> What you suggested is pretty much align with what others did. So >> yeah, I I want I want them to see this
so it's in the ballpark. >> Smart. >> See what you know, so that they're not so they're not um you know, way out there compared to what others are doing. >> And it's still a relatively soft uh prohibition because during the core time
of the year when you really need to blow leaves, you can still use the >> Yeah, that's I I appreciate the word soft time. It's true because at that time of the year in the in the spring and mostly in the fall when the when the when the leaves are all coming down, you
know, if those landscapers can't use the more powerful ones and it's mostly it's mostly in the the late fall when they do it so people aren't outside on the deck or enjoying inside. Although, as I stated, >> it does penetrate inside to the house,
but you know, you need to put up with it a little bit and hopefully down the road, we'll be able to get rid of them completely. >> Just one other thought, the thing I have can be used either as a
leaf blower or as a vacuum. >> Yeah, it's birectional. Do we need to mention um say blower slashvacu >> like >> I think the um
I think based on what all the other towns are doing it's all about blowers. >> No. Um, I I I can prove what you're saying. >> If that becomes an issue and if the town wants to tweak it at some point,
>> I I I don't think I've ever heard people complain. Maybe you have about about vacuums. >> Well, it's just you can you can >> I know my next door >> same engine running. >> My next door neighbor has one. I know. >> He He uses the vacuum to put them into
bags. >> To put them at the curb. Yeah. >> A leaf vacuum. You said it is. >> Yeah. >> It sucks the leaves up and it actually shreds them. >> Yeah.
>> Interesting. >> It's a device that sucks air here and blows out. So when you have nozzle on this end, it blows. >> When you have extension here, you can flip it and it will suck it. And and on the other end, you have back attached. >> Interesting. I had that, you know.
>> Yeah. Because if it's >> I think overall it's much slower if you're trying to get through your job, >> right? >> The faster way, >> right? >> I have you blow it into island and you and then you suck it up.
>> I tend to rake leaves >> when I first where say there's a gravel bed where raking is not appropriate there. I vacuum. Uh when I first moved into the house that I'm in now 21 years ago, um I
bought uh I well I had an electric leaf blower with a long extension cord and I went to Home Depot and I bought a bunch of bags that the intention was to blow them into big piles and rake them into
the bags. Well, that lasted about 5 minutes. the bag thing just doesn't it was just too labor intensive to do that. I ended up giving those bags away and I have a compost pile in the back of my yard so I just put them all in my compost pile in
the back of the yard there. >> Yeah. What I do is pile them up in the fall and in the spring the first couple of mowings of the lawn particularly I combine the le the leaves and the grass for composting. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. I never I whenever I cut my grass, I never bag the grass. It's all composted into the into that. And and in the beginning of the fall before I have any kind of leaf cleanup, I always mulch the leaves into the into the ground.
>> A lot of people don't. >> So that's what I have. And I'm sticking to it. Thank you. Good. >> This was an exciting meeting tonight. I'm having fun. Did you notice that uh the federal administration
I should say one person uh make additional ban on u additional post uh um uh construction of all wind turbines based on national security principle
>> right >> what's going to happen right >> unbelievable Are you concerned that his plane is going to is going to fly into one of the turbines? >> Never. Yeah. >> And New York Governor Hokll made a deal
with him that they will approve Nessie pipeline in le of support of wind power. Right. >> Yes, that's true. >> And now they are being scooped. >> Now they're being what? >> Scooped. >> What do you mean? because uh he's
cancelling he's preventing completion >> completion of the winter. >> Well, and now most of the projects are suing about this. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Well, somebody should address Donald
Trump and say, "How many how many uh tall buildings do you have, glass buildings that you have?" And do you know that a billion birds are killed a year because they fly into those those glass buildings? >> Yeah.
>> A lot more birds than are killed by the the wind turbines. >> Oh, good. Oh, it it turns out he he shows this picture and said, "Here, one of our bald eagles has been killed by running into a turban." And it turned out the picture was actually from
Switzerland. In 2017, the bird is most definitely not a bald eagle. >> Oh my gosh, that's great. And don't forget he still according to the New York Times a number of years ago I
haven't been able to find out if the debt has been paid the Donald owes New Jersey New Jersey $30 million in back taxes. >> Yes. >> And his buddy Chris Christie the governor cut it to five >> and I've called the Treasury and
Internal Revenue and they will not confirm that it's been paid. >> Helen, >> I'm sorry. Helen, don't hold your breath. >> I know. Well, we were kind of going in that direction. >> Interesting report. So, I uh made quick
research about uh you know how um our mayor um proposed and and and council passed ordinance banning to use of >> generators >> generators uh for to power the data
centers. So I was looking into how much energy can a data center harness if they cover the entire lot with solar power versus how much energy they typically use. So of course there was some work with AI and it turns out that even if
you cover the entire lot it will be about 10 to 20% of the load. >> So wow. So you do not have enough energy from the sun >> from solar. >> Yeah. When they build >> from a gasoline a fuel powered
generator. >> Well that's beyond but what I'm saying is um if if uh this ordinance becomes true it means that they cannot build uh data centers.
>> Yes. Um and um uh yeah because they can stack them vertically uh the computers and u you have lots of energy requirement per square footage of of
land. So um the amount of energy is so much that the solar system is not up to the task >> and and it's not so much to run the computers it's to run the cooling system >> the water I'm saying >> and then there's a lot of use of water.
Yes >> they use a lot of water that but I keep getting it's becoming an environmental issue. Yeah, absolutely. >> Justice. >> You're right. Yes, you're right. >> How it relates here to this Mr. President we were talking about because
he's using AI to generate all these narratives using AI and the fake pictures. And that's how AI can be misused. >> How do you think that? >> I'm sorry. I don't totally trust AI. I've read too many science fiction books. as I'm off and the others are
predicted. >> Power digressed enough. >> Um, so >> sorry >> old business. Do we have any other hot topics? I say no. Okay. >> Old business. So creation of commission commission. >> No, no update on that yet. Yeah, we
talked about it the last meeting, but I haven't done any more work on it. So, we have to talk to uh I think next meeting. >> Was it on your plate? >> Is it on? Yeah, kind of. Yeah. >> Okay. I just want to make sure that >> y >> it's uh well on behalf of
>> the >> um potential partnership with Franklin Township Astronomy Club, Dark Skies International work. >> Yes, they're looking to come to our second February meeting to talk about light pollution and how the Dark Skies Internationals work. So, they're looking
to come to our second February, like not February 2nd, but our second meeting in February 16th. 16th. Yep. >> Oh, no. You're right. It's the 23rd because of President's Day. >> Correct. Yeah. >> That's good.
>> Okay. Um, it's interesting that sometimes we have um speakers coming as part of our meeting. Sometimes we have separate event. Yeah, we could have a separate event, but I think he so um he would like to
talk to come here, right? >> The public can come here. I think he wants to talk to our commission first about like ways we can partner with them, but that might be having a separate event, you know? So, yeah. >> Okay. So, and that's that's u booked so
Okay, we still have it, but there is no update, right? Okay. Uh, skip the stuff program. >> Skip the stuff is still going on, you know. Um, nothing really new to report, but you know, >> I was thinking,
I mean, it's all voluntary, but um, you know, the businesses can use this as a way of getting extra free advertisement by disclosing, yes, we are on board. Put us on your website and
Do we have any way how to prevent that from happening? >> Uh well, so they're on our website. Um I know the first round that went in of 10. Um we did a social media post that said
like, "Hey, visit our website to see who's enrolled in the skip the stuff." So we can do that. >> Um are you saying there's you want to make sure that someone can't pretend they're in? Well, they just say that uh they participate.
>> They do. We were saying how >> in the end they will still throw the condiments in automatically. >> It's voluntary. That's the thing. If it was an ordinance, you could have someone enforce it. >> The voluntary is fine, but it could be also abuse that somebody will get
advertised. they would get reported. If somebody goes and goes to them and finds that they are throwing the stuff in, >> they're likely to squawk to >> I would think. So there's I mean they could email us. That's really it. That's
the hard part is like, you know, we're kind of going on the honor code here. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> It's a story. Oh, I the the one sign and decal that I'd been given I delivered to America in Kingston.
>> Oh, you did? Okay, great. I can add them then. >> And they were practicing this anyway. And actually, >> um I guess it's really only say if we had a takeout dinner that >> Yeah, >> we usually just get sandwiches for
lunch, but >> No, but that's good. We get dinner. >> Yeah, I did that deli. The deli >> even ask about what do we want? Napkins. >> Oh, do that. >> Yes, of course. >> Yeah. >> What about straws?
>> Fourth sandwich is right. Well, they're usually not giving you a liquid take out. So, I found out an interesting lesson innocently and maybe um I went to the
McDonald's at Rutgers Plaza and I went in and the manager initially was excited. She, you know, she took the information and whatever and she agreed and I don't know why. I came back and I put a sticker on the door. I took a
picture and then I came back a little while later, the sticker was down and I kind of went in. And I was looking around. I don't know if I asked something. And the owner of that franchise came and spoke to me and he goes, "No, you can't do this. McDonald's
will not allow this." >> Oh, wow. >> He goes, "You're a franchisee." And it's like, "No, they follow McDonald's rules." >> Oh, okay. Got it. >> I thought that was interesting. I thought I was making inroads into, you
know, like a big chain, but no. Chains are difficult. >> So, does it end up pulling out from the program? >> Yeah. Not. Yeah. Yeah. They took it down. No. MC Mc the McDonald's entity.
Nope. You can't tell us to do that. We won't do it. >> All >> right. Well, we can keep Is there other restaurants that you come across in the township? >> I just I Sorry. I've been doing other things. I did go to that deli at the end of Damat to Amwell.
>> Oh, yeah. They were very nice and uh I put up the sticker. I have to send you the information. >> Oh yeah, send me their info. So I keep forgetting. I'm sorry. >> It's okay. Just email it to me or whatever when you remember. >> Very very open and positive. I haven't been back to kind of like check.
>> That business is uh owned by a family from GC. >> Oh, really? Okay. >> Yeah. Send that if you can because I'd like to get their information up on the website. We should. Yes. >> Okay. Great. It was probably your hand. >> But oh, McDonald's disappointed me.
>> Was it Paul who went to Jersey Mike's and >> he did? Yeah. He said same thing. He had to try and like talk to the owner and the owner wasn't there. So, he kind of had the same information. >> Mike's has gotten big. I remember back in the day it was like >> Oh, yeah. They all
>> Yeah. They now have their sign on the Ruters Athletic Center. >> OMG. Yes. >> And you screen cleanup. So I'm thinking for the purposes of uh event uh announcement um >> I want to do that.
>> When is are we in sync with the Franklin Times? >> The last issue of the Franklin Times only went out pretty recently >> and the next one will be after that. >> I don't I would assume so, but I can find out.
Normally it would be quarterly but the Walter you brought it in last time wasn't it what like in November. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. It was >> this year. >> Well, if it's coming in March the next one it would be perfect fit.
>> That would be great. >> Even if it comes at the beginning of April would be still okay. A okay. >> Yeah. Okay. So if we can uh submit article um >> okay >> to Franklin >> if you can get it to me I'll get it there we can at least get it on our
website and put a link to it um and do a social media post and >> we'll do all those >> typical it it's just in addition to >> Okay. So, you're going to send me an article and I'll find out. >> We want to do Nixo on that one as well, >> but Nixo comes much later then, right?
It >> Well, we can schedule it. Um I You want to get it closer to the event so we can like with the composting workshop, I was able to ask them to do two Nixels, one and then I was going to have him do one tomorrow. So, we can do that kind of thing, too. >> Mhm.
>> Do you need anything for documentation? >> What? >> No, I'm good. You're good. No, I'm good. >> No, you have it. >> I'm good. >> Give me a place to talk. I'm good. >> What? You mean carrying stuff? >> No, no. I mean, I do I do have a couple
of things I want to show. I have I >> You need help from the car probably, too. >> Well, I mean, it's light. They're light. They're plastic, but you know, if I need help, I will ask. Thank you. >> Oh, that'll be a that'll be a new one for me, asking for help. But other than that, annual stream cleanup. I have my
usual suspects. Um, we will have the um mailing coming up. I I will generate flyer soon >> which will be pretty much the one that I had before. I just changed the date. >> Okay. >> Um
I may update picture but that's it. Uh I will reach out to um I will synchronize with um lower right hand watershed partnership. I will send email to the watershed institute even though last time they pulled out
and I understand it you know if if they feel like we can handle it by ourselves. Yeah, they can >> just put their resources as well. Um, uh, Cup Scouts, Franklin High School,
uh, Radgar Prep. I do not have contact to the um, um, charter school. And then the other one, do we have contact to these schools? >> Oh, the Thomas Edison one. I know a teacher from Rails Committee that works
for Thomas Edison Charter School. >> I think I met her at Jasha, >> sustainable Jersey and I somehow I didn't get her contact. >> I have it. I can send it to you. Jasha Patel. She's she's the um sustainability and the environmental teacher there.
She's great. Yeah, she's on our trails committee. >> Okay, >> so that one and do we have contact to to the school next to Colonial Park? the >> Oh, that's the uh Central Jersey >> Central Jersey. Oh, no. That's uh Oh, yeah. That is Central Jersey Prep. The
charter school. >> Yeah. >> I don't But I'm sure we can find one. I'm sure we can. >> What do you mean? >> I'm sure we can find someone who has a contact there. Like, there's got to be somebody on one of our committees or something. So, >> can you find >> I could Yeah. See if I can figure it
out. >> Thank you. Are the old business as requested by commissioners? >> I don't There she is. I don't know. I'm trying to find the Fiona Bennett that she was talking about. Okay.
>> Because if not, then we can open them to the public. >> Yeah. >> Yes. May as well. >> So move. >> Second. Third. >> All in favor? public. >> Um, I know I've said this at a previous
meeting, but I think that at the composting event, we should see if the astronomy club wants to have a table, talk about the dark sky stuff, have some handouts or something. >> So, speaking of our events, we typically have a table of some sort and we have
flyers of some sort. We have a banner. >> We do. We have a banner, a tablecloth >> for the energy and whatnot. >> We have nightlights. So we would definitely welcome if if somebody is saying that somebody can staff it. Somebody can come.
>> No, like if Yeah, somebody from the astronomy club maybe come and have their own table so they can be like somebody to talk to the public about it a little bit more directly. >> I would certainly support that. I think >> would ask them. Yeah. >> Yeah. I think just like to ask them
invite them to do that. I think would be good, >> right? They are supposed to be here on the February 16th. Definitely. >> So that will be even before >> 23rd. Yeah. >> 23rd. Thank you. >> Oh, the only other old business I have. Oh my gosh. Forget it. I'll talk about
it afterwards. Public comment. I just realized we're good. >> Are we done? >> Yep. >> I move that we close. >> Public second. >> All in favor? Um, >> so Tara >> Oh, the only other thing before you guys
leave, I got the business cards from you. >> Oh, wow. >> Yeah. So before you leave, I can give you all a bunch. I >> Christmas gift after Christmas. >> Yes. 20th century. But >> I will give them to you as you leave. >> It's a What? What's the alloc?
>> Uh, >> how many did we purchase? 500. Yeah, that's what I did with the >> We've purchased I just put the in there. I think we I'll tell you how many are in here. Hold on. >> Uh >> we will take 10 of us. Well,
>> yeah. I mean, I figure we can just split them up and then I'll have extras. Or if you want to split them all up, that's totally up to you guys. But we can do we should adjourn and then we can hand them out as you walk out. >> It's over. >> Motion to adjurnn. Or did we already do that? >> Not yet.
>> Not yet. Yeah. Yeah. You >> You cannot adjourn until you receive a pack. >> Oh, I thought you doing that afterwards. >> You can adjourn. You can adjourn and then we can hear them out as we go. >> Motion to adjourn if you in this second. This is one of
the I