In accordance with the open public meeting act of the state of New Jersey, adequate notice of this meeting of the Franklin Township Environmental Commission by posting on the Bolton board the municipal building posted on the township website and electronically transmitted to the officially designated
newspapers indicating that this meeting would take place in person here at the municipal building at 700 p.m. on March 16th. Okay, >> here we go. Have a Oh, roll call.
Okay, Chase, >> here. Dan, >> yes. >> Arnold, >> yes. >> Walter, >> here. >> Maria, >> Ellen, >> present. >> He's not here at this point. And I'm here.
>> Roll call complete. I just have a a short little thing I just put together a little different than the other ones. Politics as usual now gets in to be involved in the environment
environmental issues. Our congressional representative Bonnie Coleman Watson is retiring and a new candidate will seat in November. Whoever it is is, we hope they will try to undo some of the lost progress toward a cleaner environment.
The current federal government has stopped all wind turbines development offshore. They're promoting coal and trying to reverse or moving away from fossil fuels. These two items need to be addressed in the new Congress, which will take place in January. We're looking for whoever
replaces Representative Watson will help in our fight to improve the environment, not make it worse. >> You're here. save planet Earth >> instead of reporting on site plans. I thought this was more appropriate right
now. Um so um next thing is the approval of the minutes from um the last meeting the March 2nd >> motion. Okay. >> Second. >> I I have correction. >> Yes. Okay. >> Correction. >> And the time of my arrival uh it was
7:52. >> Yeah. I didn't think you was 8. >> Yeah. I was like, "Okay, >> change your haircut." Okay. >> Like the end. >> Maybe it was uh 50. >> Yeah. Because I went to school >> time already. And then after I came I
came from Bridgewater. >> Change the time clock already. >> But at 9:50 it's like we left at 9. I have also paragraph landscaping companies were here. Um at the last um towards the end the sentence
we as described improved longevity and power of newer electric motors. I meant to I was referring to batteries. >> Batteries. >> We can say electric motors and batteries. >> And batteries. makes the difference.
>> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Got it. >> I sent in some comments. I don't know if you have it up on the >> They're in the Yes, they're in this version. Um and the the printed version as well.
>> Uh right here is where you started. read it or >> if you want. Yeah, go ahead. Yeah, read it. You may as well. >> Um, a Schmidt thanked Mr. Dri for a suggestion and stated that his first draft, meaning my first draft of the ordinance included wording that would
allow leaf blowers to be used on commercial industrial properties that were at least 500 ft from any residential zone property line. He stated that he would like the EC to consider this suggestion. Yeah,
>> that's all that's changes. And you got Yeah. >> Yeah. Well, I have here the printed version. So, which already has that correction here? You have to go back into my records, fix the version I have.
>> I fixed it here, too, Ted. So, you're good. You don't if you want to fix it, you can, but I fixed it in the document. Yeah. >> Okay. Okay. To accept the minutes. That's right. >> As amended. >> As amended. All in favor? >> I
comment. >> Have a few people here in the open. We moved that we opened it to the public. That's our >> um not sure from >> Oh, Lisa. Yes, you can go. So, everyone
remembers Lisa Capsule Keefalos getting great saying this name. >> Yes. Um, last time Lisa was here, she spoke about the honey locust that um, the wild honey locus that's on her neighbor's property, right? And so she asked uh to come and kind of speak again during
public comment and update us, I guess, on what you've been doing, right? And ask us around. >> You all suggested I should go to the shade tree commission or shade tree committee. Yeah. >> And I did that and they were very knowledgeable about the wild honeylust. They said it's native to New Jersey, so
it can't be banned in any way. Um, but they told me a lot of things I didn't know. Um, that it tends to grow where the land has been disturbed. So, my neighbors had dove up their entire property to put in a septic. So, that
seems to be why this has now popped up. It would be controlled normally when people mow their lawns, but of course, my neighbors aren't mowing their lawn. So, it has been allowed now to spread and it spreads by suckers. So the people
at the shri committee were very they validated everything I'm thinking is that it does spread by suckers and that it is very hard to control once it starts getting out of control which it is. Um, so since it can't be banned,
I was thinking that maybe it would be logical to have just a general ordinance in the town that anything that grows by suckers or aggressively or you know like the bamboo should not be allowed to grow
on a property line. So instead of just like picking and choosing things like bamboo, honey locust, maybe it could just be a general ordinance. Things that grow aggressively by suckers shouldn't be allowed to grow on a property line, within 10 ft of a property line, within
20 ft of a property line. I don't know. But this stuff is growing right on my property line. Of course, on the other side of my property line, so I can't do anything about it. And because it's spreading by suckers, it's coming onto my property. and I can't do anything about it because
my neighbors won't remove it and there's no ordinance and there's nothing I can do. So, I'm just stuck. But I really learned a lot from the shade tree committee. So, thank you for that suggestion. And now it all makes perfect sense because they dug up their property and now it's spreading and they're not
mowing the lawn. So, it's not getting controlled in any way that it normally would be getting controlled. But if it isn't controlled, it does apparently choke out other species. Since his property is wetlands and it's adjacent
to the town property, I think we should say something to make these people take it out. But again, couldn't it be a general ordinance that says things that spread by suckers should not be allowed to grow on the property line like
wisteria or I mean >> the problem Go ahead. >> There's already the ordinance on bamboo. nature respect. >> I mean, my understanding of Franklin Township is that people used to live, you know, in more rural settings and
just there weren't a lot of rules or regulations and ordinances, but now we're all getting closer together and living with property lines. And maybe now there needs to be another ordinance. Like say I have wisteria but it's
contained and I cut it back every three times a year I have to cut it back to contain it. Now if I let my wisteria grow rampidly over on their property that would also be a problem. So I think there needs to be an ordinance about
things that grow with suffers on property lines and it needs to be I don't know 10 or 15 or 20 feet or something. would you consider um first I'd like to um thank you for
acknowledging that there are very smart and knowledgeable people >> I mean I was really very surprised because all the knowledge >> I mean you surprised me knowledge about how it spreads when this land is ded up
and how it spreads And then there was the one lady that was there who said she also had it on their property and how hard it is to remove. I didn't realize people know so much about honey. >> So here here's a suggestion. I don't know if everybody else on here would be
willing to go along with this since this is something that's really eating at you. Um willing to put something together. you know, look at look at take a look at the bamboo ordinance that the town has and
write something up that you think would be appropriate to address what you're looking to address. >> Okay. I thought I did that in the email. I thought I did that. >> I don't know. I don't know. I did that in the email. >> In her email, she she basically wrote
what she just said. I think what Arie so she has the points here you know that they grow by suckers that they're have to control by free blowing >> um >> yes I think Arie was basically saying if you look at the um like the bamboo ordinance as an example because
ordinances are written in a very you know kind of specific way and talk about like what the benefits are and what the proposed distance would be you know so I mean not that that's something that you have to do I think that's what you were suggesting >> that's what I'm suggesting >> I have no idea Do you hear what you would suggest like 10 ft 20?
>> No, that would be that would be that's what I'm asking you if you would be willing to do something like that and we would then take a look at it and adjust it accordingly if we think it would be appropriate to do. >> Do you think it makes more sense to have a different ordinance or just to maybe
modify the bamboo ordinance to include other species that spread aggressively by suckers or something? Would it make more sense to just modify the bamboo? Perhaps if you can part of this exercise look into model ordinances that whether there there is precedence elsewhere in
United States and maybe take this as a >> it'd be a lot easier for just look at the bamboo ordinance. You know it's here and and nickel appreciate that as well because eventually this ends up with the township attorney. Okay, >> bring we can bring it to the council,
but it ends up at the at the council, you know, and he does the editing >> and then it all goes well. But that's a good start. I think use the bamboo as a model. >> But do you all think there should be a different ordinance or just modify the
bamboo ordinance to include other invas not invasive species but aggressively spreading species? I think honestly I mean I don't know my gut instinct says to have a different ordinance the bamboo ordinance only because bamboo is so specific and it is a problem in the township and in this area
>> and keeping the bamboo is like a real like that's a very specific problem that I don't think we want to muddy up. So it would I would think a separate ordinance >> separate ordinance that addresses aggressively spreading species that's spread by suckers that should not be
allowed to grow on property >> because the bamboo ordinance requires like a very specific process for removing bamboo and that you can't plant it and all you know it's >> not apply to other >> right and so that's what I think I think that we don't want to mess with the
bamboo ordinance and and like weaken it in any way because it's specifically focus focused on you know very specific problems >> but I should look at that ordinance and I should basically write my own ordinance >> well you don't have to write your own ordinance but write like what you know I think
>> I think should be included in it >> and then bring that back >> and from and your property so your property is the is you are familiar with how much so reasonably how much space do you think actually is needed from your property line like from your vantage
point would it be 10 ft would it be 15 ft feet. Would it be 20 feet reasonably? Not, you know, like not uh you know, not exactly just for your property, but thinking about what's an actual reasonable amount of space >> because this is not the only aggressive
species that grows by shelters. Like I mentioned, wisteria. You wouldn't want somebody having rampid wisteria growing right on your property line either. So when you present this, you might want to provide a justification why, you know, a separate paragraph,
maybe not something that would go in the ordinance, but a a separate section that would show that would go to the township council, a justification for why you would want this in there and why you would want us to take a look at it and
determine whether it's something we would do, we would push forward to the council. So, it necessarily goes through this committee first before it goes to the council. >> Yes. >> You can send it to the council first if you wanted to, but I think it might have
a little bit more. >> Okay. >> Came through us first. >> Okay. >> So, I have homework to do. >> A little bit. >> You have no It's worth it because this stuff is already this high just since last year and it's spreading and it's go
spreading in all directions and Oh, boy. Okay. So, I will >> have you have your assignment. >> Thank you. I will work on it. Thank you. >> Okay. Perfect. And you can email it to me and then I can present it to the committee and or you can come and present if you like, whatever you prefer. Presentation. Okay.
>> And somebody's going to speak tonight about dark skies. >> Yes. Yes. We have Ron and some of the members of the Franklin Township Astronomy Club. >> Awesome. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, George.
>> Thank you. Yes. Hi. I I just want to comment on the um your attempt to get rid of the gas powered blowers. >> And I want to commend uh the commission
for taking this uh on. Um, I just want to say that um, usually when we think about a a um, a gas powered blower, we're thinking of a single family home, right, with one person in the fall
trying to do the lease. However, I live in a retirement community in Canal Walk. And I just want to say as are you know some people on the commission and I just want to point out to the cumulative
effect of having several of these um you know blowers being used um in our community. uh because we have an entire company that comes uh to take care of
the common grounds and what they do you have they will decide let's say today they're going to do the area right before the clubhouse. So it's not one person but it's actually four or five people with these gas power blowers. And
I know because I walk my dog while they're doing it. And thankfully, and so are other people walking or exercising and so forth. And honestly, I cannot
breathe and and I don't have any upper respiratory or other illnesses at this point, but I know that I choke. the smell is horrible and uh the air becomes
sort of like a concentration of pollution because you have four or five uh blow people with using these blowers in one area. So um yeah I am very much
in favor of of this. I think um it will be not only protecting the environment of course um but also the health of the people in um not only in my community but throughout Franklin. So
>> full disclosure >> yes >> and hopefully I pronounced your name right. Kiki an anis basicos >> right >> is the person who we have put forward to township council as for the open position on >> reading no yeah
>> on the environmental commission >> I've read your resume >> oh okay >> I see you >> I assume that yeah this commission will so so thank you I think it's an extremely important step and Um,
once you're done drafting it, is it going to go to the the town council? >> Is that what you >> No. >> Okay. Okay. So, I guess at that point it would be nice to get to try to get some people from my community and other
communities to, you know, to support it so we can get >> I think it's it's quite weak by the way. you know, it still it still allows using uh the gas blowers during b regular business hours uh during uh
>> there's also time there also times of the year where they can't use it and where they can. >> Yeah. But but it's it's it's allowed when leaves are falling down. So >> Okay. So that these blowers are being used throughout
the year. So key if I could just interrupt you there. >> So the way we have it written now not not final but the way we have it written now as you may know during the spring and the fall is when the landscapers
really need these for um spring and fall cleanups >> and we are allowing them to use it during that time up until a certain time of day Saturday also not on Sunday. Um, other than that, the rest of the year
they are not allowed to use those. They're allowed to use the electric or the battery operated blowers. Um, so this is sort of a step in the in the right in the right direction. You know, if we just banned them completely, we
would, you know, we already have landscapers who aren't thrilled with this. If we banned them completely or we promoted this to the council as banning them completely, I'm guessing they would reject it. Maybe they would pass it by
doing it this way. >> Um, so we're trying to take it, you know, baby steps, little steps at a time. >> We did look at Princeton has an ordinance like this. >> I was just going to say, what are the other townships doing? >> Same idea as copying one from the other.
That's >> Sure. Sure. Yes. But the truth is because I'm out there every day, uh they actually use the blowers every time they cut the grass, which is from, you know, starting in about another month or so
all through the summer and through most of the fall. Okay. So, it's almost to clean. It's not just for leaves, but they also use them to clean the sidewalks from the
clippings >> from mowing. >> Not our point is that >> during the cutting season, not during the cleanup season, you don't need these huge powerful blowers just to blow off
of the sidewalks and the driveways for that. During spring cleanup, when you have a boatload of leaves in the in the bushes and in the the gardens, >> that's when we're giving them a little bit of leeway, >> right? Yeah, it's a step in the right
direction and I understand. Uh but thank you. Yeah, I'll read it more carefully. >> Thank you, >> gentlemen. Anybody or you going to wait for the presentation? >> I'll wait for >> Okay. So then we'll enterain a motion to
close >> to close the public comment. >> Second I >> Okay. >> Um correspondence. Any correspondence? >> No correspondence except for from Lisa who we discussed. >> Okay. Um you said there's a site plan.
>> There is. Can we um move the astronomy club up though just so that they don't have to go through the site plan if they don't want to. >> If they want to, you're welcome to. But you know, >> yeah, we're we're very flexible. >> I appreciate that. Thank you. >> Okay. Do you want to come up, Ron? And
we'll switch computers. >> Okay. >> Um, let me introduce Ron while we're switch. So, we're going to switch computers just so he can project from here. Um, so, uh, this is Ron. And there's also some members of the astronomy club. I'm sorry, I forgot your name. Ilie.
>> Charlie. >> Steve. Steve, Charlie and Steve. Um, as you guys know, the Franklin Township Astronomy Club, we've been partnering with them. Not only the EC, but the trails advisory committee has been working with them. Recreation is working with them. Um, and it's been a great and
like growing partnership, I think. Um, Ron is also an ambassador for Dark Skies and so he's going to talk to us tonight about Dark Skies and Dark Skies Week. Um, we can talk about how the trails committee is going to work with you and Yeah. So, thank you for coming. Yes,
thank you for coming. >> No problem. Okay. I think if I just unplug. You can sit here >> probably. >> Uh, that should be fine. >> Let me move this. And >> I'll move over. Yeah, I'll sit there. Sure. Yeah. Do you have this size here?
>> I do. Yeah. USBC. Yep. >> This one. Okay. >> Should work. >> Let's see now if it works. >> Something's happening. I think he has to just hit allow and then we'll Yeah, then it should Let's see.
>> Oh, perfect. >> Thank you, >> good. Okay, here. Let me move my stuff out of your way. It's >> a privilege to be sitting at this table, so thank you. I didn't expect you to be doing that. >> Um, >> well, good evening everybody. Thank you. And on behalf of uh yes, the uh Franklin
Township Astronomy Club, but but also Dark Sky International and the New Jersey chapter of Dark Sky, uh I want to thank you for the time that you've given me on uh the agenda today to talk about um this protecting Franklin Township's nocturnal environment. So I can say just at the outset even though I'm coming in
from as an astronomer uh there's more of a background that I that I bring that I believe can also come to bear can bring to bear uh as to understanding what we can be doing as a community to uh reduce the impact that unwanted light can have
on our environment on our health uh and and everything that uh that we live for and that we enjoy. Um, so, um, just as a quick background, um, I I'm coming up on 25 years as a township residence. As, uh, Tara mentioned, I am a member of
Dark Sky International where I'm an advocate member, a Dark Sky New Jersey chapter, an advocate ambassador as well. So, there's a separate chapter that's been in existence for about 2 years or so. Um, also a member of the Franklin Township Astronomy Club, a few other astronomy clubs. So, I come with this I'm looking up at the night sky very
often. Uh but uh and for me, you know, the the quality and the clarity of the night sky is so important, but it does go beyond just being able to look at the wonderful stars and nebula and all the things that I and and my fellow members of the club and our growing club do. Um from a professional standpoint, I have a
background in neuroscience. I have done work in sleep disorders, chronobiology, circadian rhythm disorders. Um and uh I have spent a a long part of my professional career studying the impact of these kinds of um uh uh external factors on the quality of our mood, our
behavior and things of that nature as well. So um I I'm coming from that angle as well and I'm going to touch a little bit on some of the biological aspects of what we're doing and how it has a larger impact not only on our human biology but on biology of all creatures in our community and the entire ecosystem as
well. last name. >> Usi. >> Yes. Thanks for asking. >> I was going to say it, but I'm like I think I'm going to ask. >> It takes people a while when you see like, oh yeah, that kind of makes sense. Um, at the end of this conversation, I hope it is a conversation. Uh, three
takeaways really. First of all, defining what light pollution is so that we have a level set as to what that is. And I have a good feeling that many of you already have a a sense of not uh completely of what light pollution is. You feel it when you look up in the sky, but I know some of you probably also
have a vested interest in this light pollution activities. Understand the impact of artificial light at night or as we call Allen on the ecosystem and our environment. Uh and then wrap up with a call to action both to the EC and to the community at large. Uh I am aware that there has been some work that's
already been done by uh the either the environmental commission or the open spaces uh working with uh uh the current ordinances uh that exist within Franklin Township around lighting. I'm going to reflect those back uh and kind of get a sense of where we stand right now as to
where at least I understand it, but also very important for me to know so I can perhaps continue to work through Dark Sky New Jersey with you as I have been working with other municipalities within within New Jersey. So what is light pollution? So light
pollution is, as we say, excessive, misdirected or obstructive artificial light at night that washes out the starlight in the night sky, disrupts ecosystems, has adverse health effects, and wastes energy and money.
So it hits all factors. Um, and there are four main types of light pollution. I'm going to touch on them just briefly. Uh, circadian rhythm, disrupting light, glare, light trespass, and sky glow. Um, this little scale down here is what we call a portal scale. It's a informal
scale that kind of grades this the quality of the night sky from a one excellent dark sky all the way to eight or nine city inner city. So you can think about this about time square. And you can think about as the darkest site you can possibly think of somewhere out
west or up in the mountains of Chile or Hawaii somewhere. We reside somewhere in around a sixish. >> Yeah, I was going to ask you actually. I don't want to interrupt you, but so the astronomy club often uses the John Clyde Memorial Native Grasslands Preserve. So
formerly Griggstown Grasslands Preserve to do their observations. So where does that fall? >> I would say it pushes us probably about to a fiveish on the lower end of five, but doesn't get us past five. Yeah. >> So even that our darkest spot is not okay. >> Just this weekend uh I attended in
Princeton they had also presentation. They had series of presentation. I will report on it. They said that in Princeton they have seven. >> Wow. >> And they had actually chart how how it evolved over time. >> It went up, down, and now up.
>> Crazy. Yeah. >> And I think you'll see that one of the things at the very bottom sky globe is really the big factor. We are at John Clyde and we can see Princeton. We can see New York City and New Brunswick. We can see the lights. If we look up, it's nicer, but the further down you look
toward the horizon, you can definitely see a glow that exists. And that's that's a that's a big part of what, you know, as astronomers, we want to reduce. But it's again, not only astronomy, it's it's our health. It's it's our it's our ecosystem.
So, I'm going to kind of walk through and this is actually and this is actually to your point exactly. This is what's happening. This is late 50s, mid70s, 1997, 2025. This heat map is showing how light Allen artificial light at night is encroaching within just the
United States alone. There are very very few pockets of dark truly dark sky. These vortal ones probably again out in the deserts of of uh you know Nevada and Colorado, Utah. These are where we're seeing the dark areas. And if this trend continues, we may we may see that go away as well.
>> Wow. >> Interesting. >> It's extraordinarily stark when you see this and what's happening. So the thing is what can we as a community potentially do to do our small part to mitigate that? And I want to say upfront it's not about making things darker.
It's about using light better. Right? I think that's the reality of what we have to do here. There are many constraints, many economic uh issues, many issues of just what we need to do for safety. So I want to be clear up front. I'm not coming here to advocate and say let's turn off all the lights. Let's just find and make sure that we're using light in
the most efficient way possible. So there is this circadian rhythm disrupting light. This is light that's more controllable. It's actually less specific to this conversation. This is light that in some ways we choose ourselves to be a part of. We have to work late shifts in the office sometimes when it's dark outside, it's light
inside. Many of us uh for better for worse are scrolling through our phones at night when we shouldn't be uh and losing sleep as a consequence. So these forms of light actually do disrupt melatonin. They disrupt the brain's ability to sort of get into that rhythm. We can change that. Put your phone away.
I mean, night shift work may be necessary. So, I'm not looking to change this. Or maybe this is not exactly specific to the focus of of this presentation, but this is glare. I'm sure some of you driving along at night have noticed maybe over the past 5
10 years, it gets a little harder to drive. It's not because just our eyes are getting older. >> It's simply because lights are getting brighter. Headlights brighter >> and install illegal well illegal it's legal here but not in Europe let's say the extra LED bright lights
>> absolutely >> notes everywhere >> and you see a street light or you see somebody's house light brightly lit up and you get this glare uh security camera security lights everywhere I noticed a lot of those as well uh that's that's an important fact we'll talk
about what glare is glare leads to light trespass which is actually a great term I think because we think of trespass as you know truly physical things that can trespass onto your property but light can trespass in its own way and this is how you lose sleep this is how you're
disrupted uh and this is how you go outside and again I as an astronomer want to go outside into my backyard point my telescope at something and there lights all around me that are in effect trespassing into my space and then there's this sky glow here's a
a crazy statistic and actually it's not even just children but It's likely that 80% of us have never seen a truly star-filled sky and may never actually see the Milky Way. That's the stat that's the statistic that Dark Sky International puts forward for the
United States. Only two in 10 people in this country live in a place where you can actually see the Milky Way. So, if any of you ever traveled out west to some of these dark sky areas, there's some dark sky areas in Pennsylvania up in the Aneronics, you are amazed at what you can see. And it's not just the
beauty of it, and natural beauty of course is important, but it's also what does this mean for the organisms that depend on moonlight, starlight. You'd be surprised. And I'm going to talk a little bit about that. So, what happens when you have light pollution? Why should we care about
light pollution? Basically, take your pick. Everything from stargazing to visibility to insects, marine life, plants, and money. I'm going to talk on just a few of these and kind of pick a few. one related to human health, one related to the ecosystem, the ecology,
all animals around us, and then talk about the money as well, health and human safety. So, this is a a summary of studies just within the past 5 10 years that have been done uh in biology and and medicine talking about all the different things that this
unwanted artificial light at night can actually do. And melatonin, the biggest disrupted one. If you melatonin is this hormone that we require to keep our circadian rhythm and trained so that we can ensure that we know when night is night and day is day and that we're
awake in the day and asleep at night. Um these disruptions can lead to u um mental health disorders. Depression can lead to cardiovascular disease can lead to um um the reproductive effects as well. Um, and then our sleep, just sleep
in general, because what happens when the lights are bright at night? Environmental impacts. I was, somebody was just referencing a firefly walk that we did last year with the trails committee. Well, with all the lights that are out there, our poor little fireflies are getting confused and they
need the little lights to reproduce. And if they can't find each other, the population of fireflies is actually diminishing. Frogs need it. Bats need it. Nocturnal animals like raccoons need it. Bird migration is disrupted. Trees begin to bud too early and drop their
leaves too late. Um coral even in the oceans are are are certainly affected. And off the coast of New Jersey, you know, if there are turtles, if there are dolphins, uh anything out there, fish, all of this is disrupted. their reproductive cycle simply disrupted because there is light coming into
places at times when it's not supposed to be there. So it messes up the humans, it messes up all our fellow creatures as well and energy waste. So much light is actually being directed in the wrong direction.
Take a look at your own home and see where light is headed. Take a look at your neighbors. I don't want you to rat on your neighbors. Take a look at the commercial buildings. Where is the light headed? Is light in the direction that's needed or is there light just pointing up at the sky wasting energy? It's it's
estimated about 30 This comes from Dark Sky International. It's done a fact sheet on this. About 35% of the light that's out there is actually being wasted. It's serving no purpose at all. Maybe you can see it from an airplane, but it's not serving the the the actual
need to light up our environment. 35% translates to $3 billion a year of wasted light or about $10 per year per person in this country. >> Unfortunately, I think the benchmark that people use is they compare it to
the previous light bulbs >> and because lead lights are more efficient, they think they can just there is >> waste the energy and instead of saving, they just light more. I I don't put myself forward as an expert on lighting uh at all, but but what I've learned in
the time that I've been working with Dark Skies is indeed consistent with what you're saying. For sure, it's it's it's a you know, things change over from one type of lighting to another. Uh there may be efficiencies that are gained, but at the same time, I think there's different people can be more creative with their lighting and start putting lights in different directions.
>> We do all the fixtures we see in this site plans all have cut offs. >> That's wonderful. >> All the stuff goes down. That's already that's already moving in compliance with what's being put forward by Dark Sky International for the model ordinance and what Dark Sky New Jersey has actually put forward uh as a as an
ordinance which I think has been looked at by some individual >> by Dark Sky. Yep. >> And by the US. Yep. >> Yeah. So, this is a great leadin to what Dark Sky considers to be the five lighting principles for responsible outdoor lighting. You ask yourself, is it useful? Is it targeted? Is it lowle?
Is it controlled? Is it warm colored? So, this talks about the LEDs. that move into this blue and and ultraviolet light as opposed to warmer colors. Can we use it only when needed? Keep your lights on timers. Light no brighter than needed. So, reduce the glare. Is it targeted? Pointed only where it needs to be
pointed. And using light only if indeed it's needed. This isn't meant to say you can't have decorative lights during the holidays. This isn't meant to say, you know, there aren't times when bright lights are are appropriate at night. But it's thinking about these principles every time that we have an opportunity
to Yeah. look at a site plan or to consider what you are buying for your own home doesn't meet these principles because this is the way light ends up being used. You have the useful light but then you have this glare stray light you have this backlight that's not doing anything. So this relatively narrow area
where useful light is look at all the other light if these are not shielded properly can actually happen. This up light is going upwards. That's where the light pollution that's where the sky glow actually occurs. So, I'm now going to move into policy and and and this is a a primary reason
why I wanted to speak to the commission today. And again, thank you, Tara, and and all of you for giving me a chance to do this. Um, again, I am aware that the New Jersey model lighting ordinance template and Dark Sky International was given the opportunity uh I believe it
was early last year to take a look at the medical township ordinances and he did come back with some feedback on this. Um, and other towns have been doing this as well. This has been through the encouragement of dark sky, New Jersey. We've been working actively with these towns. And I'm just giving you a very non-exhaustive list of towns that have been working on updating their
their ordinances including Hopewell Menum. And probably the closest to us is Rariton, not Rariton Burrow, Raritton Township in Hunton. Uh, and I was just looking at theirs. They just enacted it and you some of you may be aware of this a few months ago. And it actually addresses residential lighting in a way that I've never seen any other ordinance
uh discuss it. So, um, it's it's it it'd be kind of interesting, I think, to look at and see how it may align potentially with what the township itself may want to do. It is a growing movement, if you will. It's a growing sort of initiative that many townships are taking to take a look at their ordinances and see if
there's a way and they can take a step-wise approach to shifting away from glare, shifting away from light trespass in in a certain way. So this New Jersey modeling uh lighting ordinance uh if you haven't seen it and Tara I'll share this I will share the real the best
presentation so you have it certainly can sit around because the presentation does have links if you don't know these I can make sure you get copies of these as well I'm aware that it has been looked at um and in fact this is the summary of what uh what I saw from from Dark Sky International.
>> So I I just want I want to level set if every I don't know if everyone's aware of this or I'm sure many of you are. >> Yeah. So when Robin was here, I don't know if you guys remember, maybe it was like I would say she was really kind of spearheading this. It was probably over a year ago. You remember it was this it was this like Excel spreadsheet and we
had Dark Skies look at it and they said where we comply, where we don't comply. >> Um and we looked at it and then we didn't really get too far beyond that. So >> it main focus was property lines and not having the light go past at certain
level. >> Yes, that was some of it. Absolutely. Yeah. Yep. >> So, so I know this is in someone's hands here and and I I was hopeful that that it could be brought up again because indeed as you're saying it was it was Robin Sodam who who put this forward. It looks like it was put last March in
fact. >> So I mean the upshot of this and it's not meant to to criticize anything because many towns are in the same boat in terms of what they consider to be these rather strict dark sky requirements would be listed in green. Um nothing here really within the ordinances meet that. But that's a high
bar, >> right? Immediately. Yeah. >> But we can use this template and the dark sky review when we're amending our ordinance. We can use this as like where to start basically how to start. >> So this is the not summary of the template. I'm not going to read through
those, but there is a summary out there. uh what New I mean this is something that dark sky New Jersey recently did and they have drafted and have um promoted this spec New Jersey specific model ordinance which is less >> stringent than the dark sky
international standard. Um there also is uh work being done in Trenton around this as well. So there are there's a bill in the assembly and senate being looked at. Um I know there's some amendments being looked at by by different stakeholders. Uh I don't know where it stands right now, but I
know there is work that's being pushed through. Um and um I guess with a new commissioner >> Yeah. >> from the environmental protection New Jersey. >> Yes. Our former neighbor of ours. >> He was our leazison former commission. >> Fant. Well, again, there may be some
some uh input uh there and and we'll follow this along. Dark Sky New Jersey will continue to have a presence in Trenton with our different lobby um groups to ensure that we are kind of driving this point home about the importance of of of this. >> Excuse me before you move on. >> Absolutely.
>> Uh at the bottom there the last sentence it says it needs do support. >> Yes. So my understanding >> department of transportation. >> That is correct indeed. Yes. Um, now I'm I'm not going to profess to be an expert on where this is coming from, but I know that there are certain commercial uh uh
entities that have a stake in how we're going to be lighting, for example, our highways and our streets. Uh, that's where that's really a lot of that's coming from. So, uh, that's why it's it's a multiaceted kinds of approvals. It's it's a great great question. >> Thank you. >> Would it also impact regulation for
vehicles? How they they >> That's a much harder That's a much harder one. And that's that I guess going up at the federal railway and trans uh transportation. Yeah. The federal level for sure >> because I don't think they are regulated right now. >> No, there's regulations. Yeah, there
are. Yeah. >> Well, we would be looking at from our uh like perspective the ECs is basically putting together the ordinance for residential. Yeah. But you're right. Getting to the >> Yeah, I hear you. I think um Charlie, right? >> Yeah. Just just wanted to add, Ron,
recently I just read an article that auto insurance companies >> have been pushing for brighter lights >> and this is why our headlights >> have been increasing exponentially and glare is not part of the fact that
it's illuminating the road in front of a car. >> Insurance runs the country, >> right? >> You would think that it's a it's a it's a hazard for drivers, >> right? family drivers. >> Yes. >> Heavily regulated. >> Do they do they provide a justification
for why they want to do that? >> It's the same reason like your insurance if you own a commercial building, why you're basically required to keep the lights on in the building at night. If you're certain like for example, if you're a dispensary, a marijuana dispensary, you're required to keep the outdoor lights and the indoor lights on
all night long. That's requirement of that land use. It's because it's considered safe or more secure, right? Does it mention the intensity? Is it the full intensity or is it you know? >> Well, I understand having lights on a building outside, but cars are required to have lights on at night,
>> but what's the requirement for having them brighter than they are >> and they have no they have no reason justification. That part I didn't see Arie whether there's they're showing justification
but it's just been proven that the automotive insurance companies have been pushing for brighter headlights. Do they do they talk about I don't know if they're called H hallogen lights that are that are different >> and it is it's the the change is
we had incandescent then we went to H hallogen and and now we're at LEDs >> and the color of the light is is part of the issue >> and and it's >> but the color of that evenly changed in
LEDs >> in fact the new new fixtures is there's a toggle switch that can pull 3,000 4,000 or 5,000K all in the same fixture. They just moved the toggle switch. >> Oh, I haven't seen that. >> Do any of the police unions, the state
police, the county police, local police, do they have have they provided any input on this? They stand anyway >> that I don't have. I'm sorry. However, there are uh I don't remember exactly where, but
there was a forum somewhere. I don't remember if it was on NPR.org or or somewhere that drivers on mass are complaining about how difficult it is for them to
drive as the manufacturers keep producing cars that have brighter and brighter lights. And I'm thinking, well, where is the, you know, the the the federal regulatory agencies to tell them that
>> some of them make it look like they have their brights on when when they're really not on >> and that happens, too, right? And one of those cars, everybody's like flashing their lights. You're like, I can't do anything. I'm on my lowest light. And I'm like, sorry. And it's it's really Yeah. But I know it's it's hard. And you know, driving to Canal up Canal Road to
get to John Clyde cuz as as we get to use that at night uh for for astronomy, we're coming back, it's rough. It can get rough. >> This your this conversation triggered this slide I just kind of pulled up talking about how the myth that more lighting is safer. You know, people love to light up their backyards, but more
light actually creates too much light to the point where you may not see things that are sort of hidden behind if you remove that glare. So, there's a right type of lighting or right temperature to lighting, but a lot of people think it's just light the heck out of everything and don't realize what they're doing is just washing out a lot of the features
that they need to to make themselves feel. >> I I could add to that. When I worked at the safety office at Rutgers, we would periodically get phone calls because Ruters is a big entity. We have a huge insurance policy. People would sometimes call, oh, there's not a enough light in
the parking lot or outside this building. And we would have to tell them task lighting is one thing. The light on your desk so you can read is one thing. We're only concerned about the lighting outside for safety. >> You don't have to be able to read a book,
>> you know, under, you know, a street. It's just to get you from here to there and hopefully nobody will mug you in this, you know. So anyway, I thought I'd contribute that. Thank you. Go. Let's I'll go ahead and finish. I will wrap up and just Yeah. >> No, you're good. Go ahead.
>> I I was just wondering whether something that could be more specific to Franklin as you're you know you're you're looking at the future. Uh the warehouses um are a source of light pollution
because >> again at night uh there they work 24/7 >> fulfillment center >> and >> at night they need the lights and if they're not working they still need lights for security. So
>> that may be something more unique to to some townships that have more warehouses. >> I think that's that's very fair. I think that again the principle to go back to it's not trying to make things not trying to make things darker but trying to make things better in terms of lighting and what it does. We can never
negate the importance of having light at night. That's a the great thing of modern society. Where would we be if there were no lights? Be a very different society. But at the same time, if we find ways to mitigate and I guess as plans are reviewed, zoning is reviewed that that's and again this is outside of my real area of expertise. Uh
this problem is more within your purview and the council, but this is the kind of thing that we need to consider talking about for sure. Now, what do we continue to do within Dark Sky New Jersey? Just to kind of say we're continue to build coalition. So I once again I'm grateful and thank you for this opportunity to be here. Uh we are looking again to not
only here at Franklin but other towns to help with getting modifications or revisions to their ordinances, find ways in which we can enforce existing ordinances. We haven't talked about enforcement. I know that's a sticky wicket when it comes to how you actually enforce something that occurs at night.
Uh and we're looking to help push that state bill through. So I I I I provide here a call to action to everyone here, the environmental commission. um with the you know ordinance um in hand with the model ordinance as well from New Jersey, you know, is there an
opportunity at some point for a resolution to the council to adopt some form of the dark sky model ordinance? Uh a resolution also in support of state regulations. I think partnership with organizations, for example, Franklin Township Astronomy Club, but many other stakeholders as well to raise community
awareness would be a fantastic thing to do. And we are here as a resource both in my role as Dark Sky International, Dark Sky New Jersey, and I think speaking for Charlie and Steve here, they'd be more than happy to advocate as well to what we can do to raise awareness to some activities that we already do have planned uh for what's
coming up in April, International Dark Sky Week. That's April 13th, April 20th. You may see some things being done uh in various uh places kind of promoting the awareness of the importance of dark skies. Another area which may be consideration looking at the uh environmental resource inventory to
include dark skies as a natural resource for for to be protect protected. I'm not sure that's an approach to pro perhaps take. Uh and again I mentioned national dark sky week. And lastly for all of us simple stuff turn off your outdoor lights when you're not using them. Use warm colored bulbs. Uh change outdoor
lights to dark sky certified fixtures. You can go to Home Depot and Lowe's and find actual light fixtures that are actually certified by Dark Sky International to be used. someone very nicel looking actually uh spread the word to neighbors join the uh dark sky New Jersey chapter if any of you are sufficiently motivated and have the time
join me as a member of dark sky New Jersey um and uh for all of us I guess you know continue to attend mayoral council meetings to advocate for responsible outdoor lighting ordinances I want to thank you for your time and attention thank you so much
any questions or I have a comment I mean I'm I'm uh really appreciative that you came here. I live in a common interest community as does Walter. We're condos, but I'm also familiar. Are you familiar with the statewide organization, the New Jersey
chapter of the CI Community Associations Institute? They have many of their members are board members of these communities, attorneys of the communities, and also landscapers and property managers. maybe, you know,
going through them reach a different population. >> That's wonderful to hear that as well. >> Yeah. >> So, I just want to add the next steps real quick just while we're all here. So, um Ron provided a draft um proclamation for the council to pass for
International Dark Skies Week. So, I left a copy of it up there. I can I'll pass it around for us. But I basically took what you wrote, Ron, and I just like put it in the format that we use here in Franklin. And so I'd like to get it on the council's agenda for the
upcoming meeting. I figured I would just have you guys take a quick look. Um it's the standard language that Dark Skies puts out. Can you take one, Ted, and pass it down if you don't mind? Um so thank you, Ron, for putting that together. So the few just one just let me just finish this thought real quick.
So the proclamation, if the council passes, it basically just recognizes dark skies week. It's like the same thing we do for Earth Day basically, right? So the proclamation gets passed. Now in the background, Ron and the astronomy club have already presented to the trails advisory committee and the
trails advisory committee, I think you saw my email, but we can go ahead. They want to um host a hike at John Clyde Memorial Native Grasslands Preserve with the astronomy club during Dark Skies Week on Saturday, April 18th. And so the trails
committee would basically, you know, do the flyer, promote it on our social media, do the registration through recreation, and do the hike, and then we can do some type of education event with um the astronomy club. Um and I'm also hoping we can get some giveaways. So now
for International Dark Skies Week, if we do the proclamation, we have a proclamation and we have an event. And of course, if the EC can think of anything they want to do during that week, that's great. So go ahead Arie. >> So um Dark Sky week is April 13th, April 20th.
This today is what? April March 16th. Yep. >> 16 last minute. Yeah. Um, there's going to be probably two council meetings. >> Yes. >> Before this, >> I without even looking at this, although
I like what you're doing, I appreciate what you're doing. >> I can't vote for this tonight because I can't read a almost two-page document and say that that I Well, you're great. >> See, there he goes. Yeah. >> You're great because you're brilliant
and I'm a slow reader. um and and so I I need to take more time to read that. I would love to be able to read it and and get my approval at the next meeting. So that's that's where I stand on that. The second thing is you mentioned right at the end something about using warm
lights. What is the difference between warm light bulbs and soft light bulbs? >> Warm light bulbs and soft light bulbs. >> Yeah. >> Is there a difference? I'm thinking more in terms of the temperature, right, of the lights versus >> No, uh uh
>> how it's done. >> When you when you purchase >> light bulbs, >> um well, I go ahead. >> Soft light is 2700° Kelvin. >> Yeah, it doesn't mean anything to me.
>> Then as you get to the other, the numbers go up. 5,000 is bright afternoon sky. 6,500. >> What is soft and what is warm? >> Warm is 2700 down that area. >> Okay.
>> That's That's more yellow. >> You don't I thought I was >> No, you're good. You're good. Go ahead. >> No, it's a great question. And and I don't know if this >> Well, you don't realize what I've done. >> I'm sorry. >> When I retired, I was manager environmental affairs for Philip
Flighting. >> Okay. >> I had all the plans for you. I've been in lighting since 1960. Is that consistent then with uh >> Yeah. Yeah. That's it. That's the scale. And 4,100 is office lighting usually.
>> So where at what end is warm? Where is warm and soft on this? >> It doesn't. It's 2700 >> is is warm white. >> Warm is like the amber. Yes. >> The lower numbers is warm light. Yes. >> And where the softer >> it gets brighter. It's more more white.
And then it goes to more blue. So that end is soft. >> This end? >> Yeah. >> Oh, the left end soft. >> I guess Ernie is asking that warm and soft. >> Yeah. Warm and soft is I thought that's what I asked.
>> And that that's not precise enough. >> Okay. >> It's really not. >> I mean in lighting we use, you know, the degrees Kelvin and uh I mean I 6500. We tried to talk them out of it because it's it's blue really more blue. There's
a federal building and that's what they wanted. But 5,000 is supposed to be daylight midafter afternoon. That's that's the you know and then as you move down it's more morning or early light if you want to put it that way.
>> So what is a good light to have in your light in your home? >> Well incandescent lamps were 2700. So a 3,000 you can get an LED for 3,000. That's as close as you would get. >> So 3,000 3,000
>> be considered warm or soft. >> It's not a precise term. I can't I can't give you a number. >> It's like a scale basically. So according like what it's funny cuz Paul has the numbers exactly correct what he's saying. if you look on uh if you just like Google it basically but basically soft light is it's almost like
soft light is the furthest left and then as you move up you get more towards warm so and then so soft light is between 2700 and 3,000 that's recommended for living rooms bedrooms dining rooms warm light is 3,00 to 3500 and that's better
for bathrooms kitchens and offices >> so it makes sense in your kitchen and in your bathroom you want brighter light right in your bedroom and your It's actually uh bluer. >> It looks like uh no warm is more yellowish white, >> right? It has higher temperature, >> right? >> Correct.
>> Lower vice versa. >> So, I'm not concerned about the temperature at this point, but what you just said, >> okay, that's not what I'm looking for. So, T, what you just said made a lot of sense to me, but I want to be clear on it.
Kitchens and bathrooms 3,000 to 5,000 >> to 3500 to >> 3500. Okay. And uh below that is for what? >> Soft 2700 to 3,000 is bedrooms, living rooms, dining areas.
>> And the outdoor lighting I would say, >> right? No. Out lighting is is higher. It's some 4,000 sometimes. >> Yeah. Outdoor lighting I would assume. That's what we want to have. We want to have it as amber as possible. like >> I'm telling you that's what it is now. >> Yeah.
>> Well, okay. That's >> amber and and also shielded too. So, give you an example of what was done right here. You know, >> the the modern fixtures push all the light down. The earlier fixtures went up, sideways, all sorts of stuff. And in the in the side plans that we look at,
if you look at the lighting part, they're all doing full cut off. That's the big and most of the fixture manufacturers I don't think are anymore making what's the real cheap guys >> or you know >> so what we're talking about here is
really what you're talking about is two different things because when we look at plans we're talking about lighting that is outside >> what I'm talking about is in in people's homes >> right what is best in the homes >> in your own home and that's what Tara
was talking about >> when we're looking at 3,000 to 3500 kitchen and bathroom 2700 to 3,000 >> going to look at the dining room of the house >> right >> or the office >> I know >> but I'm asking for my personal use in my
own home >> that's talking about >> I have a question is the motion activated lightning uh a good idea uh because for example in
my condo building the lights. There's a long two long hallways actually one in every floor. Three floor threetory buildings. >> The lights a lot of them in the hallways
>> in the common areas of the condo buildings are constantly on >> day and night. >> Yeah. There's no >> So it seems like the building codes it's like a waste of energy, a waste of life. Absolutely. What is the fourth principle
of responsible outdoor lighting? Use control timers and motion detectors, >> right? >> Motion detectors are not on timers or motion detectors. No, they're just on on >> they don't seem to be. But that might be
that might be a result of like the insurance. It really might. The insurance requires insurance and the building code. The insurance the insurance requires that we have lights on at a certain time, >> you know. So, >> I think we should uh kind of resolve.
>> Yeah. Well, Ron, thank you for your question. >> Then there's the whole issue of effect of nightlighting on migrating birds. >> Correct. You're correct. >> Yeah. >> Particularly tall buildings with a lot
of glass. >> You're right. You're 100% right. Yes. >> Yes. >> I'm I'm just a little bit confused because there's already the ordinance on light trespass in Franklin Township. Are you guys trying to modify that or
>> we're looking to potentially um amend our ordinance so it becomes in compliance with the recommendations from dark sky. So it's even more stringent in terms of >> the current light trespass ordinance. >> Correct. Yes. >> Okay. cuz I just wanted to say that just in the past week, I've contacted the
police about certain light trans light trespass issues that I'm experiencing. The police just do not seem to be informed at all about this. The desk sergeant I spoke with had no idea about
it. She said she was very nice and she said, "I'll research it and I'll call you back." But I've also had police officers come to my house because when you are trying to report a light trespass, somebody has to come at night. So nobody from zoning can come at night.
So you have to call the police, but then the police aren't aware of the ordinance. >> And so it all just goes around and around and around and nothing. I can't ever accomplish anything. >> So we had an instance in Canal Walk.
They called me in because in here where the houses were houses were on a hill and one guy's hot light hit the front door of his neighbor. >> Yes. >> And we told him either cut the wattage down or change the angle of the lamp. You don't need to light up your
neighbor's front door. That was like trespass. >> I have a situation where every time I come out of my front door, my neighbor's security lights shine on me. when I come out of my front door and and I can see lights four or five houses away that
they're leaving on 24 hours a day that shine into my bedroom from four houses away. But I'm confused as a resident. Am I supposed to be calling the police? What am I supposed to be doing? Because now the police sergeant just last week,
McCarthy, she said I should call the police at night. The police should make a report and then we should send the report to zoning. I mean, this is ridiculous. >> Can I make a suggestion? >> Please. I'm desperate to solve this,
too. >> Go to the township council. >> Okay. >> Session. >> Okay. >> Where Mr. Borne Locker is there, the township manager. >> Um, he will hear what you have to say. he might be able to
direct his people, the police or whoever is involved with this >> to be able to do something about that to respond appropriately. No guarantees, but I'm just saying he's the man who can get stuff done. Yes. >> If something needs to be done, >> okay? Because the latest suggestion from
the police was to when the police come, tell them what the ordinance is. I have to inform the police what the ordinance is and I have to tell the police what they should be doing to write this report so that I can then follow up with zone. I mean, come on. There has to be
an easier way because >> well, that might be part of amending our ordinance is to kind of also define what that enforcement is or how that's might be part of it. That's why we need to look at the ordinance, look at the recommendations from dark sky and see what we can do. I think that's the next step
>> because the light trespass ordinance already says some very valid things, but nobody's nobody's enforcing it. Nobody's enforcing it. >> Well, that's and that's when you go to the council. If you have an ordinance that nobody's enforcing,
>> then arm yourself with that ordinance. When you speak, you have 5 minutes to talk. >> Tell them the problem. Tell them what the ordinance is that you believe is being violated. And you haven't you've spoken to the police but you have had no
results or response you know anybody coming out or anything and they are on public record then that you're bringing this to their attention. >> Would anybody from Dark Skies be willing to come to my house at night?
>> May I suggest that we close the public session? I'm happy to talk to them afterwards. >> It's public session. It should be open for people who talk. >> Yeah. Wait. stretching for some coffee. >> Well, I want to thank you guys for the
presentation. We're glad to be here. >> Anybody else that had anything else? >> I'm a resource to you. If you'd like in the pleasure, please not in public session. We're out of public eyes. >> We didn't vote to go out of public session. >> Yes, we did. They're on the agenda. >> They're on the agenda. >> Yeah, we've been out of public session.
>> 5 minutes. >> They're on the agenda. We're standing. Should we go out of public session? >> No, he's saying we're not in public session. >> We're not in public session. >> Oh, well, they've been allowed to speak throughout this whole thing. >> I all of a sudden does have some prerogatives.
>> Oh, >> what I have to say is this. So, the next steps, well, like I said, the proclamation, right, which I just gave to everybody, the model proclamation, if we could, if we could vote on that, if anyone is interested in voting on that, that would be great. I can get it to the
council. International dark sky week is April 13th to 20th. Um, and I told you about the trails committee, what they're looking to do. So, if the EC is interested in partnering, >> I would still propose like to move that we actually what's the word that we
accept or recommend? >> Well, yeah, council would be the one to do the proclamation. Would be recommend. And I don't know what meeting date they would want to do it on because there is two upcoming meetings. move that we recommend council to put up. >> Okay. >> Okay.
>> Do we do a motion? >> Wait, second discussion. >> Okay. >> Stan made a motion. >> Okay. >> What was it? >> I'm sorry. >> To have a motion that that uh we recommend this uh gas resolution
for council. >> Second. >> Yeah. >> Did Maria second? Who second it? I couldn't hear. >> Maria Walter. >> Okay. Walter. >> Yeah, this is this is good. >> That's my discussion. I think it's it's
worth doing. >> Discuss. Yeah. But now we have a first and a second. So I think there's discussion though. >> Oh yes. >> So So I was just just looking into it. Uh third warehouse. Lots of great stuff. I would suggest
that the human circing rhythm is put from ahead of animals, you know, wildlife. >> Oh, >> the third. Oh, move human circadian rhythm. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Keep it within the third one, but but put it upwards so that we can
>> maybe put it after health consequences >> which is really what it is. >> Yes. But yes, >> health consequences, >> human circadian rhythms, comma, including >> specifically something. It's just that we are talking about wild love and at
the end we talk about humans. >> Yeah, I get you. >> Okay. >> Any other comments? I know that we may not be all in agreement to pass it, but uh I thought that it would be appropriate. >> Yeah, it is fully shielded pictures.
That's what you need. >> Are you guys associated with the township astronomy club? >> They are the astronomy club. Yes. Yep. >> You guys are the astronomy club. >> Ron is the president of the astronomy club. These are members. Yeah. >> We're part of a coal leadership committee. Yes,
>> we are a 200 member strong at least subscribed membership >> in our town. >> Just one town that's more than uh Franklin. >> There is an event that you hold during this >> in the grassland.
>> They've been um they've been using the John Clyde Memorial Native Grassland Preserve most Friday nights with our observations. It's been great. No problems. The trails advisory committee sponsored them. So now they have their meetings at the recreation center. Actually, it's the same date and time as
our open space meetings. Third Tuesday, right? 7 o'clock for your meeting. >> Is that right? >> Uh now, no, we moved to first Wednesday now. >> Your first Wednesday. >> First Wednesday in the community senior center. >> Perfect. Okay. >> We moved from the library made a little bit later.
>> Nice. Oh, good. That's good. Okay. So, as you guys are looking and reading, basically the thing is so for you guys too to know if this goes to the the council for their acceptance as a proclamation. I would find out what date it is and then I would let you know and then the astronomy club could go and
accept a proclamation. Not everyone has to, but someone should people from the EC maybe if they'd like to come, you know, can and >> and that would be that. >> Appreciate that support. The first I think the first council meeting of April
would probably be the 14th. >> It is it's the 14th. That's why I was saying so the 14th it's after the first day of dark skies week but there is a next there is a meeting actually coming up on the 24th March 24th. So it could be the 24th or the council might say >> we recommend tonight that's in time for
the council meeting 24th. >> Yep. >> I have to go. Thank you. >> Oh, thank you, Lisa. Thanks for coming. Okay, we'll talk to you soon. >> Thank you so much. >> Yeah, there's another there's a meeting on the 24th that was rescheduled.
>> We have to meet you. >> So, it's been moved and seconded. Are we going to vote on it? Yeah. >> Yeah. >> We have any more discuss? Yeah, I make comments. So >> I think there's more discussion and I think Stan and maybe somebody else made some
recommendations as to some changes in this >> just moving. So they moved the last sentence of the third whereas into they basically moved it before wildlife habitat instead of keeping it at the end. >> That's good. >> Human circadian rhythm. >> Yeah, we moved the word circadian rhythm
above wildlife. >> That's logical. That was it. Um, Tara, you're a member of or you're a part of the trails advisory committee, correct? >> I'm the st I'm the consultant for it. >> And have they reviewed this? Uh, no,
they have not reviewed it. So, they're doing a separate event and they actually sponsor they're the sponsors of the Franklin Township Astronomy Club. So, they already sponsor them so that they have their meetings at the township and they're working with them on the event. So, they're already doing like another
part of this. >> Yes, they're going to do the hike and they're going to do the education. >> We definitely need to be a co-sponsor so to speak. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> We should sign to that as anyone. cuz I was already about to suggest I
know that we need to finish this but >> I shouldn't say let me back up. I shouldn't say they haven't seen this proclamation Arie. They've reviewed this proclamation but they're they're not I mean they're an advisory committee. So the this commission would be the group to forward this proclamation to the >> I realize that but I'm just looking at
that second warehouse on page two where it says the trail advisory committee and environmental commission have supported the important work of the Franklin County. >> Yes, they do. They're their official sponsor. They're their official township sponsor. Yeah. >> Okay. >> And that was done by letter.
>> By us recommending it. We are validating that whereas >> Yeah. >> Correct. >> Otherwise, they would have to take it off. Yeah. I mean, of course, it would be ideal if you guys are there, but Ron got it to me a little he got me a little
while back. I was going through and reviewing it and working with the trails committee and now it's here. I if I would have known it was gonna like I just thought it would be you know >> we anyway. >> Yeah. So they've got all three the astronomy club the trails and
environment >> correct. Y >> and I think the the the last paragraph everything's fine on that. Light pollution mitigation sustainability resiliency. That's what we're all about. >> Yeah. So that's my
>> something that uh Chubindu Singh and the mayor have already seen this or no? >> So I sent it to our council member. He just wrote back to me today that he couldn't come to tonight's meeting but he's like happy to work with us. So he didn't give me a you know like I like it or I don't.
>> Councilman Sing >> Councilman Singh. So the next step would be is if we endorse it, I would send Councilman Singh a memo with this proclamation saying we want to get it on the agenda and he's our council liaison. He would basically be the person bringing this to council.
>> Okay. >> Can you give me Can you give me one more minute and I think I might. >> Okay. >> Stan, you really going to do that? What's that? >> He's giving you a >> Don't lose that minute.
>> Waste it. >> Don't interrupt me. Green sky and apple pie. Yeah. >> Yeah. I just had uh one question. Um I'm going to vote for it. I I'm going to vote for it, but I just have one
question in the one, two, three, four. the lights in the bushes. They're just shining lights going straight up to the sky. >> I just wonder where the 80% of the world's population came from. But whatever you guys,
you talked about that in your presentation, right, Ron? >> I mean, I can give you the source if you like, but >> the fact that you just said you can give me the source, I believe you. trained as a scientist. I can only site my sources. >> Thank you.
Authoritative sources. Yes. >> Hey, boss. >> If we're comfortable to site Ron. >> Okay. Ask >> you. Okay. We're ready. We're ready. Arnold, you ready? >> I'm ready. >> All in favor?
>> Okay. >> Okay. >> None. >> Thank you. >> Unanimous vote. >> Okay. So, I will get this to the township council and then Ron, I'll let you know and you can let the club know. I'll let you know what date the proclamation will be on. It's either going to be April 14th or March 24th.
So, I don't get to determine that, but I'll let you know. And then if you, you know, who however many people want to come can accept it. It's in the council room over there. Um, or even just one is fine. Whatever works. And if anyone from the EC wants to go, I'll let you know the date. Anyone is also welcome to go.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you for coming. We'll talk more about the hike. We'll talk more about the hike as we get closer. >> Have a good night. >> Thank you. >> You can go back to the original agenda. >> Thank you. >> Perfect.
>> The site plan is >> site plan review. Okay. So, we have two. Um the first is Sudam Associates. So, I'm actually I've been involved with this one for a little while um because it's a preserved farm. So, I'm just going to give you the backstory. Um,
I'll put the map up so you can see it. So, this is the property here. It's a preserve farm as I mentioned. Um, preserved actually by the county in 2007. So, the easement holder for the farmland preservation easement is Somerset County Agriculture Development
Board. At the time of the preservation, the uh landowner, Mr. Sudam was given this as part of it. This 1 acre square basically was accepted from the farmland easement. Meaning that it wasn't paid for with farmland money. It's not
subject to the deed of easement. So at the time that's all determined through the farmland easement program. Once it's set, it can't be moved. It can't be expanded. You have that it's set in in the survey and it's in perpetuity. So Mr. Sudan had that done. the purpose was
is that he wanted to build in the future a home for his one of his children on the property. And at the time, I think his child at that time might have been like a teenager. So now fast forward to the year 2025 and Mr. Sudam wants to build the house for his son who's ready to now live in
it. Um he goes to Somerset County to get the approval to build the house because it is an easement held by the county and this is an exception area. the county basically uh tells him um well I'm not sure if you can take it because it doesn't meet the zoning in that area.
It's in the agricultural zone which requires 6 acres. Now under the farmland preservation program if you are not required to meet zoning if it's a nonseverable exception meaning that it can't be severed or accepted from the
property. This is a severable exception of 1 acre. So it does not meet the zoning and technically it's required to. So this is a problem obviously. So Mr. Sudam came to the township and said how can you help me? This is how I got involved. Vince got involved. Mark
Healey was involved um trying to figure out this is what he was promised at the time of the preservation. It's recorded in the deed of easement. Uh something went wrong obviously at this point and you know he was given this information. So anyway, long story short, the
township has been working with the county. The county has kind of given a little bit on this and now they basically said if the township approves the subdivision of this 1acre property, which does not meet the minimum 6acre zone, then he can have it. Now, keep in
mind the preservation of this property, the the subdividing of this 1 acre really resulted in the preserving of over a 100 acres of farmland in 2007. So basically this application is to approve the variance to allow him to
have a 1 acre building envelope where 6 acres would be required. He is the common owner of all the property around it through using an an existing driveway and he again owns all the preserved farmland around it. So I think honestly
it was recording error and that's a problem. So, so that is what the the variance is for. There's no change in the preserve farmland. This 1 acre of farm, this 1 acre square has never been farmed. Um because it's always been in his mind set
aside as a future residence. >> Yeah. >> Is this trying to figure out which home when you're talking about Mr. >> Reich? Yeah. Sudam Reich. >> It's Reich. Yep. >> Okay. It's Reich. >> Okay. Yep.
>> So that I know that's the house that he lives in now. >> No, this is the building area. There's nothing here. He's planning on building something here. He lives over here. >> No, here. No. >> Okay. >> I think he lives here. >> And where's route 27 on there, which is
where Robin lives. >> Uh, so this is Route 27. >> Robin is here. >> Robin's slightly off at the left. >> And this is Skilman's lane. Skilman's 27. The woman's on 27 there where the arrow is, isn't she?
>> No, she's off skilman. >> Skilman. She's not on 27. >> The space between her and 27. >> Yeah, I think he lives here. >> Yes. So basically this is a site where his house his house his house will live where his son will live.
>> There's also residence here. >> Correct. >> Which is part of >> correct? >> Those are the two. So he has two severable exceptions. We're only talking about the one right now, but he was given two at the time of preservation for each child for each for the future
residence of each child. >> I mean, total I think there's 300 acres that they own. >> So, this property in particular is over 100 acres, but they own another portion of the farm that Yes. was near 100 acres. I think it was like 99 acres or something like that. Yes.
>> So, what is the issue for the environmental commission? >> So, it's a subdivision plan that we have to review. Basically, there's really no comment from the environmental commission. That's my recommendation at least. Um, >> you have no idea. >> There's no trees on the site anymore.
>> There's no trees to be removed. Um, it's just a single family residence. They're using the existing access way. >> Um, they in that area use septic instead of town. >> Yes. So, but there is actually the reason the exception area is where it is is that there is the ability to connect
to the sewer >> in Skilman. So, and that's what the plan is to make that connection, but it's already it doesn't go through any preserved farmland. It's within the defined exception area. >> So, access to water, sewer, >> electric.
>> Can we just uh formally make him suggest that when it's just subdivision, >> correct? >> Okay. So, that it's not even time for that. Yeah. >> Anyway, >> yep. So, that was mine. >> Well, I think you're you're right. We just the no environmental uh
>> Yeah, of course. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Okay. That was mine. Um >> I like I think you should plant a thousand trees on his property, >> right? >> Solar panels, I suppose. >> Okay. And then there was another one.
>> That's a debate because you don't want to put solar panels on a green. Now, this I didn't look at it either, but let's look at the >> All right, we have one more, guys. Iana that's how yeah I so let's see what this
one is >> the applicant looks to convert 13 existing parking stalls along the northern property boundary abudding Myrtle Street to 10 EV charging two of which will be ADA compliant complete with ADA path of travel to the existing
Wawa convenience store utility transformer and switch gear on concrete pads look to be installed on the northern corner of the landscaped area they also want to add a canopy structure residing along the proposed EVs. So, this is converting 13 parking stalls into EV charging stations.
>> Where is >> I'll put it up on the screen. 164101. of this. >> It would sort of behind the the big um storage building, the cube storage, whatever
street. >> I think that's like the the address, but it's >> by Murdawa right here. Yeah. >> Okay. Oh, this is fantastic location for charging stations because lots of people in the area, they don't have uh access.
>> They don't have garages. They don't have driveways. >> 27 there. >> This is 27. And this is Juliet. >> Is that where is that warehouse? Is that where Frank's used to be? >> Well, there are two milestones. >> No, >> this here.
>> That was a bad >> It's It's a storage building. >> Yeah. bad accident right in front of that building today. >> More recently, that little area in front we approved for a urgent care medical
facility, which is got that accident in front of that building on 27th. >> So, the reason they need a variance, it looks like, is because the multiple frontages of the property result in multiple front yard setbacks, a unique property characteristic that creates a
hardship for the applicant. So basically they're saying that they're technically they front on two township streets which require them to meet two frontages which basically makes it very hard for them to accomplish this >> level two or is it fast charging? It it
will be part of gas station so to speak. >> Uh let's see if it says 13 charging stations two of which will be ADA compliant. Let me see if it says in their application anything. plan.
>> Okay, let's see. Install >> 400 kowetronic. Ah, okay. Okay, good. >> You like this then? >> Yes. >> All right. >> Well, PSNG will sweat their butt because they
have to bring the power. Is that >> And the power is uh the energy is a little expensive, but >> is that a level two? >> No. >> Fast charging. >> Huh? Fast charging. >> It's a fast charger. >> They also said one last thing. They want to put a canopy install one canopy
construction. >> What's the purpose? Is it for solar panels? >> No, that's our any solar canopy. Where's the Oh, so that's what the charging >> IA. Good.
>> Okay. >> There are not too many Ionas around. So, >> I'm just trying to see if they show this canopy. >> What is it? What does the text? >> Is it in the back? I think it'll be in the back, right?
>> I don't know. Uh Huh. I wish I would show like a picture of it. >> Yeah. >> Like a render. >> Yeah. But it shows where they are. >> It shows where Iona typically has um Oh, wait. Is this the canopy? >> Solar canopies,
>> tree protection, fence, inlet, permanent stabilization, demolition, >> um >> equipment pad, >> charges. The problem is where is south it's a little bit unfortunate orientation.
>> Yeah. Okay. Not to scale. What is the canopy? That's what I want to see. >> What is that thing with the poles on the side? >> This? >> Yeah. That. What is that? >> Oh, canopy. Hi favorite hat on.
>> Okay. I just wanted to see. >> Yeah, they don't say anything. >> So, does anybody have any comments on this? I don't think that >> So, the canopy is just environmental weather protection. >> Well, it's unfair that all gas stations are covered and EV chargers are
typically not. So, I mean, >> Ioni is doing good job. I I'm totally for >> it's just to protect them, I guess. Yeah. Show the map one more time. Um >> the map. Yep. >> Protecting the people that are hooking up their car.
>> Yeah. Okay. So, it will be in the back, right? >> The back. >> How tall is this building? >> Wawa? >> No, this building because >> that's the storage. >> I don't know. >> It's probably not too tall then, right?
>> What? >> It's probably not too tall. It's pretty tall. >> I think it's four stories worth >> because when sun will be shining here from this angle >> cuz you cannot have it uh angled like
that because uh the snow would be falling in front of it. Uh and you cannot tilt it that way because it would be north. So who cares about it? >> But uh >> all right. So, no comments of I can't
imagine there would be any. Okay. Excellent. That's all I have for >> exactly what's the name of this? >> Iona. I O N A. >> Iona. >> Iona LLC. All right. Awesome. That's all we have
for cycling tonight. >> Iona is a recipient of the Navy funding. >> I think Navy funding is involved with that. the national electric vehicle infrastructure the federal one that was >> passed by uh actually bipartisan in
during Biden era and then Mr. Trump came and said no and then the the court said yes and then Trump said okay but then you have to have 100% baba which means built America by America and now
yeah that's how it's abbreviation and now the DOE is uh figuring out what would be the percentage but I digress so yes for them >> okay so that so that's behind the wa isn't there a waw wa that corner is
behind behind that. >> It is at the Wawa site. It's at the Waw Wa site. Yeah. >> So, Waw Wa is providing charging for its customers. >> That's why they want the fast charges. >> Yeah. >> Cuz people don't hang out in Wawa for 2 hours at a time. >> Yeah.
>> Okay. So, you >> I'm good. Yeah. >> Okay. The leaf floor ordinance. We're supposed to do an update today. Oh, did you still want to uh keep the you got to end Arie? You said it would stay where we are, right? >> Yeah, we can keep it right there. So,
um, I'd like to preface what I have to say, um, with last Monday, March 9th, Senator Bob Smith was in an invited guest at the JFK Democratic Club monthly meeting at the senior center here to
discuss pending legis legislation about the polluters paid to make New Jersey more affordable act, formerly known as climate super fund act. When he was done and leaving the room, I caught up with him and spoke with him for about 5 minutes about the fossil fuel leaf
blower ban. He's been one of the leading proponents of the leaf blower ban at the state level. However, it's hit some problems, I guess, over the time. His comment was that the more towns and the
more people that advocate for this pass ordinances, uh, the leaf blowers, it would be easier for state legislators to pass a statewide ban. >> Um, so another reason for us to to do
this to be one of several others and hopefully more and hopefully that makes it easier for them >> bandwagon. That's pretty much what happened with the >> plastic bags. >> Plastic bags. >> No plastic. >> Shopping bags.
>> So, I just wanted to to put that in there. Um, as far as the actual uh ordinance is concerned. Um, and I apologize I didn't get this out to you sooner. uh under the air pollution
section, uh under the justification section, I think that was at the last meeting there. Um Ted made some um excellent um recommendations to improve the message there. Uh those are the ones that are highlighted in black. Um and we
cross some words out. I think the few words that are underlined, I added those words there. So those are a few changes in that part of the document. Now based on last week's me or two weeks
ago meeting with the landscapers here um when one of the landscapers brought up the idea of landscaping uh on of using the leaf blowers on large properties um I mentioned I mentioned in
the minutes here that I was going to I hope that the environmental commission would consider that suggestion. So, I'm going to read to you what I put in this exemption here. Um, and the reasoning for So, I have
operators utilizing leaf blowers on commercial and/or industrial properties at least 500 ft away from any residentially zoned property line shall be exempt from this se section of this ordinance. Then I have in blue I have the explanation
um and sort of a justification for it that would go to the well everything in blue there on this is for the council's benefit. While this exemption continues to reduce if not eliminate sound levels on distant residential properties, we
understand that the emissions from leaf blower exhausts will still release harmful air pollutants. We are including this exemption based on comments from a landscaper at our March 2nd meeting as a concession to concerns about the impact this ordinance may have on landscaping
businesses. So that's what I wanted to report and if anybody wants to comment on it um if you want to mull over it uh and uh vote on it tonight or the next meeting um I'm fine either way.
I think it's recommend council ready. So why not uh do it tonight? >> I think the 500 ft is good. It gets us further from the boundaries of the B1 zone >> further further in.
>> Yes. If I think of the B1 the B you call out the B1 warehouse area >> where you have that and then you've got >> residential adjacent >> that is um >> you know right basically right across the street um 500 ft would not that from
the property line to the warehouse there there's less than I'm sure there's less than 500 ft there. >> Yeah. Well, >> I mean, that's just one property that we're talking about, but but there are others around um across the street from uh um Somerset Run,
>> you know, that kind of thing. >> So, Walter, are you making a motion? >> Yeah, I move that we um recommend to the council the leaf ordinance that you have here. I mean, >> I'll obviously second that. And that
brings it to any more discussion that anybody has. >> I think that can work. >> Good. >> Hearing no discussion, >> we're ready to send this to to the council as it is.
>> All in favor? I I >> All right. Okay. So, I'll keep that up. Bye, easy. >> I'll send you uh Tara, I'll send you a cleaned up copy from, you know, with the uh air pollution part where we >> Okay. >> changes there.
>> Sounds good. >> Open space and recreation plan is next issue. >> Yeah. I can't remember. I discussed this at the last meeting. The open space and recreation plan. Did I? I can't remember. Okay. >> You mentioned it. >> Yeah. I've been like saying he had so many meetings that I can't remember. So
the Franklin Township open space and recreation plan that it's dated 2013. We're working on updating it now. So Mark Healey, the township planner, Steven Dah the superintendent of recreation and I are going to be kind of running this project where we're going
to be updating the existing plan to be compliant with green acres regulations. Um, it's going to have an updated inventory of our preserved properties, an updated inventory of our preserved historic sites, um, any updates on trails. Um, it'll have updated vision
and goals, updated mapping. Um, it'll talk about recreation programming, equity, you know, uh, needs for disabled populations and people living with disabilities. Um, so it's going to be a very big update. Uh, the way we're going
to do it is have a steering committee. Um and it'll have members of most of our committees. So the shade tree committee will have someone um trails advisory open space environmental commission. Arie's on it. So he kind of wears a bunch of different hats. >> Ted is on it. He's from the planning
board, but he's also obviously on the EC. >> So we have a good group of people. Um I think that the committee now has been fully seated. So, we're basically me, Mark, and Steven are going to meet next week when Mark gets back from vacation
to kind of figure out like what are we going to do at our first meeting of the steering committee and then we're going to go from there. So, I'm going to keep it on our agenda as like an information item. >> Sometimes there might be no update, sometimes there will be an update, but I definitely want to talk about in that plan. One of the main things we're going
to be talking about is preserving open space specifically for wildlife habitat protection, tree canopy protection. So those will be the kinds of things that we talk about at the environmental commission. >> So just to give you an update
>> committee report, is there anything new? No, >> no. from uh the presentation the 25th. It's the same as uh last minute, >> right? >> Um but we were going to decide if um we are going to present at the
>> It said it said steam instead of stem. Is it supposed to be ste supposed is that right? >> Okay. >> Yeah. You did you did more briefly describe the open space and recreation
element work. >> I did. Okay. >> Yeah. It it's >> one, two, three, four, fifth paragraph on the back side. Okay. >> I've been talking about so much. >> A lot more detail which I didn't get back.
>> Okay. Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. Um, so then is there any hot topics or people want to add? want to um finish up. So >> we need to we need to decide what we left on the what we left on the table
was invitation of the green fair of Franklin >> green fair. >> Yeah which coincides with the >> with my presentation >> well wellness day in >> at Thomas Edison. >> What day is it again? Green fair.
Franklin High School green fair. Yeah. >> The same day on the other one. >> Was that the 22nd? Is that the 22nd or what day? >> It's Saturday. >> Saturday. That Yeah, >> Saturday, April 25th. >> Mhm. >> And the time again, Maria, do you remember?
>> Um, my presentation I I think it's from 10 to 11:00. >> Okay. >> And then, but the green fair is from 9 to 12. >> 9 to 12. >> Right. >> So, in order to do it, what do we need? A volunteer. >> And but wellness fair. So you have presentation but it is what is the
format of it? Is it also that other than presentation there will be tables with >> um they asked me for table but if I was going by myself I said I was going to do the presentation and then leave. Um but it's not going to be in
enclosed space. It's going to be in an outdoor because I asked if I could bring if I could prepare a PowerPoint and they told me there's not going to be technology. It's going to be an outdoors conversation with the students. >> Okay. >> Interactive. >> So, in order to do the Franklin High School Green Fair though, we need a
volunteer basically. >> Is that what we need just to do it? Just a volunteer or do we need like a presentation or do we need what do we >> Franklin the Franklin Green Fair? Usually they give us a a table. >> A table. Okay. And then that means >> we have we have nightlights.
>> You definitely have nightlights. I know that. Did you get more of them? Because it was that box was >> It's not just about giveaway. It's also about the material. >> Well, I'm saying that's I'm just We have the nightlights. We have the table. We need give. We need materials because if
I'm going to be at Thomas Edison, >> I would I would volunteer for for Franklin High School, but it would be nice to have two people. >> Well, someone I think the 27th the 25th will work on my calendar. So that might that's a Saturday.
>> It's a Saturday. >> Yeah. I think I might be able to do that. >> Yeah. >> So we need like materials like educational materials. >> Correct. Yeah. >> Cuz I don't have anything left. >> Last year we had um >> who has all the the brochures and that
kind of stuff. The tablecloth. >> Last year we had intern or someone. >> Yeah. Yep. So if we have some student there as well that would be nice to you know have someone younger than >> what about but the high school has an environmental club.
>> Well well but they will have their own table. >> They have their own table. >> They will have their own table. My daughter will be there and stuff you know but we we would be one of uh the tables. Um I can bring some of the electric vehicle brochures. >> Yeah.
>> But New Jersey EVA will not be showing vehicles this year. Oh yeah, you did last year. Remember? >> Last year. But um we need to change venues. We cannot just be serving one one place. >> Uh so we will not go there with the
electric vehicles again. Um >> it's something I got to look at this point. I'll see. >> But uh didn't Javan wanted to continue volunteering? He was here last time. >> He was he didn't stay very long. He stayed after after he left. Yeah,
>> I think he's um maybe disappointed. >> I wouldn't be surprised. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Did you have another intern in mind? >> No. >> Are you looking for one? >> I haven't been looking for one.
>> Um I'm not opposed to having one, but I haven't been >> I haven't been like actively looking for one. >> No. Maybe we can reach out to um Kafas Jenny.
>> See whether she's around on that day. >> Oh, that's an idea. >> She's working up in New York State now. >> That's right. But it's not that far, >> right? It's an hour and a half. But >> it's not the upstate like within
>> No, I know. It's Rockwood County. It's Rockwood County. >> It's still an hour from here. >> Yeah. We can confirm >> that we are having representation in the two events at Thomas Edison and then and Franken High School. >> Yeah, I'm looking. You know, last time a
lot of those brochures I got from DP's environmental education library. I can see uh if we can download and print some things from there, >> but a lot of it's for younger kids is the only thing. So, I'm going to have to look and see. >> Um
Well, uh there were some uh madame exchanging it with the with the Franklin Day Festival there. We have some very young people. Yeah. So, be all right.
>> Check the calendar. >> All right. So, it looks like Maria, I guess you can tell them that we'll be there. >> Uh the Franklin >> the high school one. They're emailing uh Stan. >> I I will I will be the contact. >> You'll be the contact. Okay. Perfect. >> Maria will be doing this.
>> Got it. >> Yeah. The other one. >> Okay. >> Do we want to uh propose the the film screening that we found on the roll call? >> Yes. I forgot the title, but um
send a chair uh with me a trailer of a trend that is happening um regular high schools that are not vocational, but they're adding into their curriculum um some kind of one or two years of
trades or how would that um impact or um how can I say this trades that can benefit the green economy. So these students are being
prepared to work or have some skills to work in a trade that practices green that has green practices, sustainability practices. And um this is a a change now in education where for example a student
in physics is learning u energy in automobile how the current works or student in chemistry needs to learn in welding that they cannot combine two gases because it's going to be explosion. Um
and we and the proposal of Stan is that we can if we can have an an educational event uh where we can broadcast and showcase this this movie. >> Mhm. >> It is from the same portal as the ground uh common ground
>> Roco Roco Films because once you ask for something then you're on the mailing list. So uh so once in a while I receive some trailers and this one was just intriguing. I passed it to Maria and she said yeah that's interesting
>> and we didn't have any film screening since common ground. So I think it would be good to >> go back to the library. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And if you will be interested that's why we're bringing it here. If you think that will be a good topic to bring >> maybe we can plan it maybe for May
because April is already taken. May this May >> you think we can make it or or June? >> Cuz I wouldn't do July, August. >> No, you people go away. >> Okay. May you can make it in May. >> Yeah. Okay.
>> Maybe we can find um which venue I I I think school would be good either Samson G. Smith which is nearest here >> or going to to high school. >> Is this is this high school level or is
it for adults? What what is it? >> Um >> well it is not designed for kids but uh high school kids would probably understand. they will understand and basically the parents families that will see oh okay these are options that I
have for my my child and not the tra the tra traditional collegebound um route. >> Yeah. So maybe in addition to our typical audience if we partner with the
high school and uh >> it would be after hours obviously evening. >> Uh so >> if we are going to um rent the consol we have to go again through parks and recreation.
>> I don't like consol. >> Okay. >> We're not going to get the senior center because they have classes now there. >> Yeah. But Franklin High School. >> Franklin High School. >> Yeah. I'm thinking I was mentioning G Smith not because of
their audience but because of the venue you know uh but but we of audience we should contact all high schools actually >> all high school. So that's not just uh Franklin High School but also the the
energy smart and um there is this uh the other one >> that's the colonial park >> um cedar what is that called the by colonial park >> central Jersey
>> central Yeah. That's a big school. >> Yeah. >> A lot of a lot of kids. >> Is it high school or is it >> high school? Have we ever used the library, the multi-purpose room? >> Yeah, we we've used that several times. >> Yeah, we have to be careful about the
timing because they want to close too early. >> Yeah, I think I got that. Yeah, >> but but this is this is a film to uh showcase
green trade. So it's aimed sort of at people who aren't going to go to college. >> I would say it's more than green. Uh it's it's about uh upskilling. >> Mhm. making sure that uh kids do not
just receive the soft education but have exposure also through something with hands like the welding and uh >> um these jobs are kind of >> I've got a nephew that's looking at doing that in V Virginia going
>> yeah so um yeah we can we can look into what is uh the length of the movie and uh we to take it easy. We would probably not have any speakers just to show the film. Uh Maria, you would make intro. You are the teacher. You are the
educator. >> That's the education department. You're it. >> Okay. >> So, uh we'll make uh we'll contact the high schools first for a venue. >> Uh
>> and then um for a date in May, we What are we looking for? a day in the week. Same >> I would do weekday evening. >> Yeah. >> Um >> then when we had it set up then we can um invite the other high schools, right?
>> Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Since I touched the Rocco film organization, uh I just want to make a blur that they reach out to me uh with request for
references or um how we like how our audience like the ground >> come on ground film. >> Uh so I send them uh the article that we send uh to Franklin reporter and advocate announcing. I also send them
the article that Anna Merritt uh submitted to Tap into following the event. >> Um and I send them the pictures and our I think flyer. They will look into it just >> you know um that that that way we kind
of build a relationship with them. They will be more likely to give us uh free another screening. >> Okay. Okay. So then we'll move on to the old business, the stream financial cleanup.
The date of the stream clean up is April >> April 11th >> 11. That's what I saw. >> Um yes uh I uh requested uh the gear so um things are moving in the right way. >> I saw your email had how the garbage bags and all that.
>> Yeah, good. So uh I've been connected to the same guy as usual. So that that's taken care of. >> Good. >> Um but we need to uh wrap up a bit of marketing. We need to send newsletter
>> uh to the email. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> And um I'll do some blurb and we'll submit it to Franklin reporting. That is >> um
uh I thought that we wanted to send some blurb to the Franklin Times. >> We did. >> We did send it, but the Franklin Times hasn't come out yet. >> No, they they I received copy. Yeah, but but it had only your article
about the energy uh >> and that was it. >> Yeah. >> The Franklin Times came out when yesterday. Okay. Well, not yesterday. I think it's within the last week. >> Okay. >> I didn't get it. >> I don't recall getting it.
>> I didn't get it either, but maybe there are copies out in the library. >> Yeah, I didn't get even a proof to review. That's why I'm surprised. Yeah, >> if it's there. >> Yeah. >> Where? Where exactly? >> Usually by the Clark's Clark's office.
Yeah, >> cuz I know he was doing that. Um, anything new on the inject? Oh, you were working on the grant. >> I have not. Okay. So, we talked about, we said we would talk about it more at this meeting if it was worth putting the grant in. >> Uhhuh.
>> So, I have like done some re like looking into it. I just don't know if if I don't want to say that we shouldn't apply for it because I know everyone wants to apply for it, but it's like the amount of money that it's for, the amount of work it's going to put, and what it's going to take to get it ready.
I just don't know if we're in a spot right now >> to do it. I I just think this year we might have something that's shovel ready to do, you know. >> Um if you guys really want to do it, I'll of course put it in. Well, what I was thinking about, and
this would perhaps favor postponing any further attempt, would be to get somebody from Chris O'Ba's group to come and look at the the situation and recommend what we should do, >> right? And I thought of the same thing,
too. But getting in touch with that group is so hard because they're so over capacity. The waiting list is so long to get a consult from them. So that's the real issue >> and they generated a report to us few years ago. >> They did and we have those reports.
>> We can just, you know, pick something. >> Well, here's the thing. We can just, if we just pick something though, we have to put our energy into it and actually do it. And the grant itself, it's really not a ton of money and zero technical assistance. >> Yeah. >> So, I just don't know capacity wise.
Like >> I think you also you've only got a limited amount of hours. >> Well, that's the thing. I don't have it would fall a lot on you guys to do it. Not because I don't want to, but I don't I'm stretched to the absolute max at this point. Um I'm happy to do it if you
guys want to do it. I just don't know how much I I think those grants are probably aimed especially at smaller municipalities with >> environmental commissions that don't have much resources.
>> That's the thing. Yeah. And you know, it helps if we have something easily ready that it's like, "Oh, hey, yes, all we need to do is just hire somebody to do this and we're ready to go." But we're not at that state with really anything. We have the drawings that Rockers gave us 5 years ago, but we don't have any of
the engineering done. We don't have any of the supplies. We don't have any of the maintenance in place, nothing. So, >> I just don't know if we're at a point right now where we want to submit a grant. That's like, >> well, that's >> But if you guys want to do it, like I said, we can absolutely do it.
>> I think we got we got a lot going on. >> Yeah, we got we look at it. >> I think we should sort of keep it on the back burner and maybe be prepared to submit it. >> So, it's $1,500. It is a lot of money. It's a lot of
money. >> It's a $1,500 grant. Yeah. And so it says, for example, project pollinator gardens, $1,500 is not really going to get us far there. >> I can cough for 1,500. >> Um, habitat restoration. I mean, we're
just not in a place. The only thing that we could potentially be in a place would be the educational storm water management project on preserve public open space, but I don't even know where to begin with that at this point. >> How you going to Yeah. I just I think if we had something that we were like, "Oh, man. We're so close
to completing this project. All we need is $1,500." It would be perfect. >> I I think we pass on this. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> All right. Pass. >> Dark Sky Week we just talked about for an hour. >> Yes. Dark Sky Week. You all know what
the situation is there. So, we got that, >> right? >> We don't have any update on this creation of a commissioner ameritus kind of late right now, but that's something for us to do to make a recommendation. I I think what you do is just
tell Robin to organize it. >> Yes. Yes, I could do that. >> I have email addresses for >> you seven other, you know, past members. >> Can you get it going, Ted? Can you send
me those email addresses? And then then at least I can make a step in getting it. Even if I just sent an email to those six or seven people and Robin and was like, "Hey, would you like to meet and have a Commissioner Meredith meeting?" >> Meet by Zoom. Sure.
>> I mean, I'm I'm thinking the field was in Dallas. >> Oh, yeah. It doesn't have to be in person. Okay. Can you send me those emails and then at least I can get going. >> Perhaps after they meet, maybe uh they can send us something and we could have
it as >> That would be nice. Sure. >> That would be really nice. Okay. >> Because that way they would have the connection to us. So it would not be like a random email sent by someone but it would be hey this is our amitus committee. We were looking into your
minutes you know this and that and we think that this is interesting. You should be doing this or that. Here is some sort of reference or resource. >> I like it. >> So something to that effect. >> Okay that works. >> Okay. the the youth I think this youth
mentor to EC we really got to meet with our new liaison and >> yeah because that kind of died where it was yeah >> that's I think one once he comes to one of the meetings we can bring it up >> yes >> okay he did >> payback meeting last Wednesday so
>> Oh good >> has anybody reached out to our new liaison >> yeah so I put him on all of our email distributions I reached out to him when he first came on I did speak to today on email and he basically just said that he couldn't be here tonight but he is planning on coming to the next meeting
and he's just kind of getting used to all of his committees and >> I think he was rather shocked to discover how many companies >> I know I know >> I think it sort of it in part comes down from when I was on council because I had
time to go to a lot of committee meetings. It's a lot of committee meetings. And I think too the fact that he came in because Ed left abruptly obviously to take his new post. I think he like came into like a lot of things happening. So >> but yes.
>> Okay. So then he tried to run against uh Ed when Ed first. >> Oh interesting. I didn't know that. Well, all due to the fact that Rajie Prasad had recruited a lot of Indians for committee positions in the first
ward, >> right? Oh, wow. Interesting. I haven't met him in person yet, but he seems very nice. So, >> yeah, we'll get to we'll get to meet him. >> Yeah. >> Good. >> He's still recovering from the fact that his house burned down. I think it was >> Oh.
>> 80 December. >> Oh my gosh, that's terrible. Um, >> I remember hearing something about >> Wow. Okay. >> Okay. Well, I think we're up to >> opening day.
>> I have some some kind of report. Um, few things. Um, and I'll be try to be fast. Uh so this past Saturday um Sustainable Princeton had uh their um some sort of green fair um and they had three
interesting presentations. One of them was on dark skies. Mhm. >> Uh and what was interesting that they had their own resident just like we had our own resident to talk and very good presentations just like we had a very
good presentation they had also very good presentation. So just wanted to say that you know >> multiple townships >> are looking into dark uh dark skies. Another presentation was on energy efficiency. We did have presentation
with two speakers a few months ago. >> They had three speakers. >> Okay. And one of them was from BPU. Um uh the other one was Mike Winka. Forgot exactly what is his affiliation but you probably know that name.
>> I know that name. Yeah. >> From from Mercer County something. >> And then uh the third guy he was talking about passive houses. So that was interesting. Right. So from passive houses, you try to uh eliminate the the
energy that you need and and and leverage the energy that hits your house like the solar. Uh so um the video guy was talking about all about incentives. Um speaking of um um our electricity
bill that that could be actually part of the energy uh uh report and infrastructure committee. I just learned that PSCNG uh is as we speak changing the tariff for uh residential load management
service which is uh most of you have uh just flat energy service. So you have the same rate 24/7. Uh the residential load management up until now had two tiers peak and off
peak and peak was uh pretty much all day uh Monday through Friday and off peak was uh nights and all weekends. Now they are adding third tier but they are reshuffling everything. The
highest tier is 400 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. because this is the this is the true peak. This is why we all pay more for electricity because the peak is more expensive. Then they have mid peak which
is uh from 6:00 a.m. to midnight except of the afternoon hours and that is for both for I mean for 7 days a week >> 6:00 a.m. to midnight and the true off
peak which is 10 cents per kilowatt hour. Oh, that's cheap. >> Delivery and supply. It's midnight to 6:00 a.m. >> And that's tailored to, you know, electric vehicle charging so that you can plan to charge your vehicle between midnight and 6 6 a.m.
>> Yeah. This it's the default setup for my car, for instance. >> Well, for my car would be um 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. or 8:00 a.m. >> Yeah. It's >> well it's it's really sort of it's designed so that
it would start whenever necessary to finish when you want it which is usually about 6 a.m. >> Um obviously >> people wake up that early. That's true. >> Let me
other people it could be seven. >> I just did a thing with public service and Oxford engineering. We're doing them in Canal Walk. They came in, they audited the house, >> and I ended up with a new heating, ventilation, air conditioning, a new hot
water heater, a new thermostat, and a tremendous amount of insulation in the attic and in the sidewalls. That I give you the numbers that came to about $20,000. The state gave 5,500 to public service
or Oxford Engineering. They're the contractor. The remaining 15,000 I pay out >> monthly for 10 years with no interest. >> It comes to $125 a month. >> Right. >> And uh actually I went to the the 10 g
the 10-year warranty on the water heater instead of the six year. It raised my cost $3 a month. >> Big deal. >> It's very good path. >> So we're And a lot of people in Canal walk are doing that. My friend Gail will do it when she gets back.
>> But they also gave us an incentive if we name somebody that does it, we get two, which we share with the other person. That's how that always works at Canalwalk. >> But um everybody said we can't find it any other place. So public service is
that part of I think the money is coming out of the society benefit charge >> that's on the bill. >> But I'm done. And uh >> so so while normal rate is these days about 25 cents per kilowatt hour for delivery supply,
>> the super peak between 400 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. is 60. >> Really? That's why my bills coming. >> 60. >> Mhm. >> This is huge. Now if you have solar system, >> I have solar. Yeah. and your uh energy
load is exceeding the solar generation and you need to buy. >> You do I do? Yeah. >> Then then uh then you may contemplate doing that but it becomes quite complicated then because the net metering the way how it works that uh
you carry extra to the next month until one year >> you have a bank >> but now you have three banks. you have off peak, mid peak. >> Oh, oh, I see what you're saying. Yeah. >> And you cannot cross communicate between each other. So that becomes quite
complicated because at the end of the year, you want to make sure that you do not have excess meat peak because that's what you are now most likely to get uh and whether you can uh have enough solo generation to accommodate your super peak
>> that I just learned today. I have to look into my data because I I was using the time of use service for 3 years and I made tons of money on it because charging for 11 cents that was awesome. >> That's a that's really a great
>> and I had actually for the whole house. So when I have air conditioning or or heat pump for heating then uh you know it's the same advantage. So, so I kind of digress. Let me say one more report uh that I have and that's related to the
air quality sensor network. Today was sent by Chris Gonda. >> Mhm. >> Uh is is it relevant to us to some point? >> Um is it relevant to us? >> Well, because he copied me and you
because we are on the environmental commission. >> Yeah. And he works for Keep Middle Sex moving. That's the Middle Sex County TMA. >> Yes. But but because we are under ridewise, he just made reference the ride. >> They just made reference. I mean, I looked at it briefly. I don't know that
it's a reference to right right this very second. We'd have to do some digging. >> They they they are imple They in installing air quality monitors in a select schools. >> The purple ones. Yeah. And we talked
about this before I think with something with the warehouse maybe B9 with the warehouse. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And then they will use the data for >> correct. Yeah. >> Good stuff. >> Okay.
>> Good night everybody. >> Good night. Thank you so much. >> A pleasure. Have a good one. >> Yes. Thank you. You too. >> All right. Take care. >> Thursday. >> Thursday. >> Yes. >> Good night. mentioned that um Mercy
Transportation uh one of the uh busing company for our district got uh $2.1 million uh grant to acquire six electric school buses. >> I've been hesitating. Yeah. But this is
exciting um because uh these buses uh the application was done in uh together with the our school district. Um John Raali who is now scheduled for retirement he was instrumental in supporting that.
>> Oh wow that's great. >> And uh I have myself I'm consultant to Mercy Trans. >> Okay. Okay. Uh we will be uh procuring charging stations and six electric school buses. I'm very excited about that.
>> Oh, that's awesome. I like it. >> Yeah. I have been chasing uh the uh owner of uh Mercy Trans to approve the article that I want to submit, you know. >> It's quite a So, the company is >> Mercy Transportation.
>> Mercy Transportation. >> Yes. They have site headquarters in um South Brunswick across um when you take middle bush road
then it becomes across route one it becomes major >> ma major road I was wondering the other day >> so it's just uh shortly after you cross route one so he has garage there >> but but the vehicles the buses are
parked in here in the township. >> Yeah. >> Some of them are here, some of them a little bit on the >> Okay. >> North Prospect side or something. So, >> okay. >> So, yeah. And and uh we will be looking into birectional systems.
Uh so which actually uh pitches very well into what I said about the the utility rates going up because the buses will get charged when it's cheap and they will be discharging when it's expensive. So it will be extra revenue
but also stabilizing the grid >> because it will be pitching the adding electricity at the time when it's really needed. >> Is the time of day stuff only if you ask for it or is it automatic? it. You have to ask for it. >> Yeah. >> You have to ask it.
>> Yeah. Because the default is flat, right? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And it uh just one more thing u PSNG will give you uh uh no risk 12 month 12 months trial which means that
for 12 months you can decide to accept it and if it didn't work out for you because they will be uh doing kind of dual billing you can revert back uh to the flat. See my I already have a dual meter because of the solar
>> and I build a bank and then I use it up. >> Right. Right. So one of the conditions uh to use this uh time of use service is that you have to have the smart meter. >> My understanding is that they probably replace them all in in the state.
>> Um if you have solar system you definitely have it right. Um but um I think that lots of other customers have um advanced meter >> right so okay well I think we've come to the end of the meeting
>> how much was that grant >> 2.1 million >> 2.1 million >> it's a D grant it's the state grant >> it's we have to make a motion to open the thing to public uh >> technically yes >> technically we'll do
>> a perform the public here. >> No comments. Okay. Close the meeting to public. >> Before you adjourn. Okay. Go ahead. >> Before I adjourn what? >> I just want to let you guys know I won't be here at the next meeting. I'm going away. >> No, >> I'm going away and never back. No, I'm
just kidding. I am coming back. I'm just going to Jim Thorp in the Poconos. >> Oh, you ever heard of it? >> Oh, yeah. >> Heard of Jim Thorp? >> That's where I'm going. Yeah, there's a place called Jim Thorp. Apparently, I'm going there. That's the That's my kids spring break week. So, I'm I'll be gone.
>> Oh, wow. Have fun. >> Next meeting would be 6 >> April. >> I will not be here. >> Can you find replacement for yourself? >> Yes. Stan, write this down. Stan is replacement. Yeah. >> April 6th.
>> 6th. You have your your thing that works. So, as long as you open that after 6:00, the door will stay open. that after 6:00 though, if you come before 600, it doesn't stay open. >> Oh, okay. >> Yes. So, you have to come and unlock the door if you'll do that and then that's
okay. You guys can just have your regular meeting. That's all. >> The next meeting after that is the 20th. >> Uh, yes. >> And I will not be at that meeting. >> Okay. Okay. >> I got to see. We got grad Oh, that's April. May I got graduation
>> in Albany? New York. >> Okay. My grandson is graduating and he'll be a second lieutenant as he graduates. >> Congratulations. >> He's an RTC. >> That's great. Congratulations. >> Logistics, so he'll be >> That's awesome. He'll
>> be working. >> This summer he was guarding Fort Knox for uh 6 weeks. >> OMG. >> Wow. Well, that's exciting. Good. Yeah. So, >> Gail's got two graduations in Philly for >> And the last thing before you leave, if
anyone needs any more business cards, environmental provision business cards, I brought them if anyone wants to take any more. >> I got I got enough from anybody. >> Okay. Motion to adjourn. when I was on second house. >> Oh, I'll poop.