Just let me know when we're ready. Donna, >> you're good to go. >> Okay. I will call to order our March 5th, 2026 Environmental Commission meeting. Can I have a roll call? Member Brandon.
Member Colton >> here. >> Member Godette >> here. Member Janetti. Member Lutz >> here. >> Member Mammy.
>> Alternate Baxi. Alternate Defilia >> here. >> All right. Statement of compliance with open public meeting law. The notice requirements of the open public meeting law for this meeting have been satisfied. A copy of the annual notice
was sent to the Aspbury Park Press and the Coaster, posted in town hall, and filed in the office of the township clerk on June 25th, 2025. This meeting will be recorded and available on Ocean Township's YouTube channel. Okay. Um, welcome everyone this evening.
Um, real quick, we're going to just go into our minutes for approval. Um, has everyone had a chance to review the February 5th, 2026 meeting minutes? And do we have any questions or changes? Seeing none, uh, no comments. Could I
have a motion to approve? >> This is it. I'll make that motion. >> Thank you, Ed. Second. >> I'll second. >> Thanks, Norm. All in favor? >> I.
Okay, great. We're going to move on to our presentations and this evening we're here with the American Literal Society. Um Ryan Flood who happens to be an Ocean Township resident. Thank you so much for joining us. And Samantha Heming as well I believe is on here too. Um so Brian,
why don't you take it from here? >> Sounds good to me. Thank you. Um >> you're good to go. >> Sharing options up. All right. Let me know when you can see my screen.
>> We can see it. >> Awesome. >> Awesome. >> Also, just so you know, I don't have access to share my screen. Um, I'll present after Ryan. >> Okay. Yeah, we we kind of uh yeah have like a little combination going on. So,
okay, great. >> Um anyhoo, >> uh yeah. So, is anyone on the call familiar with the literal society at all? >> Kenneth. Okay. Um so, yeah, we've uh for those who don't know, we've been around since 1961. Um, you know, it's a coastal
conservation nonprofit and we really work with a pretty wide variety of different subjects. You know, we have our education, which is Sam, uh, and our director of education, Michelle. Uh, we have a really robust restoration
program. We do fish tagging, and we just do, um, a lot of advocacy work for the coasts in whatever manner that might be. Um it's really interesting. The roots of the organization started on Sandy Hook where our main office still
is. I don't know if any of you are familiar with um Officers Row. Um but that is um you know the location of our office. We're in one of the buildings that isn't crumbling currently. Um and it started
with uh people who are actually skinding and doing fish surveys, you know, with their eyes, you know. So, it's a really interesting uh interesting background. Um, so we've since expanded to uh the Delaware Bay and Jamaica Bay.
Um, and we do work all through the Mid-Atlantic region um up into the Delaware River near Philadelphia, that kind of thing. Um, we're doers, so you know, some of our projects are really small. You know, it could be as small as tagging a single
fish. Some of it is as large as multi-million dollar federal projects where we're building oyster reefs to mitigate erosion along the Delaware Bay. Um we could be creating a program where we tag horseshoe crabs and that data is
then given to uh various scientific organizations to help with the conservation of those animals. Um and then really just pretty wonderful um ways of connecting with the communities.
Um so I mentioned before the fish tagging program that's been around from 1961. Uh horseshoe crab and shorebird monitoring. Uh really exciting. I don't know if any of you have been to the Delaware Bay in the spring when the
horseshoe crabs come up. Uh, you know, for me living in Mammoth County, you know, you see a couple on the beach here and there, especially if you go to the bays, that sort of thing. It's pretty amazing to go down there and see hundreds of thousands of horseshoe crabs up on the beach all at once and the huge
amount of migratory birds that comes through and that sort of thing. Um, and part of our work is helping people understand the importance of these keystone species and that sort of thing. Great example of that. Uh we're
partnering with a foundation called uh the Monarch Foundation and they have given us use of Dorne Island which they own. Um it's undeveloped and it's in the Navis River off of Rumson and they're allowing us to use it as sort of a
living living laboratory. Um which is going to have some tie-ins to our work with oyster restoration. Uh we're building these experimental oyster reef prisms with the help of some students at Mast and some community members and volunteers
and then deploying them on the island to help mitigate erosion and also repopulate oyster um sort of seedlings and then it grows reefs from there. Uh a little closer to home uh here in
the you know closer to here at least uh Shark River. Uh this is just a quick example of some of the restoration that we did on um South Riverside Drive. I think it was 2,000 linear feet of shoreline. And it was using a
combination of methods to create a shoreline that wasn't just a hard surface breakwater which eventually erodess in front of it. It's working with the environment to help mitigate further
erosion and keep the coastline there. And then, you know, I just kind of stole this from our uh annual appeal, but it just kind of is a little by the numbers uh in 2025, what we accomplished. Uh, and it kind of shows a little bit of
the variety of we work with, you know, uh, whether it's the thousands of fish tagged, the breakwaters we've constructed, the columns of dune grass planted, uh, which Sam will definitely get to. Uh, and the people that we've connected with, you know, in this area
and then up in New York and and, uh, Delaware. Uh, and I just talked a lot. You know, I don't know how these meetings usually go. If any of you guys have any questions or want to talk about things further, you know, ask away.
>> Hi, this is Nancy. I have a question. So, you talked about the horseshoe crabs in the Delaware. What's the best month and what's the best town if we wanted to try to go there to see them? >> Uh, May, June, I think, is the peak. And then in my experience, uh, like the
Fortiscu area is where we see them a lot. And Sam, uh, I know has even more background on that. Uh, but if you go on our site, literalocciety.org, you can actually sign up to tag horseshoe crabs with us. >> Okay. >> Uh, yeah, it's volunteer based and you
get uh, a quick training session on how to affix the tags and that sort of thing. You go out there with a headlamp at night and do the tagging. It's uh people fly in from like Louisiana to join in because it's pretty unique.
>> Thank you. >> Any other questions? >> Yeah, I I have a question. >> Go ahead. >> Um you you're tagging let's say 8,700 fish, but there are millions of fish. um
what what what do you hope to accomplish by tagging some fish? >> So, that's actually that's a great question. Um since 1961, uh we've actually were this year, I think, estimated to get to our millionth tagged fish. Uh
we're kind of planning an event around it, but it's hard to nail down how good the season's going to be uh in spring and fall, especially with stripers. uh but that amount of data is given to Woods Hole Institute.
It's given to uh Noah and a couple of other institutions and in aggregate it can be used to track um population health uh migratory patterns um little anecdotal stuff like average
size of fish because when someone reports a tag they report like length, weight, whether they kept the fish, if it was a keep, you know, keepable size um species and then location caught. So individual fish tagged, you know, that's just tagged fish, but a
million tagged fish, now you're looking at a good data pool. >> And do the fisherman cooperate? >> Yeah. So, we have a whole program of um citizen uh yeah uh tagging fishermen. Uh, I think it's probably around 500
right now are active taggers and some of them are boat captains and they'll get a hundred kits of tags a year and tag most of them. Um, and they're pretty passionate about it because it also helps them. Uh, the more
data we have on the fisheries, the more educated guesses people can make about, you know, limit sizes and catch sizes, that sort of thing. Oh no, my computer. Um, Ryan, I have a question in regards to the erosion mitigation that you guys did in Shark
River >> over like what kind of timeline did it take to correct the shoreline >> to now where it's walkable. >> I have to dig into our background like you know like the project background for that. Um,
>> yeah. like did you see it over your you know involvement or it started prior to you? >> Started prior to me. Most of these projects are between one and four years. Uh >> but then afterwards there's always um
monitoring to make sure they're in shape and uh maybe some like a secondary project if there needs to be adjustments. Um, another good example in the local areas is in Point Pleasant,
uh, we have these breakwaters where people have donated their Christmas trees every year and they put them on a municipal lot and then each year we take those trees and put them in a structure we built with lo like quar logs which are like, you know, like little um,
uh, like >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And then we stuff them in there and that actually mitigates the wave action in Pexos there too. Um I can send you after the call like a whole list of our of our projects and some
details behind it. Uh >> I was hoping so Captain Al, he's the head of our restoration department. I was hoping he would be able to make the call. Uh because you know I know Ocean Township is doing a lot of work with the
coastal lakes and that's something we're very interested in because it's a this is a unique part of the east coast with all of these freshwater meets saltwater coastal lakes and the environments there in. Uh and they all
in one way or another kind of need a lot of work. Great. And um >> um I just wanted to add to what uh Ryan's answer for the living shorelines that we place these breakaters in, but
then also they're designed to trap sediment that comes through. So it helps actually build back up the shoreline. And then um around coastal lakes, we'll put rain gardens that help with flooding um and other things like that. We can
definitely give you more information, but that's how um we're mitigating a lot of the issues that happen in these areas. >> Love to hear it. >> Um did you Ryan, did you want to um switch to Samantha so she can present
hers? Um or were you done with yours? >> Yeah, I'm good. Uh yeah, if you want to um uh go Samantha and then again if anyone has any questions pop up or whatever uh yeah jump back into that. >> Okay.
>> Okay. Can everybody see my screen? >> Yes. >> Awesome. Uh, so my name is Samantha and I am our co um coastal education coordinator and I'm going to talk to you guys a little bit about coastal education programs that we can bring to
your schools. So oops, sorry I'm like clicking too much. So our miss our mission uh we work with K through 12. So we work with elementary, middle, and high school. and we're bringing the ocean to the students
through education. We do field trips, in-class lessons, and teacher trainings, which I'll get into. And all of our programs focus on marine biology, coastal habitats, environmental stewardship, and they all have hands-on
components. And the goal is to help students understand our coast and inspire them to protect it. So, our in-class programs will come in for a presentation and the lesson will always be paired with an interactive lab
or activity. Um, we do horseshoe crab lessons. We have a permit that we can take a horseshoe crab off the beach just for one day that we can bring into the classroom for students to be hands-on, learn about their local watershed and uh water quality, how to test for water
quality, uh local habitats and wildlife to them. And this right here in the middle, that's a called an envircape. That's how we demonstrate the watershed and how um when we have a really big storm, runoff
from the land brings pollution into our local waterways. We also do field trips out at Sandy Hook. So, uh our summer and spring field trip is called Close Encounters. And during that, we go sane fishing, catch
and release. And uh sane fishing is with this massive net up here. And then we do horseshoe crab discovery where if they come during peak horseshoe crab season, May and June, they will have a hands-on experience with the animal, learn about
it. Um, kids always think they're really cool because they're older than the dinosaurs. And they they do look like large bugs. So, it's really cool to show the kids that there's nothing to be afraid of, and by the end of it, the horseshoe crab is like their best friend. And we also do a sea shell
scavenger hunt. Then for our winter program field trips, we do seals and winter water fowl. You'd be surprised how many people don't know that we have seals in New Jersey in the winter. So we take the kids out to see them. Um we talk about how animals stay warm in the
winter, all the migratory birds, and then do a blubber activity for the seals and all that will take place at Sandy Hook. Another program that we offer, so this is more of an extended program where um we come into the classroom and do
in-class lessons and labs. It can be a 6 to 12 week long sessions. Um I'll come into the classroom once a week and really get to know the kids, create a great bond, talk about all different types of environmental topics, and then
we go for one to three field trips depending on how long our session with them are. and we can go sailing out to Sandy Hook to get hands-on with all the animals that we learn about uh kayaking, doing grass planting, which I'll talk a
little bit more about. And then we take them on uh visits to local aquariums. So, we offer another program. So, this is a two-part program and this is called uh beach grasses and classes. We offer this during uh dune grass planting season, which is right now. That's what
I've been doing the past two weeks. Um, it's so it's paired the first part of the lesson is an in-class program. We teach the kids about the in importance of dune grass dune ecology and how it protects our homes and communities as well as provides habitat for wildlife.
Why we want to step on the dunes and why it matters and to encourage their friends and family not to as well. and they will plant grasses in the classroom, take care of them up until we go on the second part of the program on a planting field trip. So, we always try
to do it to a local beach that's near them. So, that connection is really there for them. We plant the grasses that they took care of in their classrooms and additional grasses. They plant a lot when we do these. And uh overall this whole program just really
fosters a connection and gives them a stake in their local environment and it's a place that they can go back and visit and see the progress of the time that they put in. Then a program that we have for high school students is our restoration
court. So it's kind of like an internship. It's a youth workforce development program. It's paid, which we're very proud of that we're able to pay um kids for their time. It's a seasonal position and we've trained over
200 participants. It's really successful and we teach them about conservation, environmental education, and community engagement. Um the application is for this is live right now. So, if you guys know anyone who you think would be interested in this, I I will uh drop the
link in the chat. But it's a wonderful program and they learn a lot. And then uh lastly, we offer teacher professional development training. So we can come and train teachers on New Jersey climate change um education
standards, how to interact uh interweave that into their lessons. Uh we do that through outdoor and placebased learning strategies. And the goal is to help bring help teachers bring environmental science and
marine science into their classroom. So that is it for my portion of the presentation. Um I have a QR code here that will bring you to our website so you guys can learn more about us. Um our website is great. We have a bunch of different blogs if there was anything we talked about that you're interested in
and me and Ryan's contact information and if anybody has questions. Well, that was a great presentation. So, do you cover the whole state or is there specific like areas or like just Mammoth County that you go to the schools for?
Uh, so we have our Sandy Hook office and then our Dell Bay office is actually in Millville, South Jersey. I know Del Bay makes it sound like it's not in New Jersey, but so our Sandy Hook office, we serve, uh, Ocean County. Um, Mammoth County, Essex County, a little bit more
up north, and then our South Jersey office um, covers Atlantic County, Camden County, and, uh, Glow Coaster. >> Wow. So covering a lot. >> Yeah. Yeah, >> that's great. Any questions?
Well, we really appreciate you guys coming on tonight and giving us a little deep dive into your organization and >> thank you for your hard work. >> Um, and your obviously your coastal conservation advocacy.
um if you have any questions for us. >> Um yeah, I mean uh so for one, you know, as a ocean resident, uh definitely curious about the progress for the um lake remediation that's being worked on. I live near uh what was it? Um Fireman's
Pond. >> Fireman's Pond. Yeah, that's picking back up. Um I believe there a date was posted for March. >> It was delayed. >> Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it was the weather's
not exactly been conducive to it either, I guess. Uh but then also that's going to continue expanding into like uh I think it's called Lollipop Pond and the upper one too. That's um sort of where that like foot bridge is and that sort
of thing. >> Yeah. Um, so the fireman's pond dredging is going to pick back up again March 16th. So that's the following week. And then Ed, can you concur that um, Fireman's Pond was like to be done after
fire um, Lollipop Pond was to be done after Fireman's Pond? >> I don't know the exact timing on it. I know it's on the list. Um, and I think they're actually going to start with the upper part of the pond first. Um, but I'm not sure on that. I'll have to ask
Greg. But I will say on Fireman's Pond, if you've been by it, um it's been dewatered again, so they're definitely on track to resume the dredging soon. >> Awesome. Awesome. It already It already looks better. It's a awesome improvement
so far. Um and definitely happy to hear about that. I walk by there with my kids all the time in those little foot paths, which also, by the way, is a great thing that the township does that keeps that easement along sort of like the the shoreline so that you know you can walk
along through the neighborhood actually in the trees, you know. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. It's pretty cool. >> It's a special place. >> Yeah. Yeah. And uh if you know any of you guys, I know you'd mentioned you know you have connections to the PTA. um
or the education board or whatever. Um you know, if you want us to send over the education presentation in case they're curious about field trip options or um class classroom learning, you know, programs we can provide,
>> assemblies, definitely. >> Oh, yeah. >> Yeah. Um I know I'm linked in an email with Samantha and Ryan. you um want to send, you know, the packaging for that, that'd be great. >> That sounds good. And um
one more anecdote actually for that Arcore program. I always love to share it because it's just such a great story. Uh one of the participants from I think she's she was from South Jersey, but graduated the program and went on to go to Stanford and is now rejoining us
just for the summer to help us with like communications and outreach stuff. So it is really it's a way for young people to get paid on the job training in a field that is so hard to break into because of the amount of
unpaid work and you know expensive education that's often involved. So it allows people to really jump right into it. Um >> that's great. >> Yeah. Yeah. Uh, and also I'll speak with uh, Captain Allen, see if he can kind of
give me a a nice overall write up of our work, particularly in um, relationship to coastal lake uh, remediation. >> That's great. All right, awesome. Thank you guys for your presentations this evening. Um, obviously we're going to
continue on. you don't have to stay on for the rest of our agenda items, >> but um you're welcome too. Um >> thank you guys. >> Thank you very much for having us. Really appreciate it. >> Yes. Have a good night. >> Of course. >> Bye, Samantha.
>> Bye. >> All right. So, that was great. I'm going to um slide down to the old business, the EC contest 2026. The skip this stuff is our topic of our contest this year. I
just wanted to confirm with you guys. Um I was kind of just mimicking our rules and regulations from last year. I didn't know if anyone had any input into any new rules. Um
do you guys recall our rules from last year? I can remind you guys of them. >> Julia, this is Ed. I don't have any comments on the rules. I think the rules worked really well. Um, unfortunately, we did have to disqualify one of the
applicants for not meeting the rules, but that's that's why the rules are there. Um, yeah, I would just add to uh beef up the um parental consent per our conversations with the town following the conclusion of the event. um as well
as on the intake form to have contact information for the parents. Last year we wound up um notifying the winners through the school which was fine but it would be better if we could do it um
through the uh directly to the >> parents. So when they're signing up for the contest it's basically like they they need parental sign off. >> Yeah. I think we incorporated it as like
a a kind of a general question. I think it needs to be a a separate, you know, how on the Google forms you can set the questions on one page or multiple pages. I think it needs to be a separate page that they're very clearly giving full consent for that we can have on record.
>> Okay. I know Angelie is not on. She's very privy to the Google Docs. Ed, if I need help just kind of copying exactly what you did last year to bring it to today's standards, can I do that? >> Absolutely. Of course. Um, and I think
Nancy, if you could chime in, um, on the clean water action, the, um, obviously the skip the stuff that we're running with for this, any particular for >> Yeah, I would just make sure that you
somewhere give a link to the Beyond Plastic website. I can send you their exact info, but that way they can see exactly what the the bill is and exactly what the rules are for skipping the stuff. So, there's a lot of just varying
um options with it. So, um >> I'm thinking is is the research part of it like that's up to the student, right? Like we don't we're not providing them a cover letter of this bill and what you know it's about. We're just kind of
informing them on it and they're going to research it and then prepare the the real based on it. >> Um, yeah, that sounds good. I I guess I was just thinking at least a website so if they wanted to read up on Yeah. they could learn more about it. Yeah. You
know, one thing I just learned I didn't realize if a restaurant is not actually serving you, they're still allowed to give out plastic utensils. So if it's like Mo and Aspberry and you walk in and you order at the counter and go sit down, that type of establishment can
still do plastic. So there's different levels of what's allowed. So yeah, that'll be I think up to the students to learn more about, read about, and find out exactly how they want to put this together. >> Okay. And just to remind you guys, we
have like a it's a quick thing. So, it's a minimum of 30 seconds, maximum maximum of 60 seconds. YouTube format, one submission per student, does not have to be in English. We encourage a bilingual
um submission. That would be fun. Adults cannot be principal actors or narratives. No profanity, violence, threats, or violence. No copyright infringement, and no plagiarism. So, and then the Casey's um submission
categories is K through 4, 5 through 8, and then the high school level 9 through 12. Um, and then maybe I'll just email you guys. I I can't share my screen, but I did go in Canva and kind of make this
flyer, but it needs editing. So, I'll get that to you guys. And are we on track for when we released our contest last year, Ed? Was it in April? I think it was the end of March. I'll have to go back and double check on my notes.
>> And did you just disseminate it to like um who we have connections with like Miss Edson and the middle school or like how did you um like what pipeline did you use to announce it to all the schools? >> Um we had the town post it. We sent it
to the schools. Um I'm trying to think of where else we sent it to. Um, >> I think that might have been it. I I think we sent it to um we sent it to some of the teachers that involved. Miss Edson, I think we sent it to the schools. Um, I know we
sent it through the town as well. Um, so it was up on the town website. Uh, and I think it might have been in one of like the town newsletters. >> Okay. But we can also throw it in the coaster,
too. That's also an option. >> That's a good idea. >> And I'll do um you know, once you have that finalized, Julia, I'll put it on Instagram and Facebook. >> Great. >> All right. Awesome. And if you guys think of anything,
>> I I could be wrong, but I thought we announced it before the spring break so that some of the students would have time during the spring break to make the video. Okay. Um, when's spring break this year? It's
earlier, right? Like >> the beginning of April. >> Oh, beginning of April. >> Would have to be because >> Easter is uh April 5th or something like that. >> The 5th. Yeah. Okay. So, it's the week before that >> or something. It's s fourth, something
like that. >> Okay. So, we'll get these final things in order so we can um announce it to them so they could take it home with them before the break. And then I think we ended it on Earth Day last year, right? Submissions were all due by Earth Day.
I think so. Okay. Well, that's good. So, we will get that all tightened up so we can go live with that. Um, I'm sure by our next meeting in April, um, this will already be out there and we'll just be hopefully updating you on how many submissions are in at that point. Any,
um, if anyone has any comments or concerns and you think of anything, just shoot me an email on that for the skip the stuff contest. >> Um, I'm going to head to new business. If no one has any questions, >> let me bring up something that's still old business. Yes,
>> it turns out I noticed this uh so we moved our meeting which would have our meeting would have ordinarily been on the second of April but because that was >> we moved >> as it turns out
>> excuse me the 9th is also Passover >> oh >> day of Passover so Passover doesn't technically end until 8:10 on the 9th. >> Oh, I know. So, you're going to look to push
it to the 16th. Um because >> meeting, but like that would keep me from coming to be a reason to have the meeting on the 9th, but that's that's a whole separate issue. >> I think we committed um someone on the 9th. Correct, Donna? Um we're having
I'm sorry. I'll pull up my notes. >> Yes. So I and we originally told them it was I think we kind of had the dates a little screw you because of the holiday but >> yes >> is it unacceptable to keep the date on
the 9th because of the holiday Donna or >> I that's your choice really that is are you gonna have quorum or are you you know >> I'm just looking for Tracy's email just
um Oh, what were you proposing, Norm? To make it April 16th. >> That's that would be what I propose. Then, of course, then the next meeting would be Well, luckily the 30th is uh also in April. So, the next meeting wouldn't would still be three weeks
later, which sometimes happens. Anyway, >> I the only reason because I coordinated this through, you know, Tracy and Blue Sky for them to um to join in on our meeting. I don't want to push it. I But I also don't want to
affect if we're not going to have quorum. So, >> wait. But hang on. Um, is this part of the Blue Skies um, public outreach program or is this an addition
to that? >> Um, it looks like the engagement meeting is recommended to be done at an environmental commission meeting. >> So, would that we're cutting out some residents if they're celebrating the holiday? Yeah, I would just I I think before we
can move it, we just need to talk to Tracy because part of that is um there's there's grant money tied up to that meeting that has to happen and I do not remember the deadline. I think moving it for a week is okay, but we need to
confirm that there are deadlines involved in having that meeting in order to make sure that we're in compliance with the grant requirements. >> Understood. Can we ice this um meeting push back till we have a conversation with Tracy
Norm? >> Yeah, I'm just saying I'm just bringing it up as a >> No, I appreciate that. I caught that at the end of your last meeting that that was not the first time, but I probably was dozing off while we were going through this first. >> Well, you picked the dates.
>> Hey, um >> um >> what can I tell you? >> Okay. All right. So, moving on to new business. Um, Angelie's not here and she was Oh, sorry. Go ahead. >> Could you fill us in on what this blue sky thing is?
>> Oh, yes, sure. >> It's the community energy master plan. Blue Sky is our consultant for it. This is part of the um planning process. We, if you'll remember, we got a grant from them um from the state to do a community
energy plan. This is part of the planning process that then once we develop the plan, we can go back and get a much larger award to implement the plan. And so this is part of the process to develop said plan. But there was
delays because of the DP um not paying anyone in a timely manner. So the whole project kind of got put on hold because we couldn't pay our consultant and uh our consultant doesn't work for free. So that got resolved with D. Now, all of these plans are coming
due, but there's some pretty tight deadlines that are coming up um through no fault of our own. Uh but it needs to get u moving. >> All righty. Thank you. Um are we all
good with old business, new business? Um, Helpsy is I think we've mentioned it prior. Um, it's a textile waste solution um that Angelia has introduced to us in the past
and we actually um had a conversation after last meeting um on maybe proceeding with getting it part of the town and having a few bins put around town. So, it is technically a the
donation bins that you see at like waste sites. Helpsy um will drop them off throughout town at no cost. And their goal is to help us alleviate our waste management and the tons that we spend
for um you know disposal and they use what is put in the bins. They recycle it and um reuse it. and what they what is in good quality they sell and the township gets reimbursed money for um
collecting of these textiles and used clothing and whatnot. So we had a conversation with Dave Brown to see if it's something that the township would be interested in doing and um we're at that stage before we go to the council. So I just wanted to link you guys all
in. Um, I'm sure you're familiar with it because we've had conversations regarding it in the past, but if you have any questions in regards to that, I wanted to just bring you up to speed what we were doing outside. >> Well, I would just say I there was something that used to come around that
forget what it was, but it was wounded warriors or something like that. You know, they they collect clothing and everything else. Then there was an article I either saw on the internet or in a paper or something about these places that have stores, you know, that are retail type stores for what called
vintage clothing and so on and so forth. And that's one of the things that they get that stuff from and so on and so forth. So I don't know if there is some kind of a sticky wicket ahead somewhere. >> Yeah. because I don't I don't know the
rules of engagement for those kinds of things because because you mentioned they're going to sell some of it and we get some of it blah blah blah but then is that something that should have gone out for bid or I remember just bringing up >> exactly >> something >> at first because there's no like fee to
the town we didn't think anything with the bidding process but that's the conversation we're having now because Helpsy is not a nonprofit and in that case if we took something on like that we would have to send it out to bid. So that's basically the point in the conversation we're at now with the town. So
>> that's what I meant. There was something I just saw with Okay, gotcha. Thank >> Yeah. Okay. Uh Nancy, do you want to add to that because I know you're very um supportive of the help mission? >> No, I think you covered everything. So
um yeah, I think it'll just encourage people more if we have multiple bins around and um all goes to uh good use and recycle more. So, yeah, I think it'll happen. We'll just have to work through these steps.
>> All righty. Steve, you have a question? >> Not so much a question, a statement. My some of you know that my wife founded and runs a nonprofit program based up in Redbank. We also have a clothing drive
collection. They will come to Ocean Township and pick it up off your front porch and provide you with the paperwork that you donated. They they also can put out bins. So, that's a whole another option. And
that is a nonprofit operation. >> Do you know the name of it? >> The contact, you'll find the contact information on the family resource associate or fra.org or website.
>> Okay. >> We can we can take this offline and pull it together if you wish. >> Okay. >> Okay. That's great because you know the conversation of Helpsy is really bringing to the surface these other options we have. We do have a recycling
bin in the um the garbage yard if you will um off Sunset Avenue. So, it's just a matter of kind of getting the the word out there to stop hoarding all this stuff that we need to get rid of and then we're we're stuck with it on our
planet Earth. So, um I'm going to jump to the planned review committee. Um Norm, any pending plans in the queue? No, I I mean the last ones we we saw, right, was um the
one across from the post office, whatever it's called, bio invest, whatever they're called or something. And the other one was um the Hollywood Golf Course. I I mean, I submitted comments. Um I guess, you know, I used to distri I
should distribute them to the maybe I'll ask Donna to Donna, maybe you could send those last two fan reviews to the rest of the commission, environmental commission. for what it's worth. >> Sure. >> Okay. But I >> The last two what, Norm? I'm sorry.
>> The last two uh site plan reviews that I did. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Um the bio something and Hollywood Golf Club, you know, but I haven't seen any new plans unless, you know, the mail is
messed up. It's possible. Well, also the office is is like had a you know the office is kind of in >> I mean but since those other ones which already were a month you know so I'm saying I maybe I'll give uh you know give a call and see if there is anything
new to look at. >> Okay Ed planning board update. >> Um we have had two meetings canled due to snow. We had one very brief meeting um actually it was earlier this week to
approve ordinances as part of our affordable housing plan that um the council had adopted need to be adopted to make sure that we are in compliance with state requirements and our court orders. So, um, nothing to report just
yet, but I have a feeling that our March meeting is going to be a lengthy one. We have a whole bunch of stuff coming up. >> Great. Okay. Any questions from anyone?
>> Okay. Yeah. Um, some remarks. Um, just a reminder, uh, the clean communities cleanup is May 16th. So, I would love for, uh, everyone on the commission to participate. We'll obviously meet up that Saturday the 16th at Joe Playa
Park. Um, and I will send a reminder prior to, so save the date. Um, also a remark, there were two webinars that I got to review in the past few weeks. Um, one was just within the last hour. Uh there was a 7 p.m. webinar, but the
first one, thank you, Ken. You um you forward this out to the commission regarding the MS4 permit webinar, which is very informative. Um if you don't know, the MS4 permit is the municipal separate storm sewer system. Um
basically put out guidelines. Um because up until 2004, there was absolutely no development guidelines on any storm water management. So at this point we are implementing you know rules for new
development and trying to control this the storm water. Um did anyone have a chance to see that webinar? >> And then the second one was the NJAC real sorry >> for one is available on demand anybody.
>> Yeah it is. And then this New Jersey packed drill webinar that I went on um this evening I cut out early but since I was registered they said they are going to email it the full thing at the end. Um that was very interesting because it's regarding not
the FEMA maps changing but the D maps changing which will um affect development. Um, I believe they said if you're in a FEMA map, you add three feet to what your new uh base flood elevation
should be. So, it's the maps are changing all across the board. Um, know we're affected. We have water running right through our town. So, um, as that comes out, as I get the recorded version, I will share with you all. I think it's worth time if you
have, you know, a half hour to jump on and listen one day. Um, any attendees remarks or comments? Hearing none. >> Ken, >> I I haven't checked, but I don't know if
anybody heard whether or not the land development ordinance was actually modified for the for the tree uh fees. So, we submitted it to Jesse. I haven't heard. I'm going to follow up
writing that in my notes right now. >> Didn't work either. >> Yeah. Well, at what point it just goes up onto the website or was there another step with the town council? >> I assume >> there wasn't, right? They have to have a hearing and, you
know, a second reading and so on. >> Okay. I think the next Okay. I I'm going to touch base with Jesse just to make sure we're stay on track with that. Thank you for bringing that up. And and on the uh subject of
the American Literal Society, I'm sorry Angela uh isn't here, but I'm wondering if we can use her and and and somehow us contacting um Steve Higgins and and
uh Miss Edson and at least let them know about it. Maybe they want to incorporate it into the curriculum. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> We can sort of facilitate that. Yeah, and I think that's what Ryan was getting at with sharing the educational
packaging that he has. Um, we definitely would disseminate that through the pipelines. Um, >> yeah, Pat Sullivan's a good point of contact. >> Yeah, he is our school contact for um
our planning sheet tree committee. I'm in. Yes. Yes. >> Alrighty. >> Mary, how are you? Do you have anything you'd like to add? Oh, you're muted. >> Oh, you're still muted. Sorry.
There you go. >> That's okay. Oh, yeah. You're good. >> You're good now. >> Oh, that's okay. >> It's weird. >> We can hear you. It's all right. Thanks, Mary. Um, any
public comments? Anything? Do I have a motion to adjourn our hearing? >> I move we adjourn. >> Norm second. All in favor? >> I
>> I >> All right. Thanks, guys. Great meeting. >> Wonderful. >> Take care, everyone. >> Good night, everybody. >> Thank you, Donna. Mhm.