Ambler EAC Meeting MinutesSeptember 22nd
Link to Original Minutes (Google Doc)
MEETING HELD IN PERSON AT BOROUGH HALL 131 Rosemary Ave, Ambler, PA 19002
Attendees
Members: Jill Sanchez, Liz Rosencrans, Nancy Coates, Shelly Grinar Boyd, Wes Pipitone, Hannah Lloyd
Visitors & Associates: Karen Delaney
Call to Order / Introductions (7:00-7:10)
Presentation: None
Public comments (7:10-7:20) None
Ways to Get Involved (7:20-7:25)
National Solar Tour: October 2/3rd (https://www.nationalsolartour.org/)
Drive the Future EV Showcase - Sat Sept. 25 12pm - 6pm (http://thrivefest.us/drivethefuture.html)
Test drive EV’s from several Car manufacturers
Music, Raffles, Food, Vendors, Kids Fun zone
Learn environmental, financial and performance benefits of EV’s
Register as attending as a chance to win a $250 gift card.
Location: parking lot of weavers way and ambler beverage
opportunities to speak to EV owners
Adopt-a-tree in a public or park setting
Join the Ambler Tree Tenders Group! Become a tree tender by completing a PHS Tree Tender Training:
Sept. 22, 29 & Oct. 6 (2.5 Hrs over 3 days via zoom)
Sat. Oct 2 in Philly (8 Hrs Live)
Sat Oct. 9 in Norristown (8 Hrs Live)
Register at: https://phsonline.org/programs/tree-programs
Formal approval of minutes from August 18th, 2021 (7:25-7:30)
All motioned to approve
EAC Updates (7:30-8:00)
EAC By-Law comments from Borough Council- (link) to file
last meeting between EAC and Borough Council was strictly Growing Ambler Greener related, no discussion on by laws
if more discussion is needed or desired on by laws please set another meeting
Meeting held with Borough Council to outline GAG Protocol
Hannah, Wes, Sarah and Mary Aversa attended to discuss GAG protocols
Borough approved all the protocol proposals we outlined in the email we sent
with seasonal changes towards the end of October we won’t be able to do work in competition with ground freeze
If we still have left over funds by mid October we will switch gears to larger recipients such as apartment complexes or businesses.
Weekly GAG Meetings taking place most Mondays
Committee Chairs (8:00-8:30) No new updates from Open Space Committee, Creek Monitoring on Rose-Valley Creek.
Education and Outreach Committee (Shelly) Started with this committee due to time limits at July/August Meeting
Pollinator Program
Fall update: request info from those who visited homes in the summer
If anyone in the EAC visited a resident to check on their project please email Shelly so she can keep track
video completed that Shelly was creating and shared previously in July's meeting
possible addition to EAC youtube, website
Will ask for permission to post those who were filmed
Flyers for Bees- can be updated and distributed more extensively in late winter
Website Updates- Hannah Lloyd/ Student Volunteer - Has not been offered this semester
Resources pages set up and are easy to fill out for any member who wants to fill them out
(EAC members) if any are not helpful or if you want to get rid of them etc. let Hannah know
This resource page would be a good research project for students
Hannah will set aside time next months meeting to show a quick demo on how to edit Square space
If you have any questions in the meantime on how to use it contact Hannah and she can meet with you to explain it
Hannah- prepare to show EAC members how to create fillable and submittable forms for hold harmless that can go right onto the website for volunteers to navigate to prior to events
Student project proposal for Ricciardi not approved (tree placement for vacant area by other entrance between homes)
can still be ‘conceptual’ project for a student and maybe used for ‘mock presentation’ even if this is not a valid real world application
Shelly shared student success stories for those who have been involved with the EAC in the past- ready to add their EAC work to resume
Student volunteer title ideas:
not discussed at last bi law meeting with Borough Council
EAC will create a list of title proposal verbiage for students that come to frequent meetings - a title they can put on their resumes etc.
Ambler EAC Student Associate, Ambler EAC Student Ambassador (voted down at this meeting).
Other ideas to follow
Fox article written by Shelly - possible submission for Home Town news
will also submit to other news outlets
Student involvement in tree planting?
Jill will forward volunteer info to Shelly for the planting
Treasurer (Wes)
EAC T-shirts- order progression
Jill will follow up again
Financial standing as of Sept 2021
memberships leftovers will be used for donations
conf & training: if anyone has training they would like to do there is funding left
Keep Ambler Beautiful Committee (Nancy)
Summer cigarette butt clean up event- dates TBD
Hatch LTK - Volunteer Day- was to be held Sept. 17
was cancelled due to rain
Rescheduled for Friday
Red tail Ambler Borough Park volunteer work - someone should be designated to stay at the park
a volunteer to show other volunteers to clean up areas in the surrounding neighborhoods etc.
there should also be a designated photo taker
SIGNAGE (anti litter)
around parks and on the roads there has been a lot of take out food containers and other related litter
also need signage for cigarette butt litter
Can we use budget funds for signage ?
’stop the drop’ theme - inspiration from NJ and UK
pair this with social media and ask borough council to share this on their socials and websites
cigarette butt signage for parks needed
Nancy showed images of inspiration signs- some of which are for purchase if we don’t want to make our own
Can the signs be a little shocking to drive in the message / call attention?
Involve families and children hanging at the parks where the litter is?
Can we take photos of picked up cigarette litter from clean up events and pose it somewhere that is unsightly like by a playground etc?
purchase a few pre-made signs to start?
NANCY can email Mary Aversa asking for permission to post these at parks
at each park at an entry point? Or just problem areas.
cigarette butt container idea: who would maintain and empty them etc. (or teracycle)
‘pack it in pack it out’ mentality promotion instead ? - will the lack of receptacles get people in the habit of carrying litter with them
could we have an ordinance to make cigarette litter finable
look into similar ordinances for surrounding townships that have them to use for inspiration
Climate Action Committee (Wes)
Update from Annual Ambler Car Show where the EAC sponsored group of EVs
Drive the Future EV Showcase - Sat Sept. 25 12pm - 6pm
EAC will be present again presenting and partnering with Zero Emission Musicians
National Solar Tour: October 2/3rd (Copied from August) (https://www.nationalsolartour.org/)
Haven’t had the time allowance for this year but will keep on radar for next year
Possible resources:
Solarizesoutheastpa.com
Advising resource
Exactsolar.com
Installation resource
Shade Trees Committee (Jill)
TreeVitalize
Tree order placed
18 residential
10 public trees
Adopt a Tree
A few trees still need to be adopted
10 park trees will be up for adopt a tree and Hannah & Jill will begin working on this campaign shortly prior to spring
PHS Tree Checker Program
Recent Tree Checking complete
Citizen science tree health monitoring and stewardship program for public and private trees.
8 volunteers went through PHS Tree Checkers training
47 trees that were planted in 2020 & 2021 were checked
Determined vigor, circumference, tree pit care, proper staking, root flare exposure & bark health
Stormwater Committee (Jill)
Growing Ambler Greener
Rain Gardens 38/75
Riparian Buffer Planting (3)
Rain Barrels 111/250
DSP 30/60
Permeable Conversions 10/22
Planning initiated on Steep Slope
Stormwater Workshops have been scheduled
New business (8:30-8:35)
Updates from Borough Council:
We have been invited to present at October Council meeting
first tuesday meeting would be the best one to present at
ideas for presentation: cigarette butt ordinance
Could we present in November instead?
WES will reach out and ask for this
Closing Thoughts (8:35-8:50)
KEY PICK UP BY LIZ OR WES BY 3 PM BEFORE NEXT MEETING
TALK ABOUT EARTH FEST IN JAN - whether or not we have it decide by FEB
maybe we do it smaller scale in the gym with kids activities on the lawn
logistics and planning is time consuming - would need to make sure we have volunteer commitment
Student involvement ? Hands on, clean up and set up etc. (cigarette butt clean ups day of)
can students create visuals , educational signage
community garden to table?
Next meeting: Wednesday October 20th, 2021 at 7:00pm (8:50-8:55)
Adjournment (8:55-9:00)