20220908 - Green Ridgewood Meeting Minutes

Minutes of GREEN RIDGEWOOD MEETING

September 8, 2022, 7:00 – 9:00 pm

 Village Hall, Senior Lounge, 1^st floor

 

Note: Many persons could not attend due to a conflict with Back to School night.

 

Green Ridgewood attendees: Christine Amundsen, Beth Gould Creller, Tessa Florida (Student Liaison), Caitlin O’Leary, Pam Perron (Village Council Liaison) and David Refkin

 

Green Team attendees: Maria Damasco, Justin Manger

 

Guests: Nurhan Ezik, Sophia Florida (Student Liaison), Carolyn Jacoby, Miles Luo and Bob Upton

 

Administration:

Pam Perron advised that she will run the meetings for Sept and Oct.

Beth Gould Creller will run meetings for Nov and Dec.

David Refkin has agreed to be the acting Vice-chair during this time.

 

We approved July 7, 2022 meeting minutes.

 

Communications: (Web Site, Social Media)

Beth advised that we are seeking additional help. She mentioned that if any members come across interesting articles, please share them.

 

Updates:

Project 1,000 Acres  – Mike Faherty was not able to attend the meeting. No new information at this time.

 

School projects – Miles Luo mentioned a request from an RHS sophomore to work on a project to increase composting at GW. She is seeking a grant from Green Ridgewood. Bob said there is no official application. We just want any students who are seeking a grant to write a proposal and indicate the amount of money they are seeking.

Beth suggested they give a presentation to Green Ridgewood.

Bob spoke briefly about the grant we gave to students at BF in 2019. He has a copy of what they presented and he will send it to Miles for reference. It was supposed to be for a hydroponic cart and a greenhouse. Update: greenhouse was purchased but it has yet to be put together. The amount of the grant was $542.

 

Miles advised that class meetings are happening tomorrow.

34 sets of the new recycling bins will be set in place.

Tessa Florida advised that the Ridgewood High School Club Fair is being held tomorrow. She is going to promote the Green Club.

 

EAGER: (Encouraging Alternative Green Energy for Ridgewood) The Village Council has to choose an energy consultant for this project. The Village received 3 bids. The Council is going to interview the consultants. The Green Ridgewood sub-committee plans to submit questions. The interviews are open to the public. Subsequently, the Council will meet and vote on the chosen consultant.

 

David Refkin advised that nuclear energy as a component of supply is a big question mark in a lot of people’s minds. What do the consultants consider Green? Let’s ask them.

Interviews will be held on Mon Sept 26 at 7:00 p.m. and Wed Sept 28 at 4:45;

Pam is going to ask that the public be allowed to ask questions.

 

Bob Upton advised that the carbon issue is getting more pressing over time so perhaps there needs to be a compromise. Hopefully, we can get a mix of wind and solar, but there are challenges. Beth Creller advised that the fixed price component is attractive.

 

Recycling: The Village Council is going to vote upon the resolution to purchase the Styrofoam densifier. Evidently, there is a lot of interest from other towns. Sean Hamlin said they would have the other towns come on Wednesday’s when the recycling center is closed. Now that the program is getting more popular, Rich Calbi said they will be getting the word out to the residents. Recycling suggestion: once a week pickup. David Refkin spoke with Sean about it, since once a week pick-up is a best management practice. Sean is supportive of the idea

Christine Amundsen raised the issue of how to educate village residents about the necessity of keeping cardboard dry so it can generate dollars for the Village rather than costing us money (when wet cardboard has to be trashed).

 

Tree issues:   Carolyn Jacoby reported that 88 tree wells will be refurbished/replanted in the CBD (Central Business District) this Fall.  This will include three trees on Chestnut Street that are supported in part through the Ridgewood Guild/Girl Scouts/residents contribution of $2,250.  Due to dramatic cost increases, the cost of the CBD tree well refurbishment is @~$1,300 per well.  160 trees will be planted along the municipal strip in residential areas @~$600 per planting.

 

Ash trees … ~300 Ash trees have had to be removed over the past two years as they have died/greatly diminished and become potentially hazardous. Another ~200 will, eventually, need to be removed due to EAB (Emerald Ash Borer) disease.   

New pests: … Spotted lantern flies - the insects can spread by getting carried under vehicles.  Not only invasive insects are infecting our trees but invasive pathogens are causing disease. The family of Red Oaks (includes Pin Oaks) is being impacted by a leaf blight.

 

Pam commented that another issue is: Sidewalks versus trees. In order to preserve a tree, you may put a roundout to save the tree. But if you add the extra cost of a roundout or ramp-over, many residents objected. How can we help the home owner? Possible that the Village would reimburse homeowners for half the extra cost. On average it’s about $1K more.  Meanwhile, we are going to use porous pavingat six sites, which lets the water come through.

 

Green Team/Sustainable Jersey - Silver Recertification? – No current update as Mike Sedon was not able to attend the meeting.

 

Other news:  

 

·       The Village received a grant for ~$200,000 from the USDA to desilt the Hohokus Brook and the Saddle River. The town must match ~$60,000 to it.

·       The Village is replacing bar screens at the Water Pollution Control Facility, which is our sewage treatment plant. The screens were ruined as a result of a Hurricane Ida. The Village will be appropriating about $1.3 million to buy these screens and other equipment. The Village is also applying to FEMA for reimbursement.

·       Ridgewood Water - They contracted for the design of 2 more PFAS treatment facilities.  We have 52 wells. New well on Linwood Ave. to be connected to the Carr facility. The Village is contracting for leak protection service. The less leakage the better. Ridgewood Water’s leakage rate is ~13%... much better than Suez’s (~25%) or NYC’s (~40%).

 

David and Caitlin both commented that there was a recent NYTimes article about a new discovery on how to treat PFAS - simple technology with enzymes.

If you see illegal watering, take a picture with your phone. Email it to Rich Calbi. In ground sprinklers are allowed to run 3 am – 7 am two days per week. Smart controllers will get 4 days per week.

 

Master Plan and Environmental Resource Inventory

Sept 20 at 7:30p.m. is the only time Village residents get to comment on the Master Plan. Pam encouraged committee members to review the draft, if necessary focus on mandatory issues (Smart Growth/EVs, sustainability, climate change vulnerability assessment, disaster response), Sustainability Element and ERI and Recycling Element, then submit comments to be presented by someone from Green Ridgewood speaking for the whole committee.

If the Master plan is adopted, our job is to prioritize the recommendations.  Environmental resource inventory. We are guiding our community toward a healthy future.

Climate change vulnerability assessment. Strategies to reduce risk.  Required elements and optional elements are included. What’s really important is their recommendations. They go over various trends. The funding section is helpful. They tell you where we can apply for grants. But unfortunately, the Village does not have a grant writer on staff.  Nurhan volunteered to help with grant writing.

After Sept. 20 it’s time for Green Ridgewood to make a written recommendation to the Council on what we want to implement. There should be more reference to Green Ridgewood.

Discussion on water issues. David is getting the Master Plan from Ann Arbor, MI. He will review and share any ideas which may have been left out of the Ridgewood Master Plan.

Carolyn Jacoby wrote a letter asking if the Shade Tree Commission can be directly involved with the Planning Board. She explained that the new Ridgewood Water Building has been landscaped so that the stormwater runoff will go down to the library and then Village Hall.

Bob Upton mentioned that Cynthia Halaby spoke at the Council meeting to complain that the Planning Board were not accepting comments on the draft Master Plan except on Sept 20th and in person.

Stormwater is a big issue. Is there enough about it in the plan?

Who does climate change assessment?

Pam advised that the Village spent a good deal of money on the Master Plan. It could take ten years to implement the recommendations. Master plan does not prioritize their recommendations. We have to USE the recommendations. 

Old Business/ New Business 

Bylaws revisions- Bob, Justin and Pam looked at making revisions. But they had to leave it until next time because the committee did not have a quorum.

 

Leaf Blower draft ordinance.   Pam provided latest revision and requested comments please.

 

Solar panels on Recycling Building. Not worth the investment in putting solar panels on this building due to it’s age and the age of the roof.

 

Green Amendment  - Speaker will address State constitutional amendment at LWV luncheon on Oct. 6.

 

Next Meeting: Thursday, October 6 at 7:00 pm, at Village Hall Senior Lounge. Discussion of goals, projects, focus, responsibilities. What aspect of environmental protection would you like to explore?

Training…Perhaps we can present to the others what we are passionate about.

 

 

Minutes submitted by Christine Amundsen Sept. 19, 2022