Environmental Advisory Committee - Regular Meeting

TA mostly offered classes this late. Well, welcome everybody to the October 8th, 2025 EAC meeting. Um, I'd like to call it a quarter of the meeting and would everybody get a chance to look over the minutes? Yeah. Okay. Any edits, any changes? Okay. Can I have an approval to or motion to approve the minutes, please? I'll move. I'll second.

All in favor? Okay. public comments. Seeing we have none, um, let's move on to the introduction of our two new junior EAC members. So, Jenna, we welcome you and Nadia, we welcome you. Maybe you two could just take a minute and introduce yourselves and tell us what school you go to and maybe an an environmental issue that's in particularly interesting to you. Should I go first?

First. Hi everybody. I'm Jonah and I'm in 11th grade at Alderise High School, which is in Squirrel Hill in Pittsburgh public. Um, I'm really passionate personally about green spaces and parks and making sure that young people especially have great green spaces and parks so they can be outside more and just learn to appreciate the environment. And I'm happy to be here. Thank you. Thank you. I'm Nadiaco. I'm a senior at North Alageney Senior High School. Uh, it's like 10 minutes up the road in Wexford. Um, I really like water quality, so I'd like to be doing some water quality testing. maybe um downtown where you can see like the intake for the West View Water Authority and at my school. I think that would be interesting. Thank you.

Thank you. And what's interesting is that the parks um comprehensive study which is going on right now and then there's an open house tomorrow from 6:00 to 7:30 is speaking about the same the subject that you're interested in. So that is, you know, something near and dear and and close to this committee and to McCandless in general. And then water quality is something that I think we were talking about. Ken, were you and I talking about that? That's something that there's they have done a lot of the no longer existent North Hills Environmental Group um had done water testing all through North Park and all of that. So I have that if you're interested in seeing all Yeah, it would be.

Yeah. My daughter just did her internship at MTSA this past summer and she was very proud to call herself a turd nerd for the summer. She worked in the lab and tested the effluent the output every day. So I think this gives us an opportunity to you know gives a little bit the subject a little bit new life which we don't have in this committee right now but you know maybe at some point we can take a tour of MPSA and no you know we have you know we've had people come with different interests and um we we took an e-recycling tour

we took a waste management recycling tour and these are things that we didn't know much about and they have helped greatly and we also you know treat Pittsburgh courses is when people bring new interest to the committee then that gives us a the ability and you know sort of the enthusiasm to go and pursue that. So we appreciate that. Thank you. And now we'll move on to project updates. Let me start with sustainability. Um and I and I'll ask Melissa to join in if there's something that I'm missing. But we are right now continuing to work with the Penn State University students. three students. They are pulling information from our uh vendors in power in um in in gas in um solid waste. Um where else am I missing John? We've given them authorization to to pull

uh basically yeah trash uh wastewater. Sorry, it's blank me for a sec. As well as electric and gas. Yeah.

Yeah. Okay. Go ahead. And and so and this is and this is to to finalize the last point of our march toward gold stand sustainability of a communitywide greenhouse gas inventory. It's something we couldn't do on his committee and we couldn't do uh in in in the trench of McCandless staff. So Penn State has we we've join joined a cohort program with Penn State for them to do this greenhouse gas inventory for the community which will then be the last point to us being gold certified and then we'll bring back the council. Um secondly is that I was I participated in a presentation from LA and lay is a it's a local government um it's an affiliation that that services local government. It's something you would have to join. It would probably be I think it's something eight or $9,000 and it gives you tools for local climate action plan to reduce greenhouse gas and they'll work with you and they'll they'll bring you mentoring and they'll bring you um socialization within the community and things. So, we're we're just learning that right now. The next class that I'm going to take is going to be on the and I and I do want to get you on this one is going to be on the system their their internal software system that we would be using for the greenhouse gas inventory and potentially using it in the future.

What is it? Is it an acronym or is it it it certainly is. Okay. I have it in my slide deck. Okay, cool. what their acronym is because they're also doing stuff on trees. So, we will we will continue to explore that and learn more about that. But at this point, the the ball is in their court for them to continue with the authorizations that we've given. Any other questions about sustainability?

Is the goal to still get to uh gold or platinum with this data? So this data would get us to finalize to platinum or to gold to gold. What it does it it it sets it puts a stake in the ground of where you are and then if we want to reach platinum which if you would read the 2019 comprehensive plan the the township and that plan endeavors for measanless to become a platinum sustainability community. There is a lot that's involved in that. And now you don't just look at where who you are. Gold is who we are, right?

Platinum is who we aspire to be and and we have to go and do it. Put those things into plan. So, um, for that to happen, we would have to present that to to council and to management and say these changes would have to happen. There's there's a lot of there's a lot of points leading up to that, but but we're open-minded and we're going to find out through the local climate action plan. I would imagine it's going to help us with that. Anything else, Melissa, that I'm missing? I didn't. Okay. Um, Rain Gordon, any any updates there?

Um, I've been in touch with Sorbles, as we discussed last week. Um, it is Cameron Sorl, who is the one who's in charge of the native plant project through them. Um, it is going to continue next year. He is expanding a little bit. Um, uh, we are going to set up a call here in the next few weeks. Um, right now it's just a little busy with uh the fall festivals and Sorville is a hard place to go to right now.

So, we'll get kind of through that and uh he and I are going to keep touching base on what things might look like moving forward. Um, as far as the actual physical rain garden as the season is winding down. Um, I was intending on there is a gap of the back wall on garden 2 that will need to have a repair and I knew that last year and it was just let's get it up and running. I think I am going to have to like evaluate to see if there's anything else that's going on. Um, I haven't been out in a few weeks and now as plants are dying off, I might have a little better chance of seeing back there. I also think that with all the trucks that they have in front of it, I want to make sure they're not running over too much.

I don't know if anybody has been out there, but they are putting up the What are they doing? Yeah. What is that? Lights. Yeah, the lights. That's what I thought. Okay. And I and I wondered if that was something that was going to run off into the rain garden or which I may which maybe that's the purpose of the rain garden. Yeah, it is to collect run off. Yeah. I don't think there's going to be too much. It's to collect the the rain garden is to collect the the water running off the asphalt. Yeah. That that's what rain gardens are for. Yeah. But what my point was is that they're doing something there. Whatever that is. Yeah. They're drawing the lines for the lighting. Oh, okay. It's that audience. Okay. So, you're not digging in.

It's not No, it's not permanent. It'll be I think completely covered over. John, do you think so? You know, once the polls are up, I think the rest There was a request for pop trees to put in by the rainbow that I actually don't know because we did put in that request for the trees. I haven't heard back yet, but I don't know where they're supposed to go. I thought it was, you know. Okay. But you sent the note, so you don't know where they're going to go? No. Okay. It's Aby's dream. Who's Abby or Abby? Okay. To put Papa Trees somewhere. Southern West Virginia, so they somewhat There's some in North Park, but they don't tend to do real good here. Oh,

well, you should see what our council Don Hart brings in piles of them every council meeting for everybody to share. Yeah. The day of Duran's deer event. Oh, I ate them. Yeah. Yeah. He spoke on that at the library. Um so yeah, he mentioned that on community day that he speak on uh September 30th at the library uh about pa trees. So yeah, but that's why I'm you know I don't know the relationships of you know trees like but they're going to go in somewhere on the township property near they would have to be near the rain garden.

Yeah. So yeah, but that's what I mean between the lighting going in the right rain garden new trees. I mean, I think that's great. I would love to maybe have the tree tenders plant them. Mhm. Um be fun. Yeah. On the 18th, you know, as part of the uh the class, they could go up and maybe put them in after. That might be fun. If the wall needs repair, you could take some photos. Absolutely. Yes. And then we could get that over to Brad. Mhm. to take a look at that. It's been that way for several years.

Okay. There there was one repair and is now a couple feet down from previous repair. But I don't know how long that one has been like that. So, might as well while we're out there looking at things, get it fixed and also evaluate, see if there's anything else going on because it's been a year. Okay. Um and and naturally the Japanese knot we would not be growing right now and and what we've done to it is has been a you know positive for the rain garden. Mhm. Did did you spray or or did or did Brad Brad

Brad had somebody come out and there was like a professional team that um used as as far as I'm aware specific herbicide to take care of it. Um, it looks pretty good out there. Um, you still got a lot of still grass, but not around the ray garden. Yes. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Any other questions about the ray garden? Okay. Next up is the tree program for um tree camp.

Okay. So, um there's so much going on right now. Um I combined um the files uh from the two events that I'll get into. We don't have to go through them, but it's the icky uh there's kind of a whole initiative going on that you know has really kept us busy in the last 30 days since we last met. Um so and what's happened is not only in the last meeting I talked about Archie becoming kind of a co-chair, well so is Julie. So now you know it's the three of us have been doing a lot of meetings, a lot of participation in uh some of the stuff you'll see upcoming. So ahead um so again uh the

can I break one second? So um so having co-chair this is not a a separate committee or anything like that. These are just these are just um just community members. There's no problem with that in a in a in a project for the EAC. Is that correct? It can just be an ad hoc volunteer group. Yeah. Okay. Yeah, there's no problem with that. Good. That's all I consider it is like who's, you know, who's going to help me, you know, make the bread. This is like the group

council loves like, you know, um so yeah, this is a group that's going to help bake it. So, um and and this is just the start. I mean, you know, I think as we get into UC, but what we've been doing is meeting. Uh, so we met September 25th to kind of, as you all know, you know, I've been wrestling with uh kind of an annual plan and who will do it. So, what we determined was Julie actually has a lot of expertise in uh communication. Archie can lead kind of the knowledge base and expertise on, you know, what we would be communicating over the next year. As I told you, a lot of our plan was to make it more of a communication, education, advocacy initiative, uh, particularly in the first year. Um, and and I do have a draft in here. It's not final by any means of what we're going to plan on for next year, and that's what we focused on in our meeting. Um, and then, uh, yeah, and then we just hope to meet with the Macandless staff, uh, to finalize things. Um, and that's it. We've talked about other uh initiatives going on. So if you want to go to the next slide because this actually gives a rundown from community day on like all the things we've been doing. So John successfully uh posted our social media on both a tree tenders and tree adoption which at this point you know if we jump down to those um you know the we now have 22 people signed up for tree tenders and they're already telling me that you know uh they want to talk about capping it because they never really want more than 25. So they're already giving me grief for you know we may be over. Uh but you know, we can look into still allowing more people. Uh and then same thing, there's a hundred trees that have been um well

uh let's say um adopted at this point that'll happen thereafter. So all 100.

Yeah. Yeah. That's 100. But what they do and want to, you know, they actually give you 90 and then there's uh 10 that are kind of allocated in reserve for folks who um maybe didn't get one, wanted one. I mean, I'm thinking about maybe the tree tenders class, you know, seeing if folks from there can host one. So anyway, but uh so we'll see. But at this point, yeah, all 100, you know, for the purposes of the way they do it, it's 10 types of trees, uh, and 10 trees of each is the way that would work. Um, but we ended up doing a lot of other meetings. Uh, Archie attended, this was on a Thursday. Uh, we went to this connect tree um, training session. The all of the documents from that session are part of what's in these combined files on this PDF. So again, I don't need to it's a lot of detail. And then the second thing that also happened was connect um at the um we met at the Oakmont Library and it was all these municipalities got together and most of them were shade tree commissions but not all and we talked about um how connect um and there's like five or six groups. the Alageney County Conservation District, Tree Pittsburgh, uh is like a host of organizations that are now coming together to actually do work on trees and Tree Canopy, the Tree Canopy Alliance. So, so there's so there's a lot of groups that are now coming together to figure out how to share arborists as an example, you know, for municipalities that can't afford it. But the budget session um and again the slides are in them. I'm not going to go through them in detail but you can take a look at them. Uh but that really provides guidance on what most municipalities you know should be allocating for you know trees and

budgets and I know Mckenless you know hadn't had one. So again, I I know no groaning, but um but I do think, you know, it talks about uh where to pull the funds from, you know, to uh support this. In a lot of the other communities, I guess, um you know, when development occurs, there's a if you take out a tree, it's a replace a tree, and you don't have to do it on site, you can sponsor that. So that's kind of how most of the municipalities have been funding tree replacements

and that's what they did when they did meandless crossings and things like that. They planted trees down here at North Park and a couple of other places to replace the trees that they had uh taken down for Macandas crossings. Is that happening with the new housing development up on the highway? I don't know because at this point I mean this is part of like connecting with the municipality on how the township itself

I'm not aware of any ordinance or regulation that says that it must be done. We do have when there's bigger developments rules for uh recreation space but nothing in particular I from what I I'd have to double check it but I don't recall anything. Yeah, and I think that's true because John Swind asked me if I could get some of the other municipalities and the Saturday I spent with the group in Oakmont Library. Um, I now have uh five or six samples of model ordinances. Um, you know, it's not really been the approach I want to take. Um, you know, I kind of want to do this not necessarily based on those measures, but really how do we just get people interested in planting trees, but the EAC several years ago had looked at at the different tree ordinances and things like that, and we didn't, since McCandless doesn't have treeine streets per se that are controlled by Macandas, we didn't think it was really appropriate to get into most of the trees or in people's backyards. Well, that was kind of a shade tree commission, right? Yeah.

So, yeah. And I think, you know, so that's there was this differentiation between all the groups that were there like Fox Chapel. I mean, there must have been a dozen municipalities uh or more uh as part of this meeting and everybody's under assault from Dukane Light. Um you know, they have changed the way they're doing things. So, it's kind of a whole conversation that you know, but that was what was interesting is talking about these issues. Many of the um municipalities do not have shade tree commissions, but they have tree groups kind of like what would be doing here. So, and but I do have model ordinances. We can talk about maybe just this take a tree, replace a tree, you know, and it's a fund that gets set up and that's how our tree program could be, you know, funded. Uh, without getting too punitive, I think with folks because most of our trees are gone, right? But anyway,

I keep wondering where there's another place to build, but then

they find places. I know. And that's just going to continue like in perpetuity, you know, until the la last inch is uh is gone. So I don't think it's too late, you know, to put something like that to try to preserve some of the green space in the community and restore a tree canopy. But uh but that's what early October was about then were these meetings as well. And then we did a training, the three of us did a training on the tree tender. Um well we did a big meeting with um all those organizations just talking about Macandless Macandless issues and what they could do and provide. So um so a lot of those three groups uh do have um university um uh teams that are coming together to do many projects. So um doing tree assessments, tree inventories. So right now they're you know I had a whole list of things they could feasibly do. So all these uh five six other tree organizations are willing to jump in and help us with doing some of the things with the resources they have or that they can bring.

There's a group um how long ago was that John that did the inventory through Macandless and you know I had them out in Wallpark and and all of that. I want to say that was at least five years ago. So you have one. Yeah. That was all, you know, they did all the trees around here and all that. So all the trees like are in all of McManas or just in the municipality like in the township owned property? It was like an inventory project. Yeah.

And then whenever you planted, you would could email in and say, "Hey, we just planted a tree in our yard just to add to the inventory." I'm not three years in a row I had the most trees planted.

But did anyone did anyone walk all the streets of the township and document all the trees? No. So that's kind of what we're talking about doing is that level of detail and knowledge and then having our GPS map, right? Because now you know everything you had and then what's going to come and go. So that's what the student projects would be from the universities and then it would be under the guidance of you know arborists who know what they're doing and that kind of thing. So yeah Archie of course is excited about doing those kind of projects. Um so folks have a board. Mhm.

Yeah. I mean, his his knowledge base, he's already corrected a bunch of things that we've done. And then, you know, so just to finish though, um so next Friday, uh we'll be accepting 100 trees at 10:00 a.m. Um I did find out, um in our tree tender training that there are some things to be done if anybody wanted to come and assist with that. Um, and then John, I'd like to commun, you know, kind of coordinate with you on the facility when they drop them off. Okay. Yeah, I'll remind Brad that they're coming. And he he has not gotten back to me. So, I reached out. John S said that he's graciously going to offer that and I'll just remind Brad that he's offering that. Yeah. Friday morning.

He's aware. He was aware of it when I was talking with him last week. Oh, good. Okay. So, yeah. So, Friday morning, they're coming. I'll be there. What I'd love to do is stage them at that time. And if not, you know, we can stage them at some point during the day on Saturday. What time are they coming, Bernie? 10:00 a.m. Oh, okay. Right. I can come for the later tree adoption part. Um, I have something from 11 to 1, but after Well, it depends on do you want me in costume? Otherwise, um, I will have to change, but after that.

Yeah. I mean, if you want that'd be great. I mean, you know, a little bit of help on the tree adoption. I I feel like um you know, we probably need another two to five people to just help, you know, people, you know, find the right ones. Uh it's really the um the protection for each tree is what needs to be, you know, carried with the tree, you know, when people get it. So, yeah. But, but yeah, but we're, you know, we're I think Archie and Julie are also recruiting. So, if anybody like So, are there young people? So, um Friday, do you need help at 10:00 Friday?

Um I I don't need help while we're placing them in. And that's what I want to learn is can I put them in place when they're being delivered or do I have to change them, you know, stay out of the way until, you know, the next morning? Um so that's what I'd like to know. Um but um the creating what they call party favors. Tree Pittsburgh calls them that. They already pre-cut all the wrapping for the trees, but putting a steak with each of them so that they're ready to go, you know, one off. I I can be there Friday. Okay. You know, maybe make the party face.

Yeah, sure. I I can I'll be there 10:00 on Friday and it's Saturday. Um and not not assuming that you have you know an opportunity to be there or can be there but can we extend it to our new members or to be there at the at the tree tenders or can or should we ask them to just help with adoption?

Either one if you want to put in the hours to do an actual tree tender course. I don't know. I didn't hear you guys say you love trees, but it's from 9 to 3 uh that day here in uh town uh hall. You know, we'll be doing that uh tree tender training course, but then the adoption is not until 3:00 to 5:00. And so that's where we kind of need bodies to help out. So if you want to, we can always give you um letters for your volunteer hours that you may need as well. Wonderful. So if you would think about that y so you don't have to answer here. if you would think about that and then and then let us know

and and yeah, but let us let us know. Let Melissa and Matt will be your your points of contact if you could let them know through email if you can attend one or the other or both, whatever that is. And there's, you know, if you can't, then you can't. I can't. I wish I could, but I but I'm busy that. But yeah, and Archie is going to be with me all day and so is Julie. So, you know, we're the three of us will be all day. Okay. Yeah. It's a good opportunity to Yep. Yeah, if you need help setting up the room that morning, I can probably try to come up and at least open the door for you and, you know, make sure this all works.

Yeah, that would be great because I think last time when we did the speaker series, you know, there were things about finding things. So, yeah, that would be great, John. Thank you. So, uh, but that's it. I mean, that leads us to the 18th and and there's my map of don't forget where McCandless is and the green parts of it that are already there and how we can green the rest. Um, and just last one, uh, this is just our projected, you know, we've been working on this. Um, so Julie actually uh has been working on a much more extensive um, schedule for, you know, what I would call marketing, communication, messages. um she wants to do some YouTube or some videos during the tree tender training and the adoption um so that we actually have some content for launch. Uh a big part of what we talked about doing is having some launch videos um how-tos, that kind of thing. So, I don't know how much content she'll be able to actually capture during the actual tree tender training um or that day with the adoption, but again, she's got all kind of really great ideas about using social media and John will obviously coordinate that with you. Um she'll meet you and understand how that works. Um

so, Bernie, can we somehow wrap this up into mechanis 175 and put that in a video? And you know this is this is you know this of course if it was 180 we would still be doing it but I mean it's 175 and we could say for the 175th anniversary we're tackling this program and that can be part of her message in in the in the videos. That was always the intention which is why we were going to launch it in January. Mh. But and that's what we wanted some, you know, evergreen content as well as some other, you know, stuff. We talked about

like when people are coming to pick up trees, you know, maybe doing interviews like, you know, guest homies, you know, uh, you know, where you going to put your tree, that kind of thing. So, we have this content that we can kind of share. Um, so, uh, but yes, absolutely. tying this into the 175th. I mean, the challenge has been I keep saying, "What is the date?" And I just keep hearing there is no date. It's It's all year, right? The birthday party will probably be in March. Yeah, that's the actual day. Oh. Oh, there is a day in March. Okay. But then we may actually do a birthday celebrate like a different celebration in July. There's still a little flexibility on the schedule, but assume there'll be events throughout the year.

And that's what we considered this, right? And I I mean I know I I waved not sitting on the committee, but Jeff knows. And yeah, I mean this is fully intended to be part of the festivities of the 175. Well, it you know, you are doing this. You're you know, I'm I'm sitting on a committee as a figurehead and saying, "Yes, the EAC is committing to a tree canopy or recanopy, right, but but you're actually doing the work, so let's you know."

Yeah. But the coordination with the committee, I mean, that's where and maybe that's how we could banner this is, you know, a project of, you know, mechanist 175th, you know, and then that could be the kickoff to getting it going. I'm fine with positioning that way. This is why I'm thrilled that we finally have like a, you know, somebody who can handle that. So, I can kind of and Archie can handle more of the, you know, the content and the correctness of it. And uh for me it's just the logistics then and the fundraising. Yeah. And that's something you know I have in there when some of the grants are when they're due. You know I want to make sure we get on the schedule this year to and not not miss it. Yeah.

Trish, do you do you know if there's anything that's happening in the school in NA with regard to Canvas 175? Um you know Tik Tok videos. I don't I think that was something that we were going to start working with our junior council people. Yeah, to to start doing some outreach in to the the community on that stuff for sure. I don't think anything's said yet. You know, is there something like would anybody ever share anything like this in in NA or is it would it interest anybody or not interest anybody or about the trees or the 175th?

Well, it's a bomb. It's a you know, did you know it's McCain's is 175th and did you know that you know McCandless is trying to do this with tree? I mean, would anybody care about that? An environmental club or uh yeah, they do have like an environmental club and like a science honors club. So, you might be able to make that like something like volunteer for the like national science honors society. Uh I also know like they have fair amount. They have like three different levels of environmental science classes. That would probably be interesting to them. And I assume they could just throw it in like the monthly newsletter they do too. Although I don't. Who teaches the environmental science? Yeah. Who who is that? Uh Amy Bosmegel. That was who I had, but there are two of them. I think this year they already knew.

That's great. I mean, I keep wanting to connect with that environmental class. I think, you know, they would care about the issues this committee cares about. I could reach out to her. I'm sure she'd be happy to talk to Let's come back to that. Matt, I'd love for you to jump in on that conversation. Let's let's come back and and think about how we can how we can do that. Jenna, you have any thoughts about that?

Um, yeah. Yeah. So, I was actually thinking about this just like in preparation for the meeting and everything. I think that it'd be really cool to run some sort of social media outreach that's geared towards younger people and like a general like Macandas 175th or like Macandas environmental account. I think that's like a primary form of communication and when kids are just like absorbing content that like to kind of slide that in there would be kind of nice. I wouldn't mind like helping slash like helping run some of that. That would be uh I'm relatively familiar with like running some social media platforms for different clubs and things. So, and I'm sure Nadia, I'm sure you're also done that for a couple with social media for clubs. So, I think that it'd be super interesting to see if we could set something up to like draw volunteers in through social media and draw involvement in through that and maybe use some of those resources to plan some things for students as well. like some specific student volunteer days where it's like we have a student volunteer day. You can get volunteer hour letters cuz

that's good.

Kids love that. Like when you tell a high school student, hey, come plant some trees and we'll sign you a letter that says you came and planted trees. It's a great thing for a lot of high school students, especially ones applying to colleges. So, I think it'd be super interesting to like push that out through social media and push out volunteer opportunities. I I I mean that would be invaluable. The way we see doing this is doing the large group tree plantings in the spring and stay focused on the tree tenders and tree adoptions in the fall. So we're not at least for the first year. Um so I actually already requested October 17th of 2026 to repeat our treatment tree day. So it'll be um you know so I've asked Tree Pittsburgh to repeat the tree tender course and the tree adoption day but this time we'll go get you know some underwriting and hopefully we can make it a lot bigger. So, and I did that so we could put it on a calendar, you know, on the Macandas calendar that that's kind of our, you know, it's meant to be like a how do we get the residents more engaged, but the tree plantings in the spring, you know, this is the one where we've talked about Westpen Power sponsoring one um and one in North Park in the arboritum. And so I think, you know, we'll need volunteers for those large plantings in the spring if

and there's definitely will be an abundance of student volunteers if like you push that out through social medias and people and push it out through schools cuz I know that it's really like hard to find volunteer. It's something that NA does because there isn't like requirement for like graduation hours, but a lot of students do like national honor society and there's like 100ish kids doing that and the slots fill up for that really quick. So, if you could maybe partner with NHS and make that like an official like in club hour, I know those like there's a lot of drama about like if you're friends with someone who knows about the volunteer hours, you can get the good hours early. Like it's fairly competitive.

Oh, excellent. Well, that's where again, you know, you guys on the youth side of this can assist with how we can make that happen. I I would be thrilled to get young people involved in three talk with Matt so that you can coordinate. Yes. Yeah. So, Matt, do you wanna you want to jump in here at all? And

um I I mean, we I I can just say we we are we have talked to the sponsors of National Honor Society. That's how we got a lot of our volunteers for the litter pickup. Um I have reached out to Amy a number of times and not gotten any sort of response. So, maybe Nadia, you will have more luck. Um we we have been trying to connect. The only person we've really connected with on a consistent basis is uh the uh the sponsor for the Interact Club, um Mrs. Lombardi. Uh so all everybody else uh kind of touches base every now and again, maybe once a year, and then we send out emails and they just kind of go off into the ether. So, um, you know, if you have connections, Nadia, with those folks at NA, please, by all means, uh, let them know to either respond to my emails or, uh, we can contact through you is totally fine, too. But I totally agree getting getting more students involved is is imperative.

If you know the president, the student president of the NHS. Yeah. Because I I agree with Matt. I've had some difficult trying to get Mr. Tendowski to respond. Yeah. But I have found that once I know who the student president is, things can happen. It's usually the other NHS sponsor who does communication, usually not Tangoski. Yeah. Okay. Well, he doesn't even answer emails. Well, well, so you can be the communication person. Oh, he doesn't answer student emails either.

Well, so um I mean just the gist of you know what we're doing. Again, this is a draft. This is not final. The only thing I tried landing for our calendar was next October 17th. Um trying to keep it a year from date and trying to create a consistent um event. Uh and that would be the one that we would try to make sure we get underwritten. And then the speaker series, I mean, we talked about doing at least two. And I know we used to partner with the library and because of construction, we stopped doing that, but we talked about wanting to do at least two of them. And because Lar Ro has offered to also get involved um you know we thought maybe doing um one or two things at Lar Ro um you know they they had offered um March and November as good months for them you know to do things on their campus but part of what we'll be looking to do and I I would make the request I mean I I know Julie has this whole list of all the places that Macan list I guess can do social media and she's already trying to figure out what to do when. But, you know, one of the things we're looking for is instead of like our rotating McMail tips, is there any way we could have kind of a monthly tree?

Yeah. So that I don't know if you have room, you know, I know it's mainly digital these days, but if we could do always something about trees every month um not to replace McMail tips, but um additionally um because that's one of the things Archie wants to do is like have this whole calendar of how do we convey, you know, all the things about tree use throughout the year. Maybe a couple tree bullet points maybe. Okay. you know, this month you do this because I know we do like to Ken does his thing, you know, in January and stuff where we talk about pruning. So maybe something like that each month, you know. Yeah. Or fun tree facts.

Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Or tips for trees. So then we'd still rely on McMail tips for the indepth stuff and then just uh tree tips like um short. Okay. All right. Well, why don't why don't we why don't we yield a little bit of the McMill um you know real estate to that and I'm just saying that you maybe maybe McMail we or I'm sorry the uh the the the monthly tip maybe we shorten that a little bit

and give you a couple couple more characters. Bernie's proposing using outlets other than McN since a lot of people don't actually have access. Thank you. Bernie's proposing using like the social media outlet to to reach well that and and the right well and a lot of it and I mean we'll coordinate with John but like we feel like again remember this is like an advocacy education you know it's not let's get out there and plant 50,000 trees all of us here around the table. It's like how do we convince everybody that trees are good? They're worth the uh cost of planting and maintenance and you know how to do that. Um so I think that's such a big

very much like the litter pickup. I mean before it was 20 people and now now it's 130 people because we convinced the community that it was the right thing to do. Yeah. And exactly same same blueprint for that.

Yeah. I think the importance of tree canopy you know so it is uh more of education advocacy as a campaign even though there's these activities but I know in the speaker series which I think you and GB had always kind of coordinated um we just like to I know there used to be three two or three a year so we'd like to do two but maybe another two could be on other topics as well so maybe we expand the speakers here and I actually have that as a line item down here but if who who should do that. Okay. All right. So, that's pretty much it. Yeah,

I think Oh, if you want to just quickly go through, John, like just show everybody go past these. These are my standard. Well, go back up to that one. Uh, so this was like Rebecca's message. Um, so this had something to do with who attended, you know, the speakers, um, you know, uh, on the budget session. And then she also uh so on behalf of the municipality and by the way Trish the council members uh the staff u that's what they're they're offering these future workshops not just for let's say tree people but for municipal staff and you know other folks. So, um, anyway, so there's two more, one at the Alageney County Conservation District December 4th and another one um in person is to be determined. Uh, the other thing is the group that met uh, which was most of these plus other groups um, the one that met in Oakmont um, it was only their second convening of multi-municipality tree conversation. So I offered to host the next one which will either be in December or January. So I will work with uh either the library or they held it at Oakmont Library. Um so we could do it at the library. I could talk to Lar Ro or because I don't know if you guys have a place big enough but

how many people were there? I'm sorry. Um 50 60. Yeah. It's too big for the heritage center. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It was a a nice We have the powers room that be told it.

Okay. But but that's what I'll look for is where we could, you know, post it. Yeah. I mean, I'm trying to get, you know, uh but if you keep scrolling through, then we can take a look. Just I'm not going to go through them, but keep going. So, here's the uh these are the ones from the uh 18th uh lunch and learn and this was all about budgeting for trees and municipalities. So, if you just scroll through real quick, you kind of get a gist of who was there and what they did. And again, lots of other workshops that are kind of being put together now, all the municipalities. So, if you know, I can send this uh deck out to everybody. So you'll then have all of you including municipal staff, um, council folks. Like that's what connect does. Connect is, you know, the Congress of Neighborhoods, I think is what they're called. I don't know if we work with them or not, but anyway, but keep going, John. Just again, the Alageney County Conservation District. So Olivia is the one who sent me all the ordinance information. She was part of our one-on-one meeting. Um and then you know this talks about budgets, budget sizes, what they should be based on population and again you know just

we all have the deck there, right? Yeah, that's what I mean. The these there are probably 60 more slides which is why I'm saying we're not going to go through them, but I wanted everybody to have them uh because you didn't get them unless you attended these things. So, I'm glad that Archie went to this and I went to the other one. So, we have both slide decks and uh you know the Yeah. And there's the ickly action fund. Did you see that? Yeah, I did. Yeah. Um so, they're they've gotten involved in the you know measurements for trees and calculations for um good. And any other questions?

Yeah. Yeah. Thanks everybody for you know the support. It's been great. Okay. Um let's move next to um community outreach. Ken, can you give us a uh recap of the deer presentation September 30? Well, couple of things. First, you know, the archery season did start two weeks ago. Um so, the suburban white tail hunters um through the first two weeks of September harvested 15 deer. Okay. I project didn't realize that was going on. We'll put you back on project update for every meeting. Wow. 15.

That's what they normally. It's normally all those at this time. They don't uh they don't harvest the buck until after they harvest. I had a nice 10point at 20 yards for me for 15 minutes at my house this afternoon. Um and about a dozen other deer bedded down in my yard. Um so we had a deer presentation. Janine Faggel from the uh game commission. Uh she's the white biologist for the game commission. Number of you were there. We had 47 people there. Uh when I started to speak I was expecting that there would be some anti- people there and there wasn't. Everybody is very aware that we have way way too many deer. Um the only issues that that really were cropping up was um people thought we weren't communicating that well and I'm not sure how we improved that. Um and the the other part really is ignorance on their part of the game laws and things like that. like a one lady wanting somebody to hunt her backyard, but you have 50 yard safety zone and all these game laws and everything like that that that it's not as simple as what she was thinking. So overall, I think it it was went very well. U was getting a little uh testy a little bit and and so Jason uh the council president uh got up and handled some things there that were beyond my ability to deal with. Um, but I think that that uh as we're going forward uh continuing to support the uh suburban whitetail in and their uh archery program and also further along with uh doing some more enhanced deer management uh later this year.

Thank you. And I and I I thought you did a great job. It was just uh it was it was just uh it was getting intense and and we needed we needed Jason to step up and speak on behalf of the municipality I think. So yeah, listen. Did the recording make it online somewhere? Yes, it's online. Okay. And was it then shared to all of the people the speakers who expressed interest in speakers? I'm going to do that soon. Okay. Okay. But yeah, it's on our YouTube channel, Facebook. It was in McMail. It's on the homepage. Yeah. Yeah. Right. Um and we have we have formally applied for the expanded right. Yes. That paper submitted. Yeah.

And couple you know like with Bernie's tree program until until we get the deer population under control. It's to me it's it's it's a very hard thing to do because anything that's not 10 ft tall the deer eaten if it's not more than 6 in in diameter the bucks rub their antlers on it and kill it. Um, I'm also very active with American Chestnut Foundation and all that. So, this is a it says tank on their F2. That means it's it's pretty resistant and grows pretty much like an American chestnut. These are seeds anybody can have. Um, that means that that in in 10 years it'll be about 30 feet tall. And

chestnuts have burrs on them. So, you don't want to plant them wherever you're going to ever be in bare feet. Um, and then this is a this is a pure straight American. This is from my neighbor has a surviving American chestnut on her property and then I had planted a uh chestnut tree for muser uh years ago and they were both flowering this year. So this is this is a pure American chestnut. It'll probably live 20 30 years and then sub to the blight. Um, but if you plant one of each kind of thing, that's really where we we're trying to go with the breeding program of trying to get as much American in them and still be resistant to the blight. And then these are just hazelnuts. Um, I got these originally from Swickley probably 30 years ago. They they grow about 15 feet tall. Um, and if you plant a couple of them, you'll have a a whole bunch of hazelnuts that you can eat or make coffee or whatever you want to do with them. But they're um they're a good shrub. They only get like 15 feet tall.

So, these are free. Those are extra seeds. I've spent the last two weeks with between my chestnut orchards harvesting. I keep track of I know the genetics of every one of them and all that good stuff. So, anyway, I'm glad that that's all done for now. Um any questions on the deer program that those of you that that were there any comments that you have? I think in addition uh to what you mentioned also a lot of the spiciness was around um

Lyme disease and ticks and that relationship which I know as Janine explained isn't a direct relationship and there's a lot of other things involved but it seemed like that was a very um I think it's something that we need to touch more on since it does involve the environment and I think that's something that we'll discuss as we get down towards McMill very very common misunderstanding of a source of life. Well, and you know with with a lot of the larvae and stuff like that, they hang out in the barberry and that's with North Park. I mean, you have still grass and barberry. That's the only thing that's in the understory now. Y

and so that's that's we're we're really an epicenter for for all of the the tick. I mean, if you look at the data, we're right up in the very top on all that with Lyme disease and everything. And the person that was bringing that up is a rheumatoid doctor. And so he understood the medical part of it very well. He doesn't understand the other part of it very well.

Yeah. He he was just want to try to convince everybody at this his this his point. Um, just anecdotally, so I do a lot of mountain biking and a lot of hiking, but but so I Boyce Park, Deer Lakes, Hartwood, I see no deer. We we we biked in Boyce Park last Sunday, no deer. I'll I'll walk in North Park in the woods in one hour. I'll see 30 easily 30 40 something like but I mean in these other parks and they're huge parks and they're county parks and no deer. Now, maybe, you know, maybe they're spooked. Maybe there's a different um you maybe maybe just because of there's more people or less people or whatever that it is, but I don't I don't know why they're here as much as they're here, but they but they are here.

Deer population doubles every two to three years. Yeah. Well, I mean, and anything we harvest, you know, like as I said in in my intro, it's like the the white tail the suburban white tail hunters harvested 65 deer last year on Macandless Roads pickup, meaning not including Mcnite and 19 and not including ones that ran into the woods. We picked up 165 deer last year. So, you know, it's hunting is very very hard in in in suburban communities. And so that's why we're looking at at at uh upgrading what we're doing.

Yeah. Well, it was it was well done. Um you know, it was it was an excellent session. It was well attended and it was uh it it was you know, I think we presented it very very well. So, um thank you.

And my hope is is if if we can get the deer population back to if you have an area that can hold a 100 deer and you have 200 deer in it, which is essentially what we are now. You have to take it down to 50 deer for five to seven years for things to recover. And if we get to that point, that's when we can get into our parks and start getting our all of our native wild plants and everything reestablished. But the deer have really devastated the ecosystem that that you can't really do any of that at this point in time. Well, I appreciate your efforts on this because you've educated me that we can't plant anything until you get this managed. So, thank you. where you have to have a lot of wiring around

and I and I did my my best to sell the tree tenders course and you know what we're trying to do in in 2026 um before Ken kicked it off. Uh next up then is community day recap and I just have committee here because we were all involved um and and I I think it all went well but I mean Joanna do you have any suggestions on um I I think I think we need a corner booth for um just because we're trying to do more. We're not just sitting there with, you know, I think we're very active booth. I think we had a great day. But your thoughts?

I do wonder if the craft having the craft there, especially with the tight booth, took away from one having the message because it kind of blocked some of the booth. And also, I feel like a lot of people weren't really looking for that in a way. I feel I uh I was able to count exactly how many we did because I had an empty uh hole punch and I was hole punching every single one. we made exactly 24. Um, but looking back through it's like spending that amount of time one that was the amount of time I could have talked about Rain Garden and I could have done more like education on some of my interests and things that where I add to the committee but instead it's a lot of like making the crafts with the kids.

Um, I was going to say the same thing. We had a couple hours before Jo and I showed up with crafts. we were much more engaged with people having those discussions and then the placement of the craft is really where I think there was room for improvement and even in prior years we had a craft but it was sort of off the side like behind us or something and it worked better because the booth was able to be that primary vector for those discussions. Um but a corner might solve that problem.

Either a corner or the other thing that I recommended is if they have like a craft area. So if there's other parts of the town that want to have a craft. So say the heritage center wants some kind of macanless craft and then the EAC could have some kind of macanless craft and then uh you know there's other groups in the town that might be able to supply some kind of craft or activity or something that it's going to be like a kids corner but that way it's something that's completely separate. So, if you're looking for something for kids, you go there. But otherwise, if you're looking for information, you want to have that actual conversation. That's a separate place. And that way, the craft corner could maybe be staffed by more volunteers that are like ready to sit there and be there with the kids. And that could be maybe a little bit more with like even some of the high schooler type volunteers. Um, but allow the people that are on the committee to, you know, man more the information booth. I think I think I actually talked to more people at Master Gardeners about the different things that we do than than I did at community days.

Yeah, good point. I I was going to say one other thing. We didn't sign up quick enough for student volunteers to assist us. So that that was something too. So in the future if we will want them, we need to request that. Yes. Yes. I was a I gave away 260 squishies. Mhm. So the the the the dumb little recycling game was okay, but you know, is that is that the right place for it or not? I don't I don't know. But, you know, it gets people over there. The point was that I was trying to get kids to play the game while we could engage the parents. You know, there was no space. Yeah. Right. That's right. Yes. Um just real quick,

so a couple of years ago, we had a booth that was on the end. It was it was over by It was closer to the actual building. um and closer to the stage, which was a problem as far as being able to hear whenever everything was being performed, but I know the stage now is moved out into the the field and everything. But anyway, we had an end booth and then they gave us essentially like a second booth space that was didn't have a table or anything. It just had a tarp down and that's where we did all the craft stuff. So the advantage there was that just like you're talking about Jeff, the when the kids were there, they were right there doing the craft and then we could be talking to the parents as well. So that was that's the advantage over having like a separate craft corner for us is that we have the kids there doing the thing and then the parents are there standing there and then we're talking to them also rather than having them separated a little bit. So I don't know if that's possible to do that again. I know that community day is a lot more popular than it was at one point as well. So maybe there might not be space for that, but an end booth with that additional space on the end uh was really worked really well for us uh when when we did that.

Well, I think we have a relationship now with with Abby that if we requested a end or corner, whether we want to do a craft or not, but just had room to have conversations, I I think she read that to us. So, okay, we'll at least do that and then we'll determine next year about Yeah, I think especially being a committee of the town that shouldn't be an issue, right? And I was it Abby or was it somebody mentioned like just because of the 175th um one of the considerations was like expanding the amount of time of there talk of two days. I'm not sure where that is, but I guess that Yeah, like to have a craft and to have people staff for that amount of time,

that's a lot for seven people on a committee. My kids say heard. Yeah, if it was two days, we would prefer to only attend for one of it that way. Not going to tell you not to do that. Okay. Anything else on community day? Uh, did you have any feedback, Bernie? uh just I mean when we met and talked trees and what to do. So, we were thinking community day, you could do walk and thoughts about trees and, you know, maybe more uh informative that way as opposed to trying to squeeze into the booths and go trees, you know. So,

you know, maybe sprawling it and making it an activity of uh the community day walk. That's time. That is time to go walk. Yeah, you would schedule actual times and you could do I I know you were talking about doing a thing with the kids where,

you know, finding certain leaves. I mean, you could do things like that at certain times so that the tree stuff could be planned, timed, and coordinated instead of having to fit into the booth with uh because that's been the other thing too is we're doing so much. It's so hard to like squeeze into a 10 by 10 and then say, "Okay, everybody talk about what you're doing." Because I signed up a bunch of hunters. I hope you reached out to them. Um, but because I don't know what ever happens, the list um list gets typed out and the names we have. They're all on the signup list now. So, we have it on the Google sheet and on the one in our SharePoint. Oh, do we? Okay. Because I haven't looked, but because I know I sent you the

But I I don't know, Ken, if you ever got the coordination on that. There were no notes about hunters specifically. No, there were. Oh, I have to re look at the picture. Oh, then I'll I'll take a look too. And if you do see that, yeah, just let Well, forward it to suburban, you know, that because that's really where that needs to go. Well, if I I'll look at the photo I took, but there were notes that said these were just deer deer hunters. So, I it was two different Oh, I I saw the word deer. I thought they wanted to do a presentation. Yeah. Um and yeah, I thought I would be coordinating more on that list than doing

I made sure they got white tail approval process experience. All that works. We whenever we approved whitetail coming in, we made sure to understand their approval process of who would be allowed to go to my neighbor's house. Yeah. That sort of thing. And the our green space, the parks are open for public hunting, but people before they do that need to um go down and with the police department and um register their hunting license and their driver's license and Yeah. And so, no, I understood there was a process, but I thought you'd call them afterward. And I did not realize that the notes were not, you know,

it was not clear. Yeah. And I haven't seen them. So, that's also why I didn't comment. So, okay. You know, I I'll try and find that list. I I have that picture you sent. So, I'll just Okay. We can pass those directly to Ken and he contact them. I wouldn't limit to it. That's okay. Just one real quick thing too that I forgot to mention is that uh Abby had scheduled a uh nature hike through Wall Park last Thursday and Jack and I went on that and and um we had probably like 18 20 people there and uh she did a very good job to I'm going to draw a blank on her name right now. um

Katie from nature from the uh Lottomy nature center and so you know you had it was all people my age um you know what weren't young people there but um and and at the end I don't think she was expecting any owls but we had a couple of owls talking to us and stuff like that so it went it went pretty well and she did a very nice job

communication about that go I didn't even know there was something like that last week Yeah, that's great. Okay. Um, community date then we're done with that. Okay, moving on. We've already talked about tree terms and tree adoption. Bernie gave us some numbers in her in her deck. Um, going on to Winterfest. The only reason I have that down here is because do we want to participate in Winterfest, which is Yes. Um, yes, I would agree with that, too. Um, December 6th. So, we'll have a we'll have a booth at Winterfest. So, we'll we'll move on that. And Aby's other question to us is, do we want to decorate a tree? We should. Okay, that could be fun.

All right. Too time consuming. Well, the only reason we did a tree, but I say we and of course wasn't me at all, but it was Dawn. But Dawn would do something, Ken. I mean, it would be so elaborate. Her stuff was so elaborate that it was it was it was fragile. It was it was that you know it was it was these things that you would if we just decorate just a n like just hang some nature things or something or whatever pine cones and things like that. Yeah, it was it was it was too much. It was too much. But we hadn't we did we we skipped last year um because we were in transition. But I I will say yes to doing it this year.

I guess we should vote on that. Well, I know. I mean, I I think we should do it. And I like the idea. I If we're going to do it with well, at least decorating the tree, like having some idea of how maybe with paper towel or toilet paper. What I was just thinking the what I have access to I have a bunch of children that I can That's what I was just thinking is that there are ways to definitely if little kids and recycling to the center for creative reuse and just get a bunch of like stuff that we can recycle and then I'll just use my word and take advantage of the fact that I work for children. They can make nature instead. They can make nature and then I will put it on the tree.

Okay. So you I volunteered to decorate the tree. Oh, well that's that's how you feel. But the problem with that is the kid will want to take it home. Well, think about it. But I think the answer should be yes. We should come up with something put it on the tree. Will they still want to take it home? They might not be able to get to put kids if you tell them it's going to be for a very special tree in the town and you are, you know. Yeah. Like make it their job. You're going to decorate this town's tree.

Much happen. Think the day. Yes, it we did it the day of. Okay. We did it the day. So we don't need to pre Yeah. I mean if winter fest is at 7 o'clock or whatever that is and it's a little bit later because you know because it's it's going to be a little earlier this year I think. Right. Yeah. They've increased by an hour. It's 3 to seven though. Oh jeez. Okay. Well, then we would meet it two earlier. How big does the tree need to be? It's They're not big big tree. All right. They're already They're small. That will be fun. Okay. All right. I I hear by. So, the answer is that we're going to attend Winterfest. We're going to have a booth at Winterfest and we're we're going to plant a tree. I'll let Abby know. The trees from prior years when you're on

Mechanics, right? trees. Those were Christmas trees years before. Oh, that's right. Yeah, they all get planted. They're all Yeah. Yeah. decorated. Wonderful. Okay. Wonderful. So then then then we'll we'll we just need to respond back to her. So we'll do that.

Um next is parks master play outreach. I'm just I have that on here because I'm just mentioning that tomorrow night is an open house in the P room from 6:00 to 7:30 if anybody wants to attend see what the plan is from the committee to address each park the needs of the community feedback from the community get additional feedback. It's happening tomorrow night. I'm just mentioning that. Next up is open initiatives and I have on junior EAC member discussion. I know we already started doing that, but Matt and Melissa, um, I'd really love to set some expectations for Jenna and Nadia and, you know, sort of, you know, what is what has been successful in the past and things that they can do that's certainly not going to, you know, get in the way of of their most important job of of of school, but something that can be participant and and and interesting.

Yeah. So, for this year, Matt and I are going to act as your mentor, primary points of contact. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions. We're happy to meet with you outside of our monthly meetings or we can stick around and chat after our monthly meetings, but come to us with any questions. Uh we actually created little folders with some information that we'll email out to you guys later today or tomorrow pending timing. Um it will have information for what we're expecting you to do while you're here. and we'll meet with you and just fill you in on all of the big to-dos for your time with us a little bit later so that we're respectful of everybody's time here. Um Matt, do you have anything to add right now?

No, just welcome. Thanks so much for joining us. Happy to have you both. Thank you. Yeah, and I mean it'll be it should be interesting. It'll be fun. um you know, we'll we'll work with you your schedule and um you know, you can be you can participate as much as you want to and certainly what you're doing tonight is you know is value added to this committee. So um you know so we do welcome you. Thank you. Yeah, I don't know what Jeff's talking about. I make no guarantees of fun.

Um roadside cleanup update. I put that on here because two things. We should at least we we we know that we have taken the roadside cleanup and we have formed it into an annual cleanup around Earth Day. It has become the largest single community volunteer event that Candace has. It's been successful. We get 120 people. No guarantee we'll get it again. We picked up 200 and some bags for the past couple years. We expect that we'll do that again this year. We have buy in. I have emailed to um the town manager the date. Um I've talked to Chief Hawk about police coverage. U for budget purposes. I've asked for five details again this year. We've we've secured the DPW's participation again. Um but we also have to have the discussion about do we do it in the fall? And I know it is the fall right now. We've done it around this date. Um I vote that we do not. I vote that we don't water down what we have the product that we have and we we just look to the spring but I wanted to open that up for the committee.

Are we required to do two cleanups a year though or we are required to do one thing? The EAC is required to do the adopt a highway cleanup. Correct. Twice a year. Yes. Right. And last year there was a smaller one in the fall just for that purpose. So I would say that we do need to do that just to make sure we hit that requirement. Okay. Great. So, so with that, so, so do we agree then we are not going to have a communitywide fall cleanup? Not this year.

Not this year. Okay, I agree. And then secondly, we do need to adopt the highway date. So, there is an adopt a highway for the EAC, which is when you go on Ingamar through the park, past the soccer fields, there's a clover leaf, four ramps, and that's our adopt a highway. And it might take, you know, literally it might take an hour to clean it up, something like that. But we have to do that twice a year, John. We have to report to you how many bags we get. Mhm.

So, we should work on a day um in, you know, coming up in October. Well, November, really. We can do it in November. We should work on a day that three of us can go there, four of us can go there, three of us and a student member can go there, something like that. And we'll knock it off in an hour on a Saturday morning. So, um I will send an email to the committee, propose some dates, um and then people could just come back and say yes, no, no, no, no, no. You know, and all that. So, yes. What's the name of the road that it is to Clover Leaf? It's the ramps that get you on and off road

from Ignite Road to to um Ingamar. Okay, I got it. All right. Thank you. I don't know if they have any. Yeah. LA last year it was Mark um a past committee member and his wife and two children and I think it was me and Melissa. Yeah, we we did it in

had that yes I was signed up to come and then yes but but the point is that it's not a lot of work and it's not a lot of time commitment. So we can we can do it and and fulfill our commitment which most people that have adopted highways do not. So we will set the example that we will Okay. So I I will follow up on that. No fall plan. Okay. So miscellaneous um open EAC position. John, can you give us an update on that please? Yeah, we have three formal applicants for that one position right now. Uh the deadline is the 27th. That's Monday.

There was a fourth person who inquired but hasn't submitted an application yet. And there actually was a fifth person who also applied for planning commission and zoning hearing board. So since we have so many applicants, I just decided to let them, you know, the zoning people take them for now. So yeah, we still have a few more weeks, but we're in pretty good shape. So October 2 or 27th, you said? Yes, that's a Monday. And that'll be the applicants. Yep. Okay. Okay. And is this for the four-year position or It's for a partial position. Okay. I think it's 2028. So, it's still mostly full. Okay. But, yeah. So, okay. So, two and a half years or so. Yeah.

Okay. Um, it it will take months though, right? To find somebody like doesn't it take months to No. No. Interview probably that week. Yeah. Schedule them all in a row and then Yeah. counsel on them soon. Oh, okay. Yeah. We usually will with this whenever the application period closes then we get the list of applicants. John will email probably Nick and myself and say when are you available? Can you do this time? Nick will probably will not be available till after the election day. I can tell you that for a fact though. Let's keep that in mind. If you want him part of the process,

but then really we we make our decision that day and bring it up to council. So, with all due respect to Nick, um, if we want to move faster, would you then be on I would have been on it anyway as a alternate. Okay. So, it would be typically it's Nick and myself and one probably you, Jeff, or Yeah. Yeah. So, the next alternate would could possibly be Jack. Mhm. Okay. So, I don't think Nick would have an issue. He would understand, but I I do know where his like he his time is very thin right now. Yeah. Until election day. Okay, good. Yeah, I'd like to fill that seat.

When would council They wouldn't get on. They wouldn't join us until December. Um, no. No. If we go that week, October the 27th, it's Monday. We, if we got it done that week, the next council meeting after that would be November 10th. We vote them in on November. When's our next 12? Okay. So, give them two days to Yeah. Yeah. I mean, we we we move pretty quickly on these appointments. Oh, yeah.

Okay. Great. Uh, next is the McMeltech. And I think that uh Joanna sort of anchored us to what the what the the people want. Um I think it is the right answer, but I I'm kind of curious which direction or if we want to have a dual one there though because it's one thing to talk about ticks and you know not having ticks in your yard. It's another one if we want to talk about specifically Lyme disease. Yeah. I don't know that we want to do that, right? Yeah. I I mean, you know, I'll take counter arguments, but I think your law your yard maybe is something that would be, you know, the EA in the EAC's wheelhouse.

Yeah. Because we're not medical professionals. Yeah. Right. Not in that way. No, we've framed it as the garden of leaves topic, right? We can tie that. Yes. And that's not a problem for me. It will probably be called tick tock. Oh, letting you guys know now. I mean that's that's what we did last year, right? Didn't we didn't we use that same thing last year? We used garden and lawn leaf topic, not something called Tik Tok. We we definitely used Tik Tok at some point because I remember I remember too good of a Please do. Okay. I

Yeah, that that's a good one. um you know they they were stressing you know bird feeders in your yard and it was surprising that people would like we only have ours up in a winter because of because of the text been winter birds are fantastic but you know just simple things like that just you know you let AI walk walk us through simple things like that okay so we have a topic we have a uh topic presenter

very good um Michaela's 1575th update. The only reason I'm giving that is because what we talked about before is that it seems like other than being on the committee and offering just, you know, our our thoughts from the EAC standpoint, it is the tree canopy uh program that is, you know, specific to us that that I'm representing and we're representing on on the on that on that committee. So, um, just letting you know that there's nothing else from the EAC.

Legacy tree thing that I think um, Ken and Matt had been helping. I mean, obviously Archie is now like, you know, when's it going to land? Um, and I had it on the agenda, but I really want to coordinate with these guys on how that the only thing I've really done with with the the trees was the, you know, what I pulled up from that publication um that I gave to everybody and and uh I think there's a lot more older trees that just haven't been recognized. I mean dubbed the the oak trees at my house and it the one when we cut it down I got it back to 1846 and it isn't wasn't one of the big ones

really. So is there a way to you know document the ones that are 175 years old? You know like how do we find them? Well, we need to re we need to figure this out. Can they're basically going to be white oaks? Yeah. So should we I mean as part of the tree inventory that you know I'm working on um white oaks that are greater than 30 inches in diameter. Okay. Yeah. DBH is the right. That's about that big.

Yeah. I'm just trying to think how big that I have a red oak in my yard that's pretty big, but red oaks only live to be about 110 120. Well, that's what like one of the things with the committee, you know, we were talking about possibly like somebody brought up yard signs and we kind of all voted against yard signs, but that might be something if you did have a tree to put a sign in your yard and say proud, you know, always. Yeah. proud supporter of uh 175. You know, one of the oldest trees in McCandless. Yeah. A proud parent. I don't know. What are you when you are have trees in your yard? I hate to say Steuart. That's it.

I'm always thinking in terms of parenting. Okay. So, Ken, you and you and I still have some work on that. But yes, that that is But I think that'd be fun community engagement kind of thing just to Yeah. No, I agree. But I think identifying them and then making that kind of a big celebratory or making it a community challenge to find the big trees like that because Yeah. And then everybody who puts in their name that says come and check out my tree should win a be in a raffle for a prize or something like that. There should be

interesting thoughts. So maybe we what we use is a McMail or some other medium to say do you have a tree in your yard that is that is more than 30 in diameter. We would the EAC would like to see your tree. It may be as old as I mean maybe we send this out and and I want to you know like putting them in a raffle I think is is a is a reason to to respond.

Yeah. or we then send, you know, somebody out who can identify them and their age and we give blacks or, you know, maybe not, to your point, the yard sign, but something more significant to I don't know how many would find, but it's not going to be that many. I mean, what are we going to find? 10, 20. you're going to find them in clumps

because what they were those were the trees that when this was all farmland and things those were the areas that they kept shaded for the cows and and things like that. So, but if we could call it like the legacy tree challenge and then ask the community to do that like work on the language and communication and how that if they find it in the park or something they can say I was going to say there's some big ones in the park and I don't know if those would I don't know how old they are. I don't know how in that publication most of them were in the park. I remember seeing that. So, what's the best time of year to do that if we want to make it um you know, like

winter time's good because Yeah. might be, you know, come out a a monthsl long outreach and then have the grand announcement, the winner. Everything's going to kind of be big around community day. Oh, really? Not till September, right? Unless we do something in July, which and I don't know if you heard they're talking about 5K. What if we

can I work on this a little bit where maybe it's like a month challenge and then you know we get submitted, we get them assessed, we send somebody to verify and then we kind of do something whether it's July or you know community day. Okay. Can we set this up in like a December because we have we have November's McMill tip. December's McMill tip is normally what might be winter pruning. We have a bunch of topics. That's not until fe January, February. Okay.

December we have done sustainable holiday tips, deer management, solar, storm water runoff, fun books, and recycling historically for Okay. Okay. So there's no there's no theme. So, you know, do we sort of set it up there and say or we should wait till the 175 kickoff of this? Yeah. Like, what I'm thinking, yeah, January through June, you because I think give people time to find them or identify clear about it, right? I don't want Yeah. Let their neighbors Yeah. Hey, that tree might win that prize. You know, that kind of thing. Let's come up with maybe a decent

prize or prizes. Um, you know, some way I mean, we talked about plaques, but maybe there's something else we can come up with on Yeah. Matt, you have some thoughts? Yeah, it just sounds like a really good social media opportunity to me. People posting create a hashtag for it. I mean, that's that's the way to create social media buzz, right? Get those trees on on video and on Instagram and create a tree filter and tell them to go out and hug a tree. And if they can't get their arms around it, it's u probably over two people or two people can't.

Okay. So, we have a we have a plan for this. This is great. Yeah. Let me work on how that can coordinate into both the 175th, you know, keep us posted on community day or why would they do it in July? Would it be a separate event? because we wanted to Yeah, we wanted because there's going to be multiple events throughout the year and the actual birthday is March, but not sure what you know the weather and also trying not to um overlap too much with the um Easter egg hunt.

Cuz at first we were talking about extending Easter egg hunt and going into birthday party. I see. But then um some parents in the group said, "No, my kids are too hyped up on the Easter egg hunt. I'm not sticking around for a piece of cake." So So can you be involved in the actual party for the birthday party? Absolutely. Yeah. And possibly a chili cook off. That volunteer. I think maybe that tree thing could also be a good opportunity to get the schools involved because I know we've done similar things like if you can find like the biggest plant or grow the biggest cabbage or whatever you want a prize. So maybe if you can get all the little elementary school kids to go in their backyard see if they can find a big tree. I don't know.

Yeah. Okay. That's that gets you very disperse viewing of things. Yeah. All right. Um good. Well, let's uh I I'm excited for making it kind of a competition or a challenge for people to go find it, you know. Go. Yeah. All right. Well, good. Well, let me work kind of with some of the language and we'll clearly work with John on, you know, coming back with that, the writer in the group. Um but good. Um that's exciting. Anything else like that that you think we should be tying in both uh Trish and Jeff? You guys seem to have the feedback on how to tie in with the 175th.

Well, I I think I think that is it. I think that's I think that's our footprint. Yeah. Yep. Yeah. We we you know, the Aby's doing a great job. A lot of really cool ideas coming forward. Um you know, even she's she's expanding these ideas to the point where even getting that brewery that just opened up in Duncan Manor is going to make a Macanless brew for us. and on the 175th. Yeah. So, really some fun stuff. But,

you know, this I think if we do if this committee does that oldest tree in the in the community and just pushes that hard, it's going to bring the eyes on because if you do too many things, then it it'll dilute itself, right? No, I agree. So, yeah, but I like the idea of, you know, launching it, do it as a sixmonth, you know, um, treasure hunt almost for, you know, the treasures of mechanis kind of thing. Yeah. Wonderful. All right. Okay. Great. Uh, next up is the regional EAC reboot, which I I talked about last month. I believe

I have something to mention on that subject as well. Okay. I get emails from the We Conserve PA group. There's actually an EAC network all gathering event being held on November 15th. Anybody can attend, but it's all the way out on the other side of the state. It's in Chester. I saw that. Yeah. I saw that. Wanted to share that though. That is an event. It is happening. I was going to make it out. I think Oh, they they videotaped that and you can you can see the different sessions. Okay. Um if you if you care to. Okay. Yeah. and used to I don't know if they still offer it but there used to be a virtual offering because we presented at it two years ago.

We it's in it's was in February so maybe it's a um this this may this is not that okay different meeting yeah we'll we'll get a uh group membership again uh and please remember that we do have a larger budget so anything that we buy for anything is you know it's in our budget. Yeah, Matt, this one is specifically called the Environmental Advisory Network fall gathering one-day in-person education and networking event. Oh gosh. Okay. Yeah. I don't know if they recorded this one, but the main goal is networking. What was the date again? Uh, November 15th. That's a Saturday and it's in Melbourne, PA. M A L B.

Things are things are very very different over in Eastern P. And from my experience on a chestnut board, yeah. Um we're we're very very different in how we do things in western Pennsylvania as to how they do things in eastern Pennsylvania. Yes, sir.

Okay. Uh next up. So So anyways on that um I reached out to everybody who was on who was at the last uh gathering EAC gathering and I only heard back from Pine. So they were the only ones that were interested in in doing this. And it's basically their EA their chair of the EAC who I know is Steward on Irwin Road. So I didn't get any bites on from anybody else from Hampton, from Ross, from Cranberry, from anybody else saying, "Yeah, yeah, yeah, we're all we're all in." So I'll if I hear from anybody, I'll let you guys know, but right now it's sort of, you know, we're just that um 2026 speaker series. Maybe you maybe we should just table that until next meeting. Yeah, let's let's let's we don't need to rush into that.

The only thing I'd say there is that our goal was with that is to do one a quarter. Okay. You know, that was our original goal with that. That goes in line with what Bernie was discussing. Two tree ones, two others. So, y I have three ideas in my head, but we'll figure let's table that until next time. And um Okay. Uh Trish report from town council.

Um honestly, I I don't have anything prepared. I wasn't where I'd be attending here, but um there's any questions. We did pass two ordinances that did get uh the attention of a lot of people. One is leash ordinance in our town um which may have some environmental impact. I know in my yard I've found treasures left behind by unleashed dogs and um owners that haven't picked up. So all of that is now in an ordinance. So, you must have your dog on a leash no longer than 10 ft and um unless that dog is on your property. And if the dog's on your property, obviously it must be controlled either by fencing, whatever. Um the other ordinance that's gotten attention is the solicitation. Um so you can now enroll your name to be on a do not solicit list. Um so anybody it we always had a solicitation ruling, but this has gotten a little stronger. The fines have gotten heavier. So, this is in response to a lot of requests from our neighbors about having people knock on their doors

unless they're seeking office. Unless they're seeking office or religious groups, too. Oh, is that right? So, they're exempt. Yes. Okay. So, religious and election related? Yeah. What about like a Girl Scout group? Well, the Girl Scouts is like considered like nonprofit. Um, yeah. I mean, it's I to me I think about I you know the guys that were going around on the hoverboards last year with the you know and I I'd say let me see your permit and they pull out like a gum wrapper. I'm like funny

find like a non-solicitation list like are those companies. So, so if somebody knocks on your door and says, "I'm from XYZ Exterminators. I want to come." And you would say, you know, you can ask them for the permit. If they can't produce it, you can say, "I'm going to call, you know, the police." But what you want to do is you contact the town and who who do they go through on the through the police department. And you just say your name. You know, this is my name. This is I live on 123 Main Street and I want to be on the do not solicit list. And so these people who come to the town to and get an get a permit have to use that list then. So they can't go to your house.

They have a permit and they have the list too or they don't have per Okay. Right. Okay. There's a form there's a form you can fill out online as well. Last I checked there's at least 1100 addresses are on the list now since Friday afternoon. Oh wow. Okay. Do you know how many it was originally? There was zero. Like literally we announced it Friday afternoon and then the emails started pouring in. Okay. Okay. Next up is um topics for next month's I have Winterfest. Mhm.

Um I'll report from the parks master plan open house. anything new regarding the McCandless 175th um two 2026 speaker series ideas and um an update on the bird town resolution which John has asked me for and you know for facts for John Schwind uh I wasn't prepared to do that so I will put those together for you in the next couple weeks John

we'll go to one of the meetings any other topics for next Okay, very good. So with that, um, like to adjourn the meeting. Do I can I have a motion to adjourn? Second. All in favor? Don't forget if you want any nuts that you don't think I'm going to get burning. I think picture of the bag with the nuts on. And that's what I was at exactly