Environmental Commission - Regular Meeting

Good evening. Welcome to the Township of Sparta Environmental Commission meeting of Thursday, February 26, 2026. Uh we are live in the council chambers at the municipal building. Uh our stream is on uh www.youtube.comspartwp uhstreams. Please take notice that action will be taken on the following items at the commission meeting of today. Uh meeting is called to order at 7:02 p.m. Adequate notice of this meeting was provided to the public and the press on February 20th, 2026 by delivering to the press and posting on the township website a copy of the notice. Can we have a salute to the flag? to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

We have a roll call. Chair Neil Sourin here. Vice Chair Christine Rogers here. Christine Dumbar. Barbara Kasula here. Robert Otto here. Alex Birdie here. Nicholas Drada here. Thank you. Thank you. The first item on our agenda is the approval of minutes from February 12th, 2026.

I just had uh two quick corrections on page six. the last uh the last two lines it should be the acting EPA commissioner use used to lead um add the D and then it's the League of Conservation Voters is who he worked Thanks, Christina. Anybody else? Yeah, I have one more one more correction. Page six uh uh two three third paragraph from the bottom uh and the second line from the bottom should be Barbara Davies. Everyone else had a chance to look through

a small typo. Page seven, um, second paragraph, Neil Sourine asked if if the ANJ membership was sent, not is Anything else? Okay.

I'll make a motion to accept uh the minutes of the minor changes as presented on the record. I'll second. Thank you. All in favor? I I I

Okay. So, uh, we have no correspondence to review and we have no applications to review. Um, it's public comment section, but there's no one here from the public. So, we'll move to on to reports. Who wants to go first? Christine, do you have anything to say? No. Um I guess I'm the only one. So uh the master plan subcommittee presented the uh the preliminary circulation element of the master plan uh to the planning board on February 18th. The next meeting is on um the next meeting of the subcommittee is next Monday. So, I believe um that's all I have to say about that. I guess that that's it. That's it for reports. Um we'll move on to unfinished business. It's going to be a quick meeting, I think. Um Earth Day 2026.

Yep. Yep. Um okay. So once again, the date of our event is going to be Saturday, April 25th from 11 to 3:00 and it's going to be right here at the town hall building both inside and outside. Um I went through the whole list of exhibitors that we had last time, but since then we have three new groups that are going to be part of the day. Um the first one is the Rigiden Valley Conservancy and they specialize in land protection in this area. Uh, we're also going to have the Sussex County Beekeepers Association and they're also coming with their queen and princess, so they're going to be there as well. And then we have our Sparta High School Ecology Club. So, they're committed to coming, but they're going to be they've made bio biodiesel in their classes, and they're going to be using that biodiesel to power a popcorn machine that we were able to rent from the library. So, that's a pretty cool sustainable um little snack that everyone can participate in. So, that'll be a good way to incorporate students. Um and that should be fun.

That's great.

So, uh since our last meeting, I finalized the flyer. So, it was just an update of the last year's flyer um with some of the information called out. So, I put in that we're going to have exhibitors and food and uh crafts and games. So, it is a focus on both the having the exhibitors come so that people can participate, but then having a big focus on families being able to come as well um with crafts and games for kids. So, that'll be um another thing that we're going to focus on is to trying to have several stations with activities for families to participate in. And I sent that over to Courtney. So, she's going to have that posted on the township website. And then uh we do need to start discussing what we want to do at our table. So does anyone know yet their schedule? Like who can commit to being there as part of the day? Courtney told me she's going to be there. So that's awesome. Does anyone know yet?

I'll be there.

All right. Good. Neil, good. Alex. All right. Hopefully we can get the commission's participation as much as possible. So, um, last time we had our EC kind of have it stationed right at the front of the entrance and we were like the welcoming table collecting um, information about how many people attended, telling them what our commission does and also trying to have different activities. So last year we had that big map of the different wersheds in Sparta. So that's already printed. So we could bring that. We could probably talk about the road salt findings from this winter because that'll be pretty relevant. And then um Neil, I don't know if you would be able to talk to Anjac about like that Plinko game. There's you think of like Price is Right with Plinko where it goes and it lands and it has different questions. Um, so they have some kind of interactive games that we could borrow potentially and have at our station. And then the other thing I was thinking is at work I have a watershed model that we've used before. So that talks about how pollution gets into our waterways. So that might be a good visual that we could either have at our station or I'll put at, you know, the station for my work. Um, and then I wanted to know, so I have to get some supplies like the supplies for the popcorn, popcorn kernels, things like that. So what is the process? Is it like we approve that I can spend some money of our grant budget and then I just buy it and then submit the receipts for reimbursement? Is that how it typically works?

I I don't know myself. Okay. Courtney, would you be able to Can you double check if that's how it would work? Yeah, I can definitely ask tomorrow. Okay. And I'll send an email out when I find out. Okay. Where do you get it? We talked about this, I think, before, but the library. The library. Okay. So, they have other things. They have um Yeah. It's like a They call it the library of things, I think, is what the official title is. But you can borrow items other than books, which is really great and very sustainable.

The things that you would use maybe one time that you don't need to buy. Yeah. Um, so I guess in, you know, the next couple meetings, we'll finalize who's coming, what time, and who's going to bring what, just so we stay organized. But it's going to be a really great event. So, I hope we all participate, and then we can get a lot of people from the public, and we'll start publicizing it as much as possible as we get closer. Wonderful. Thank you, Christine.

Yep. Okay. The next uh item on unfinished business is a a model ordinance for data centers. Uh we had talked about this at our last meeting and uh I have forwarded this to the mayor uh and I don't know where where it is now. So um you know it's it's it's still uh on our in our sites. And I think I said it last time, but um the only thing I'm I've been looking for, but I haven't seen anything yet. I'm just checking now is if the Highlands um New Jersey Highlands uh has put up kind of draft guidance on this because I'd love to model our um ordinance off of theirs, but I know we could just as easily grab another municipalities and tweak it. So, but yeah, I also don't want to wait. So, I guess we could always update we could pass something and we could update it or recommend that something be passed and then recommend some updates in the future.

That's Does Anjac have any model ordinance on their website? Um, I'll have to check. Check again. I was looking like kind of Ben Spanelli usually has stuff and it looked like there was that was still like in review last I checked but um but yeah, I should check. Yeah, because I know they have other ones um on Anjax's website, right?

But then again, do we want to waste a lot of time doing this? We could pass what you have if it's good enough. It's going to have to go through legal review anyway. And then uh if we see anything that we missed uh we want to make some minor changes hopefully we could do that. I know that that was done with the state storm water guid guidance um just as as another ordinance. So um yeah I guess if you hear back from him I would just kind of Yes. better to have something than nothing. Right.

Definitely. I'll check with both Anjek and uh Sustainable Jersey. Thank you. Um, okay. The, um, New Jersey Fish and Wildlife Forest Management Activities on Sparta Mountain. We talked about this last week, too. Um, the comment period uh, for fish and wildlife is open until March 31st. Uh, so I would urge all of us to try to maybe uh take advantage of that comment period and and still maybe we could do something as a commission and uh as a township. I don't know. I I think I did send this I I sent a report to Margie and to the mayor about this, but uh I haven't heard back. So, sorry I said Margie. I'm not sure whether she is our on yet councilwoman Murphy but she will be so so I emailed Emil Devito this week and he he commented um has our town taken an official position against the logging I take it that hasn't happened yet

I I I don't remember I I remember that uh Mayor Clark had brought in the uh people from the D and they gave a presentation uh earlier in the year. Uh I don't remember the dates. I have to look that up. But uh I don't know what ever came of that. Um we heard from the two arguments, but we never kind of framed a response. I don't think so. That would be the next step. So, so he's he's basically saying that that would be the next step. Like we like the town has to take an official position before anything really happened. Once they take an official position, then we go from there.

You want to look up um that other that must have been recorded, right? Yes. So, you sent you found a meals, you sent that. So, let's all take a look at that and maybe we'll review it and then That's yeah, that's what I think we should do. Refresh. But yes, I saw that. Thank you for doing that. Uh, Alex, I saw his response. And

welcome. He didn't seem too hopeful that the new administration would have any have much of a many thoughts about this so far. No, he he he generally thought that the the new governor and our appointees would want to pick a fight with the existing staff at the um NJP over this I guess at this juncture, but yeah, is it is it was overall pretty pessimistic email. Didn't sound too hopeful. Well, but again, we're advisory, so we could still put out an official

advisory. This is what we think. We live here. our community based on what we think we know. This is our position and then leave it up to the governing body. Yeah, a good idea. Um Courtney, can we get this up on the uh township website and the Facebook page maybe? Yeah, absolutely. Just notice for the comment period. Yeah, I can post that tomorrow. I can have it posted to the township website as well. It's fine. Okay. Thanks. Well, ju just so individuals themselves can can see.

Well, I was just wondering if if individuals themselves could, but if we were thinking as body to put forth um our comments, our our advice if we said, "Hey, next meeting we're going to have like a public session, public, we're going to discuss up something. I don't know what we have planned. Uh, we had nothing concrete planned. So, that's a good idea. Why don't we just Yeah. No, that's uh Yes. Maybe we got a person. Yeah. Or two.

Okay. So, how is the this EC Facebook page gonna work? Like, how does it actually work? Is it Do we have to pass things through the township manager or Hold on. But do we have a page? Yes, we do. That was that was um that's on new under new business. We're um Oh, okay. Wow. We can talk about it now. We can circle back. It was just you said it. So that's why it so that's why I was just curious.

Right. It it is pertinent to this discussion too though. So we we can we can talk about it now. My space. Um so for everyone who does doesn't know and everyone in the public uh if you happen to be watching the Sparta Township Environmental Commission as a Facebook page uh thank you Courtney for setting that up.

Yep. I set that up this week with it and I talked with Emily about it too. Um, so I will run it. So I'll just make post on it. You just let me know what you want posted on there. I already have a couple. I have Earth Day posted. I have the winter winter salt snapwatch event for upcoming for March posted. I do have um our meeting just a reminder that our meeting is happening tonight. I also mentioned that we still have two positions open on the board so far. Saw that. Thanks. Yeah, of course. But does anything have to be approved? Like if we propose something from Anjack and that I would have to check. So I'm not too sure.

I mean for like public events like Earth Day, I'm sure is okay, but for that I can I'll definitely have to ask tomorrow. Formational type things and Yeah. Yeah. And post secretary presumably that's part of Yeah, that's that's what I'm thinking. But anyone can make a post, right, on the page or it's just limited to Well, I'm the I'm the admin on it right now. Um, but I mean like anyone from the public can like post on this page or this is just set up for only you can post as the environmental commission.

I think it it's only set up as me that I can post. Um, I mean people can make comments under my post. Mhm. Um I know we have as of today I checked we have 13 followers so far. So Oh, it got up to 13. I think actually I think it's 14 now. Oh, is it? Yes. I saw it was 10 earlier in the day. There we go. Okay. All right. So, we we'll work on um getting more out on the uh forest management plan and having something at the next meeting.

You think we should because I mean I always try to wait until we're all together so that we don't have a quorum on email. So, is our our current thinking that we would we would go ahead and try to invite the public to come in Well, there's not a lot of time. Right. Right. It's March 31st. Our next meeting is in second week of March. So, uh, that would be the time to do it. Yeah. Well, we always invite the public. Yeah. Everything. But if we direct them like, oh, if you come, we're soliciting comments regarding the Spartan. Yes.

Okay. uh sustainable Jersey grant. Before we before we move on, should we state now how they can submit comments if they wanted to because they may not know how they get to this how how to submit comments if they're listen if they're watching. That's what I was saying. They could they could come to the next meeting middle of um March which would be in advance of the closure of the comment period. My thinking would be like we see if we can put together post which has a link to um the the two different presentations we've had as well as this. Yes. Say, hey, come. But that's a good point, too, is

if you can't come and you still have comments that you just are ready to go and you're like, I know my position, send it here. Yeah, that's why I wanted to have this on the website on the Facebook page. Okay, got because you can comment through this. But it is a little bit like Do you want to write something that helps people? Yeah, we can. Might be like too long. Didn't read. I didn't understand that. I can actually even though it says it right there in the first line. So, we could have like a oneliner like click here and make a comment. Okay.

Sure. And another question that Sharon Pinger, she is she was the person who is in char basically the project manager. She's in charge of it basically. Um so comments go I guess directly to her and no one else. That's to me that seems like a little a little um say hey come here we get it in the public. Yeah. And then we can Okay. But it's pretty last minute. But you can always write to the governor. Yeah, I already I already did. You did?

Good. I plan to as well. And the D commissioner as well. Yeah, good point. Actually, because he was um he might have some different thoughts on this too. He was the uh he worked for the LCV, right? Do you want me to send him any him an email on behalf of the Environmental Commission? Should do that. Yeah, maybe. Maybe hold off on that. Okay. Yep. No problem. He could he could draft something.

Do you want to just do everything but send it and then we can just discuss it at the next meeting? Sure. Yeah. And then we can incorporate the comments if people have them, right? Sure. Yeah, that would be great. Thanks, Alex. No problem. Um, the Sparta winter road salt monitoring and winter salt snapshot. You skipped uh sustainable jersey.

Oh, I already said that. and we went back. Yes, a sustainable Jersey grant. Thanks, Christine. I haven't heard anything new about I know we we through everybody's hard work and and Michelle especially did did a lot of leg work to get the uh both the report in to close out the existing grant for the trail signs and to u apply for the uh grant, the large grant we're looking for for the natural resource inventory. So, they were all submitted and uh I guess we're waiting for

I think we're waiting for the ordinance, right, to they supposed to look at this and um the ordinance of like the Yeah. Oh, the we needed a resolution for Oh, I mean like the resolution. Yeah. For uh So, that like she said that they're going to review it, right? Mhm. Yeah, review wouldn't go in front of the She said she was going to take what you passed along and then bring it to the pre council meeting or whatever the when they plan their agenda and everything. So, yeah. So, they can approve it and then we can because this is the last that's the last piece last piece that we are missing in our application process.

Right. Right. So, we still I I I thought she submitted the the application because it had to be done. Yeah. Okay. Yeah, but we need the resolution, right? But we have like until whatever day in March, I believe, to upload the resolution that the township is supporting this and Right. Mhm. Yeah. So that's what what's what's what we are waiting on, I think. Okay, great. Thanks, Barbara. But that was great how it came together last minute like that. Yes. We, like I said, that was a uh uh a learning process because we were talking at the last meeting how we didn't think it would come together and okay, let's look for Highlands Council funding. So,

that's great that it got in in time. Yes, that was wonderful. Thanks for everyone. Okay. um that now the Sparta winter road salt monitoring and snapshot event. Um can you speak to that Christine?

Yeah. Um so this is something this is an event that Chris Dunar is pulling together. It's going to be on March 4th and March 5th. Um and what's going to happen is we're gathering between 10 and 2 o'clock. um at it's actually I think the church she belongs to Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Sussex County which is on uh West Nelson Street in Newton. So you can see the flyer that's going to be posted. Um, but basically what's going to happen is the public can drop in anytime between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on either of those days. And we're collecting salt snapshots on that 2-day period. So, that's going to give us in this point in time um what our conditions are throughout both the pollen skill wershed where she um primarily operates, but also in Sparta Township. So, we have a number of sites. I think she said there's like over 60 sites that we're going to be sampling. So, anyone who could drop in even for a little bit, that would be super helpful. Um, we're going to be using the chloride testing strips. So, you just need to uh drive to a site, grab a sample, bring it back, and we're going to test it and in real time see what this the chloride readings are. So this is going to be good uh community science data collection and it's going to add to the different databases especially of Straoud Water Research Center that is collecting data throughout um this entire tri-state area. So they have tons of points collected in Pennsylvania already which is where they're based. So, this will be good to add some New Jersey data. Um, especially from this winter where we've been getting a lot of a lot of storms and a lot of road salt being applied.

Great. Thanks, Christine. Uh, next item is the speaker series. Do we have any anything lined up or did we I didn't put this on the agenda. Was this Rob? Did you ask for it or I didn't put it on the agenda, but I mean we had I asked I asked for it just Rob or did you talk to I had talked to him um the one time two meetings ago. Yeah. And uh I just need to follow up because I I it depends on what scheduling we had wanted to do. But

um it's it's the engineer who invented a system for an alum dosing system. Oh, that's right. Sorry.

Oh, no. It's okay. So, uh and it kind of went it it goes a little bit inand with salt monitoring salt watch because I had a question like we're looking at this the surficial inputs. What about the subsurface inputs? And um you know I think I'd also mention that like we treat our um our water is pre-treated uh to deal with lead um with phosphorus. And then of course when we use showers and everything, washing machines, we introduce more phosphorus and then we're in the land of lakes and so all that runs downhill through the wershed and is a great little fertilizer for all the algae and harmful algo blooms and you know so it's just it's it's a good it would be an interesting speaker series to do because instead of dealing with it as a whole on a community level, it gives it's almost like a blend of citizen science and individual responsibility. Like basically it's you could get a system in your house um treat your inputs before they migrate off of uh your property and then join all the rest of the inputs from your neighbors and the rest of the community. So, um he invented this really cool thing they're using in Culver Lake. Uh it's something that we could a lot of us that live near lakes could benefit from, but it's kind of why would you do this? It costs money. But, uh it's kind of confronting our individual usage and inputs. So, I I can reach out to them. I just need to know

when we might be ready for it. Uh when would be a good time? Can we have him come? We haven't had We've been doing the speaker series quarterly, but we haven't had one this quarter. So, can he come like second meeting in March so that we have time to advertise it if he's available? And then I I had talked to some people at Lake Mohawk and they were very interested like, "Oh, we would definitely come let us know if if he's doing so people know about the system." Okay.

Yeah. because um once I like I've been booking the speakers then I just make a quick flyer that can be posted on the website and they've been doing a great job of putting that up for us as well just to make as many people aware as possible and we could even have it um in tap into Sparta as well. Okay. And the Facebook

and the Facebook Yeah. But beyond that, so uh things that we discussed last year, deer, native plants, some of this other stuff. Um I had talked to I was going to say for new business, but if we're talking speakers, might not be speakers, but um I know when we're looking at applications, we're considering I think very generally are these native, non-native plants, invasive, native but noninvasive native ours all these things that maybe we know some but we're not landscape architects or we're not you know master gardeners. So I was trying to convince someone to consider throwing their hat in the ring for for one of the seats up here. Um but that's not likely. But, uh, I get the feeling that I might be able to get some help because, uh, knowing what plants would do well long term here, um, that would be beneficial to our ecosystem. Um, I think would help us with our application reviews and it would also help us for the master plan. Um, because I mean, you don't really think about it, but White Deer Plaza, like when we started getting plants in the median, those are traffic calming and I hadn't really even considered that. But those are devices that slow traffic down because people like, "Oh, that's nice. Let me check that out."

And you know, it's also triggering like biofilia. It's um it's pleasant and helpful and healthy for humans and animals to be surrounded by nature. So, uh I would like to have something on that with a speaker series, but then I would also say if I can't get that um I know we're working on tree ordinance and native plant ordinance. I don't know where those are, but I'd like to move those along if we could. Yes. The tree ordinance is under review, isn't it? Well, that's what

I know we keep kicking the can and saying it's been under review, but I'm new here and I think it's been under review for how long a year and a half. Yeah. Can you like find out like what's the engineer? Cory still. Yeah, I probably ask him.

So, I would just say um can you find out what the current status is on the tree ordinance specifically um because there's there's probably some specific guidance from the state that he's changing it to. And then if we got a copy, even just a draft copy of what that looks like or even just the state guidance that would frame it, I think it'd be helpful for us to get it as a group and then look at any tweaks that we might want to do specific trees, shrubs, and native plants. People agree um because it's it got really I had long conversations and it wasn't me surprisingly speaking. I was listening. Um but like you know just the grade of the land, the aspects, the you know all the normal things that you would think there's we really we could tailor something and get close just kind of like our zoning does for uh development. we could do almost the same thing and then I I see it as like this is a natural thing that we should be putting into our master plan but no one else is going to do it but this would be the perfect thing for environmental to do is just kind of say we suggest that almost like design standards for plants and trees so because a lot of the other thing is like a lot of the development around here we're at 100 years and so I don't know if you guys know this but even uh uh by the 40s I think the number was over a 100,000 trees had been planted just within Lake Mohawk reservation 100,000

trees and a lot of those are 80 to 100year trees so here we are they're going to be they're falling in storm events emerald ashbor so we do kind of need to consider there weren't really same types of trees um you know this might goong Well, like if we have a meal back um or we're talking about Sparta Mountain, cross-pollinate and and get some conversations going about what works well. Streetscapes, residential, stuff like that. That's a big one.

Yeah, but it's a it's it's good. Um, I'll try to bring it up at the master plan next subcommittee. I don't know if I can throw off that. I would try to, but I'm Are you Are you on at this? Well, I I was, but then Okay. I don't know. All right. Might be a casualty of not being

Yeah, that's that's Yes. Thanks, Rob. Any other ideas for a speaker series?

Uh, the only other one I remember us talking about was the Forest Fire Service. So, that's one that we could bring back up. I think Kim had mentioned that um last time, last year. Um, I was going, well, I'll wait till the new business, which is I think we're about ready to hit new business. Uh, unless there's anything else uh any other suggestions for speaker series, we'll move on to new business. And since we're on the same topic, I wanted to bring up the uh the green amendment for New Jersey. This is uh a movement that's uh been passed in uh three states. Three three states have uh implemented a green amendment which guarantees uh clean air and water and a healthy environment. and it's actually been used to fight some uh environmentally destructive projects. It's been used successfully and um the the woman who wrote this book, it's called the Green Amendment for New Jersey. Um Maya Van Rossom, she is the Delaware Riverkeeper, I know she speaks on this and um she spoke at the Sparta Library several years ago. I went to hear her and I was thinking maybe we could get her back, but she they they want uh want a guarantee of 35 attendees and $350. So, I don't know uh if that would be something we might want to look into

too, but I don't know how we would get uh get that kind of attendance at our environmental commission meeting. So, any other thoughts on this? Have free. Yeah. Uh, food, popcorn.

Yeah, that's that's a good idea. Uh, there this Thursday or no, Thursday, March 5th from 11 to 12, there is a uh green amendment press conference. Uh, anyone that's available or interested, uh, I can send the link. its organizations and leaders who are part of the New Jersey Green Amendment Coalition will be hosting a virtual press conference to share their messages on the progress.

So, so just because I haven't read the book, but I mean the green amendment, what happened to the Clean Air and Clean Water Act? And I mean, so this is this is just a more assertive stand on basic human rights that people that because um Yeah. All right. So I mean this is worthy. I'm not I'm not questioning I was just I also was kind of considering planning and zoning and the purpose of it and and we have all these tests for a suitable business in the community and it seems like they're all like anthropogenic-minded stuff and we haven't really put a price tag on our clean air and clean water uh resources and this I don't know if anyone's paying attention to we pro talked about this last time but um how surrounding communities that have signed on to the Highlands protections are kind of saying we're protecting the water. What is the state doing for us? What are the other communities that aren't preserving these recharge areas doing? So, to me, it's a no-brainer. But yeah, I guess there is a need there is a need to uh almost attach to either be assertive with it or attach uh a monetary value to things that you know are just basic necessities. So that's what we're that's the point of this.

Yes. Okay. We should do that too. Yeah. But this is, you know, this is at the state level. They do want to push for a national green amendment, too. But likelihood, is that something that we should be looking at with the ANJ and um Highlands Coalition? Yes, definitely. All right. Because when you say like regional and state level, it's like yeah that

yeah there there I think I saw 14 state county and other organizations that have adopted the resol there's a they have a resolution a model resolution as well. So so I mean I would I would be inclined to say that seems like a no-brainer. uh it's it's not a local issue like Sparta Mountain where there might be like different positions that we want to capture and again with the data centers like could could we just move that forward and then refine it and

you know like as we go again if if our role is simply advisory what's the harm this this seems like we should definitely just do this uh mention it and tap into say they passed this green amendment and then people can say oh why did you do that and then that's where we could maybe pull in more speakers for speaker series and explain that clean water didn't this um group look at the green amendment in the past so I thought we did their draft that was put forth to the town council that looks familiar yes I don't know what happened

so I'm not averse to 35 people and 350 bucks and all that. I'm just simply saying put the cart before the horse or put the clean air and water before the horse and just pass it cuz I thought we did talk about this and then then we can backfill if there's anything specific or particular with like like this community Sparta Township and surrounds that we need to to backfill. But I think we should So there's a resolution uh resolution like language on the on their websites that we can use and yes give it to the township right

yeah that's that's what I was was proposing because this is this is at the state level this is in the state legislature now right we could do it we could local yeah well we can we can we're conforming with we like clean air We can Yes, but we can also the the resolution is supporting this uh this passage in the legislature. That's what Okay. Yeah. Okay.

I mean, is there any because we're going to get the question of well, if we sign up for this, is this going to affect our standing with in the global scale? I don't think so. I don't think so. There's no downside. No, I don't see any downsides. It's just to show support,

solidarity in keeping our protecting our environment. Um, so that and we already talked about our social media page. Did did you check about Instagram too, uh, Courtney? No, I didn't get a chance to. That's not not not that crucial, but it would be a good place to, you know, just to post pictures of our Earth events and Yeah.

Yeah, I can look into that. Next uh the next topic is the the ANG 2026 environmental commission grants for open space. I think that's a $1,500 grant and Barbara has come up with an idea for uh for applying for this because you know it's hard to find a use for $1,500. Uh it's a specific use. We could use it for a lot of things, but it's not all that much. But um your recommendation was uh the grant for bat boxes, right? Could you explain that?

Yeah. For the for the uh bat conservation and education program basically when we can have a speaker which would could be you know included in the speaker series as well. we can have a speaker talking about uh about bats and the importance of them. And I remember like three years ago there was someone at the library speaking about uh about that. So we can find out from from them who was that person or maybe was it Laura Nugar? No, I think it was a it was a gentleman, not a woman.

And it was like a he was speaking and then he had like a little craft for the kids as well. Uh but like we can either find out from from the library. I can message them, email them and see who was the person or uh maybe you guys know someone that could speak about it. And uh basically Yeah. Well, there's a former member of the environmental commission. Okay. Who who she had led a a a bat walk. Okay. on Sparta Mountain near where they're logging the Edison monument um several years ago. We didn't hear any. Yeah. So we could Yeah. We could Yeah. We could reach out to her.

Yeah. So then yeah, the idea was like educational uh kind of like presentation for the public and uh then buying the bad boxes and installing them with the guidance. I hope that, you know, that the township would help, the DPW would help with the installation when we give them the guidance of the how they have to be installed, the heights and all of this stuff. And yeah, so that was my idea. Oh, that's great. 1500.

Yeah. And then also I I thought about maybe we could reach out to the uh B boxes are between like 20 and 60 bucks depending on the size depending on the um on I guess the woods and all of that. So we can probably get around 20 30 maybe 40 boxes. Uh but we could also reach out to that was my last idea of this reach out to the Sussex tech and see if they want to participate as the community in building the boxes as part of the carpentry class basically.

So that will be like involvement of the community as well. So thought we were going to build them. Yeah. Can't get the material. I mean, we can like that's they're not hard. Yeah. I actually looked into buying a bat box, but turns out they have to be a certain height off the ground, like 30 ft off the ground. They don't really work on trees. They work better on your house. And it just ended up being a little too little too complicated. Yeah. Yeah. There's like the whole guidance of how you install them and the sun has to be there, not too much shade

otherwise. But if we have the guidance for that and we work with the DPW, if they agree to volunteer their their time, I guess, or they're still paid on the clock, maybe they can install them. Uh maybe they can help with that and maybe we can install them throughout the parks or uh the Sparta Mountain. Yeah. No, that's that's through through my work. I've um gotten a grant before to buy bat box kits. So it was from Bat Conservation and Management was the company and they had like DIY kits. So that could be part of it too that if we got a couple of these like DIY kits, everything would be measured out already and that could be the template

for if we wanted to incorporate Sussex Tech. Yeah. you know, use the pre-made kit as a model for the sizing and everything, but then also we could have it be like an educational event where we're actually having like maybe we host it right outside town hall and we can build them together. A workshop like a workshop and then, you know, you could have them painted and everything. Yeah. No, I like the idea. It's a good idea. Yeah. Yes. Right. So, yeah. So, I don't know what's the next step. We just uh did we apply for the grant from them before or Yes, that was the uh Arbor Day one that we got. So, it's a simple it's like a onepage application. Okay.

Yeah, it's easier than the one we just did actually for a sustainable jersey. So, okay. Would we would we have our grant writer do that or would we I don't know. I last time I wrote it because it was like a simple application. So, if you wanted to just like take a stab at it and we could look at at one of our upcoming meetings before the deadline and then we can see if we need to incorporate a grant writer or or we might just be able to handle it ourselves because it's pretty it was an easy application. Do we need approval from the governing body for this? Um

uh I don't I don't think so. I don't think it was I think we just let them know that we were going to be applying for it and then they had it um they might have I think they had a the town had a sign to accept the money once we got it but I don't think it was anything ahead of time. Okay. But just double check. Yeah. Read the guidance of what it says this year. So I can I can reach out to the to the library to find out who was the speaker and if you can reach out to the uh former member to see if she could speak too or speak instead or even have the walk. Yeah. And yeah,

I'll do that. Okay. I'll send you the link um to those kids that I was talking about just so you can see them for the budget and everything and then like if I don't know what's the process of the of getting the grant how long how long it takes but if we can get it no not too long. No, it was like I it was a couple months for the review period and then Oh, so a few months. Okay. Yeah. And then um I think you get half the money up front and then you do the project and then you get the reimbursement on the rest. Oh, okay. Okay. I was going to say if we can get it before the Earth Day. Yeah. No, I don't think so. The boxes. Yeah. Yeah. Next year. Next year. Okay. Okay.

Right. We get a donation of wood. We get to if you have some extra. Yeah. You must have some lying around. Okay, I will look into it and uh I will like prepare some write up and Great. Thanks, Barbara. I'll do that as well. Um you want to go back to Sparta Day?

Yes, I jumped that one, too. Um Sparta Day. What's the date of that? Do you remember? They did announce something. I don't think it says. Oh, May 30th. May 30th. Yes. Um, did we do it last year or did I remember one year we couldn't do it because we had nobody available to staff it? I don't know remember whether that was last year or not. If we can get enough volunteers I don't know when

did it last year. I think we did it the year before.

Yeah. Yeah. I think so it was last year. We didn't have enough people. So, let's um let's think about who might be available and how we could take care of that one, too. All right. There's one other thing I just wanted to mention for those uh who might be viewing this uh online. That's just that we still have two open seats on the uh commission and anybody with any interest who wants to do something good have to do is submit an application. Do we have any any applications? Do you know where?

No, not that I know of. I don't think so.

All right. Anybody else have anything? I got something. Great. Um, we're talking about the data center model ordinance. Has have we addressed any type of detention center ordinance and the environmental impact of that? Town council. Yes, town council did. Yeah, they introduced it at a a meeting on this Tuesday, right? Yeah.

So, it was introduced. So, typically the ordinance is introduced and then there's a two week period where the public can come in and um well, they presented it. You can look at the YouTube. I haven't yet. Um and then at their next meeting, they're going to vote on it. So, you can attend that and speak as a member of the public. Um but yeah, that's it. I don't if you wanted to have the environmental I think it would be moot. We don't need to weigh in on that. It's already in process. Well, it might it might

but if you if you think there's something specific I mean would it would it help sway their vote? I mean that if we if we did go on record as saying this is the environmental commission's um opinion on on this matter. Most definitely. Yes. I think that would be a good thing for like a human health, safety, and welfare type thing. That's what you're thinking. Environmental water usage. Yeah. Water and energy um sewer if there is. Yeah. Yeah. A bunch. All right. Infrastructure. Yeah. Um, so we could

so we could uh when is our meeting before the next town council meeting? Uh, it's the same week. I I can't I can't attend because I have a class on Tuesday. So, anybody Well, it doesn't I'm just thinking if we if we talk about this and we're talking about in public um if we put something together, could we put something together and just do it over email and send it um through you through the secretary so that they have it in their packet for voting? Yeah, we that that's what you're looking for.

Yeah. Yeah, we could do that too. Sure. if you've thought about it. At one of the Roxberry Council meetings, um, uh, Elliot Ruga spoke, Elliot Ruga from the Highlands Coalition spoke at the council meeting about this. I didn't get to watch it yet, but I have to try to find it. It was the one of the more recent Roxbury Township meetings. Good point. All right. So we can watch that, come up with something and then just send it amongst ourselves. Yeah, why don't we What was that name, Neil, that you said?

R U G A Elliot E L I O T R U G A New Jersey Highlands Coalition the Roxbury. Right. Anybody have anything else? Okay. I have a motion for adjournment. Did we ever find out the uh the color temperature of the lights to town council or town hall? No. No, it didn't. That's

Thanks for reminding us. I I I meant to to mention that uh about lighting standards and uh whether do we even have anything in our ordinances.

That's the thing. It's like the more I thought about this like oh like we have an opportunity if we wanted and it would go along with like you know everything we've talked tonight we we as an advisory body do we have an interest in creating like design standards for Sparta Township that would incorporate plantings impervious pvious cover standards like what we think PAS artificial turf um you you know, detention centers, data centers, all these different aspects. I feel like it would be a good time to do it, advance the master plan re and there's no harm in doing it. We we could all pull from like our interests and our knowledge and put something pretty robust together and say, "Here you go. incorporate this into the master plan so that it I mean rightly outlives our seats here and our lifetimes and just make Sparta better for the future. So I guess I would propose that we kind of consider

consider something in advance of I think the master plan is slated to be done in June but I July I think I don't know when how I don't know think that's going to slip I don't know because they just only did the um the circulation element and it's not even finalized it that was the first meeting we have a meeting coming up. So I I'll bring this up. Yeah. At our I think this be like a big comprehensive thing we could offer. Yes, absolutely. Rather than having to comment on every application the same things.

Yes. that also like everything all of our unfinished business, all of our new business, it could basically the offshoots of this advisory piece that we

Okay. I just wanted to say one thing circling back to that um open space grant. One thing that I remember was that it had to be on township open space or permanently preserved space. So I don't know if read the guidance and see if the homeowner batbox installation aligns with you know the intention of the grant because I think in the past it was specific to preserved open space either township owned or county owned or stateowned. What if the batouses were installed on township open space land?

No, that's what I'm saying. So, I think that that would be eligible. I don't know if the homeowner piece that you were talking about for some of the extras is possible or not. Yeah, I can. Yeah, I will check it. Yeah. Thanks, Christine. Um, I'll make a motion to adjurnn. I'll second. All in favor? Hi.