MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS



MINUTES OF THE HEP-SCD BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING

April 27, 2020

The meeting of the Hudson Essex Passaic Soil Conservation District was held remotely via phone conference. In accordance with the Open Public Meeting Act, advance notice was given to the press (The Star Ledger and Herald News newspapers) and posted. The meeting was also advertised on HEP’s website.

The public meeting was called to order by Chairperson Matt Ward at 7:05 p.m.

Members and public participating were as follows: Supervisors Matt Ward, Mario Tridente, Gray Russell, Jerry Flach and Elizabeth Hite Vollavanh; Glen Van Olden, Director; staff members Matt D’Alessandro and Fran Aguirre; and Virginia Lamb, of the Coalition to save South Mountain Reservation.

MOMENT OF SILENCE

A moment of silence was observed for all victims of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.

MINUTES

The minutes from the February 24th, 2020 meeting were reviewed. M/M Mario Tridente, M/S Gray Russell and passed unanimously to accept the minutes.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Glen reviewed HEP’s Treasurer’s Reports and banking accounts for the months of February and March 2020. M/M Mario Tridente, M/S Gray Russell and passed unanimously to accept the Treasurer’s Reports for the months of February and March 2020.

SOIL EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL PLANS

Glen Van Olden reviewed the Soil Erosion & Sediment Control Plans certified in February and March 2020. M/M Mario Tridente, M/S Gray Russell and passed unanimously to accept all actions taken on Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Plans certified in the months of February and March 2020.

EXTENSION - Dr. Amy Rowe, Environmental & Resource Management Agent

Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) – Written Report

3/4/20 Paterson – Food Waste lesson at MLK School

3/5/20 Paterson – Food Waste lesson School 15

3/5/20 Westfield – Union Environmental Stewards lecture on Environmental Chemistry

3/10/20 Somerville – Somerset Master Gardener lecture on Rain Gardens

3/11/20 West Orange – Earth Hour kickoff event

Dr. Rowe started working from home per Rutgers president orders.

3/16/20 Online – Rutgers Online Learning Conference

3/25/20 Online – Cape May Ag agent search committee call

3/31/20 Online – Somerset Environmental Stewards lecture on Environmental Chemistry

4/7/20 Online - Passaic Environmental Stewards lecture on food waste

4/14/20 Online – Passaic Environmental Stewards lecture on internship projects

4/20/20 Online – Earth Day at Home Webinar series – moderator. 225 people attended soil compaction lecture.

Ongoing

• Hosting Passaic Environmental Stewards class online – working with participants, speakers to get everyone on WebEx and do test runs, posting resources, videos, etc. Class meets Tuesdays 4-7 p.m.

• Hosting Somerset Environmental Stewards class online – working with participants, speakers to get everyone on WebEx and do test runs, etc. Class meets Tuesdays 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

• Paterson food waste project – EPA has given no guidance on grant status, so we are continuing with online content, projects, videos for the kids. Weekly meetings are Mondays at 1 p.m.

• Weekly Essex staff meetings on Mondays at 1 p.m.

• Weekly Passaic staff meetings on Fridays at 10 a.m.

• Weekly ANR department meetings on Thursdays at 11 a.m.

• Earth Day at Home webinar series (started 4/20/20) – weekly webinar Mondays at 6:30 p.m.

https:// envirostewards.rutgers.edu/EarthDayatHome2020.html

• Learning new video, recording, and conference software. Taking training modules.

University Update

All in-person events, classes, programs, club meetings, camps, and other group activities organized by or under the auspices of Rutgers Cooperative Extension are suspended through at least August 4, 2020. This is subject to change based on future university, State or Federal direction.

USDA/NRCS – District Conservationist, USDA/NRCS

Absent – No Report

CORRESPONDENCE /NEWS

Governor’s Executive Order #122, April 8th

Glen Van Olden explained that the physical operations of all non-essential construction projects were to cease.

SSCC Administrative Bulletin 2020-2.0, District Operations Protocol re Exec. Order #122

Glen Van Olden reviewed this bulletin as it pertains to SCDs. Districts should mostly concentrate only on essential projects using discretion in the field with regard to face-to-face contact.

Weekly SCD Report of Operations to SSCC Staff

Jerry Flach asked about HEP’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic in regards to safe employment practices in the workplace. Glen Van Olden informed her that he was able to obtain an N95 mask for each employee from NJ Farm Bureau. Employees are using them if they are moving through the office. At the end of each business day staffers are disinfecting their own work area and all touch surfaces throughout the office also. The district has been closed to the public since 3/16/2020. All mail and submissions are being submitted through the district’s outdoor drop box. When brought inside the office, the mail is still quarantined for at least 24 hours. The district’s cleaning service comes weekly.

NJ Association of Conservation Districts (NJACD) Annual Dues Request

On 2/26/20 the district received an invoice in the amount of $850 for 2020 NJACD dues. M/M Gray Russell, M/S Jerry Flach and passed unanimously to remit the $850 dues for 2020.

NACD Washington DC Fly-in Cancelled

The Fly-In originally scheduled for 3/25/2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

NJACD Regional Supervisors’ Meeting, North 4/2, Barka, Cancelled

All Regional Supervisors meetings were cancelled and refund checks issued.

NACD Northeast Region Meeting Postponed

The Northeast Region Meeting, originally scheduled for 8/30/2020 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, has been postponed until 2021.

NJ Envirothon Donation

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NJACD decided to cancel the 2020 NJ Envirothon. Glen Van Olden had been asked by Holly Reynolds if HEP would like its $500 donation returned or could it be used for the 2021 NJ Envirothon. After a short discussion, it was decided that it could be used for the 2021 NJ Envirothon.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Virginia Lamb – Coalition to Save South Mountain Reservation

Ms. Lamb voiced her concerns regarding the ever-increasing expansion of Turtle Back Zoo and the lack of environmental assessments.

CHAPTER 251

Potential of New Permit Extension Act

There was a short discussion regarding the potential of another Permit Extension Act.

Stop Work Orders (SWO)

Clifton: 57 & 65 Allwood Place; Block 57.05; Lots 2 & 1

HEP File #219-P-4854

Soil Disturbance not being executed in accordance with certified SESC plan

Totowa: 356 Getty Ave; Block 6705; Lot 1

Soil Disturbance exceeding 5,000 sq. feet with no SESC plan certification

Electronic Time-Tracking Program

Glen reiterated that the district staff have been inputting time since November 2019 and informed that as of 2 p.m. all projects had been tracked. In the future Janet will be working with the programmer on tweaks to the system.

2019 Exempt Municipality Reports

Glen advised that some preliminary work had been performed. The due date was extended two months.

GENERAL BUSINESS

Auditing Services Fiscal Year Ending 6/30/20

Tom Ferry, CPA, of Ferraioli, Wielkotz, Cerullo, Cuva P.A. quoted $6,300, a 1.05% increase, for performing HEP’s financial audit for fiscal year ending 6/30/20. After a short discussion, M/M Gray Russell, M/S Jerry Flach and passed unanimously to contract with Wielkotz & Company LLC to perform the audit for fiscal year ending 6/30/19.

New Administrative Staff

HEP’s new Receptionist/Administrative Assistant, Danielle Dennis, started on 4/1/2020.

Expiration of Supervisor Terms – Tridente and Russell

The three-year terms of Supervisors Mario Tridente and Gray Russell will expire on 6/30/2020. Both had previously expressed interest in serving another term. Glen informed that the deadline for submittal would probably be delayed.

SSCC/NJDA – Frank Minch, Exec. Director, NJ State Soil Conservation Committee

Absent

The next meeting of the NJ SSCC is scheduled for Monday, May 11th, 2020. It will most probably be a remote meeting.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, M/M Jerry Flach, M/S Elizabeth Hite Vollavanh and passed unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Jerry Flach

Secretary

MEETING NOTICE

The next meeting will be held on Monday,

May 18th, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.

at

The HEP-SCD District Office

80 Orchard St.

Bloomfield, NJ 07003

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