Borough Hall Facilities Committee

September 21, 2007 minutes

Borough Hall Meeting Room.  Gary Webb, Doug McWilliams, Bob Tovo, Ellen Emr and Steve Shaw, Richard Urankar (chair), Pat Rusak, Mark Cohen, Joan Nix

Meeting called to order at 8:30am

 

 

I.                    Minutes of September 7^th , 2007 meeting approved

  

-New member Joan Nix of the Planning Board is introduced and welcomed

-Wetlands expert Brian Marshall welcomed

 

 

II.                 Brian Marshall made a presentation on his view of wetlands issues as they pertain to several sites in our study; specifically, Pocono Road Park, the front yard of the Department of Public Works, the front of the existing Borough Hall and the area surrounding the existing Borough Hall parking lot.  We talked at some length about the processes for dealing with DEP issues that might affect our project.  Handouts from Brian as well as Richard are presented and are now on file. 

 

Specific comments included that a professional/certified hydrologist would need to do a wetlands delineation that would be presented to the DEP for approval since more than five years have passed since the last wetlands mapping was done on the considered sites, and that if a wetlands variance is required the state approval process takes about one year.  If no wetlands variance is necessary, the state approval process is shortened to about six months.   Brian mentioned that a wetlands survey usually takes about one to two months to complete, and is necessary to submit a building application to the DEP.  Gary Webb noted that the 2002 wetlands maps drawn for the athletic fields study cost about $5,000 for the Pocono Park area and about $6,500 for Halsey Fredrick Park.  Gary Webb estimated that the wetlands study for the area immediately surrounding the existing Borough Hall parking lot could be done for less than $1,000.  Brian Marshall also noted that the typical wetlands buffer was 50 feet, but that an extraordinary buffer of 150 feet is required for certain types of wetlands; an example would be rivers, and that no buffer is required for small and isolated wetlands; an example would be a small vernal pond.  In Brian’s opinion, the area’s under discussion do not meet the “extraordinary buffer” requirement, but there are small vernal ponds that may be isolated enough to allow for no wetlands buffer next to them. 

 

The committee decided to have the Manager proceed with contracting for a wetlands survey for the immediate area next to the existing Borough Hall parking lot.

 

III.               Bob Tovo presented handouts on a number of site options with his thoughts on plus and minus aspects of each.  A lengthy discussed ensued and the group added comments to each for further clarity.  This list will be refined and attached to future minutes.

 

At the conclusion of the presentation the committee asked the Manager to proceed with contracting for a wetlands survey for the immediate area next to the existing Borough Hall parking lot, since that location is considered a serious possibility for future consideration and this information would be necessary to move that site forward if desired. 

 

-Mark Cohen suggested that we develop a good sense for 2 or 3 options that seem valid, as well as workable, and recommended we focus our time gathering more detail on these now.   All members agreed and a more specific discussion is planned for our next meeting.

 

-Richard asked Doug to follow leads for commercial and residential space for sale or lease in town as another resource to be certain that we examine every option.

 

IV.              Steve Shaw presented handouts on further user needs analysis.  More data is need from the fire department, Board of Ed. and the parking needs evaluation to be complete.

- This information may be too much for some and Mark recommended that we be succinct with the public, especially on the Web Site.   He further suggested, though, that we should have the detailed information available for the public to access if they want.  The committee agreed with this approach.

 

V.                 On Communications, Richard is drafting the November mayor’s letter for the H & S Bulletin and more such communications are planned for future issues.  It was agreed that we should set the November 12^th council meeting as the target for when we will introduce our study and ask for recommendations from the council and the public.

 

VI.              Gary went over the timeline and how that relates to all of the above and will

refine it as needed though he again cautioned we really need to stay on target.  He acknowledges that if we need DEP involvement, it may have an affect. 

 

VII.            Action items for the next meeting;

                 -Doug, minutes, fire department needs data

 

                 -Bob, further refine matrix and include site pictures where possible

 

                 -Steve, to refine space/needs analysis

 

                 -Mark, report to BOE and bring us feedback

 

                  - Richard to work on a draft of the presentation to the public and Borough

Council, other communication items and committee administrative matters

 

                 -Joan Nix, report to Planning Board and bring us feedback

 

                 -Pat, report to HPC and bring us feedback

 

                 -Gary, keep tuning our timeline and get wetlands study started

 

                 

 

 

 

 Next meeting scheduled for Tuesday, October ^9th, 2007 at 11:00AM in Borough Hall

Meeting adjourned at 11:00am

Respectfully submitted by Doug McWilliams