The Sierra Club - Lehigh Valley Group Executive Committee
Monday October 12, 2020 7:00 PM
Virtual meeting using Zoom

MINUTES

Executive Committee Members: Matthew MacConnell,  Nanci McGonigal, Marilyn Jordan, Brian Hillard, Don Miles, Dave Reber, Andy Unger, Doug Roysdon.  

Guest David Irvine

Minutes of our September 14, 2020 meeting were approved by acclamation. Nanci will send us a link so we can see the minutes online.

Status of Illick’s Mill: We voted to not renew our lease for Illicks’ Mill. However if we don’t have to pay rent while COVID restrictions keep us from using the space we will wait until May for a final decision. Don will call Tom Torres (Sierra Club PA Chapter director) for information.

Conservation report (Matt MacConnell)

• Buck Mountain #2 site: Identification of the source of the leak in the pipe or pond liner and the repair of this leak could benefit from use of excavator.  The landowner, Pagnotti Enterprises, requested that we clear this with Wildlands Conservancy first.  Wildlands has not responded to email or vmail inquiries so we will not bring in excavator.  Instead small hand tools were used to manually exposing the suspected area and believe that we now have located the source of leaks and have patched these areas.  Testing to check the repair is planned in the coming days.
• Ricky Park: The Township voted against allowing the observation honeybee hive exhibit due to liability concerns. Approval was received from the Lehigh Gap Nature Center where installation is now planned.  The Sierra Club will be clearly recognized in signage to be prepared for this exhibit. Bees will be introduced in April. Monthly servicing will be required. The tree ring exhibit: A slice of a 120 year-old red oak tree, donated by Lehigh County Parks from a felled tree at the Trexler Game Preserve, is proposed for installation at the Ricky Park wetland to serve as an educational venue (dendrology) and also serve as a bench for sitting at the wetland.  

Treasurer’s  Report (Dave Reber)

Our balance is $7983. Dave had questions about how reimbursement is made from the Sierra Club Foundation. Don said that the PA Sierra Club Treasurer Wendy Taylor could help Dave.

Renewable energy (Brian Hillard)

• Brian reported that the Bethlehem Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) is making progress on their Climate Action Plan. They are looking for solar opportunities in the City. Combined head and power systems are being considered. They will include climate and economic justice issues. State legislation is needed before Community Solar can be implemented.
• Brian wants to get the “Recharge LV” program for charging electric vehicles started. Promenade shops is interested.

LV Group webpage (Nanci McGonigal)

Nanci showed her work on our webpage. The “Conservation Projects” section includes the “purple air” map, and Matt’s water quality monitoring work. The “About us” section contains meeting minutes, but not much else. Matt will send photos of Ricky Park. Don complimented Nanci, saying the web page contains more information and detail than ever before. Doug commented on how useful the web page could be for fundraising.

Group Executive Committee elections (Don Miles) 

Don said that the National Sierra Club is pushing State Chapters to be sure elections are held for Group Executive Committees. Our Lehigh Valley Group must hold an election by the end of the year or we will be de-certified as a group. Rachel will be asked to help us obtain the mailing list for the Lehigh Group members.

Other issues

Doug was asked to be part of a climate action project for the Pedestrian Bridge. He said that bicycle lanes on the future bridge, and in Bethlehem City, should be protected from vehicles with barriers, as they do in Europe.

Our next meeting will be on November 9, 2020.

Minutes by Marilyn Jordan