September 2020 Meeting Minutes

The Sierra Club - Lehigh Valley Group Executive Committee
Monday September 14, 2020 7:00 PM
Virtual meeting using Zoom

MINUTES

Executive Committee Members: Matthew MacConnell, Al Wurth, Nanci McGonigal, Marilyn Jordan. Brian Hillard was present initially, but after Zoom ended our meeting at 40 minutes and Matt emailed us a new meeting information, he didn’t find us.

Minutes of our August 10, 2020 meeting were approved by acclamation.

Good luck and thanks to Rachel Rosenfeld in her new role as On-Line Organizer for the Pennsylvania Sierra Club Chapter. She may participate in our meetings when available. A William Penn grant paid for the Water Defenders program that Rachel had run. She is trying to arrange for a volunteer to continue the program.

Status of Illick’s Mill: Rent for our office space costs $200/month. Motion was approved to continue renting this space if the State Chapter would pay 50%.

Conservation report (Matt MacConnell)

  • Online Water Quality Monitoring: Matt showed us the presentation that he had recently shown to Pennsylvania Chapter Leaders. He showed data that recorded pollution events. During rain events specific conductance is very high downstream of the dump site on the former west plant zinc smelter on the Lehigh River. He presented slides about routing drainage from the Buck Mountain #2 site through a limestone bed to precipitate toxic aluminum, and capture the precipitate in cartridge filters. The treatment wetland is leaking, and water could flow downhill onto a street and into homeowners’ basements.
  • Ricky Park: The State Chapter paid for the Beehive Exhibit since the Huplits grant would not. The hive has been purchased and the Township is reviewing the proposed location.

Political Report (Al Wurth)

  • Tara Zrinski (Dem) is running for Pennsylvania State representative in district 138.We have already endorsed her, but she is asking for contributions to support her race.
  • Steve Samuelson (Dem) should be safe in his district.
  • Al cannot send emails directly to members.
  • Nanci asked about Kevin Branco (Dem) running against Milou Mackenzie (Rep) for State Representative in District 131.

Other issues:

  • Andy Unger works on Mondays, so he cannot join us unless we change meeting dates.
  • Matt paid for a monthly Zoom account so we would not be limited to 40 minutes per meeting. Al offered the use of his Zoom account if we REMIND HIM to set up.
  • National and State Sierra Clubs are reorganizing to empower volunteer community teams. The Bethlehem Pedestrian Bridge project would be a good candidate.
  • Nanci will be on the Nominating Committee (Matt recommended her).

Our next meeting will be on October 12, 2020.
Minutes by Marilyn Jordan