Green Township advisory panel sets timeline for second pollinator garden and bench

The Green Township Environmental Advisory Committee on July 1 reviewed donated plants for a second pollinator garden and approved a timeline and site-visit to move the project forward.

Ellen Lessin reported that "the plants received from NJ Fish & Wildlife have arrived," but said the seedlings are very small and cannot be placed in the ground until late summer or early fall. Lessin said volunteer Sharon Wander has offered to care for the plants until they can be planted.

To advance the project, Committee member Christopher Sullivan moved that Matthew Fox email Jason Miller with a timeline for clearing the second pollinator garden area and for bench installation; Fausto Moyano seconded the motion and "all in favor" was recorded. Lessin then moved that all Committee members meet at the garden with Jason Miller on a weekday after 2 p.m.; Fox was to include that meeting in the timeline email. Sullivan seconded and the motion carried.

The committee also handled routine business: it approved the minutes of the June 3, 2025 meeting on a motion by Fausto Moyano, seconded by Matthew Fox; reviewed the 2025 Committee budget; and reviewed an NJ Department of Environmental Protection notification of a suspected hazardous substance discharge and County of Sussex Agriculture Development Board and Open Space Committee minutes for information. A Certificate of Participation in Clean Communities Day (May 17, 2025) was presented to Cynthia Moyano for placement in Committee files.

At the meeting Mike Wood read and accepted the Oath of Office to serve as Environmental Advisory Committee Alternate #1. For new business, Christopher Sullivan moved and Mike Wood seconded that members brainstorm short-, medium- and long-term goals at the next meeting; the motion passed.

The meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m. The Committee’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.