Environmental Advisory Council
Meeting Minutes
June 26, 2007


In attendance at the meeting were Sue Kelly, Phil Coleman, Lora Lavin, Denise Disney, Chris Hansen, Nancy Crickman, Beth Murray and Rich Shimko and Gina Eberly

Boy Scout Roger Lott proposed several of his ideas for improving Little Crum Creek Park as part of his Eagle Scout project. His ideas included planting trees between Yale Avenue and the wetlands area, cleaning up the graffiti around the gazebo, and creating a gateway to the park along Cresson Lane using the large stone blocks dumped there. We suggested several other ideas for improving the park. Roger will consider our suggestions and get back to us later this summer with his plans. Denise offered to provide architectural advice to Roger on the gateway project.

Little Crum Creek Park Clean-up Day on Saturday, June 23 went well. We scheduled another clean-up day for Saturday, July 21 at 8:30 a.m. Gina will contact Ann Murphy about spraying the stilt grass.

Little Crum Creek Watering - Sheila is scheduled to water the new trees this week. Denise is scheduled to do the water next week. Gina will send out an email schedule for the watering responsibility for the remainder of July. At our next meeting we will extend the schedule into August.

Smart Power - Phil reported that 19.2% of Swarthmore households have signed up for wind power through PECO. We need 132 more households to register in order to receive the Smart Power solar panel. At last month's meeting we discussed showing the movie Inconvenient Truth as part of the borough's summer outdoor film series. We have learned that his option is not possible. Instead, Phil suggested we invite Molly Tsongas of Smart Power to present the slide show and follow it with an open discussion about Swarthmore's possible response. Phil will contact Molly to arrange a date for the presentation. We thought a midweek evening in mid to late September would be best. Phil will also contact Steve Vanderwolf to reserve the Community Center.

Litter Survey - Gina announced that the litter survey is complete. The PA Resource Council will be sending us the results of the state-wide study, including Swarthmore's rating and suggestions for areas where Swarthmore needs improvement. We may need to do an abbreviated reassessment each year.

Philly Car Share - Phil gave us an overview of the car-share organization. He and Nancy have both signed up for the service. If 50 people in Swarthmore register, Philly Car Share will put a "pod" in Swarthmore. Phil will try out the service, then he and Lisa Hough plan to write a letter to the Swarthmorean encouraging others to participate. Get more details at phillycarshare.org.

Sustainability Group - An initial group of about 10 people lead by Geoff met on June 11 to discuss what sustainability efforts Swarthmore should be pursuing. The group agreed to meet again soon to establish a mission statement. Lara Lavin suggested Swarthmore participate in an ICLY inventory/assessment of our community's use of energy/natural resources. Phil is looking into it.

Deer Problem - No new information. Gina will follow up with George McCarthy.

New Business - Gina will talk to Jane Billings about contacting the home near the corner of Dickenson and Harvard regarding the leaves being piled up along the creek.