MINUTES

WARREN COUNTY SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT

May 14, 2008

Chairwoman Bilyk called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm and announced the compliance with the open public meetings act.

The Flag Salute was recited then, a roll call indicated the following:

Supervisors Present

Nancy Bilyk, Wayne Jarvis, Mike Toretta, Tony Wyhopen and Ron Petersen

Regrets

None

Others Present

David Schaaf, Jim Wick, Frank Minch

Minutes

On motion by Wyhopen and second by Petersen the minutes of the March 12, 2007 meeting were approved, Toretta abstained being he was not present for the meeting. 

Financial Report

The approval of the financial report for the month of March 2008 was tabled until a further meeting.  As the District transitions into a QuickBooks accounting system, a formal report was not available.  The board was presented and reviewed detailed deposit summaries and account balances in lieu of the formal report.  The Board will be presented financial reports for this transitional period as soon as available. 

Bills

On motion by Petersen and a second by Jarvis the invoices for the month of March 2007 were unanimously approved as presented.

Correspondence

 A list of correspondence was presented to the Board. 

Old Business

            Schaaf reported that the seedling sale has been completed. This year over 11,000 tree seedlings found new homes with local residents and about 22 pounds of wildflower seed was sold.

            Schaaf reported the 2006 District financial Audit has been completed.  Copies have been distributed to the Board, the County Treasurer’s Office, and the State Soil Conservation Committee.

Schaaf reported that the new district display board had been on display at the County Administration Building in celebration of Stewardship Week.

New Business

      Schaaf informed the Board of the dates of upcoming State, Regional and National Conservation District meetings.

      Schaaf informed the Board that a Certificate of Deposit will be reaching maturity mid month. 

      Schaaf informed the board that the supervisor nominating committee has been organized and will meet on June 5, 2008 to select nominees to be sent to the SSCC. 

      The Chair encouraged the board to move to executive session to discuss personnel matters.  Upon motion by Wyhopen and second by Toretta, the board went into executive session at 9:45pm.  Schaaf, Wick and Minch left the meeting.  Schaaf was asked back to the meeting at 10:05pm.  There was a motion from Toretta to announce an administrative assistant position opening and begin an interview process.  The motion was seconded by Petersen and was unanimously agreed upon.

New Cooperators

Upon motion by Jarvis and second by Wyhopen, the following Requests for Assistance were unanimously approved by the Board to be forwarded to the NRCS.

-         Hamlin – Greenwich, 88 acres – Farmland Preservation

-         Maier – Hope, 450 acres – EQIP

-         Kimball – White, 55 acres – EQIP

-         Heath (Phantom Brook Farm) – Washington, 9.23 acres - Farmland Preservation

Reports

NRCS – Jim Wick presented his written report.  On motion by Wyhopen with second by Jarvis and abstention by Bilyk the Board the following documents;

-         Conservation Plans: EQIP 2008:

o       Jim Smith – White Twp.

o       Terry Urfer – Hope Twp.

-         Conservation Plans:  CREP 2008

o       Susan Wilkinson

-         Conservation Plans:  WHIP 2008

o       Richard Hummer Jr.

-         Conservation Plans: General

o       Eugene Makaravich

Wick also reported that Maria Collazo has been selected as the new District Conservationist at the Hackettstown Service Center.  No start date has been given at this time.

SCD – David Schaaf presented an oral report of the District’s activity within the past month. 

Forestry – Mike Fee provided a written report.

251. – Mary Baldwin and Cathie LaBar provided written reports.

RC&D – no report

RCE - no report

SSCC – Minch reported on the latest regarding the status of the Dept. of Agriculture.  His report also included updates on the Stormwater Permits and the District Personnel Liaison meeting.

Erosion and Sediment Control applications and rulings.  

On motion by Wyhopen and a second by Petersen, and unanimous agreement of the Board, the following noted applications were acted upon as indicated below. 

The next scheduled meeting is June 11, 2008 at 7:30 pm. There being no further business it was moved by Jarvis with second by Petersen with unanimous decision by the Board to adjourn the meeting at 10:25 pm.

                                                            Respectfully Submitted,

                                                                          David Schaaf, District Manager