Quarterly Meeting Minutes
Friday, Nov 16, 2007
Eat’N’Park, Indiana, PA
In attendance:
|
Bob Eppley, (President) |
Hank Webster, Clearfield CD Kim Lanich, Elk CD |
WPCAMR Business Meeting:
Meeting chaired by Bob Eppley and called to order at 10:10am.
Introductions of all present.
Secretary’s Report (Bob Eppley for Jim Panaro):
Review of past meeting minutes.
Motion (Steele/Doney) to accept the minutes. Motion Passed.
Treasurer’s Report (Bruce Golden for Greg Phillips):
Bruce read the treasurer’s report. Report on meeting webpage.
Motion (Beck/Eckenrode) to accept the treasurers report. Motion Passed.
Presentation (Dennis Beck).
Dennis made a PowerPoint presentation “Windmills and Watersheds” showing how Portage Boro is working with Gamesa Energy and DEP in promoting wind energy projects in Cambria County.
Regional Coordinator’s report (Bruce Golden):
See report for details. Report on meeting webpage.
Watershed Coordinator’s report (Andy McAllister):
See report for details. Report on meeting webpage.
Conservation District/Agency/Watershed Association reports (All present):
Those in attendance reported on current and future activities within their respective organizations.
Break for 10 minutes from 12:55 until 1:05
NEW BUSINESS
Discussion of WPCAMR’s potential role in the “Prevailing Wage” issue:
Jeff Fliss explained the basics of how the Prevailing Wage Act, enacted in 1961, hasn’t kept up with the times and inflation and how that is affecting reclamation efforts. He also spoke about State Senate Bill #333, a bill that proposes to amend the Prevailing Wage Act and account for inflation since the enactment of the original legislation in 1961. After some discussion, it was decided by those in attendance that WPCAMR should begin an educational campaign regarding prevailing wage pros and cons and how to contact your legislator utilizing Abandoned Mine Posts as well as other methods. This campaign to be aimed at watershed groups and others involved in AMR.
Cambria County’s “Super Seven” project:
Dennis Beck explained the project to address seven AMD discharges in Cambria County. Dave Steele mentioned that the Southern Alleghenies RC&D is supporting the project. General agreement was reached for WPCAMR to provide Cambria CD with a letter of support for the project.
Discussion of the needs of Conservation Districts and Watershed Groups:
With only seven Conservation Districts left to visit, Andy McAllister gave a quick synopsis of what he’s been hearing so far from Conservation Districts regarding their particular needs and those of their watershed groups during his Conservation District outreach visits. Some of those District needs expressed are as follows:
· The need for various kinds of assistance with the OM&R issue from writing OM&R plans, to how to fund OM&R, to who’s going to do the OM&R particularly for older systems.
· Funding for system pre-design sampling.
· WPCAMR should provide technical assistance and be less administrative.
· Various workshops/trainings/refresher courses for subjects such as: group sustainability/development, innovative projects, GIS, macroinvertebrates, chemistry, data analysis, property acquisition, easements, grant writing, etc.
· The need for more funding for equipment/computers/on the ground work.
· WPCAMR should be the owner of land/systems for AMD and have OM&R responsibilities.
· Need for a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for sampling protocols.
Some needs and/or comments expressed by some watershed groups to their Watershed Specialists to date have been:
· WPCAMR should visit with all of the watershed groups, look at potential sites/ help set up sampling sites.
· The need for pre-design sample analysis funding.
· Duplication of missions between WPCAMR and other service providers (e.g. WPC, CSAW, Stream Restoration Inc., etc)
When Andy finishes his CD visits, he will compile the results for the Board.
Discussion of Pass-thru funding from DEP to Clean Streams Foundation for property acquisition:
Bruce explained that this appears to be a non-issue now. No discussion or decisions.
Consider Campaign to support OSM’s Watershed Cooperative Agreement Program (WCAP):
After some explanation from Bruce about the program, the general consensus was to begin a campaign in support of the WCAP.
Consider having WPCAMR participate in a Grantwriting Workshop:
Bruce asked if the board would consider sending either Bruce or Andy to a week-long grant writing workshop to be held by the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management in Pittsburgh in January. He said the normal cost is $875 but scholarships are available for half the cost. Motion (Meade/Eckenrode): WPCAMR may send one person to the Bayer Center grant writing workshop provided a scholarship can be obtained. Passed.
Consider having WPCAMR car painted with “iron oxide” paint:
Similar to Dr. Carl Kirby’s VW van at Bucknell University. Questions were raised about the potential cost. Bruce responded that the work could be done for little using local vo-tech help. Bruce will get with Carl Kirby at Bucknell University for pointers. Everyone was in favor of this idea.
Consider annual payment for Westmoreland County Fair 2008 participation:
The general consensus was to not pay for the Westmoreland County Fair participation since WPCAMR didn’t do that for other counties.
On a request by the Donhoe Center Buildings Committee to suggest name for the Donohoe cluster of buildings,
the Board delegated that responsibility to Bruce for WPCAMR.
WPCAMR Quarterly meeting schedule:
The following 2008 WPCAMR meeting dates are current:
February 15, Eat'N'Park, Indiana
May (TBA)
Aug (TBA)
Nov 14**, Eat'N'Park, Indiana
**Please note: The consensus was for February 20, 2008. However, due to a unforeseen schedule conflict with Eat N’ Park’s calendar, the date had to be moved to February 15, 2008.
On a motion by Eckenrode, the meeting was adjourned at
Minutes taken and assembled by Andy McAllister / Bruce Golden.