A. Members

BRUCE BAYNE was appointed to the EAC in January 2009. He is a senior project scientist and manager of the wetlands group with URS Corporation in their Fort Washington office. His work involves conducting or directing environmental permitting and compliance efforts, stream and wetland restoration design and monitoring activities, and natural resources assessments and ecological function evaluations. Originally from Stratford, Mr. Bayne relocated back to the Main Line area after graduating from the University of Massachusetts – Amherst with a BS in Natural Resources Conservation and a MS in Watershed Science and Management, both with an emphasis on wetland ecology. Mr. Bayne lives in Ardmore, within the Darby-Cobbs Creek watershed.

LEIGH COHEN, Secretary, practiced environmental law at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. She worked for two years in the Conshohocken office specializing in superfund and waste litigation. She then worked in the Office of Regulatory Counsel in Harrisburg for five years developing regulations and policies in the areas of mining, nutrient management and hazardous waste. Prior to attending law school, she was a Peace Corps volunteer in the Philippines. She now works as a Program Officer for Eisenhower Fellowships where she puts together programs for highly accomplished mid-career professionals to travel around the United States to meet with experts in the Fellows’ fields of interest.

KATE GALER was appointed to the EAC in 2008. Kate earned a B.A. in Anthropology from Temple University and her Master’s degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, also from Temple University. She is in private practice as a Behavioral and Play therapist for young children with autism. Kate has three children, ages 5, 8, and 13, in the Lower Merion public schools. Kate has a special interest in coordinating community efforts surrounding environmental and open space issues. She has worked as a volunteer community organizer for the Sierra Club, in particular on the reduction of mercury emissions from coal fired power plants and on having municipalities adopt the US Mayor’s Agreement on Climate Change. Kate has served on the Lower Merion Township Emerald Necklace Committee to develop a trail system in Lower Merion. She works closely with Penn Valley Elementary School as the Children’s Garden Coordinator and community service representative. Currently, Kate is the Secretary of the Friends of Linwood Park.

ALISON GRAHAM completed her second term on the EAC, having been appointed in 1999. She served as the Township liaison with the Darby-Cobbs Watershed Partnership, representing the EAC. A graduate of Cornell University, Mrs. Graham is a former architectural designer, and ran the Lower Merion Recycling Center until the Township took over the recycling program. She has served on numerous local and regional civic boards, and is currently on the boards of the League of Women Voters, the Lower Merion Historical Society, and Lower Merion Affordable Housing. Alison retired from the EAC in July 2008 after eight and a half years of service.

RALPH GRASSO has been active in the Merion Park Civic Association, and served as President of the Federation of Civic Associations. He operates his own floral and interior decorating business, Acorn and Finch. Ralph retired from the EAC in December 2008 after eight years of service.

JOHN F. GULLACE, ESQUIRE, Chairperson for 2008, is a partner with the law firm of Manko, Gold, Katcher & Fox, LLP, where he is primarily involved in environmental litigation and arbitration matters. Mr. Gullace was appointed to the Lower Merion Township Environmental Advisory Council in 2002 and again in 2006 for a second four year term. He served as Chair of the Montgomery Bar Association Environmental Law Committee in 1999, 2000 and 2002 and was Vice-Chair of the Committee in 2001. Mr. Gullace also served as Chair of the Montgomery Bar Association Practice Diversification Committee in 2001 and has been a program organizer and speaker on various environmental topics, including environmental litigation and alternative dispute resolution, for such organizations as the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, the Montgomery Bar Association and the Dispute Resolution Institute. Mr. Gullace has also authored a number of articles on environmental topics. Mr. Gullace is a 1990 graduate of New York University School of Law and served as a law clerk to the Honorable James L. Latchum of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware before entering private practice in 1991. Mr. Gullace joined Manko, Gold, Katcher & Fox, LLP in 1994. He is admitted to practice before the Supreme Courts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania as well as the United States Supreme Court and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Gullace received his undergraduate degree from Haverford College in 1987.

BARRY W. JEFFRIES, Vice Chairperson, is a senior design planner at the Montgomery County Planning Commission in Norristown where his work focuses on the development of the county’s parks, trails and its forty-two mile riverfront within the Schuylkill River Federal and State Heritage Greenway. A native of Durham NC, he received his undergraduate degree from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master’s degree in landscape architecture from the University of Georgia, Athens. Barry relocated to the Philadelphia area while participating in a post-graduate professional internship in urban forestry at the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania. He is interested in enhancing the public’s understanding of our natural and cultural heritage while volunteering as an interpretive guide at the Morris Arboretum, Philadelphia Landmarks Tours and at West Laurel Hill Cemetery’s arboretum.

ERIC LOWRY, PE, Chairperson for 2009, is a practicing professional engineer with Pennoni Associates where he specializes in stormwater management design, land development reviews, and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit program management. Mr. Lowry serves on the Board of the Ardwood Civic Association and is working to form the Friends of Linwood Park not-for-profit group that will maintain and support the newly created Linwood Park. Mr. Lowry is a 1988 graduate of the Pennsylvania State University with a BS in Civil Engineering as well as a 2005 graduate of Villanova University with a MS in Water Resources and Environmental Engineering. Mr. Lowry is a registered professional engineer in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. He lives in Ardmore with his wife, Marta, daughter Sofia, and chocolate lab, Mocha.

JOSEPH MUDD was appointed to the EAC in January 2009. He is a teacher in the Lower Merion School District (LMSD), his second career following a decade in industry. Among multiple topics taught, Mr. Mudd teaches environmental studies to his 2nd – 5th grade students. Mr. Mudd is also the co-founder of the Green Council of LMSD, a grass-roots organization working to help LMSD develop and implement green policies and practices. The Green Council is also dedicated toward developing collaborative relationships with other groups and individuals to expedite the process of environmental change. Mr. Mudd received an undergraduate degree from Hampshire College and an M.Ed. from St. Joseph’s University.

JAMIE YADGAROFF, ESQUIRE has a general litigation practice with an emphasis in the areas of commercial, contractual and environmental litigation. She represents plaintiffs and defendants in civil litigation at both the trial and appellate levels in federal and state courts in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as well as arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution methods. Jamie is also experienced in insurance coverage claims, land use, and environmental regulation. Active in her community, Jamie is a past president of the Penn Valley Civic Association and was appointed to the Environmental Advisory Council in November 2004. She is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Philadelphia Bar Association, and the Society of Women Environmental Professionals (SWEP). Jamie holds a B.A. in Political Science from Penn State University (1990). She earned her J.D. from Temple University School of Law (1993), where she was a founding member and senior staff of the Political and Civil Rights Law Review. She is admitted to practice law in the Supreme Courts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania as well as the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Jamie resides in Penn Valley, Pennsylvania with her husband and two children. Jamie retired from the EAC in December 2008 after four years of service.

B. Major Activities

In an effort to raise environmental awareness throughout Lower Merion Township and to highlight environmental achievements, the Environmental Advisory Council established a new awards program for 2008. The “Go for the Green” awards recognize residents, businesses, organizations and schools located in the Township or who conduct business in the Township. Additionally, the Joe Manko Lifetime Achievement Award was created to recognize a person or group who has made a long-term significant beneficial impact on our environment. The program was a huge success and funded by private donations and the provision of in-kind services by the Township, thus making the program revenue neutral to the Township. Award recipients for 2008 were:

• Joseph M. Manko Lifetime Achievement Award - Sandy Drayer
• Resident - Jack Marine
• Commercial - Dr. Jerald Matt
• Organization - The Lower Merion Conservancy
• Educational - Friends' Central School

The EAC hosted the Preservation Area Forum in an effort to provide educational information and tools to property owners who are responsible for preservation area maintenance.

The EAC worked on developing a Green Building Leadership Initiative resolution for recommendation to the Environmental Initiatives Committee. The intent of the resolution is to increase green building practices for Township facilities.

The EAC followed up on letters it sent to each homeowner with responsibility for a Township Preservation Area, reminding them of their obligations to preserve and maintain these areas. The EAC continues to collaborate with the Lower Merion Conservancy, Township Staff and Commissioners to recommend education and enforcement possibilities to ensure homeowners comply with their preservation area obligations.

The EAC committed a significant amount of time to addressing the Henley Pond Removal from the Kyneton Road Preservation Area. The EAC objected to the original plans before the Planning Commission, which ultimately voted to deny the application. EAC members then met with and conducted conference calls with the applicants, their landscape architect and their engineer to reach a compromise that resulted in no net loss of habitat, but addressed the homeowners’ concerns as well. The resulting revised project was recommended to the BOC by the EAC, staff, applicants and the Lower Merion Conservancy. The cooperation of the applicants was appreciated by the EAC.

A representative from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and a member of the Radnor Township EAC joined us for our discussion of green building practices. The EPA recommended stake holder meetings to get buy in and address concerns from our residents.

As part of our participation in the land development process in the Township, the EAC regularly has representatives attend the bi-monthly meetings of the Township Land Development Committee to provide observations and input, as appropriate, on proposed subdivision and land development plans. We also have a presence at Building and Planning Committee meetings, Planning Commission meetings and Board of Commissioners’ meetings.

Finally, we selected our officers for 2009. Eric Lowry, Chairperson, Barry W. Jeffries, Vice Chairperson and Leigh Cohen, Secretary. Alison Graham completed her second term on the EAC at the end of 2007, but continued as a member of the EAC pending appointment of Kate Galer, a new member. Ms. Graham has also agreed to continue assisting the EAC and Township Staff with recycling issues under the Environmental Action Plan through the end of 2008.

The EAC continues to be involved in open space issues and to support the Emerald Necklace project, Linwood Park in Ardmore and the Cynwyd Trail development. The EAC heard several presentations by Chris Leswing about the Township’s ongoing initiatives and comprehensive plan goals. In addition, the EAC provided Chris with a list of issues to be considered as work on the Township’s comprehensive plan moves forward.

The EAC continued to collaborate with the Lower Merion Conservancy on a number of measures including maintenance and care of preservation areas and other environmental education opportunities throughout the Township.

A great deal of time and energy was directed to researching green building programs, their benefits, and ways to encourage their use. The EAC Recommended the implementation of green building practices in all of the library renovations.

Additionally, the EAC devoted meetings, presentations and discussions to:

• Preservation Area compliance issues (including meetings with the Lower Merion Conservancy about their surveys of Preservation Areas).
• The Schuylkill River West Trail Feasibility Study.
• Commercial recycling.
• Waste fees.
• Changes to the lighting code.
• Recycling compact fluorescent lights (CFLs).
• The need for recycling cans in the commercial districts (which has begun to occur).
• Stormwater utilities.
• Turf field pros and cons.

Presentations from Outside Organizations at EAC Meetings

• Home Builders Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania made a presentation about its green building program and its views on mandatory v. voluntary programs to encourage green building practices.
• A solar energy consultant and installation firm made a presentation about solar energy feasibility.
• Pennsylvania Environmental Council spoke about green building programs and possible state funding opportunities.
• Lower Merion Bike Committee came to discuss its agenda.
• Bryn Mawr College - students from the Environmental Studies Program came to present the results of a feasibility study they had conducted for the conversion of the refuse truck fleet to compressed natural gas.

Participation in Outside Meetings/Activities beyond our Monthly Meetings

• Eric and Barry met with several neighboring EACs to discuss common issues at a meeting held in Radnor.
• Leigh and Commissioner Manos met with PEC to discuss green building ordinances.
• Leigh and John met with attorneys affiliated with DVGBC and a PEC representative to learn their views of legal issues facing municipalities seeking to implement green building ordinances.
• John spoke with the Township Solicitor’s office several times regarding green building legal issues and met with the Solicitor’s office and Commissioner Manos on this topic.
• Barry participated in the Schuylkill River West Trail Committee on behalf of the EAC.
• Leigh participated on the Technical Review Committee for the Ardmore Redevelopment Project on behalf of the EAC.
• John met with the Lower Merion Conservancy to discuss joint projects.
• Eric, Leigh and John each toured LEED certified buildings as part of the EAC’s background research on “green buildings.”
• Eric worked with local groups to affix educational stormwater inlet tags.
• Eric attended an Urban Watershed Revitalization Conference hosted by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and the Philadelphia Water Department. The goal of the seminar was to increase awareness of the benefits of improving stormwater infiltration and water quality management in our existing urban areas.

Public Presentations by the EAC or its Members

• Preservation Area Forum hosted by the EAC at which Barry and Andrea Campisi spoke.
• Leigh made a green building presentation at one of our EAC meetings. Representatives from EPA and Radnor Township attended the presentation.
• John made presentations to various organizations regarding the work of the EAC and issues associated with green building ordinances. These organizations included,
  • Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry
  • Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
  • Montgomery Bar Association
  • Rosemont College
• Barry and Jaime taped an “Eye on Lower Merion” segment regarding the work of the EAC.
• Eric spoke at the Harriton High School Career Symposium.

C. Future Activities

• The EAC will continue to host the Go for the Green Awards.
• The EAC will again host the Preservation Area Forum in 2009 to provide additional educational tools to property owners who are responsible for preservation area maintenance.
• In cooperation with the Montgomery County Planning Commission, the EAC will host the Natural Areas Inventory update to better educate our residents about the resources available regarding our natural flora and fauna.
• The EAC will host presentations on areas germane to our environment and the residents of Lower Merion Township.
• The EAC will continue to work on projects with Township Staff that further the goals outlined in the Environmental Action Plan.
• The EAC will continue to work with Township Staff to incorporate best management practices into parking lot development and maintenance to promote greener, more environmentally friendly parking lots for our township. The EAC will review existing natural features requirements and will look for methods to improve stormwater management and to increase green space, including the use of bio-swales, and the shading of asphalt areas.
• The EAC will develop a written list of land development related items that the EAC routinely asks developers to consider in their projects, so that this list of preferred environmental practices and designs can be considered by developers early in the development of their projects.
• The EAC would like to get more involved with stormwater management issues, the implementation of stormwater best management practices, the implications of new Department of Environmental Protection Guidance on stormwater management, and stream bank restoration, as well as play a role in educating residents about these matters. The EAC will continue to be involved in stormwater inlet tagging projects with local community groups.
• The EAC would like to be more involved in the Township’s open space initiatives.
• The EAC will continue to evaluate the feasibility and utility of a Township greenhouse gas inventory. To that end, the EAC will continue to research funding opportunities toward the creation of a greenhouse gas inventory.
• The EAC will continue to participate in the land development process in the Township and will provide input on environmental sustainability and the implementation of environmental best management practices where appropriate.
• As part of its public education and outreach mission, the EAC would like to more routinely communicate with the individual civic associations and the Federation of Civic Associations to increase public input, understanding and support regarding the Township’s environmental initiatives. The EAC will coordinate opportunities to meet with the civic associations to facilitate an understanding of civic environmental concerns and offer information about environmental practices or programs.
• The EAC will continue to explore opportunities to collaborate and partner with area educational and environmental institutions on public education programs.
• The EAC stands ready to fulfill any other roles the Board of Commissioners deems appropriate.

D. EAC Recommendations to the Board of Commissioners

• The EAC recommends that the Board of Commissioners consider for approval the Green Building Leadership Initiative resolution as recommended by the EAC for review by the Ad-hoc Environmental Initiatives Committee.
• The EAC recommends that the Township continue to enforce the Garbage and Refuse ordinance requirements specifically with regard to recycling on all commercial organizations in the Township and revise the ordinance where appropriate to reduce waste and increase recycling throughout the Township. The EAC is ready to assist in whatever capacity is needed.
• The EAC recommends that the Board of Commissioners adopt the proposed lot size code amendments, with appropriate notification and protections for affected property owners.
• The EAC recommends that the Township continue enforcing preservation area requirements through its enforcement initiative and the EAC’s Preservation Area program to educate property owners. The combination of enforcement and education appears to be moving good stewardship of preservation areas in a positive direction.
• The EAC recommends that the Township continue to give high priority to the conservation and preservation of open spaces and land along the township's Schuylkill Riverfront and its emerald necklace (the three connecting ravines) -- to connect the Cynwyd Trail with the riverfront and the township's existing preserved open spaces- Flat Rock Park and Rolling Hill Park.
• The EAC recommends that the Township continue in its efforts to make the Township more pedestrian and bicycle friendly by supporting projects such as adding bike racks to public spaces, improving pedestrian street crossings, and implementing mechanisms to improve bicycle safety on Township roads.

Respectfully Submitted,

LOWER MERION ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

Bruce Bayne
Leigh Cohen, Esquire
Kate Galer
John F. Gullace, Esquire
Barry W. Jeffries
Eric Lowry, PE
Joseph Mudd

Dated - June 15, 2009