Open Space Commission - Minutes 03/20/02

NEXT MEETING:        Wednesday, April 24, 2002, 7:00 PM, Great Valley Middle School

Please NOTE CHANGE OF MEETING DATE AND TIME!!

Bonnie Van Allen Executive Director of Willistown Land Trust will be our speaker.

Commission Members Attending Meeting:

Andy Motel, Chair x, William Anderson _, Alexandra Coleman x, Frank Corcoran x , Robert Davis_ , Aliena Gerhard x , Mary Ellen Joos _, Bob Jones_ , Thom Korber_ Kevin Kuhn x, Saul Kun _, Rosemary Philips x, Bob Roggio _, Marcia Solda _, Sue Staas x.

Speaker: No speaker.

Guests: Michael Allen, Patrick Benzing, Chris Pappala

Andy Motel, Chair, convened the meeting and determined that there was not a quorum – as a result of the fact that eight commission members were missing. Therefore, minutes could not be approved.

We discussed reasons for the “no shows”. Note from the Chairman: From now on we will start the meetings promptly at 7:00pm, not 7:30pm and will finish by 8:30pm, unless we have a guest speaker, when it will be 9:00pm. Everyone should be prepared discuss agenda items only. The Commission's work must be done outside the meetings. The meetings are essential for updating the group; and for making decisions on next steps. If you have an item to discuss at the meeting, let Sue Staas know in advance, so it can be considered for the agenda.

Commission members present agreed that Andy will contact the Commission members to stress the importance of attendance if we are to accomplish our ends and to ask members to suggest alternative strategies if regular attendance at monthly meetings is becoming too onerous.

MARKETING STRATEGY: Frank Corcoran

Frank Corcoran, with input from Thomas Korber, prepared, a marketing strategy/approach. Frank's draft plan was circulated by e-mail before the meeting. Because he was unable to attend the meeting, Thom also emailed his concerns that the developers' well-funded efforts really call for the use of a professional marketing outfit.

A productive discussion took place; and the following major points were made:

I)              We have two target markets: Landowners and taxpayers

1)    We need to reach both markets. Right now, we are doing better with the landowners, which is a relatively small group.

2)    Both the Civic Association and the Green are represented on our Commission; but we should get these organizations more actively involved.

3)    We should reach out to the Homeowners’ Associations in the Hunt, the Oaks, White Horse, etc.

II)            We need a systematic Education and Communications Program

1)    A Newsletter

2)    More visibility on the Charlestown Website

3)    A resource center at the Township building

4)    Occasional educational meetings with speakers

III)          We need to formally agree on and then present our Plan of action which Frank has articulated very well in his marketing plan; and which we have actually been implementing quite well.

IV)           Commission members present decided to bring preliminary research and draft articles for a newsletter to the April meeting. At that meeting:

1)    We will select a focus and articles for the first issue

2)    Appoint an editor for the newsletter (Volunteers!!! Call Andy)

3)    Andy will (has) assign articles for the first edition of the newsletter.

•       Note from Chairman: Everyone is needed in this newsletter effort. The articles should be short, usually less that 50 words - but do not interpret brevity for lack of importance. Let's take advantage of our large group. There are plenty of bright people among whom the work can be spread. Each of us is known in the township. Our neighbors should see all our names on articles in the newsletter—consistently. This is a grass roots effort.

4) Assignments for the newsletter:

•       Review of Linking Landscapes – Andy

•       OSC introductory article and progress reports – Andy

•       Liability of Landowners – Andy

•       Open Space pays – Frank Corcoran

•       Costs of Development for the Great Valley School District – Sue Staas

•       Demographics/ development pressures – Bill Davison

•       An article that solicits residents’ questions and concerns – Kevin

•       West Pikeland's efforts in Open Space. - Alix Coleman

•       Living with an Easements (Saul Kun)

•       "Now and Then Farm" - Kevin

•       “Open Space improves the Environment for all of us” (Ed Theurkauf)

•       Examples of successful Open Space efforts in neighboring townships (Aliena) Information about Green Valleys – Aliena Gerhard

•       Horses, Trails and Open Space in Charlestown – Bob Roggio

5) Articles for future newsletters:

•       Feature Articles from the local Land Trusts (Volunteer to request the articles)

•       “Charlestown’s Watersheds: Threats and Plans” (Ed Theurkauf)

V) OTHER BUSINESS:

1)    Sue and Aliena reported on their research of grant opportunities for open space. Available grants fall into many categories including Trails, Parks, Preservation of Wetlands, Agricultural Preservation, etc. Because they are funded by public money, these grants necessarily come with some restrictions. Sue and Aliena will continue their research to clarify all procedures and conditions of each grant Results will be placed in the Resource Center for all to see; and will form the basis of subsequent decisions to apply for grants.

2)    Kevin announced that the French and Pickering Creek Trust would like a representative from Charlestown to sit on their Board of Directors. Commission members felt that since it is our role to assist Landowners to consider all options when they are planning for the conservation of their land, it would be inappropriate for a member of the Commission to be on the board of a land trust. Members agreed to look for a resident who is qualified to fill this position.

VI) OTHER ASSIGNMENTS:

•       Sue Staas will identify and contact local Homeowners’ Associations

•       Alix Coleman will work with Jacob Merriwether to make the Open Space Commission’s page on the Charlestown website more visible

•       Sue Staas and Aliena Gerhard will continue to gather the basic information about sources of grant funding to support open space.

•       Sue Staas and Rosemary Philips will follow up the basic research by meeting with DCNR which administers the PA Growing Greener Grants; and with the representatives for the Chester County Grants.

•       Somebody?? will purchase cards and design letterhead for the OS Commission.

AGENDA FOR APRIL 24^TH MEETING – Don’t forget: we will meet at 7:00 PM.

7:00 to 8:00PM – Business Meeting – The agenda is ambitious – please be on time!

1.     Accept minutes of previous meetings

2.     Review Frank's marketing plan, briefly - for those who missed its presentation.

3.     Review and vote on working definition of Open Space

4.     Appoint editor for newsletter, review articles, questions.

5.     Those assigned to tasks at the last meeting will report on progress.

8:00 – Speaker: Bonnie Van Allan from the Willistown Twp. Trust

Willistown is a pioneer in preserving open space; and has been extremely successful – as a ride around that township proves. Bonnie will discuss their strategies, successes and lessons learned.

Respectfully submitted

Sue Staas

Secretary