Environmental Improvement Commission

Tuesday, September 1 , 2020 7:30 I. Call to Order: Chairman Ted Witte called the meeting to order at 7:30. Present were Bill Cavanaugh, Cathy Coleman, Nancy Flynn, Kay McKeen, Tony Pope, David Popham, Allison Torrence, and Bob Young. Absent were Shamili Ajgaonkar, Khizar Jafri, Tony Majszak, Brian McKee, and Christine Richardson. Attending on Zoom was Don Bartell. II. Approval of Minutes: Bob moved that the minutes from the August meeting be approved. Kay seconded. The minutes were approved. III. Budget Report: Bob reported that expenses totaled $4,205.87 leaving $17,294.13 open to spend. Upcoming expenses will be additional bills from the native plants and the library donation. Ted and Bob discussed next year’s budget and requested the same amount from the city for next year. IV. Public Comment: None V. Reports: 1. Electronic Recycling (August 8): Kay reported that she, Bob, Nancy, Jim Truesdale, and Audrey and Gabe from SCARCE worked. Over 200 cars from 17 towns came through. Bob processed about 250 bulbs after tweaking the lid to get the machine working. 5-6 gallons of oil were also collected. 2. Adopt a Highway: Nancy reported that she, her husband Brett, Tony and Annette Pope, and Nancy Allured cleaned for the 4th time on August 22. VI. Upcoming Projects: 1. Electronics Recycling (September 12): Bob, Tony, and David and some of his scouts will work this event. 2. Paper Shredding (October 31, 8:30-11:30): Kay reported that in addition to paper shredding, Working Bikes will collect bikes; the Lions Club will collect hearing aids and eyeglasses; the DuPage County Sheriff’s Department will collect syringes and Epi-pens; latex, oil, and aerosol paint will be collected for a fee; SCARCE will collect books, records, musical instruments, and sheet music; mercury thermometers and barometers will be collected. 3. Pumpkin Smash (November 7, 9-12): Cathy moved that we allocate up to $100 for pumpkin pies for the drawing. Allison seconded. The motion carried. 4. Cooking Oil Collection (November 28, 9-11) VII. Unfinished Business: 1. Nurses’ Closet: Nancy is working on this project. 2. New Green Plan/Strategic Plan: Allison reported that she and Shamili organized the information from our February meeting and shared it with Erica Bray-Parker and Suzanne  ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES September 1, 2020 Fitch from the City Council. Erica made some suggestions, and Suzanne shared it with City Council members for consideration at the September 12 Strategic Planning Session. Kay moved that we recommend the City Council incorporate the New Green Strategic Plan in the new overall Strategic Plan for the City of Wheaton. Allison seconded. The motion carried. 3. Library Donation: The library will receive a check to purchase environmental materials in the next two weeks. 4. Honorary Ideas (Myrt, Howard, Phil): Bob will research how much it would cost to get more engraved stones to put near the tree that was planted for Helen. 5. Arbor Day: Kay and Kevin Maloney are working with Wiesbrook and Sandburg Schools to plant trees and hopefully include the children in some capacity to satisfy the criteria for Tree City USA. 6. Lions Club: Kay reported that the Lions Club has added the environment as one of their tenets. VIII. New Business: 1. Funding for EIC Events: addressed under Pumpkin Smash. IX. Adjournment: Cathy moved that the meeting be adjourned. Kay seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 8:20. The next regular EIC meeting is scheduled for September 22, 2020, at 7:30 P.M. Note that it may be postponed to September 29 if there is another meeting at the same time to allow for Zoom attendance. Respectfully submitted, Cathy Coleman 2