The resolution for West Amwell’s Community Forestry Committee did not include private land as part of its preservation efforts.
By: Linda Seida
WEST AMWELL A committee charged with protecting woodlands almost lost its muscle because of the wording of a resolution, but after two committee members voiced complaints, the wording was changed with the corrective stroke of a pen.
When West Amwell established the Community Forestry Committee last spring, the committee was given the task of compiling an inventory of hazardous trees, performing public education and outreach and drafting an ordinance to preserve the township’s woodlands, whether on public or private land.
Such an ordinance, which has not been crafted yet, would require approval from the Planning Board and the Township Committee.
The purpose of the reworded resolution states the goals of the committee.
A resolution passed Nov. 2 was not supposed to limit the committee’s concerns to public lands only, but that’s how it turned out because the resolution contained no reference to private lands. It contained only the word "public."
"So how did that get in there?" Catherine Urbanski, a member of the forestry committee, asked the Township Committee on Dec. 7. "What are we going to do about that?"
The Township Committee voted 2-1 to amend the resolution by deleting the word "public," which paves the way for any future conservation ordinance to pertain to private woodlands as well as public.
The small change makes a big difference. If the word "public" had not been deleted, the committee wouldn’t have been able to craft a woodland protection ordinance, according to Mrs. Urbanski.
The forestry committee was formed with a $2,000 state grant, which allowed members to craft goals and hire a forestry consultant. The township kicked in another $500.
"For many months, we had many meetings and made sure we were consistent with the Master Plan," Mrs. Urbanski said later.
Gary Bleacher cast the lone dissenting vote. He said he didn’t believe the correction was necessary.
He told the two members of the forestry committee who were present, Mrs. Urbanski and Chairman Ron Shapella, "You certainly can talk to landowners."
Mr. Bleacher said the forestry committee’s goals could be maintained without amending the resolution. Instead, he suggested a builder’s agreement to preclude destruction of forestland for development.
"Private property, that’s the owner’s issue," Mr. Bleacher said.
Mayor Nance Palladino seemed surprised the corrective action was necessary. She said she had assumed the language of the original resolution had been discussed by Mr. Bleacher with the forestry committee. An agreement for Mr. Bleacher to schedule a discussion with the forestry committee was noted in the Township Committee’s agenda minutes from Nov. 2, Mayor Palladino said.
Mrs. Urbanski said such a discussion never occurred. The resolution’s wording was "arbitrarily changed without consulting anybody," she said.
"I, for one, would never have voted for it with that language," Ms. Palladino said. "I was under the impression this had been worked out."

