Environmental advisory group formed in Tarentum to focus on green space, stormwater, parks

Stormwater management, invasive plants and riverfront recreation are among the topics to be studied by a new committee in Tarentum.

Council approved the formation of a five-member environmental advisory group and appointed its first two members, residents Cynthia Kramer and Christa Jones. There is room for two more volunteers.

The committee will be led by council member Jim Bonner, whose day job — executive director of the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania — makes him a natural choice.

“The committee can’t make law or create ordinances but we can help educate the public,” Bonner said. “Given my background, there are a lot of things on my wish list but, generally, we want to help the health and long-term quality of life in the borough.”

Environmental Advisory Councils (EAC) are becoming more common throughout the region as local governments work to protect green space and spur residents to be good stewards.

Fox Chapel and McCandless each have an EAC to tackle open-space protection, trail development, site plan reviews, buffer plantings, stream cleanups, water quality monitoring and recycling, among other issues.

“We want to increase public engagement on any of these subjects,” Bonner said.

He expects the group will meet monthly but a schedule hasn’t been set.

Jones, who has lived in the borough about six years, said she is eager to pitch in.

“There’s a lot going on the business district, and I want to help everything look nice and inviting,” she said.

Jones suggested the EAC might start with a simple anti-litter campaign.

“It drives me crazy when I see kids throw gum wrappers on the ground,” she said. “Or, when they drop their pop bottles. We want everyone to have pride.”

Council President Scott Dadowski said the EAC will encompass the scope of work by the borough’s former shade tree commission.

“People love our parks,” he said. “There is a lot to be done to keep them up.”

Issues such as stormwater and vacant lots will be on the list, Bonner said.

“Those are issues that many communities tackle,” he said. “The idea for this is thinking of ways to put (lots) to better use. Let’s plant something other than grass and see the property value increase.”