Sharpsburg is seeking volunteers for its reestablished Environmental Advisory Council.

The borough created the EAC via a resolution in 2017.

Its main purpose was to offer guidance to the borough on environmental issues.

It also helped promote environmental health through borough cleanup events and tree plantings.

However, participation fizzled about five years ago. The last post on the group’s Facebook page was from April 2021.

Officials hope to bring back some of those folks and welcome others with a new opportunity.

Borough council approved an ordinance May 28 merging the environmental group with the Shade Tree Commission, re-creating the EAC.

The vote was 6-0. Councilman Dave Breingan was absent.

“We had two different groups trying to accomplish the same thing in the borough,” Councilwoman Sarah Ishman said. “We’re combining those groups. We have a lot of vacancies on different commissions. It doesn’t make sense to have two commissions doing the same thing.”

Rules and regulations

According to the ordinance, the EAC will be comprised of three to seven members.

Volunteers will be residents and can include members of council, the planning commission and the mayor.

Members will be appointed by borough council. Terms are for three years except for initial appointments. They will be staggered so only about one-third of the membership will expire each year. There are no term limits.

Responsibilities outlined in the ordinance include developing a tree inventory and recommend a community tree plan, develop a tree planting and maintenance program in coordination with the borough, review subdivision and land development plans as appropriate, advise borough council on issues of energy conservation and identify environmental problems, research solutions and make recommendations to borough council.

The EAC will meet at least quarterly. The ordinance is available for review at the borough office, 1611 Main St.

Ishman said former members of the EAC and Shade Tree Commission would be welcome to apply, as well as residents who are passionate about environmental causes and want to get involved.

“You don’t need an (extensive) resume or anything like that,” Ishman said. “You just have to care about helping the environment — finding ways to preserve it and do more.”

Councilwoman Amber Lapp believes the EAC will be a benefit to the borough.

“I’m excited that something like that exists because we are so close to a really important watershed and wildlife,” Lapp said after the meeting. “We’re right along the (Allegheny) River. It’s been a longtime coming to get something formalized like that. I think there will be huge benefits.”

Letters of interest may be emailed to borough Manager Christine DeRunk at manager@sharpsburgborough.com.

Those who send in their information by June 23 could be considered for appointment by council on June 25.

Any submissions after that will be considered in July.