Environmental Commission

Madison  Environmental  Commission   Meeting  Minutes—April  26,  2012     Call  to  order  and  Open  Public  Meetings  Statement  at  7:30pm.   PRESENT:  Missy  Durham,  Jeff  Gertler,  Jim  Greene,  Donald  Links,  Susan  Niculescu,  Jeff  Sarrett,  Stephan   Stocker,  Betsy  Uhlman,  Claire  Whitcomb.   ABSENT:  Roy  Redmond   Minutes:  The  minutes  of  the  meeting  of  March  29,  2012  were  approved  with  changes.   Guests:    Missy  Honohan,  Open  Space  Committee;  Jake  Remaly,  the  Patch;  Jim  Burnet,  Assistant  Borough   Administrator;  Councilman  Robert  Catalanelo.   Mail  received:   Discussion:   1. Green  Fair:  S.  Niculescu  reported  that  the  planning  of  the  Green  Fair,  which  will  be  held  on  May   3rd,  is  going  well.  B.  Uhlman  reported  that  one  of  the  exhibitors  will  be  Project  Porchlight,  a  not-­‐ for-­‐profit  which  promotes  the  use  of  CFL  light  bulbs,  and  assists  communities  with  fund  raising   in  order  to  promote  the  use  of  CFLs.  They  will  be  assisting  the  MEC  with  fundraising  on  this   occasion.  B.  Uhlman  asked  if  anyone  knew  where  the  MEC  banner  was  stored,  since  it  is  needed   for  the  Green  Fair.  At  the  MEC  table  will  be  the  Community  Garden  Poster  (they  are  currently   not  accepting  any  more  gardeners  since  there  is  a  waiting  list,  so  there  will  not  be  a  sign  up  list   for  the  Community  Garden).  And  there  will  be  a  sign-­‐up  list  to  tour  the  Solar  House  designed  by   Chris  Kellogg.  There  will  also  be  a  sign-­‐up  list  for  the  Sustainable  Madison  Committee  and   information  on  Sustainable  Jersey.  And  there  will  be  information  on  where  to  recycle  and   pamphlets  from  Morris  Habitat  for  Humanity.  There  was  discussion  on  where  to  recycle  items  in   Madison.  The  CFL  bulbs  are  still  not  recyclable  locally—they  have  to  be  taken  to  Home  Depot  on   Rte  10.  J.  Burnet  mentioned  that  J+M  said  they  would  attend  the  Green  Fair  and  bring  lady  bugs   and  organic  fertilizer.  He  also  mentioned  that  for  every  ton  of  garbage  recycled,  rather  than  put   in  the  garbage,  the  Borough  saves  $140.  And  he  mentioned  that  the  twice  a  week  garbage   pickup  will  resume  in  May  until  the  end  of  August.   2. Community  Garden:  R.  Catalanello  mentioned  that  he  was  pleased  to  hear  the  Community   Garden  was  over-­‐subscribed  and  that  perhaps  it  should  be  expanded  next  year.  He  mentioned   the  need  for  a  fence  and  storage  shed  and  hoped  that  they  would  be  done  well  so  that  they   would  last.  J.  Burnet  mentioned  that  it  might  be  possible  to  get  a  shed  donated.  There  was   discussion  of  the  possibility  of  a  future  Greenhouse  for  disabled  people  to  garden  and  for   educational  purposes  with  High  School  Science  students.   1      3. Sustainable  Madison  Ordinance:    R.  Catalanello  noted  that  he  voted  against  it  because  he   wanted  people  to  volunteer,  he  did  not  see  the  need  for  a  permanent  ordinance.  He  wanted  to   get  people  involved.  B.  Uhlman  noted  that  the  ordinance  gives  the  effort  continuity  that  is   required  to  obtain  grants  and  to  qualify  for  the  next  level  of  Sustainable  Jersey.  She  also   requested  that  if  anyone  present  was  interested  in  getting  involved  or  knew  of  anyone  who  was   interested  that  they  should  immediately  sign  up.  D.  Links  affirmed  that  thought  and  requested  a   list  of  possible  members  and  their  qualifications  to  be  submitted  to  the  Council  immediately  to   maintain  the  momentum.  B.  Uhlman  suggested  that  the  first  Sustainable  Madison  meeting   should  be  a  brainstorming  session—bring  your  ideas  and  let’s  discuss  them  all.  The  meetings   should  be  all  inclusive  but  should  have  a  constituted  “body”  to  run  them.  S.  Stocker  mentioned   that  it  would  be  good  to  develop  a  list  of  which  projects  should  be  accomplished  in  the  first   year,  and  plan  for  those  to  be  done  in  the  following  year,  etc.  R.  Catalanello  mentioned  his   desire  to  cooperate  with  Villanova  and  purchase  a  $6,000  bio-­‐diesel  machine.  It  could  make  80   gallons  of  bio  diesel  fuel  every  3  days  at  a  cost  of  $0.90-­‐-­‐$0.94  per  gallon.  The  older  town   vehicles  are  diesel  and  would  be  easy  to  convert  to  use  the  bio-­‐diesel  fuel.  There  was  discussion   of  tax  laws.  Having  created  the  fuel,  is  it  necessary  to  sell  it  to  the  Borough  and  pay  taxes?  B.   Uhlman  mentioned  that  Sustainable  Jersey  grants  can  be  applied  for  in  July  of  each  year.  There   are  also  grants  available  from  the  Dodge  Foundation.   4. Planning  Board:  J.  Gertler  reported  from  the  Planning  Board  that  the  project  on  Elmer  Street   was  approved.  Also  that  one  issue  of  major  concern  was  the  use  of  LED  lighting  at  gas  stations.  J.   Burnet  mentioned  that  a  study  is  being  conducted  of  ordinances  in  other  towns  to  see  what   legislation  is  used  elsewhere  for  LED  lights.  They  need  to  be  bright  during  the  day  and   automatically  dimmed  at  dusk.     5. Rosenet  Addresses  for  Commission  Members:  B.  Uhlman  mentioned  that  everyone  should  now   have  a  Rosenet  address.  It  can  be  set  up  so  that  there  is  automatic  forwarding  of  email  to  your   regular  email  address.     6. Poster  re  Community  Garden:    M.  Honohan  suggested  that  the  Community  Garden  poster  could   be  at  the  Open  Space  Committee  table  in  the  Green  Fair  since  the  MEC  table  seemed  to  have  a   lot  of  activities  planned.  It  was  agreed  that  it  would  be  better  that  way.   7. Executive  Session:  R.  Catalanello  requested  that  the  Commission  go  into  executive  session  in   order  to  discuss  a  contractual  matter  which  came  up  recently.  The  session  was  closed  to  the   public  who  were  asked  to  leave.  The  executive  session  was  adjourned.  Moved  to  adjourn  by  C.   Whitcomb,  Seconded  by  J.  Gertler.   8. Meeting  adjourned:    The  meeting  was  adjourned  at  9:25  pm.  Moved  to  adjourn  by  J.  Gertler,   Seconded  by  S.  Stocker.       2