Environmental Commission

Madison  Environmental  Commission   Meeting  Minutes  –  September  9,  2013   Call to order and Open Public Meeting statement at 7:35 Present: Susan Niculescu, Jeff Sarrett, Stephan Stocker, Claire Whitcomb, Judy Honohan, Betsy Uhlman Absent: Missy Durham, Jeff Gertler, Mary Lewis, Rob Catalanello (Council Liaison) Minutes: Minutes of June 27 meeting approved Guests: none Mail Received: • Resolution 231-2013 in support of the NJ Wildlife Action Plan. Once approved it will be added to ERI after Planning Board review. • Second resolution recognizing MACA as Madison’s creative team. MACA will assist with Arts bookings for the Green Fair. • Through 9/13 ANJEC is accepting nominations for the Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards. ANJEC is sponsoring a webinar on HighPerforming Environmental Commissions 7-8 pm on Oct. 10 and B. Uhlman will set up a link, if there’s interest. • Sustainable Jersey is conducting a Leadership Forum at Madison HS , Tuesday, Oct. 1 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM. Members are encouraged to register on line. Discussion: • Recreation Commission would like to promote recycling at games and practices. J. Sarrett and B. Uhlman will meet to discuss with Marty Horn. • John Guiheen has proposed installation of bluebird nesting boxes in Madison parks and open spaces. Concerns about invasive species and locations were voiced about this Eagle Scout project and John will meet with B.Uhlman and J. Honohan to discuss this project. No other action was taken. • Bottle Hill Day on October 5 will replace the scheduled late Sept. MEC meeting. Commission members are asked to sign up to work in MEC booth. The schedule will be distributed. Our space will be shared with Sustainable Madison and Community Gardens. - S. Niculescu will explore the donation of a free energy audit to be raffled off. -S. Stocker will have literature on fall yard tasks and compost model/compost tea demo. -B. Uhlman will explore composters for sale. -Composting award nominations will be solicited.  -C. Whitcomb are looking for your ideas on items and info to include in “Green Welcome Wagon” packets for new residents. Please forward suggestions. -J. Gertler to design a banner on Bottle Hill: Recycling since 1715. • • Conservation Easements: The follow-up on the inspections involves a records search back 70 years. Harriet Honigfeld has additional information on some title holders and will add that to the spreadsheet. Ray Codey has stated no Certificate of Occupancy will be issued until easements are in compliance with deed terms. The easement inventory will be added to the ERI. • Threatened and Endangered Species for ERI Appendix: recently completed maps will be included. • MRC ad hoc planning committee: Met twice over summer and is now in blue-sky mode for next meeting. There still exist concerns over contamination and how to remediate. Commission members should submit ideas for passive uses of MRC to B. Uhlman by Oct. 9. Based on results of a summary report by Sara Webb, Chair of Environmental Sciences at Drew, first actions at MRC should include deer fencing and removal of invasive flora. Both will help restore the understory and native species. • Sustainable NJ: Madison received comments on its submission in July. Some small parts will be resubmitted with comments addressed. Over all we were awarded 380 points of 435 submitted with 350 needed for Silver Status. Results are not yet final but all thanked Betsy and her committee for their efforts. The information in the submission will be a tool for Council to use in evaluating environmental efficiencies. There has been no progress on the shared effort with Morristown to create a bike line connection from the Traction Line to the MRC. Making the fleet inventory and its impact public was recommended. • Planning Board Application: Amended application on Walgreen’s signage was moot due to meeting’s rescheduling. The meeting recessed briefly to join Council in chambers to witness the presentation of Green Acres funds from the state to the borough. Meeting adjourned at 9:07.