Environmental Commission

Madison  Environmental  Commission   Meeting Minutes—January 30, 2013 1. CALL TO ORDER BY THE CHAIRPERSON 2. ANNOUNCEMENT OF NOTICE Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act: Betsy Uhlman, Chairperson, opened the meeting as follows: “Let the minutes reflect that adequate notice of this meeting has been provided in the following manner: At the meeting of the Commission, held on January 30, 2014, the posted annual calendar of meetings of the Madison Environmental Commission was approved with minor modifications which were submitted to the Borough and posted at the bulletin board at the main entrance of the Hartley Dodge Memorial Building; were sent to the Madison Eagle and the Daily Record; and filed with the Borough Clerk; all in accordance with the ‘Open Public Meetings Act.’” 3. PRESENT: Judy Honohan, Mary Lewis, Jeff Sarrett, Stephan Stocker, Betsy Uhlman, Claire Whitcomb. ABSENT: Missy Durham, Jeff Gertler, Robert Catalanello (Council Liaison). GUESTS: George Stafford, Highlands Coalition, Lisa Ellis, BOE Chair 4. MINUTES: The minutes of the meeting of December 12, 2013 were approved without changes. 5. MAIL RECEIVED: a) Kleinfelder,Public  Notice  on  former  Exxon  facility,  122  Main  St. Jeff Sarrett will follow up to get more complete information on the continuing environmental investigation. b) NJ Land Conservation Foundation announcement of Land Conservation Rally Mar. 22 c) Special meetings on Budget, Feb. 1 and 3. ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION: 1. George Stafford, outreach director for Highlands Coalition, asked that the MEC and Council adopt a resolution of continuing support for the goals and purposes of the 2004 Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act. Over 5 million people in 30 communities receive water from the Highlands, including through the Buried Valley Aquifer. The MEC voted to request that the Council adopt the resolution of continuing support. 2. MEC and BOE: Areas of possible shared effort: With Lisa Ellis, we discussed the areas of mutual interest: composting, recycling at the schools and recreation including a water bottle and other challenge, student representative on MEC 1      (potentially a member of Project Aware), Day of Service, Walking School bus, encouraging students to make presentations, Education for Sustainability educator Nancy Kuster, and upcoming (fall 2014) Sustainable NJ Sustainability program for schools. Continuing discussion with Jim Burnet, cc. Lisa Ellis. 3. Green Fair: It will be held April 24, 3:30-6:30, the week of Earth Day. The Spring Cleaning theme can illustrated by offering recycling of textiles, sneakers, information on Morris FreeCycle, Craigs list, Rotary shredding event, Pack Ship n More, Habitat ReStore, E-cycling, CFL bulbs. Outreach to sign up vendors will be shared by the MEC members. Claire will investigate the textile and sneaker recycling. 4. Grant applications for SJ and ANJEC: Stephan described the $20,000 application to SJ that would restore wetlands at the MRC by development of a plan, invasive plant removal and native plant replanting and the $2000 application that would support community-building activities like community pledges and an environmental film festival. The $1000 grant application to ANJEC would be for tools and organic herbicides to assist in invasive plant removal by volunteers. 5. Additions to the ERI: The Conservation Easement Inventory and the Threatened and Endangered Species Map can be added in 2014. 6. Conservation Easement process: a report of the inspections conducted by MEC members and Borough Officials has been shared with the Zoning Enforcement Officer, Frank Russo. In his opinion, the easements cannot be enforced until the code is more specific in protection requirements and enforcement penalty. The Planning Board holds this responsibility. 7. Plan Review of Parisi Planning Board Application P13-014: The MEC determined that the lack of landscaping and storm management plans prevented comments. 8. Plan Review of Legacy Home Builders Zoning Board Application Z-14-005: No comment. 9. MEETING ADJOURNED. The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 pm. 2