Environmental Commission

Madison  Environmental  Commission   Meeting Minutes—August 27, 2015 1. CALL TO ORDER BY THE CHAIRPERSON at 7:42 pm 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 Council, held on January 1, 2015, 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: Jeff Gertler, Judy Honohan, Mary Lewis, Stephan Stocker, Betsy Uhlman, Claire Whitcomb 4. ABSENT: Missy Durham, Jeff Sarrett, liaison Pat Rowe GUESTS: Margaret Gilhooley 5. MINUTES: The minutes of the meeting of June 25, 2015 were approved without changes. Judy Honohan/Mary Lewis MAIL RECEIVED: Rotary International grant for MEC (forwarded to Open Space earmarked for wetlands restoration),  Letter  from  PS&S  on  behalf  of  Madison  Giralda  Property  Owner,  LLC:   PSE&G  applying  for  a  wetlands  LOI;  Letter  from  Bohler  Engineering  on  behalf  of  67  Whippany  Road   Investors,  LLC:  Notice  of  Treatment  Works  Application  from  NJDEP  related  to  redevelopment  of   Green  Village  Rd.  School   APPLICATIONS FOR REVIEW: Zoning  Board  Application  Z15-­‐016,  Prelim.  and  Final  Site  Plan   with  C  &  D  Variances,  34  Walnut  Street  LLC,  Lot  41,  Block  1601—reviewed  at  TCC  meeting  August  4   6. ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION: 1. Pilgrim  Pipeline  discussion  No  applications  to  BPU  or  NJDEP  are  in  yet.  An  underground   dime-­‐sized  leak  could  contaminate  8  acres  and  leak  hundreds  of  thousands  of  gallons  of  oil   products.  Information  will  be  available  at  Bottle  Hill  Day;  Terry  Ziegler  will  organize.  Lisa   Jordan  would  like  to  make  a  better  map.  No-­‐pipeline  lawn  signs  are  available  from  Terry;   Mary,  Claire  and  Judy  requested  them. 2. Progress on MRC projects: Stephan Stocker reported that the drought led to a plant loss of 70% on new plantings (90% may be expected however). 70 students from FDU will move logs on Sept. 15. This fall 20 plants will go in and seeds will be 1      broadcast. Milkweed is planted along the access road to the community garden and deer exclosure. The Conservation Management Plan is coming before the end of Sept. The second part form the Land Conservancy on the meadow is expected June 2016. 3. Bottle  Hill  Day  planning: The topics to emphasize are the mapping of the Pilgrim Pipeline, the benefits of bagging leaves, free books, and the benefits of native species and drawbacks of invasive species. Leaf bags will be supplied. Home energy efficiency audits and projects can be discussed. Jim Burnet should be called re starting a competitive process to get an energy auditor. 4. Other  New  Business: The MEC would like an environmental ambassador from the schools to attend 6 meetings/year, take on a project and report on school activities as part of community engagement. The Central Ave. planting project by the PTO includes a shed, hoop house and planting beds with fencing. The successful shoe drive can be repeated with Shoebox and PTO presidents approached as well as the Y again for April. MEETING ADJOURNED. The meeting was adjourned at 8.31 pm. Claire Whitcomb/Mary Lewis Next meeting: September 24, 2015 2