Environmental Commission

Madison  Environmental  Commission   Meeting Minutes—October 29, 2015 1. CALL TO ORDER BY THE CHAIRPERSON at 7:31 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: Missy Durham, Judy Honohan, Mary Lewis, Jeff Sarrett, Stephan Stocker, Betsy Uhlman, Claire Whitcomb, liaison Pat Rowe. Guest: Natalie Tocci, Ciel Power 4. ABSENT: Jeff Gertler 5. MINUTES: The minutes of the meeting of September 24, 2015 were approved with changes. Claire Whitcomb/Stephan Stocker MAIL RECEIVED: Back to Nature Free Tree for Madison residents (can be circulated to school district, borough website, press release), materials from Blaine Rothauser   APPLICATIONS FOR REVIEW: none   6. ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION: 1. Energy audit discussion Natalie Tocci of Ciel Power explained the process of developing an RFP to select an energy audit supplier for the municipality, a Sustainable Jersey action. Ciel has been selected by Millburn, Watchung, Woodbridge, Highland Park, Glen Rock and Princeton. The residents can have an energy audit for $49, rather than $99, and energy conservation is promoted. Ciel launches a marketing campaign with the mayor’s signature under the program: a mailing and website promotion. The MEC endorsed unanimously to recommend that Madison develop such an RFP. 2. Bottle Hill Day recap The pipeline map and information were attractive to passersby. Free environmental books, leaf bags and T-shirt bags drew people. The composting display generated questions as well. The material the MEC developed to showcase the MRC native plant restoration, the native plant list drawn from Douglas Tallamy as well as Rutgers facts sheets provided lots of information. Next year the display 1      should be streamlined, since the table looked cluttered. Perhaps tables could be set up as an L. 3. Pilgrim  Pipeline  discussion  No  applications  to  BPU  or  NJDEP  are  in  yet 4. Conservation Management Plan next steps: Stephan Stocker reported that Rotary will work to narrow trails on Oct. 31, as recommended in the CMP. Stephan agreed to make a list of recommendations that the MEC can seek to assign or accomplish. 5. 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 funds from the shoe drive should be distributed to the 4 participating schools as follows: $50 each to Torey J., Central Ave. and MJS with $350 to Project Aware. The MEC would like a role in co- determining the use of the funds. The MEC will shift the shoe drive to Shoebox.com and seed bombs. MEETING ADJOURNED. The meeting was adjourned at 8:42 pm. Mary Lewis/Jeff Sarrett Next meeting: November 19, 2015 2