Environmental Commission

Madison Environmental Commission Minutes of September 29, 2016 Meeting called to order at 7:35. Open Public Meetings Act P.L.1975c. 231 was read. Present were Stephan Stocker, Claire Whitcomb, Judy Honohan, and Mary Ellen Kapalo. Brian Monaghan sat in; he is considering filling the alternate #2 slot. Discussions: Bottle Hill Day – Staffing of booth has been lack luster to say the least. Extra effort to operate the booth is needed. Judy’s caterpillar game was great and well received. Handouts are prepared and we have an assigned spot on Waverley. Bees – Response from apiary manager at Madison Community Garden has caused MEC to reevaluate our original thought of letter content and focus on educational outreach to residents to stop using systemic pesticides, roundup, and nicoids. Other ideas brought up included a landscaper summit and use of micro stories about not spraying at all for insects, letting predators do the work. We will consider developing an educational program for residents and a platform to present it to the public. Bamboo - A draft ordinance from Florham Park was received and needs adjusting to Madison’s requirements and presented to Councilman Carmela Vitale to review. From our point of view, installation of new bamboo plots should be discouraged and residents who have plots on their property should be responsible for the removal of encroaching bamboo from their neighbors’ property. Review of the draft ordinance was proposed. Ciel Power – Borough Council passed a resolution to issue a RFP, following state protocol to allow Ciel Power to bid on being sole energy efficiency marketer to Madison residents.