Environmental Commission

Madison Environmental Commission Meeting Minutes June 23, 2022 Call to order by Chairperson Claire Whitcomb – Virtual Meeting via Zoom. Announcement of meeting notice Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act: Read by Claire Whitcomb, Chairperson. Present : Claire Whitcomb, Bridget Daley, Ann Huber, Kirsten Wallenstein, Brian Monaghan, Rachel Ehrlich, council liaison Absent : Stephan Stocker, Trina Mallik, Ellen Kranefuss Guest: Lisa Jordan New and continuing business Council report from Rachel Ehrlich: • Work on Waverly Place design concepts will be shared with the public. • The town is meeting with Morris County Trails to get reimbursement for two trail improvements, which will take place in Memorial Park. There will be a combination of boardwalk and sandy gravel trails at the end of this year or early next year. • Grant application in progress for trail connecting Rosedale to Delbarton park. • DPW attended EV charging station training. Possible bike collection via Pedals for Progress https://www.p4p.org • Dodge Field Playground redesign to be handicap accessible. Some tree removal may be required. Pollinator plants: • Joan Maccari gave away over 100 native plants at farmers market. She had many good conversations with Madison neighbors. • Pollinator garden at BOE is going ahead—grass has been cleared. Bridget and Joan will go to Pinelands to pick up 12 trays of plants. Volunteers are signing up to do planting. Many participants have no native plant experience so this is a good teaching moment. • Joan’s pollinator plant lecture at the library went very well. How can we get this information out to the community? • Brian reports that things at the Community Garden are busy. • The MEC is planning a pollinator garden tour for September. Global movement to create and connect pollinator pathways along migration routes. https://www.pollinator-pathway.org. Madison will have a page on website with information to help residents with pollinator garden. Site plan review • We discussed 5-9 Central Avenue site plan for 4 story building replacing older houses. • Property walk of 157 Ridgedale was planned due to protected pond and possible clearcutting of trees. 3 Lot Subdivision. • Discussed creating a doc that would adapt the Preliminary Environmental Checklist to residential buildings. Climate action Madison was awarded a Community Energy Plan grant. Discussion about having Sustainable Director in Madison to support community energy planning and climate work. The MEC , the Chathams and the multi-town working group NJSMA held a virtual talk with Frank Curran of Green House Solar, Is Solar Right For Your Home? The recording was made available to numerous towns. Lawn mowing reduction Discussion with DPW, parks and borough officials on how we can maintain more eco- friendly fields. The DPW mulch mows at 3.5 inches. * Could there be a pilot area where leaves are not blown? Can we find a place to showcase using “leave the leaves” in a garden instead of mulching? * Also discussed getting native shrubs to replace some of turf areas. Library swale was discussed. Meeting adjourned at 8:45