Sustainable Madison Advisory Committee

Sustainable Madison Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes March 19, 2024 Chairperson Kathi Caccavale called the meeting to order at 1:33 P.M. STATEMENT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT: “In compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act, adequate notice of this meeting of the Sustainable Madison Advisory Committee (SMAC) was provided by transmitting a copy of the meeting notice to the Madison Eagle and Morris County Daily Record, posting a copy on the bulletin board at the main entrance of the Hartley Dodge Memorial, and filing a copy in the office of the Clerk. This notice was made available to members of the general public.” The following members acknowledged their presence: Kathleen Caccavale, Chairperson/Regular Member Lisa Jordan, Resident/Regular Member Pam Hogan, Resident/Regular Member Mary Ellen Hennessy-Jones, Resident/Regular Member David Duran, School Board Liaison Absent: Deanna Schmidt, MEC Liaison, Resident/Regular Member Bob Landrigan, Borough Council Liaison/Regular Member Peter Fried, Resident/Regular Member Loretta Davidson, Resident/Regular Member Guests: Catherine Maida, Drew student We approved the February minutes. No report from the council liaison. Report from School Board Liaison - David Duran ● There is a new Superintendent, and their current priority is the budget. After a transition period, sustainability may move up the agenda. ● There is an effort to bring school bus capabilities in-house. Purchase of a few new gasoline buses were approved. Electric buses may be a possibility in the future, but education is required. Lisa reported that she will be meeting with the Madison Junior School Culture Club and Environmental Club on April 25th, 3pm. Others are welcome to join. Climate Action Committee - submitted by Peter Fried: ● The Madison Community Energy Plan has been approved by Council and submitted to the BPU. ● Current work centers on securing grants for several projects under the BPU Community Energy Implementation grants: grants requests under consideration (deadline May 24) include: ○ $150,000 for heat pumps for the HDM East Wing ○ $100,000 for a solar carport over the police dept parking lot ○ $50,000 for the grid analysis plan ○ $50,000 to supplement a Borough program to incentivize residential energy efficiency and electrification programs ○ $100,000 for a solar array on the roof of the Rexford Tucker affordable housing complex ○ $50,000 to cover half the remaining cost of upgraded windows for the DPW garage. Electric Vehicles - submitted by Peter Fried: ● Jim Burnet and I briefed the Council on EV Shuttle Busses for the senior center and the Borough is moving toward buying a 9-passenger EV bus based on the Ford E-Transit. A grant will pay for about 10-15% of the cost ● The Borough took delivery of a Mean Green zero-turn EV lawnmower ● The Borough will file a 2023 tax return in order to obtain the Investment Tax Credit of $7500 for each of two Chevy Bolts bought in 2023 EV Expo - submitted by Peter Fried: ● Time: 11-4. I originally announced 9-2, but getting some cars to arrive and get set up that early looked challenging. I am asking the dealers to bring cars by 10:30 ● Cars; with all the space we will have, I am inviting both dealers and owners to bring EVs. I have positive replies so far from: 7 dealers and will harass about 6 more. ● The Borough of Madison will display their hybrid police cars, the EV Bolt Parking patrol vehicle and the new electric zero-turn lawn mower. Other towns are welcome to bring their EVs ● We will have experimental EV racers from Cornell, Princeton and Rutgers there for viewing. We have reached out to the High School to tell them about this. ● Food: Romanelli’s Pizza will selling pizza that they keep warm in an electric warmer. I hope to have a friend’s Ford F-150 Lightning there to plug the pizza warmer into; if not there are outlets. Romanelli’s will also sell canned soda, but NO plastic drink bottles. ● Event is advertised on a national web-site: https://driveelectricearthmonth.org/event?eventid=3627 ● Several organizations will be tabling at the event including: Madison’s Climate Action Committee, the Sierra Club, Electric vehicle Club of Central NJ and perhaps the NJ DEP green energy program.  ● I hope to have an informal survey that some of our volunteers could use in conversation with people visiting the Expo. We will be looking for volunteers to (a) help set up 10-11 and arrange the cars and (b) go around and talk to attendees, and (c) help clean up at 4. Solar Carport - submitted by Peter Fried: ● A successful bidder’s walk-thru was held at the MRC ● Bids for construction are expected back March 28. ● Hopefully construction will occur in the fall of this year Report from the Madison Environmental Commission - Submitted by Claire Whitcomb ● The MEC is working on a native plant ordinance that would require native plants on public property with exceptions for rose bushes, seasonal displays, and veteran's memorials. Existing plants do not need to be removed, private property is excluded. This follows Mikie Sherrill’s introduction of a bill requiring native plants on public property. Chatham Borough and Chatham Township are working on similar ordinances. Mendham and Montclair have passed ordinances. ● We are continuing our habitat outreach with neighborhood events. The idea is to promote a neighborhood as a shared ecosystem and if we all do a little, here and there, the results are magnified. The next one will be on Sunday March 24 at Surrey Lane at 2pm. If you are interested in hosting and want to attend to see what I’d like, please let me know. ● We have another native plant event scheduled on April 21 with Support Network for Madison, which is based at Community House. ● Tabling at Green & Clean is being organized by Bridget Daley, per Lisa Ellis. Please reach out to Bridget if there are groups you think should table. She can add them to the town spreadsheet. Report from SMAC Chair - Kathleen Caccavale ● We should plan to table at the Green and Clean, April 27th. Mary Ellen, Pam and Lisa can help. Update on Grants - Submitted by Pam The Interim report required for the $20K grant made by the Sustainable Jersey and PSEG Grant was filed on Wednesday March 28, 2024. Thank you to Kathi for collaborating with me on this report. As noted in the timeline of the report Dr. Obropta is working on a GI Strategic Plan that will be presented to council in April or May. I got good feedback on the Green Infrastructure training that took place on February 17th. A local landscaper, George Limbach, told me about an application that was made to the planning board for development of a property on 95 Elm Street. He identified an opportunity to use a rain garden to mitigate water runoff and his suggestion was accepted and included in the contractor’s plan. He told me he attributes his training at the Rutgers GI session as being the reason he was confident in making this recommendation – something he wouldn’t have done without the training. Updates on North Jersey Green - Peter Articles for the North Jersey Green column are requested on an ongoing basis. Our Tracking Sheet for Sustainable Jersey Actions was reviewed. The next SMAC meeting will be on April 16 at 1:30 P.M. The meeting was adjourned at 2:21 P.M. Minutes respectfully submitted by Lisa Jordan.