Sustainable Madison Advisory Committee

Sustainable Madison Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes April 16, 2024 Chairperson Kathi Caccavale called the meeting to order at 1:31 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 Peter Fried, Resident/Regular Member Loretta Davidson, Madison resident Deanna Schmidt, MEC Liaison, Resident/Regular Member Absent: Bob Landrigan, Borough Council Liaison/Regular Member Guests: Luke Bruther, Drew student We approved the March minutes. No report from the council liaison. Report from School Board Liaison - David Duran ● We discussed compiling key past correspondence and presentations around issues that Sustainable Madison would like to engage the schools on. ● Action Item: all of us will share ideas with Kathi for the May meeting to include our past correspondence with the school district, and what we would like to be involved in with the schools moving forward Peter asked for Madison High School help with distributing a survey on electric vehicles for the EV Expo. 12 MHS students were recruited. Some will assist with the Sustainable Madison and Climate Action booths and surveys (including a health survey). Climate Action Committee - Submitted by Peter Fried: ● We are closing out the grant with the grid modernization analysis. ● Proposals for future grants are being prepared. ● A revision for the solar bid is being prepared, with the call for proposals to be distributed soon. ● The EV Expo is on April 27. ● Federal requirements to the energy plan grants may require changes to projects. ● Peter recommends preparing project specifics in advance to have ready when grants become available. Report from Shade Tree Board - Submitted by Gene Cracovia: ● Arborist Rich Wolowitz provided a 2023 Tree Status Report at the 4/8/24 Council meeting ● 89 Spring street trees have been delivered to DPW - planting occurring now through May ● 100 free tree seedlings were made available to residents on 4/12 - 96 were distributed ● Arbor Day celebration, 9:00AM, 4/27 as part of the Green & Clean Day ● FMST purchased 11 trees for planting at Memorial Park - Memorial Grove, Summerhill Park and the Waverly Place parking lot. A tree planting ceremony to honor DPW will take place on April 22 - 2:00PM at the DPW John Ave. location - all are welcome. Report from the Madison Environmental Commission - Submitted by Claire Whitcomb ● A Native Plant ordinance will be introduced at Borough Council on April 22, Earth Day. ● We are also working w/ STMB and the Garden Club of Madison to apply for a $1500 ANJEC grant (due April 26). The idea is to replace the barberry bushes at the Gibbons Pine Point (corner of Loantaka and Woodland) with natives and do a campaign about invasive species, tied to the top five home garden plants that are invading the Drew Forest. This is Sara Webb’s list: ○ #1 - Barberry tops my list for its abundance and its impact on soil acidity and bioavailable nitrogen, Direct impact on native species. (Huge volumes were removed from the Arboretum in particular. It is still around there and across the region.) ○ #2 Burning bush. very invasive, chokes out invasives, and widely sold ○ #3 wisteria because it literally strangles and pulls down trees. In the Drew Forest it previously formed a monoculture and tree graveyard covering about 8 acres where nothing else could grow (except garlic mustard. Its in our other woodlands too. Not sure it is often sold and planted these days/ ○ #4 (tie) Japanese honeysuckle - it's also a takeover artist very abundant as a carpet and as a vine (albeit not a tree-killing vine) ○ #4 (tie) Callery pear as a tree has a different but long-lasting impact - actually easier to eradicate than any of the above resprouting vines and shrubs. Not in Drew forest  ● Another in a series of neighborhood events was held 4/14. this time at Kate Duignan’s house. to inspire folks to “shrink the lawn” and go native. Joan Maccari demonstrated how to do a soil test. ● Sunday, 4/21, MEC will be part of the Support Network of Madison’s Pollinator Friendly Tips event at the Community House. Registration is required. ● At the Green Fair portion of Green and Clean on 4/27, organizations include Toadshade Wildflower Farm,with a native plant sale, Njoy Herbs, and Wildstead, a great new native plant store and earthcare service that's just opened in East Hanover Update on Grants - Submitted by Pam We had training on the Green Infrastructure in February. We are working on a strategic plan with Chris Obropta. Additional training with the Department of Public Works is forthcoming. Other Business: ● We discussed Madison Green & Clean - Pam and Loretta can also assist at the Sustainable Madison and Climate Action tables. ● We also discussed food waste programming with schools, and will follow up in correspondence with David. ● Mary Ellen, Kathi, Lisa, and Loretta will attend the Sustainability Summit. Electric Vehicles - Peter Fried: ● Peter shared an update on EV adoption in Madison - the latest data show 484 vehicles registered in Madison (December 2023, reported by the NJDEP), below the goal of 572. 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. Our next deadline is May 10th. Mary Ellen will lead the next meeting in Kathi’s absence. The next SMAC meeting will be on May 21 at 1:30 P.M. The meeting was adjourned at 2:37 P.M. Minutes respectfully submitted by Lisa Jordan.