Sustainable Jersey Certification Report

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This is the Sustainable Jersey Certification Report of Madison Boro, a Sustainable Jersey silver certified applicant.

Madison Boro was certified on September 22, 2023 with 915 points. Listed below is information regarding Madison Boro’s Sustainable Jersey efforts and materials associated with the applicant’s certified actions.

Contact Information

The designated Sustainable Jersey contact for Madison Boro is:

Name:Kathleen Caccavale
Title/Position:Chair, Sustainable Madison Advisory Committee / resident volunteer
Address:Hartley Dodge Memorial Building, 50 Kings Road, Madison, NJ 07940
Madison, NJ 07940
Phone:973-966-7884

Actions Implemented

Each approved action and supporting documentation for which Madison Boro was approved for in 2023 appears below. Note: Standards for the actions below may have changed and the documentation listed may no longer satisfy requirements for that action.

  • Arts & Creative Culture

    Establish a Creative Team

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The Madison Arts and Culture Alliance (MACA), established in 2004, is a community-supported organization that supports and promotes the arts in Madison, NJ. The Borough Council first recognized MACA’s importance as a Creative Team by resolution in 2013 (see attached), and the Downtown Development Commission (DDC) references it on the Borough's Rosenet website as a Community Partner. A MACA member serves on the DDC as the Arts Representative and, currently, as Chair. MACA maintains a website that includes information on local artists; an events calendar for the Community Arts Center (see Municipal Support, Creative Assets Inventory and Utilizing Creative Assets), which is managed by two Borough employees; and a wealth of other information on art and culture in Madison. The MACA website (www.madisonartsnj.org ) states “The Madison Arts & Culture Alliance is a coalition of arts organizations, cultural institutions, neighbors, colleagues and friends dedicated to encouraging collaborations among the wide-ranging cultural offerings in Madison, NJ. MACA brings together artists, educators, business people, community leaders and others, all with a common goal: to support the cultural institutions and programs that improve Madison’s economy and quality of life.” MACA also has an active Facebook page, with 1.1K followers: https://www.facebook.com/madisonartsandculturealliance Facebook posts feed into the MACA website. See the documentation below for resolutions, bylaws, meeting minutes and a fuller report, including a list of current board members.

    Creative Assets Inventory

    10 Points

    Program Summary: MACA (Madison Arts and Culture Alliance), which is the Borough’s recognized Creative Team (see Creative Team action), maintains a website that is the warehouse for the creative assets inventory. As stated on the website, “The Madison Arts & Culture Alliance is a coalition of arts organizations, cultural institutions, neighbors, colleagues and friends dedicated to encouraging collaborations among the wide-ranging cultural offerings in Madison, NJ. MACA brings together artists, educators, business people, community leaders and others, all with a common goal: to support the cultural institutions and programs that improve Madison’s economy and quality of life.” MACA’s Board of Directors includes professionals from the fields of music, theater, and the visual arts, a former mayor, a lawyer, representatives from the Madison school system and a local college, and the Executive Director of a local cultural institution – the Museum of Early Trades & Crafts, housed in a Borough-owned building that’s on the National & State Registers of Historic Places. The website is continually being updated and improved. A major focus of the website now is the events calendar for the Madison Community Arts Center, where a variety of cultural happenings occur weekly. But the website also lists local artists from various disciplines who choose to be listed on the site, particularly vocalists and instrumentalists, as well as arts and cultural organizations, a listing of projects and festivals, and a section on resources for artists. The site includes an interactive map siting venues, businesses and organizations around the Borough. The MACA website IS the creative assets inventory: https://www.madisonartsnj.org/

    Municipal Commitments to Support Arts and Creative Culture

    25 Points

    Program Summary: Madison’s commitment to arts and culture is many faceted. Some examples include: • An Arts and Events standing committee as part of the Downtown Development Commission; this committee works with the Chamber of Commerce and MACA in the development of many downtown events related to arts and culture (website URL and minutes) • A creative team – Madison Arts & Culture Alliance (MACA) — which partners with • Madison Community Arts Center (MCAC), staffed by a full-time director and part-time assistant (Borough employees) and booked with a varied calendar of arts and cultural events year round; provides maintenance and upgrades to the MCAC (resolutions and meeting minutes) • Supports the nonprofit Museum of Early Trades & Crafts (METC) with long-term lease in a historic Borough-owned building and with small matching grants for its renovations (resolutions) • Supports the Hidden Figures initiative recognizing people of color from Madison’s past, including downtown banners and an exhibit at the MCAC (resolutions) • Supports the Madison Public Library, which sits on borough owned property, with tax dollars and grant assistance for improvements (resolutions) • Created an Ad Hoc Diversity Committee in 2022, with members appointed in 2023, whose mission will be to plan educational and social events that will bring the community together (resolution) • Supports METC’s summer outdoor Downtown Concert series with funding for bands and with traffic and safety support (email from METC executive director & website URL) • Passed an ordinance allowing the MCAC and the Shakespeare Theatre of NJ to serve alcohol (ordinance 46-2022) • Has also been in negotiations with the Masonic Lodge, housed in a historic building built in 1824, to help financially with restoration in exchange for use of part of the building as a cultural space for the Borough. We are submitting in the categories of Master Plan, Land Use Regulations, Redevelopment Plans and Other Projects.

    Utilizing Your Creative Assets

    20 Points

    Program Summary: Madison has had an active Downtown Development Commission (DDC) for many years; a 501(c)3 Madison Arts and Cultural Alliance (MACA) since 2006 — recognized by resolution as the Borough’s Creative Team; and a Borough Director of Arts & Events, John Petrowski, hired in 2021, whose responsibilities include the Madison Community Arts Center. The DDC has a standing Arts & Events Committee directed to: o Work with MACA, Madison Music and Arts (a parent-volunteer group that fundraises to support K-12 visual and performing arts), Chamber of Commerce and other community Partners on event development and support. o Advise and support the Director of Arts and Events and programming for the Madison Community Arts Center. o Research and make recommendations regarding public art installations. o Research and evaluate the viability of new events. The Director of Arts & Events and MACA are responsible for building a creative assets inventory on the MACA website (madisonartsnj.org). Together, these entities have brought a wide gamut of arts and cultural opportunities to Madison that help to make it a vibrant community and support its local businesses and artistic and cultural communities. Madison showcases many of its arts, cultural and entertainment assets throughout the year at events such as the farmers market and Bottle Hill Day and in its flagship venue, the Madison Community Arts Center (MCAC). We are focusing on two areas that have seen enhancements in the last couple of years – the Holiday Arts Festival and the Madison Community Arts Center. We have not yet submitted the Creative Place Making Plan action but it is obvious from our report that creative place making is something that has been given much thought and action by the Creative Team, the DDC and other Borough organizations.

  • Community Partnership & Outreach

    Create Green Team

    10 Points
    Bronze Required Silver Required

    Program Summary: Many green programs previously organized or supported by Madison's green team, the Sustainable Madison Advisory Committee, continue or resume in 2022. These programs include sustainable use of energy; environmental justice; public health; green businesses; education and outreach; and more. For additional information about Sustainable Madison, including current membership, and recent agendas and minutes, visit http://www.rosenet.org/447/Sustainable-Madison-Committee. A draft of the 2020 annual report presentation to the Madison Borough council is attached. A summary report for 2021 and 2022 is also attached. Looking forward, the Committee will discuss long-term plans and projects, potential grant opportunities, engaging the college communities (which we are doing with some success already) and investigating the requirements for Gold Star recognition.

    Community Education & Outreach

    15 Points

    Program Summary: Madison Borough is fortunate to have a team of volunteers involved in a high level of community education and outreach on many topics tied to sustainability. Our reports document several recent and outstanding examples of this work, including: 1) an ongoing collaboration with the publishers of our local print (and online) newspaper, the Madison Eagle to produce the "North Jersey Green" column, 2) a Borough-sponsored presentation by ecologist Doug Tallamy on advancing biodiversity through improved landscaping and stewardship, and 3) the planning and presentation of the Ask-Your-Arborist event, providing education in support of the recent expansion of our shade tree ordinance. Taken together, the activities sustained by volunteers over the past year demonstrate the success of education and outreach in reaching individuals and influencing local decision-making.

    Green Fair

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Madison Green and Clean was held Saturday, April 29, 2023. The event was coordinated with music from area elementary schools, a native plant sale, and tabling from Madison area green groups, including the Environmental Commission, Sustainable Madison, Friends of Drew Forest, and the Drew Environmental Action League. Volunteer and educational opportunities were accessible downtown and also throughout the town simultaneously (e.g. a used book sale, volunteer gardening work, native tree giveaways). Local businesses and non-profits tabled and supported the event, such as Wind of the Spirit, an immigrant justice non-profit. The Borough of Madison played a central role in the planning and support for the event. It was held at town hall, and promoted by the downtown development commission. The mayor and town council members attended.

  • Diversity & Equity

    Community Equity & Diversity Profile

    10 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: In January 2023 the Sustainable Madison Advisory Committee started working on the Action Plan titled “Community Diversity and Equity Profile.” Our efforts and subsequent reporting to the municipality will provide a baseline of information that assists in the advancement of other key action programs. The first portion of the plan was to gather demographic statistics and mapping of Madison illustrating diversity characteristics at the neighborhood level, with a focus on vulnerability. The next requirement was to recruit a team that processes this information and lends their personal knowledge and perspectives based on living and/or working in Madison. The recruitment of key community leaders started in April. A meeting took place on June 8, 2023, and 7 community groups or “social groups” were identified. Each participant shared their observations about the challenges these residents face and also voiced their recommendations about what should be done going forward. Community Representatives include: Lisa Jordan, Sustainable NJ, Regular Member and professor at Drew University Pam Hogan, Sustainable NJ, Regular Member, active volunteer, and resident Grace Kim, Sustainable NJ, Board of Education Liaison, active volunteer and resident Rev. A. Craig Dunn, First Baptist Church, Cook Ave. Madison, NJ, Parish Leader Tanya Van Order, Madison Housing Authority, Executive Director Stuart Sydenstricker, Wind of the Spirit, Madison, Member, active volunteer, and resident The information gathered is formalized in a report by the team leaders and submitted to Council and appropriate municipal entities. It should be noted that Madison has been proactive in recognizing and encouraging full community involvement and communication by establishing an Ad Hoc Diversity Committee in January 2023. More detailed information is included in the Equity and Diversity Action Plan Worksheets and Narratives.

    Environmental Justice in Planning & Zoning

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Sustainable Madison volunteers worked with Planning Board chair Astri Baillie and mayor Rob Conley to promote an educational program and webinar series on Environmental Justice, attendees at these webinars included borough council members and the general public. The program, which involved a series of three webinars was promoted and designed in collaboration with the Madison Alliance for Racial Equity (MARE). The webinars covered the history of suburban development and racism in New Jersey (“Race, Segregation and Suburbia”), transportation and race, and environmental justice (“Environmental pollution: how it started and how will it end?”). Each webinar was co-sponsored with different organizations: the history webinar was co-sponsored with the Madison Historical Society, the environmental justice webinar was co-sponsored with Voices for Racial Equity, and the transportation webinar was co-sponsored with the Madison Library. All three webinars pertained to and discussed environmental justice.

  • Emergency Management & Resiliency

    Extreme Temperature Event Plan

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Madison’s Extreme Temperature Plan has four objectives: 1. Curtailment of Peak Electrical Demand during periods of high temperature, 2. Providing advice to citizens for coping with high temperatures, 3. Notifying citizens about Warming Stations during periods of low temperatures, 4. Notifying citizens about Cooling Stations during periods of high temperatures. The plan and a resolution by the town council endorsing it are submitted as supporting documents. Three exerpts from Madison’s RoseNet website are also submitted: (1) Cooling Centers and Tips for the Heat – Plan and Poster, (2) Peak Curtailment Program & Poster and (3) Warming Centers – Plan and Poster. The plan is managed by the Coordinator of Emergency Management, a member of Madison’s Police Force. He/she is also the individual who declares when to implement the plan. A meeting of the current Coordinator, John Rafter, a representative of the Madison Health Department, Marlene Dolan, and Peter Fried of the Sustainable Madison Committee was held on Aug. 15, 2019 to review the plan, discuss recent use of it and any necessary changes. No changes were identified at that time. An attendance list is in the supporting documents. For the last two years notices have been sent to citizens when alerts of extreme high or low temperature are received from the Morris County Office of Emergency Management. Before then, Madison depended on alerts from NOAA to trigger its alerting of citizens. Notifications are sent to citizens via Facebook, Twitter and the NotifyMe system. The Rosenet website provides links for resident to sign up for alert notifications. Notifications for the cooling centers and for curtailment of peak electrical demand are sent out simultaneously and were issued roughly 11 times last summer (2022). Warming Station notifications were sent out 12 times this current winter (2022- 2023).

    Heat Island Assessment & Mitigation Plan

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Urban heat islands are created when materials in built environments such as asphalt, concrete, and roofing, elevate the temperatures in particular areas. On hot summer days, these “hot spots” in our town can be more harmful for people, who need to work, recreate or travel outdoors. They can also elevate costs of electricity where additional cooling is required to keep indoor temperatures comfortable. While it is true that there are benefits to these warmer areas in winter, with trending upward temperatures, and longer durations of heat waves, the negative effects of peak high temperatures in hot spots, particularly for employees, elderly and children, make simple interventions in our built environment worth considering. Additionally, the unique situation of our Borough’s ownership of our electric utility puts us in a position to benefit as a community to reduce peak summer loads. The price of our electricity is calculated based on the usage during peak summer days. Conservation during these days will reduce prices overall for the borough and all residents. The "Urban Heat Island Assessment" provides evidence of Madison Borough’s efforts to conduct a heat island assessment, and develop list of recommendations to mitigate heat islands and their impacts on vulnerable populations. We also demonstrate the involvement of relevant stakeholders in the development of our plan. The assessment found three significant heat islands in the borough: a shopping center parking lot, a green roof for a private parking lot, and the high school. Site specific recommendations are made for each location, which can help reduce energy costs and health costs associated with excess heat. The most important component of this document is setting up a plan to begin education and outreach on issues surrounding urban heat islands. In August, the Assistant Borough Administrator shared this document with governing body and the Borough Clerk shared his email with the Environmental Commission and the Green Team (Sustainable Madison Advisory Committee), which had already approved and commended it.

    Emergency Communications Planning

    15 Points

    Program Summary: At Bottle Hill Day, a yearly street festival that drew an estimated 15,000 people on October 15, 2023, the Madison PBA booth hands out important information to all those in attendance about emergency communications, including information about AlertMadison, a system that can be used for personal/family medical emergencies (SMART 9-1-1) as well as weather-related events. A link to AlertMadison online registration at www.alertmadison.org. is available on the Borough website. See documentation below.

    Vulnerable Populations Identification for Emergencies

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Response to reviewer comments: 1st paragraph: Since Madison uses Smart 9-1-1, for anyone who signs up, their information in medically necessary equipment is available to MPD and OEM so that we can better serve them in the event of an emergency. Since moving to AlertMadison/Smart 9-1-1- we have done direct mailers to residences, so that those who do not receive a utility bill do receive info on it - this was through an EDDM. There is also a number on the postcard that allows those without a computer the ability to call in and have their records created/updated, which a large majority of seniors utilized. We also worked closely with the housing authority to get their residents on the platform, which can be used without a cell phone and/or email address, and hold clinics to sign people up, primarily at senior housing complexes but open to anyone. 2nd paragraph - In the event of an emergency that would result in the need to communicate with that population we enlist the assistance of our Housing Authority, who has access and records for their residents spread throughout. In the event they are not in housing, we reach out to our interfaith council to spread the word through their channels and work closely with Morris County as a means to reach the underserved population. *** After Hurricane Sandy, our emergency responders, along with OEM personnel, met and shared experiences and lessons learned. They created a form that was sent to our residents as an insert through our electric utility billing system. The form captured the needs of residents who would require assistance during periods of prolonged power outages and/or local emergencies. Since then, the Borough's utility departments launched an online process to register for electric and water service as folks move into town. On that form is a yes/no question that asks if the address requires lifesaving equipment, (attachment 4). That data is entered into an internal management program by the Administrative Secretary of the Utilities Advisory Committee. Any life safety hazards are then sent to the Captain of the Fire Department and the OEM Department. The Captain and OEM officer then enters the information into the Computer Aided Dispatch program so that first responders are made aware of any hazards at the address in the event of an emergency response. When the borough utility office receives requests for final billing due to a death, that info is passed along and the database and dispatch program is updated as well. The Vulnerable Population Identification Form is usually sent as a town-wide mailing every few years, and this is planned to be done in 2023. On line and hard copy forms for the information are always available through the town website. (attachment 1 and 2).

  • Energy

    Energy Efficiency for Municipal Facilities

    20 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: Madison submits this action, Municipal Energy Efficiency, for 20 points based on: (1) a window upgrade to the Dept. of Public Works Garage, one building in our ESPM portfolio, that will save > 10% of its energy costs. From the data entered into ESPM, the 2018 gas consumption for that building is 14614 therms. The building has large old windows (see photos). The upgrade, authorized by Borough resolution R 240-2018 replaces all the old single-pane windows (U=1.1) with new thermally efficient windows (United 4800 windows, Low Emissivity coated glass, filled with Argon, U=0.26). 15 windows are being replaced of which 4 are presently completed. Supporting documents include: • the authorizing resolution, with photos and the contractor’s specifications, • a spreadsheet detailing the thermal savings of 2117 therms annually, 14.5% of the 2018 gas budget, and • the EUI_Calculator_for_Energy_Efficiency_for_Municipal_Buildings, (see the third tab) showing savings of 14.5% of the buildings annual gas budget and 10.6% of the total energy (elec. & gas) budget. (2) an LGEA audit of our municipal building portfolio. Our application to LGEA was approved and audits were completed in November 2019. Supporting documents: • LGEA approval letter, • Energy Star SEP certificates for all 5 buildings. Per discussion in 2019, we are now (June 2020) submitting (as a supporting document) the complete audit reports to extend the approval for this action. (Please note; we have loaded data for 18 buildings into ESPM, the ET&M system. Most of these are minor buildings and our official portfolio of larger buildings is just the 5 being audited.)

    Energy Tracking & Management

    20 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: Madison is applying for both the mandatory and the optional points. Mandatory 10 points. As in 2021 and 2022, this spring, we obtained monthly consumption for 2022 for all 56 municipal electric and 19 gas meters. The buildings use no other fuels and were broken down into five categories: • 5 Key buildings that became the LGEA “building portfolio” • 6 Other buildings and sheds • 7 Water facilities (5 Wells, 2 water towers) • 7 Wastewater pumping stations • 29 Street, Traffic and Athletic Lights and concession stands The spreadsheet supplied has 7 worksheets: (1) an explanation of the categories and how they are accounted for in the ET&M system and in the carbon footprint, (2) the building inventory, (3) 2018-22 monthly electric consumption, (4) 2018-2022 monthly gas consumption, (5) 2020 monthly electric consumption, (6) 2021 monthly electric consumption, (7) 2022 monthly electric consumption. We have loaded the 18 buildings of the first 3 categories into ESPM. Per discussion with SNJ and NJCEP, we define our “portfolio” as 5 key buildings, which we will use for Gold Star tracking (along with our fleet inventory). Optional 10 points. We are making regular ET&M updates. Internal software developed last year is used to translate data from the Madison Electric Utility into the ESPM upload format. Entries of 2022 data are complete. The process document has been updated with recent improvements and is supplied with this submission. We also supply: (a) one document with 5 ESPM summary graphs for 2018 thru 2022 for our 5 “portfolio buildings and (b) another document with the 2022 ESPM SEP reports for the 5 buildings. Key activities for 2023 are: 1. As necessary we are making this process compatible with the emerging requirements for Gold Star tracking. 2. Using the ET&M data as a metric baseline for Madison's Climate Action Program

    Electric Vehicle Community Outreach

    10 Points

    Program Summary: For the past two years Madison has tracked the PEVs in town (using NJDEP data), with an objective of meeting 2025, 2035 and 2050 NJ state goals. The chief tool we have to reach those goals is EV Outreach. Every year we hold an EV Expo event to show residents the newest EVs. We used the 2021 Expo as credit for the “Make Your Town EV Friendly” action. However, the event has grown in 2022 and 2023. The most recent Expo (April 19, 2023) doubled the size of the previous event and included ~20 dealer-provided vehicles and ~300 visitors and tables from numerous organizations. Web and newspaper publicity (attached) reached over 16,000 people. Two event task reports include photos and announcements by the Drive-Electric-Earth-Day program, the US DOE Drive Electric Program and NJDEP. Newspaper coverage is in a separate file. This year Madison became the fourth town in the NJ DEP “Destination Electric” Program. The NJ DEP sought to enroll 15 local businesses in the program. Green team volunteers canvassed the town and enrolled 25 businesses. The program provides EV outreach about Madison both to our businesses and to New Jerseyans statewide. Two event reports are supplied for (a) a social media and green-team canvassing of local businesses and (b) the in-person ribbon cutting and social media public announcement. A separate file includes NJDEP publicity materials they prepared for the ribbon cutting (video: https://www.facebook.com/NJDEPAEMS/videos/1033593364286784) Madison also maintains an active website to inform residents about the EV charging infrastructure. This is submitted as a fifth outreach event. With the website, the Destination Electric Program and the multiple EV Expo events, we have been reaching town residents, town businesses, and residents statewide. We will continue to pursue these and other outreach channels in an effort to reach our EV goals.

    Fleet Inventory

    10 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: The 2022 Inventory has been completed and submitted on the SJ spreadsheet. Proper adjustments were made for vehicles added to or removed from the fleet. All municipal vehicles are owned and used essentially daily. The type of vehicle, usage, and department for each vehicle have been entered. Replacement dates have been filled per a typical 10-12-year life (some highly used vehicles are replaced earlier). Significant notes: 1. Seven hybrids (incl. six police Interceptors) are currently in service. 2. In 2022 a Chevy Bolt EV replaced the Police Ford Focus used for parking patrol. 3. A second Bolt EV was ordered in 2022 as an inspection vehicle. 4. A report is attached analyzing the fleet efficiency and carbon footprint. It includes data on maintenance procedures and driver training. 5. The spreadsheet and the report include an analysis of the performance of the first 4 hybrid Interceptors that the police department has been using in 2021 and 2022. An excerpt from the report: • For all 17 Interceptors in the Madison fleet (police & fire), the average annual mileage per vehicle is 12,326 miles. Over the two year period the mpg for the hybrids was 15.5 mpg and the mpg for the other Interceptors was 9.0 mpg. Based on the average use for the vehicles, EACH hybrid unit is saving the Borough 575 gallons of fuel per year, which at $3.45 per gallon is nearly $2000 per year. In addition, each unit saves 5 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. • The annual savings of $2,000 per unit means that the ~ $3,500 purchase premium for the hybrids is being paid back in less than two years. 6. Also attached is the process document detailing how the data for the inventory are acquired.

    Purchase Alternative Fuel Vehicles

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The Borough of Madison purchased its first two new hybrid Ford Interceptor SUV police cars in 2019 (delivered in 2020). From data on these two vehicles in the 2020 Fleet Inventory we have determined that these hybrids are each saving 800-900 gallons of fuel per year. This fuel savings will pay for the price premium of the vehicles in 2.5 years. In 2020 Madison purchased two additional Hybrid Interceptors (delivered spring 2021). We attach supporting documents including two purchase orders and the Borough Council Resolution authorizing the 2020 purchase. This purchase (vehicles are in service this year) should qualify Madison for 10 points on this action. As requested in comments to our June 2021 submission, registrations for the new Hybrid Interceptors are also enclosed as a supporting document. Madison has for 3 years been using an electric bicycle for police functions, including emergency response. This bicycle was purchased by the Downtown Development Commission (DDC) and donated to the Police Department (see supporting news release, photo and requisition). The bicycle allows police officers the mobility they would ordinarily require a police car for. As a fifth alternate fuel vehicle in our municipal fleet of 99 vehicles, Madison should also qualify at the 15-point level for this action. We have added the two new hybrids and this E-bicycle to the 2020 fleet inventory (attached), To acquire an EV shuttle bus for the Madison Senior Center, the Borough submitted a grant application to NJ Transit under the Federal Transportation Authority 5310 Program. Madison is also considering the purchase of an EV parking patrol vehicle in the next year or two. Additionally, we will investigate the Ford electric F-150 Lightning as a candidate for two pick-ups in the capitol plan for 2021 – 2022.

    Public Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

    15 Points

    Program Summary: Subj: Public Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure; October 2020 submission to Sustainable Jersey In February of 2019 Madison submitted a grant application to the NJ DEP “It Pays to Plug-In” program for funds to purchase 5 dual port charging stations for public use. The grant was awarded in August and accepted in September, 2019. Madison is currently preparing a second grant application for additional stations. Below we describe progress on the first set of stations. An official letter, submitted as a supporting document, documents key features and provides photos as well. 1. Charging Stations. (10 charging cables on 5 dual-port stations) With funds from the September 2019 grant, Madison has purchased 5 SemaConnect Series 6 Dual Port, Level II, 7.2 kW, 30 Amp (max) charging stations. Two of those stations are installed and on-line. The other three are being installed and will be operational by Thanksgiving of this year. 2. Directory Information. The two operational stations are identified on both the SemaConnect App and on the PlugShare network. The remaining stations will also be visible on those networks when they are on-line. 3. Signage. Figures 4 and 5 of the supporting document shows the parking-space-marking and signage that will be used at the stations in Madison. 4. Financial Approach. The cost of the stations was borne by the Borough and will be submitted for reimbursement under the grant. The stations are owned by the Borough. Installation is paid for by the Borough and carried out by the Borough Department of Public Works and the Borough Electric Utility. All costs for the electricity and operation of the stations will be paid by the revenue from users. The rates are $1.00/hr for the first two hours, $3.00/hr for hours three and four and $25/hr after that.

    Make Your Town Electric Vehicle Friendly

    15 Points

    Program Summary: Several years ago Madison began preparing for a growing population of electric vehicles. Several recent tasks for this action are described here: 1. EVSE Ordinance. On 8 November 2021 the Madison Borough Council approved Ordinance 42-2021, which duplicates the recently adopted state EVSE ordinance except for two minor changes to sections where the state ordinance allows modification (in Sections F-2 and F-6). As required by the state ordinance, the Madison ordinance establishes EVSE as a permitted accessory use. The ordinance is submitted as a supporting document. 2. First-Responder Training for EV-involved incidents. On September 28, 2021, Madison first responders attended a training program at the Morris County Fire Academy. The program included two hours of lectures by David Bouvia of Wreckmasters, followed by hand-on training on several vehicles including Teslas brought by the Delaware Valley Tesla Club. A submitted document includes a course description, photos and sign-in sheets. 3. Awareness Event: On April 22, 2021, the Environmental Commissions of Madison, Chatham Borough and Chatham Township sponsored an EV Expo at the Sunday Motor Café in Madison. The 3-hour event was a great success with over 100 attendees. A supporting document includes a complete description, a link to hi-res photos, a press release and an excellent drone video. 4. Public Charging Stations. For the last year Madison has operated 5 dual-cable Level-II charging stations in municipal parking lots. These were acquired under an NJDEP “It Pay$ to Plug In” grant. This year 5 more dual-cable stations were purchased under a second grant and will be installed soon. A submitted document provides a map of the locations. 5. Using NJDEP data, every year Madison tracks its EV population against local target numbers that support the state goal of 330,000 in 2025 to determine whether additional EV-encouraging measures are needed.

  • Food

    Community Gardens

    20 Points

    Program Summary: Madison launched its community garden in 2011-2012. It is located at the Recreation Complex, a municipal park. The 84 10' x 20' garden plots continue to be offered to all members of the community, with education provided on such relevant subjects as composting, integrated pest management, and development of good community feeling as members pursue a common goal. In addition, there are 2 greenhouses, 2 hoop houses and two Rutgers Master Gardener plots. These provide educational opportunities and produce food throughout the year that is donated to local food pantries. One of the greenhouses is maintained by members of the local Rotary Club. The municipal government provided the land for the garden. It appointed a Community Garden Advisory Committee with a liaison from the Borough Council who attends the monthly meetings. The Borough provided funds to cover many of the garden’s start-up costs such as fencing. The Borough regularly delivers mulch to the garden and allows the garden to tap into the public water line. The borough also provides a refrigerator and the electricity it needs to create ice for the coolers that are used to store the vegetables before delivery to the pantries. Gardeners pay $60 each year per plot for ongoing costs (e.g., fuel & maintenance for mowing). Gardeners also volunteer for maintenance tasks and work-days. Projects for 2022 included installation of two new greenhouses (to replace older hoop houses), donated by the Garden Club of Madison, and installed by Garden members. Volunteer gardeners also run the donation program to four local food pantries. 893 pounds in 2021! A pollinator garden and the beehives located in a secured area of the Garden provide additional educational opportunities about beekeeping, as well pollination for the garden plots. Wheelchair accessible raised plots have been installed this year (2022). This action was updated for 2022 by including food donation documentation and the questionnaire (which includes a link to the plot application). The policy banning synthetic chemicals, herbicides, insecticides, fertilizers is in the attached Application Form that each member is required to sign and also in the attached Garden Information notice that we have posted at the Garden after reading the SJ feedback. All personal emails in attachments have been blacked out.

    Buy Fresh Buy Local Programs

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The Borough of Madison and businesses in town have long supported, and promoted, fresh and local products. A list of Buy Fresh Buy Local venues in Madison is attached. The Madison Farmers Market sells fresh and local products to consumers and restaurants. The Farmers Market highlights vendors selling Jersey Fresh product on the Borough Website, and also highlights the "Jersey Fresh" program (copy of website page attached). In promoting the Farmers Market, various media, including Tap into Madison and the Madison Eagle (New Jersey Hills Media) identify the availability of Jersey Fresh fruits and vegetables at the Farmers Market (copies of articles attached). The Madison Farmers Market also is on the "Jersey Fresh" Directory of markets that offer Jersey Fresh produce and products. Several specialty shops and restaurants in Madison source locally. A few examples from the attached list include: Healthy Italia, which sources produce, eggs and meats from NJ farms; Daddy Matty's, which buys all its meats from Green Village Packing; and Colombian restaurant Delikositas which sources milk and vegetables locally. The two supermarkets in Madison - Stop and Shop and Whole Foods, highlight local NJ fruits, vegetables, flowers (in season). Whole Foods recently highlighted AeroFarms (Newark-based indoor vertical farm) greens/microgreens (photo attached). Gary's Wine and Marketplace sells "New Jersey local" beers and New Jersey wines both in-store and online (in-store photos attached). Madison residents have weekly, biweekly and monthly pickups available from Mountain Lakes Organic Co-op, which is a local co-operative selling organic products at below supermarket prices, with a focus on sourcing more locally grown produce. During the growing season, vegetables are grown in NJ, PA and NYS (copy of website pages attached). The Borough promotes awareness of Buy Fresh Buy Local in multiple ways. First, a list of places in Madison to find NJ produce and businesses that source from Local NJ farms is on the Borough website under the Downtown Development Commission (https://www.rosenet.org/371/Downtown-Development-Commission, and under that, the Madison Farmers Market). The DDC is the location on the website that the Borough feels is most appropriate given the DDC's mission to promote the downtown business district, and the Farmers Market a good source of information on local and fresh food. For social media, I Love Madison posted the Buy Fresh Buy Local list - copy of the screenshot is attached. In addition, the Sustainable Madison website has a page encouraging "buy local when you can", which includes a link to the "Buy Fresh Buy Local" list. The website also promotes the Madison Farmers Market and includes a link to additional information on sustainable eating and local food. (Copies of the two website pages are attached.)

    Farmers Markets

    10 Points

    Program Summary: 2022 marked the 30th season of the Madison Farmers Market, sponsored by the Madison Downtown Development Committee ("DDC"), a mayoral appointed commission consisting of 18 members (residents, public officials, business owners, representatives of organizations important to the Madison community). In 2022, the market season ran from May 19 to Nov 17. The market took place on Thursdays, from 1 - 6 pm, at Dodge Field (a municipal site) which is a central location with close-by parking, good accessibility and near two schools. In 2022, there were 10 returning vendors, 9 new seasonal vendors and 6 non-food vendors. The market also has a weekly food vendors program. The weekly rate (for a limit of 14 appearances) allows a vendor to try out the market before committing to a full season and allows part-time crafters to participate as often as meets their individual schedules. In 2022 there were 5 weekly food vendors. There also was a food truck (lobsters) that made monthly appearances. Local businesses and non-profit organizations have the opportunity to participate in the market, and at certain times there is live music. A copy of the Borough resolution authorizing the 2022 Farmer's Market is attached. In 2022, vendor spaces for the market season cost $700 for a non-farm vendor and $1000 for a farmer vendor. The market weekly cost for a non-farm vendor is $40. Copies of the 2022 vendor contracts are attached. Operational expenses range from $2500 to $3500, excluding staffing costs. Gross annual income in 2022 was $16,735.00. The Farmers Market is promoted on the Borough website (https://www.rosenet.org/380/Madison-Farmers-Market) - copy attached. Tap into Madison publishes information about the market - examples of articles from various times during the Farmers Market season are attached. The Farmers Market also is promoted by lawn signs that are placed all over the Borough, as well as through social media (copies are attached).

    Making Farmers Markets Accessible

    5 Points

    Program Summary: Accessibility to the Madison Farmers Market (“MFM”), both physically and economically, continues to be a priority for the Madison Downtown Development Commission (“DDC”), a commission which includes municipal public officials. This year, 2022, the MFM will be held at Dodge Field, on Thursdays, from May 19 through November 17, from 1-6 pm. Dodge Field, which includes playing fields and thus is flat surface, is a well-known location by Madison residents, on well-traveled streets, easy to reach by pedestrians and cyclists from most neighborhoods in town. It also is across from the Central Avenue School. Street parking is available on local streets around Dodge Field. The Central Avenue School Parking Lot is available after 4pm and when school is closed. Attached is a copy of a map with the market layout. Two handicapped parking spaces at Dodge Field at the gate on Brittin St are being designated to the MFM. As noted on the attached map, the NJ Transit Madison Train Station and a bus stop are close by (rounded 0.3mi and 0.1mi, respectively). The Madison Senior Center van, supported by municipal resources, provides transport to seniors. MFM is economically accessible, with certain vendors accepting WIC and EBT. The MFM section of the Borough website ( https://www.rosenet.org/380/18746/Madison-Farmers-Market) includes the list of vendors which accept food stamps and/or WIC coupons. As an example, attached is a copy of two pages from the website of one of the vendors which accepts food stamps + WIC coupons. We also have attached copies of the full season and weekly contracts - vendors are asked to disclose in their contracts whether they accept food stamps/WIC coupons.

  • Green Design

    Create a Green Development Checklist

    10 Points

    Program Summary: In response to reviewer comments, a document has been added listing dates of meetings where the new checklist has been used as part of the application process. In 2020 and early 2021, the Madison EC has reviewed and commented on several commercial site plans. The EC's comments make recommendations to incorporate green building elements, citing Madison's newly updated Land Use Element of the Master Plan, as well as the State Energy Plan, to bolster the recommendations. Sustainable Madison and EC chairs also had conversations about how the Preliminary Environmental Checklist then required to be filled out by developers submitting applications needed to be reviewed and updated in light of the push for climate change-mitigating elements to be incorporated in building and site design. The town planner supported this initiative and met with the EC chair and a representative from the Shade Tree Board. Elements from the Green Development Checklist and other model checklists were suggested. A draft was created, reviewed and commented on by Planning Board members, the EC, Sustainable Madison and Shade Tree. A final updated "greener" checklist, adopted by ordinance on July 12, 2021, has now replaced the previous Environmental Checklist. A signed copy of the ordinance, which includes the checklist, is submitted as documentation. The ordinance adopts the checklist as a change to the Land Use chapter (195) of the Borough Code, stating: Whereas the 2020 Master Plan recognizes its commitment to energy efficiency, sustainability, and resiliency as one of its guiding principles. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Borough of Madison … that Chapter 195 of the Land Development Ordinance of the Borough of Madison, is hereby amended as follows: I. Amend Chapter 195 to add a new provision, 195-23B(22), to read as follows: A preliminary environmental checklist shall be completed for all site plan applications and for all subdivision applications that involve new construction.

    Green Building Education

    5 Points

    Program Summary: Green building education is becoming a top priority as the Borough of Madison looks to implement recommendations from the Climate Action Committee and work collaboratively to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings in our community. In 2022, the town supported an educational event titled, “The Future of Climate Action: Solar Microgrids & Energy Efficient Heat Pumps,” held at the Madison Community Center. Additionally, for the third year, the Madison Environmental Commission organized and sponsored an Eco-tour of town sustainability initiatives.

    Upgrade/Retrofit-Light Pollution

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Madison Borough has established policies governing all outdoor lighting for the town, and municipal buildings are in compliance with these rules. In Part II: General Legislation/Land Development, Article IV Development Requirements and Standards, the code exterior lighting, § 195-25.6 C.d.2. requires lighting fixtures be installed and maintained to prevent light trespass, while a § 195-25.6 C.d.2. codifies energy efficiency and fixture design as policy. The borough policy is also to replace with LEDs when older, non-LED fixtures no longer function. In public meetings with minutes, it has been observed that the town is replacing its streetlights with LEDs, doing several each year. Receipts for purchases are uploaded as a separate PDF for this action, as are Environmental Commission meeting minutes describing town commitments to ongoing upgrades of LEDs. LEDs are now best practices because of cost and conservation of energy.

  • Health & Wellness

    Anti-Idling Education & Enforcement Program

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Must Revise Update: Attached is the 2023 anti-idling resolution. Madison's anti-idling program was initiated in 2010 by a Madison Eagle Scout, coordinating with municipal police department, environmental commission, local scout troops and DPW. Several anti-idling signs were placed at each location: three public and one private elementary school, the junior school, the high school, the Train Station and the YMCA. Signs are still in place at all locations and over the years signs have been added or replaced. Driver compliance is not as good as we would like – one especially egregious example is people idling when parked in a fire safety zone at a local mall waiting to pick up children from a dance school and delivery drivers waiting to pick up restaurant orders. Recent outreach includes posts on social media, a flyer that is handed out when friendly enforcement occurs, and inclusion of idling as a topic in the school safety week where police officers speak to children in all classes at the public schools. See documentation below. On February 21, 2023, members of the police department, the borough’s communications manager, mayor, school facilities manager, a Council member and representatives from the Environmental Commission and the Sustainable Madison Committee (Green Team) met to discuss the current status of anti-idling outreach and enforcement and brainstormed about ways to address enforcement, especially at pickup locations including schools, restaurants and shopping parking lots, including outreach to local businesses and possible creation of an ordinance. One idea discussed at the meeting was to use the Borough’s portable solar message boards periodically at key locations to remind drivers about the anti-idling law. The next morning one of Madison’s traffic officers had the sign placed at the entrance to the train station cresent (see documentation).

    Best Practices for Local Boards of Health

    10 Points

    Program Summary: New documentation for the May 12 resubmission includes the February 2023 minutes, and an email exchange explaining the situation of the Board member who did not complete the certification, Please note that a packet of year-end reports was sent to BOH members to review before the February meeting. The Assistant Health Officer reviews the Health Officer's report in detail at every BOH meeting and asks for any questions regarding the other division reports. In addition, at the February meeting, the AHO reviewed the 10 essential services of public health with the new board members and reviewed the LBOH training/certification (see old business in the minutes). *** Madison Borough has an autonomous Board of Health appointed annually by the mayor, with staggered terms. A Council member serves on the BOH as liaison. A list of members, upcoming meeting schedules and a link to agendas and minutes can be found at https://www.rosenet.org/222/Board-of-Health The documentation below includes meeting minutes through January 2023 and an agenda for February, which lists the Health Department activities report equivalent to an annual information session. The packet of documents included in that report was submitted to BOH members in January. All but one member of the Board of Health completed the online BOH training early in 2023. Their certificates, including certification dates, and an email from the chair are included. The Board member who did not complete the certification is elderly and does not use the Internet.

    Building Healthier Communities

    25 Points

    Program Summary: Update: In reply to Rene Haider's review comments, please see the uploaded document containing the email from Madison's Assistant Administrator stating that Project Community Pride is Borough function being completed by an outside agency, similar to the shared services agreement with the Health Dept. and the contract for animal services and the service agreement. Madison does have a number of municipal recreation programs and registration is required, Madison covers cover registration fees in the event of financial hardship. Either the programs cover the costs themselves or the town recreation budget is used. *** Madison has been participating in the Mayor's Wellness Campaign since 2007 and is listed as one of the 430 participating municipalities. The mayor has signed the pledge again in 2022 and plans to sign in 2023. There was one Mayor’s Wellness Campaign event in 2022, Walk for Wellness, a collaboration with the newly formed nonprofit Network for Support and Madison Rotary, which featured music and food trucks in addition to a walking route that led past various health-related businesses in town. See supporting documentation for the community-wide population. We expect more MWC-related activity in 2023. In our Builiding Healthier Communities submission we are applying for points for community wide, employee, youth and senior initiatives as well as the mayor’s wellness pledge.

    Safe Routes to School

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Most of the uploaded documents were submitted by Avenues in Motion for Safe Routes to Schools GOLD certification. Avenues in Motion has advised that the certified schools and towns are usually announced in May and that there is no reason why Madison would not qualify for gold. In addition, although not required, Madison is submitting here five post observation reports, at least one of which includes a recommendation that the town is following up on: installation of a RRFB at a school crossing. Because it is on a County road, the town needs buy-in from Morris County before that can happen.

    Tobacco Free Community

    5 Points

    Program Summary: Madison has had in place since 2013 an ordinance adopting a totally smoke-free workplace policy banning smoking on and in all Borough property, both outdoors and indoors (Chapter 163 of the Borough Code), an ordinance prohibiting smoking by students on school premises (Chapter 204), and a point-of-sale ordinance (Chapter 175A, 1996). In addition, the Health Department presented “Don’t Get Vaped In” to 8th graders at Madison Junior School in fall 2022. The costs of the program were covered by the Madison Alliance Addressing Substance Abuse (MAASA) [https://www.rosenet.org/232/MAASA , https://www.madisonpublicschools.org/page/maasa-substance-abuse ] a body established by Borough ordinance [Chapter 5 of the Borough Code]. The Borough Code and anti-vaping presentation are documented below.

    Healthy Homes Inspection & Training

    5 Points

    Program Summary: In reply to the reviewer's comments, the HD does not have the certificates, but Melanie Bergstrom and Jonathan Hill both attended that training. Melanie works full time out of the Madison office; Jonathan is there part time (at least one day per week). Please see attached letter from the Assistant Health Department Officer outlining the activities of the Health Department staff working in Madison. *** Madison has a shared services agreement with the Bloomfield Health Department. That department serves Madison with offices in the Hartley Dodge Memorial building (town hall) and Bloomfield's staff of nurses and inspectors serves Madison as well as Bloomfield. The entire REHS (Registered Environmental Health Specialist) and nursing.staff were trained on August 16, 2021. See agenda and email attached. The distribution list on the email identifies attendees of the training session. The Health Department makes the healthy homes evaluations available but no Madison residents have taken advantage.

  • Innovative Projects

    Innovative Community Project 1

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Hidden Figures of Madison was first conceived in 2020 and continues into 2022. During the Summer of 2020, the Community Conversations group invited Madison, NJ citizens to gather and have the difficult but necessary dialogue needed when a spotlight was shining on one of the most egregious crimes of injustice in our nation. The Hidden Figures of Madison project vision is to create spaces where Madison, NJ residents can learn about their town from the perspective of the underrepresented ethnic groups who have added and continue to add to Madison's and our nation’s fabric. In 2021, this included banners on Madison's downtown streets and other visual arts and literature honoring such persons in Madison's history created by Madison students. Special community events were also held in 2021 and are already planned for 2022. This initiative is supported by the town, with events held at the Madison Community Arts Center and supported by the Downtown Development Commission (banners) and the nonprofit Museum of Early Trades & Crafts (METC), housed in a building owned by the Borough, and at the METC education annex across the street. The second annual Community Event is scheduled for June 4, 2022. Please see documentation below, Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/HFOMNJ07940 , website at https://www.hiddenfiguresmadison.org/ and Instagram account at https://www.instagram.com/hiddenfiguresmadisonnj/ . The 2021 event was also reported on by national NPR show All Things Considered: https://www.npr.org/2021/06/06/1003807405/celebrating-the-black-community-of-madison-n-j

    Innovative Community Project 2

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The North Jersey Sustainable Municipal Alliance (NJSMA) and the Climate Action Template The NJSMA was formed in 2019 to support local plastic bag bans. In 2020, after the success of this effort, led Madison, Chatham Borough and Chatham Township, the group decided to continue supporting additional initiatives. The 40+ volunteers from Madison, the Chathams, Westfield, Berkeley Heights, Summit, Morris Township and Bernardsville have found that the collaborative exchange of ideas across towns and friendly inter-town competition help accelerate sustainability actions. The Climate Action Working Group, one of 7 in NJSMA, determined in 2020 to write a tool to enable North Jersey municipalities to rapidly plan and implement an effective Climate Action Program. In late 2021 the group released the first edition of the Climate Action Template (supporting doc), a 70-page document with 10 chapters led by members from 6 towns, including members of Madison’s EC and green team. The Template is: a. a guide to establishing effective and persistent municipal climate action, b. a source-book of 100 potential actions that municipalities can pursue, and c. a template that a municipality can edit into a locally-specific Plan Three unique features of the Template are: • A repetitive annual process of actions-assessments-recommitment, to ensure that Climate Action becomes part of the routine business of the municipality. • Quantitative goals for each objective with periodic measurements of metrics to assess progress. • Goals tied to the NJ State goals (NJ Energy Master Plan and the 80x50 Report). The template has been publicized in newspaper articles (supporting document), and briefed in talks to The Madison Rotary, The Madison YMCA lectures, the Sierra Club Loantaka Chapter and other groups. Copies have been requested by other communities and, most importantly, at least two towns are beginning programs using the principles laid out in the Template.

    Innovative Community Project 3

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Per reviewer comments, we have added the 5/24 meeting minutes noting adoption of R156-2021 and a copy of the signed resolution.. Innovative Action #3. Friends of the Drew Forest Campaign. The Friends of Drew Forest Campaign is a local, community-led effort to support the Borough of Madison’s resolution to preserve 53 acres of forest on the Drew University campus through a market-value conservation sale, which would not only conserve valuable forested land but also aid the university in its efforts to raise funds to rebuild its endowment. Begun by the chairs of the environmental commission and green team, the Friends of the Drew Forest initiative is endorsed and appreciated by the town and has been successful in garnering public statements of support from a number of organizations and surrounding communities as well as building a network of local and regional conservationists and concerned citizens.

  • Land Use & Transportation

    Sustainable Land Use Pledge

    10 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: On January 9, 2023, Madison's Borough Council reaffirmed commitment to the Sustainable Land Use Pledge by Adopting R 39-2023. This follows prior resolutions: R138-2020 (May 11, 2020), Resolution 155-2016 (May 9, 2016) and Resolution 175-2010 (June 28, 2010). A copy of the new resolution is attached. The Borough Clerk distributed a copy of the resolution by email to Department Heads to be shared with board and committee members (copy of email attached).

    Bicycle & Pedestrian Audits

    10 Points

    Program Summary: In 2019, the Borough of Madison Green team successfully submitted a bicycle audit to Sustainable Jersey (5 points). For 2020, we have expanded our study to include both pedestrian and bicycle components. A complete map of sidewalk locations in the Borough was digitized. The Borough of Madison collaborated with TransOptions, our Transportation Management Association (TMA), to conduct a pedestrian safety education and outreach campaign in fall of 2019. The results of the Street Smart Madison Campaign are summarized and attached as supporting documentation. Our combined pedestrian and bicycle audit, the recent activities of the town’s Complete Streets committee and our Safe Routes to Schools initiatives demonstrate Madison’s commitment to improving pedestrian safety and access to alternative transportation.

    Bicycle and/or Pedestrian Improvement Projects

    20 Points

    Program Summary: In 2020, Madison undertook a major road reconstruction project that included adding sidewalk where none existed. The road is adjacent to the high school playing fields. Sidewalks and high-visibility crosswalks provide safer access from neighboring residential streets. The sidewalks also provide pedestrian connection to and between a couple of Borough parks and their trails (see map in documentation). Traffic calming and uniform traffic controls for both vehicular and pedestrian use were also objectives of this reconstruction project. See full documentation in the checklist, including before and after photos.

    Effective Parking Management

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Currently strategies that make parking more efficient include using BoxCar payment system at train station and to manage private parking, reconfiguring parking lots to allow for more shopper parking closer to downtown, introducing more short-term (15-min) spaces on downtown streets, installing 10 EV charging station & parking spot. A recently formed team is strategizing ways to reduce fossil-fuel vehicle miles traveled, which may include shared services, such as bike sharing, perhaps on a multi-town basis, and which will assess Madison’s bicycle plan, focusing on improvements that would promote and increase cycling as a safe alternative mode of functional (as well as recreational) transportation. We want to expand bike storage opportunities beyond the current downtown, train station & library racks, with particular focus on parks. Several recently built or proposed site plans are transit-oriented, within a short walk from the train station (Rose Hall, Lincoln Place, Walnut/Community Place AH, Central Ave, Ridgedale/Park & Community Place multi-unit housing). In 2018, an ad hoc committee reviewed the borough's parking challenges & made recommendations. As documented in the submitted narrative, many were implemented and/or integrated into Borough code. Ordinance 11-2022 amended Chapter 134 Parking to expand free shopper parking to include spaces in the Green Ave. lot and Ordinance 27-2022 addressed additional parking issues, including setting fines for non-electric vehicles parking in electric vehicle parking spots and the addition of four more 15-minute parking spaces for convenience. An interactive map was added to the Parking page on the Borough's website (https://www.rosenet.org/1153/Parking). Madison is considering a redesign of a downtown street, Waverly Place, which will evaluate best solutions for parking and pedestrian use, following up on recommendations in the 2020 Master Plan Community Mobility Element. In addition to the PR & Education materials submitted below, Madison is currently working on a brochure/map for merchants.

    Green Infrastructure Planning

    5 Points

    Program Summary: This report examines the extent of impervious cover in the Borough of Madison, as well as changes in impervious cover over time. Using the most recent information available on impervious cover, from the United States Geological Survey’s National Land Cover Database, we found that 17 percent of Madison (480 of 2768 acres) is classified as impervious. Impervious cover includes surfaces such as asphalt, concrete, brick, or stone, which are materials that prevent absorption of rainfall. Such cover plays a major role in flooding in our built environment. We also found that between 2001 and 2016, an additional 20 acres of land changed from pervious to impervious. Although Madison Borough is often described as “built-out,” implying that lands are fully developed, in-fill and land use change continues to be an area of concern, particularly since major storm events are expected to increase in frequency.

    Green Infrastructure Implementation

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Madison has four vegetated green infrastructure projects on municipal property. All gardens are planted with native species. The first three were installed in 2012 at the Madison Recreation & Conservation Complex. The largest rain garden is served by a culvert that drains water downhill off playing fields; it may have some standing water due to its now marshy nature but also channels excess water into a stream outlet at the opposite end from the culvert. The two smaller rain gardens service runoff from a paved parking lot; they are frequently monitored during and after heavy rains and have proven to do the job of collecting runoff and allowing it to infiltrate within the desired timeframe. Over several years, lack of regular plant maintenance led to an invasion of mugwort. In 2021-2022 several teams of volunteers have helped address the incursion of mugwort and invasive shrubs, prune flourishing shrubs, plant supplemental plants (to replace plants that have not thrived), and clean out the drainage channels from a paved parking lot into two of the rain gardens. Discussions are underway re installing a fourth rain garden to absorb runoff in another low-lying area of the MRC. Documentation covers 2011 through the present. The most recent project is a swale installed in 2018 at Gibbons Pines Park at the request and with the assistance of the Madison DPW to address an issue of erosion and unsightliness. This project created by the Garden Club and maintained by the Club and other volunteers, was planted with native species and continues to beautify a small park while providing green infrastructure services. It is the first public park to be named a Monarch Waystation. Documentation includes a history, species list, maintenance plan, media coverage and photos.

    Historic Preservation Element

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The Borough of Madison has long been aware of its history, and the community is proud of the role buildings from the past play in defining a place that is enjoyed by long-time residents and newcomers alike. The Borough included a Historic Preservation Element in its 1992 Master Plan. That version did not meet SJ guidelines for this action. An update to several elements of the Master Plan, including the Historic Preservation element, took place in 2020. The update process included public surveys, virtual public meetings and stakeholder meetings. The update was presented to the Planning Board on November 17, 2020, and had previously been reviewed and commented on by the Master Plan Steering Committee, including a representative of the Historic Preservation Commission. A final draft was made available to the public and a public hearing was held on December 15, 2020, at a special session of the Planning Board, wherein the Board unanimously approved and adopted the Master Plan (see minutes). The Executive Summary and Action Plan (strategies) for the Historic Preservation Element can be found on page 19-22 of the Master Plan Executive Summary. The Appendix contains a brief history of Madison (p. 57), Historic Preservation links (p. 59) and Existing Conditions Scan (p. 82). Madison includes two historic districts and several individual properties that are on the National and State Registers of Historic Places and a number more that have been deemed eligible. A Historic Preservation Commission was established by ordinance in 1993 (amended in 1999). The HPC has advisory responsibilities to review Planning Board or Zoning Board applications for properties in historic districts or on historic sites designated on the Zoning Map. That ordinance is currently in the process of being updated; a draft is not yet available. The Historic Preservation Commission has reviewed applications for renovations, rehabilitation, and yes, demolition, and have offered guidance to historic property owners in keeping the architectural qualities of Madison while allowing the community to continue to develop to meet modern needs.

    Transit-Oriented Development Supportive Zoning

    20 Points

    Program Summary: In compliance with Fair Share Housing and in the spirit of promoting transit-oriented development in Madison Borough, three inter-related documents demonstrate the town’s recent efforts to improve equity in housing availability, walkability, and accessibility. In 2020, the new land use element of the master plan solicited community input to develop a solid strategy to enhance access to transit. The recommendations of the land use element were codified in a number of ordinances, but specifically Ordinance 26-2020, which clearly defined zoning overlays, mixed-use zones, and higher density, walkable communities, while also specifying requirements for affordable housing. The Community Place Redevelopment Plan illustrates a 100 percent affordable housing, transit-oriented design, which is being implemented. Additionally, this plan, currently under construction, is being built to net zero, passive housing standards, and includes solar power.

  • Local Economies

    Green Business Recognition Program

    20 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: In the fall of 2022, the Madison Borough Downtown Development Commission (DDC) and the Madison Area Chamber of Commerce introduced the Green Business Recognition Program to the local business community via an email that was sent to the DDC and Chamber mailing lists. The email contained a brief description of the program along with a link to the “How Green is Your Business?” survey. Businesses are being encouraged to apply to the New Jersey Sustainable Business registry. The survey is intended to gather information on what businesses are already doing and inquire about which businesses are interested in applying to the registry and what support they would like, if any. See uploaded How Green is Your Business? Survey.pdf In January of 2023, a member of the Sustainable Madison Advisory Committee (SMAC) wrote an article about the Green Business Recognition program for the North Jersey Green column which appeared in the “Madison Eagle” as well as neighboring newspapers. See uploaded North Jersey Green Sustainable Business article.pdf As of this submission, there are four Madison businesses that have been accepted to the registry: Daddy Matty’s BBQ, Devost Design LLC, Dish Kitchen and SummerHill Communications. A Sustainable Business page has been created on the Chamber website showing the businesses on the registry with links to their profiles on the registry and to their websites. This page also includes links to apply to the registry and to the survey. The DDC pages on rosenet.org also link to this page. A member of SMAC and the director of the Chamber are following up with businesses in person offering a flyer with a QR code for the survey. They are also offering assistance to help them apply to the registry. See uploaded Green Business Recognition Program.pdf for email, flyer and web pages.

    Buy Local Campaign

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Together, the Madison Downtown Development Commission (DDC) and the Madison Area Chamber of Commerce co-sponsor several yearly events designed to bring people into town to support local businesses including Ladies Night, Halloween Parade & Magic Show, Find Rosie the Rose City Reindeer, “There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays in Madison,” Easter Fun Fest and the Hearts & Roses Scavenger Hunt. They also publish a twice-monthly e-newsletter the Madison Marketplace Newsletter that encourages the 6,000+ recipients to shop local at the businesses that advertise in the newsletter at no cost. Please reference Experience_Madison.pdf and Madison_Marketplace_Newsletters.PDF below for more information about these and other programs. For “There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays in Madison” in 2022, table tent cards were designed and placed on restaurant tables and at checkout counters in stores. One side listed holiday events and the other encouraged consumers to shop local with a QR code directed to a “Shop Local Gift Guide.” The program was promoted extensively on social media and the Marketplace Newsletter and was a huge success — businesses in town reported the best holiday shopping season in many years! See Madison_Marketplace_Newsletter_HOLIDAY(partial).pdf. In the spring of 2023, an “Experience Madison” non-holiday version will be launched. In addition, social media is used extensively to promote Borough-sponsored initiatives and events and local businesses, and to encourage people to shop local: Facebook (with 7,000+ followers), Instagram (4,300+ followers) and Twitter (1,100 followers) @ILoveMadisonNJ. Please see “Buy Local Social Media Support.pdf”. The Madison Borough Council appoints members to the DDC and funds an annual budget for the salary of a full-time director and the sponsoring of the local events and initiatives mentioned above as well as those found on the DDC page of the Borough website: https://www.rosenet.org/371/Downtown-Development-Commission

    Support Local Businesses

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The Downtown Development Commission (DDC) was created in 1981 by Ordinance No. 35-81. Its purpose is to study and advise on the economic growth and development of the downtown district, and to support and promote programs that help create a thriving business community. The Borough of Madison funds the DDC annually with a budget that includes a full-time director as well as funding for initiatives and programs. The DDC actively supports Madison businesses by sponsoring events that draw people into town such as Bottle Hill Day and Taste of Madison, a fundraiser that offers local restaurants an opportunity to have their food sampled by hundreds of attendees. May Day and the Farmer’s Market are also ways the DDC supports local businesses. Please see uploaded document “Rosenet.org-DDC” for a full list. Since our last submission, the Borough of Madison has rebranded its image and had a variety of logos designed to unify the Borough including “Experience Madison” graphics. Experience Madison is the new initiative to support local businesses by encouraging people to experience all that Madison has to offer. One of the new logos is used for Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @ILoveMadisonNJ. Social media is used to promote Borough-sponsored initiatives and events and local businesses. Please see uploaded PDFs.

  • Natural Resources

    Environmental Commission

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Madison Environmental Commission (MEC) worked with local towns to promote climate action on various topics. So far this year, • the second annual native plant sale in cooperation with the GSWA, the Garden Club of Madison and 25 other municipalities had 600 buyers from many towns around NJ. More than 23,000 plant plugs were sold, a 50% increase over last year. Madison residents purchased about 1,800 new native plants. • the Green Vision Forum was held again on March 31, as pre-recorded Zoom presentations. Madison public school and college students presented their prescriptions for making Madison even greener. • an electric vehicle Expo on April 22 drew crowds. • Madison coordinated with Chatham and Chatham Township to hold simultaneous town-wide garage sales on April 30. 2021 events included: • an Ecological Gardens Tour in September that had 190 registrants. 8 Madison residents hosted their gardens. Several green nonprofit groups, as well as Java’s Compost participated, providing visitors with a range of information. • a Zoom presentation called ‘Meet Madison’s Beekeepers—and Pollinator Gardeners’ • talks at the library on a number of topics - more than 300 people registered for the pollinator talk alone. • a composter and rain barrel sale. • partnering with Madison DPW to reduce food waste and recycle more different materials. • giveaways of native plant seeds and seedlings at various events such as the eco-gardens tour. • partnering with members of Sustainable Madison (SMAC), the Shade Tree Management Board and Madison’s Garden Club to form Friends of the Drew Forest, which continues to work for preservation of the arboreta on the Drew University campus. • reviewing site plans for proposed construction in Madison. We successfully requested that the Planning Board update a Preliminary Environmental Checklist to encourage green construction practices. MEC continues to send out e-newsletters on various environmental topics to more than 500 subscribers.

    Environmental Commission Site Plan Review

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The Environmental Commission has been busy this year, reviewing several commercial site plans and providing more robust comments, which reference the updated Madison Master Plan and the state Energy Master Plan. The EC has also been working with the town to improve the process of notification and timeline. It has often happened that the EC has been noticed to comment late in the application process, limiting the ability to review site plans at EC meetings. Recently, the chair of the EC has been invited to provide comments earlier in the process — at the Technical Coordinating Committee phase (where the application is reviewed for completeness before being presented to the entire Zoning Board for hearing). Also, due to COVID, Zoning Board meetings are virtual, and all the documents relating to each site plan application have been digitized and made available on the Planning section of the Borough website once an application has been added to the hearing schedule (which is helpful during hearings but too late for comments). In addition, the EC has been delegating sections of the site plan for review - e.g., landscaping, stormwater - and has added new reviewers with engineering experience. Also, as a result of the newly adopted Master Plan and the state Energy Master Plan, which push toward green development, the Planning Board is updating the existing Preliminary Environmental Checklist required for all site plan applications. The final update to this checklist as well as an ordinance amending the Land Use chapter (195) of the Borough code to reference this updated checklist is being submitted under the Green Development Checklist action. A copy of the Preliminary Environmental Checklist and a recently filled out checklist are submitted, along with a spreadsheet listing all site plan reviews for through May 2021 and examples of EC review submissions.

    Open Space Plans

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The Borough of Madison's 2020 Open Space and Recreation Plan Update to the 2009 edition was approved as an element of the Master Plan by the Planning Board at their February 18, 2020 meeting and memorialized by resolution at the March 3 meeting. The Plan Update was created by The Land Conservancy of New Jersey with help and support from the Madison Open Space, Recreation & Historic Preservation Advisory Committee, Recreation Advisory Committee, Director of Business Development-Madison Downtown Development Commission, and Borough Staff, including the Borough Administrator, the CFO and Assistant Administrator, Director of Recreation, Borough Clerk and Borough Planner. Various short-term, mid-term, long-term, and ongoing actions have been outlined in the plan, including the preservation of historically significant areas, protection of the Buried Valley Aquifer, and creation and stewardship of open space and recreational facilities, including trails. The plan meets the 10 requirements outlined in the action description. Agendas for the required public meetings can be found in Appendix of the plan document uploaded below. Please see the uploaded document for further information.

    Water Conservation Education Program

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Two important in-person water conservation education events occurred in 2022 and 2023 - presentations at Borough Council about a) the importance of protecting the aquifer from which we get our drinking water and b) the possibility of raising water rates for high-consuming customers as part of an effort to reduce water usage and conserve water. We are applying for 10 points for the two in-person events. Note that one of our goals for many of our sustainable initiatives is to extend outreach and education as widely as possible, so you will see that for item a) aquifer production, we report on ancillary in-person events that cover the same topic but address different audiences both in Madison and in another town dependent on the same aquifer. Regarding print and online information: We have water conservation tips on our Rosenet website and the sustainablemadisonnj.org website. We have a newly revised Grasscycling flyer (replacing our Cut It and Leave It brochure) which now incorporates water conservation tips. The Rosenet page was updated in July 2022 and the flyer, which was posted on Rosenet in February was also handed out at the Sustainable Madison and Environment commission tables at the Madison Green and Clean Green Fair in early May, but we do not meet the minimum requirements for promotion of these initiatives and there is no need to submit in this category since the action does not have variable points. Our two in-person events should meet the action requirements.

    Environmental Assessment Ordinance

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Madison Borough has required by ordinance and code an environmental impact assessment since the original ordinance (Ord. 2-84) was adopted in 1984, creating Ch. 195 of the code. There is no signed copy of the ordinance available, only the code book for Chapter 195 and the online code. The documentation below provides excerpts from that Chapter. The Borough Code can be found at: https://ecode360.com/MA0608?needHash=true According to the Preliminary Environmental Checklist (PEC) that is part of the Site Application Packet, the Borough's Technical Coordinating Committee, along with the Environmental Commission, determines whether and Environmental Impact Statement is required. The introductory language in the PEC states that an EIS is recommended for "all site plan and subdivision proposals that could result in a probable adverse impact on the quality of the environment or are in a critical area." The submission requirements for an EIS are in Ordinance 195-20.F.

    Tree Protection Ordinance

    10 Points

    Program Summary: In 2008, Madison established the Shade Tree Management Board to protect and manage all trees on public property. Attached is Chapter 45 of Madison code. On Feburary 24, 2020, Madison's Council passed a Tree Protection Ordinance to manage trees on private property. Attached are a signed copy of the ordinance and Chapter 178 of Madison code, which is accessible online at https://ecode360.com/35532069

    Community Forestry Management Plan & NJUCF Accreditation

    20 Points

    Program Summary: Madison's Shade Tree Management Board (STMB) was formally created by the Mayor and Council in 2001. In partnership with the Borough, many volunteers, and other like organizations such as the Friends of Madison Shade Trees Inc., STMB has been and continues to be an effective advocate for tree and woodland management. More information on this organization can be found at http://www.rosenet.org/480/Shade-Tree-Management-Board. The following documents are submitted for the Community Forest Action Plan and NJUCF Accreditation action: -Madison Community Approved Forestry Plan -Letter extending current Community Forestry Plan -2021 Annual Accomplishment Report (financials are in a separate spread sheet) -2021 Approved Accreditation Status

    Tree Hazard Inventory

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Madison's Tree Hazard Inventory Program is described in more detail in the attached documents but the main points of the program are: -Maintaining an accurate street tree database which tracks, tree removals, new planting sites, streets/trees that need pruning and the status conditions of trees. In 2015, Madison removed 174 dead or dying trees, and pruned 268 trees/15 streets, some of which had hazardous limbs removed. The newly attached Madison Tree Specie / Condition SpreadSheet Report identifies the tree condition and species in its database tracking system. The previous submitted maps are a graphical representations of this report. The condition status is determined by whether the tree has problems with disease, roots or general decline. As you can see from above, Madison has a very pro-active tree removal/replacement program which eliminates dead or dying trees - whatever the reason. If there is a specific issue identified, like the Emerald Ash Borer, we survey every ash street tree (Madison has 250 ash street trees and as of September, 2016 there were no reports of Emerald Ash Borer infected trees). In addition, Madison's Electric Department conducts line clearance programs on any street that has tree/electric lines hazardous conditions. -A very responsive resident tree contact system where, in 2015 everyone of the 124 contacts was resolved. Residents are usually are the 1st to report hazardous tree conditions. -Annual Madison resources dedicated to tree maintenance includes $706,301 of Borough resources and $96,000 of volunteer contributions. Much of these consists of Borough Employee Salary & Wages ($458,241) and tree removals/maintenance pruning ($122,400 -includes contracted resources).

    Tree Maintenance Programs

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Program Summary: The Shade Tree Management Board (STMB) oversaw budgets of $154,500 in 2021 and $190,200 in 2022. The budget increase resulted from: the removal of more infected or dead ash trees, purchasing more and higher costs of new trees (an increase from 112 to 120 street trees planted), incurring maintenance at a local park (Rose Garden Park) and a special survey of significant trees in our largest forested park. Street and park tree removals, pruning and stump grinding are done by DPW or a local contractor. In 2021 all streets were surveyed once for public planting sites and tree work needed. Survey results and public requests are the basis for the subsequent tree planting. In 2022 two complete street surveys were done. In both years approximately 30 trees were planted in fall on Main Street to replace declining Bradford pears with native species. An additional 14 street trees were planted by a developer to compensate for violating the Tree Protection Ordinance. STMB meets in-person monthly with additional access through Zoom. With COVID restrictions in 2021 most meetings were held on Zoom. Attendees include a Council member, and liaisons from Madison Environmental Commission, Friends of Madison Shade Trees, Open Space, Department of Public Works, and the Madison Borough Arborist. We continue to use ArborPro as our data base with an additional spreadsheet for quick reference. The Shade Tree Protection Ordinance was amended in 2022 to improve tree replacement requirements with the goal of no net loss. In 2021 the Arborist reported: 160 permit requests for 405 trees, $6,875 in fees collected, 51 replacement trees required, 42 recommended. For 2022: 166 permit requests for 360 trees, $7,175 in fees collected, 110 replacement trees required, 166 recommended

    Tree Planting Programs

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Madison's Tree Planting Programs are described in the attached documents but the highlights include: -Strong government financial support via the Shade Tree Management Board's budget and the use of Department of Public Works personnel/resources. In 2019, the total Shade Tree Management budget was $130,500 with $20,000 allocated for the purchase of trees -Planting of 108 street trees throughout the Borough -Special Project to Replace Pear Trees On Main St. -Special Project to Restore 14 Acres - Project includes the removal of invasive plants (mostly pears) and the planting of 150 tree seedlings and young trees along the edges of the restoration site. The 2019 planting was contracted to the NJ Tree Foundation. The main portion of the 14 acres will be brought back to a meadow. -Resident Request for a New Street Tree - a flyer was sent to all residents asking if they wanted a new street tree.159 responded yes and the goal is to plant as many as possible in 2020. -Value of Trees Arbor Day Education Program

  • Operations & Maintenance

    Adopt a Green Purchasing Policy by Resolution *Retires 12/31/23*

    5 Points

    Program Summary: As an update to our prior submission, on July 25, 2022, the Madison Borough Council approved a new resolution for a Green Purchasing Policy. The Borough staff decided to make the expanded policy an attachment to the resolution. Copies of both documents are new attachments in our submission. The resolution is posted on the municipal website under www.rosenet.org/912/Borough-Resolutions. Also attached is a copy of an email from the CFO/Asst Borough Administrator to the Borough department heads with a copy of both the resolution and policy attached. The memo identifies the focus of the policy of increasing the use of environmentally preferable products and services in the Borough. As noted in our prior submission, in 2021, members of the Environmental Commission and Sustainable Madison Advisory Committee met several times with Borough administrators and department heads to discuss and report on sustainable initiatives such as green purchasing. In addition, the Borough's purchasing agent offered to set up a tracking system whereby green purchases can be easily identified.

    Green Maintenance Equipment & Materials

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Since our last submission, our Purchasing Agent has created a system to track routine green purchases. The documentation includes 1) a spreadsheet listing many office supply purchases, with a column noting their green specifications; and 2) a link to an online collection of the POs for these items (included in this narrative); and 3) some additional POs grouped into a single PDF format for some items not itemized in the spreadsheet. Among the equipment purchases are two emergency plugs kits for the Fire Department to use for Electric Vehicle Battery Response incidents, a solar-powered portable LED message board, solar speed signs and another round of rapid-fire flashing beacons for use at pedestrian intersections. We have not yet obtained the POs for the last three items. If the submission meets the requirements without them, please approve the action as is. Link to POs referenced in spreadsheet below: https://onedrive.live.com/?authkey=%21AJcVGqhtCvaNBYc&id=BF8CA7BA398ED8DD%21249&cid=BF8CA7BA398ED8DD

    Recycled Copy Paper

    10 Points

    Program Summary: As part of the implementation of the Borough of Madison's Green Purchasing Policy (purchasing products that protect the environment and provide long-term economic benefit), the head of our purchasing department has focused efforts on purchases of recycled copy paper, as part of general purchasing as well as for individual departments including Dept of Public Works, Police and Water + Electric Utilities. As shown on the attached worksheet developed by our purchasing department for 2022, Madison's purchases of 30% post-consumer recycled content copy paper represent 93% of the total copy paper purchases. For the other 7% of purchases, although not 30% recycled content, the majority of the purchases were FSC certified papers. We used the Paper Calculator developed by the Environmental Paper Network and determined the following benefits of purchasing 30% recycled content paper versus no recycled content - for the volume of Madison's copy paper purchases: 1.05 short tons less wood use; 2.6MM BTU less energy use; 2700 lbs CO2e less GHG's; 500 gallons less water use; 20 lbs less solid waste generation, among many other benefits. We shared this data with Madison's purchasing department which in turn shared this with Borough officials.

    Green Grounds & Maintenance Policy

    10 Points

    Program Summary: On May 9, 2022, the Borough of Madison Council approved a resolution supporting again the adoption of an environmentally conscious grounds and maintenance policy (first adopted 6.10.2013 and again 5.29.2019). A copy of the resolution/policy is attached. It is posted on the Borough website under www.rosenet.org/912/Borough-Resolutions. The direct link is https://www.rosenet.org/DocumentCenter/View/15527/R-148-2022-ENVIRONMENTALLY-PREFERABLE-PURCHASING-POLICY-FOR-ALL-GOVERNMENT-AGENCIES-2. It is the policy of the Borough to post only unsigned copies of resolutions – the attached copy is a signed version. Also attached is an email sent to all Borough department heads by the Assistant Borough Administrator requesting distribution/posting of the policy. Municipal departments continue to incorporate the policy into their operations. As an example, for water consumption reduction in the municipal parks, each of which has its own sprinkler system, rain gauges are put on the sprinklers when upgrades are done. As another example, for composting, fallen limbs and trees are mulched and used around plants and trees in the Borough as weed control, used for May Day activities and other municipal uses such as mulching the three rain gardens at the Madison Recreation Complex (“MRC”). The Borough also is purchasing electric leaf blowers when new equipment is needed. The next generation is learning about/supportive of the policy through landscaping projects at the MRC - as examples, tree plantings in the deer enclosure area by the Girl Scouts in April 2021 and April 2022, invasives removal (garlic mustard) by high school students in Fall 2021, weeding, replanting, remulching and inlet clearing at the rain gardens by Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts in 2021 and 2022.

    Recycled Materials & Composting

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Please see uploaded PDF.

  • Public Information & Engagement

    Municipal Communications Strategy

    10 Points

    Program Summary: An inventory takes place yearly by the Communication & Technology Coordinator (PIO), since they began in 2018. Since then, in supplying information to the administration, the PIO has suggested broadening the social media outreach (to include Twitter and YouTube for livestream and video archiving), update and broaden media contact lists, and has utilized the county’s new system AlertMorris (AlertMadison), navigating away from Nixle. Communication is ever changing, and as communication outlets change, Madison looks into the best possible way to communicate to our residents. Our Communication & Technology Coordinator (PIO) combs through the website and updates as needed. See checklist. Also see our Online Municipal Public Service Systems, Emergency Communications Planning and Vulnerable Populations actions.

    Improve Public Engagement in Municipal Government

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Checklist and required supplementary documentation have been uploaded. One of the silver linings of COVID has been the discovery of how effective virtual public meetings can be, and continue to be. Participation has increased and fewer meetings are cancelled. We have permitted a range of hybrid, fully virtual and in-person meetings, so that the benefits of each are not lost, and accommodating to all.

    Improve Public Engagement in Planning and Zoning

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The Borough of Madison, with the admin for Planning & Zoning and the Communication & Technology Coordinator (PIO), have worked to make viewing applications for both Planning & Zoning Boards more accessible, and digital, for residents and concerned citizens. Since COVID, we have required that all applications be supplemented and submitted digitally for anyone to view at home on a computer or mobile device. In addition to posting the agendas and minutes, as well as the rules to participate in meetings, providing digital documents eliminates the time that people would have to drive to borough hall and flip through paper copies of the plans and applications, and allows individuals the ability to view them 24/7 at least 14 days prior to the scheduled hearing. This has resulted in more public interest.

    Online Municipal Public Service Systems

    15 Points

    Program Summary: See revised checklist and OMPS Web Pages pdf below.

    Digitizing Public Information

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The Communication Technology Coordinator (PIO) oversees the borough website and social media channels, including our livestream on YouTube. Throughout the year, board/advisories/commissions/committees submit (as required by law) agendas and then approved minutes which are posted in their respective agenda centers within the Rosenet website. When they are posted, residents who have registered for select agendas (through Notify Me(R)) will receive a text or email notification informing them that an agenda and/or minutes have been posted, along with a link. This allows residents the ability to see ahead of time whether they should attend a meeting, and without having to waste a printed copy of an agenda. Madison is always looking at ways to provide more information to residents throughout online presence, Rosenet (website), social media, applications, etc. Just as they are evolving, Madison is evolving as well. In reply to your comment about the Planning Board not listing members, please see http://nj-madisonborough.civicplus.com/458/Members See checklist, which has been updated, per the reviewer's comments.

  • Sustainability & Climate Planning

    Municipal Carbon Footprint

    10 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: The Municipal Carbon Footprint Calculator for the year 2022 was completed (supplied as a supporting doc) and totals 2315.6 equivalent metric tons of CO2. This is down substantially from 2981 tons in 2021, but this is because we used the new (2022) SJ factor of 386 pounds of CO2 per MWh of electricity, instead of 719, the factor used in earlier footprints. Year-to-year comparisons using the new factor set are supplied on the last tab of the workbook. With the new factors there appears to be an overall decrease from 2734 tons (2018) and 2801 tons (2019) to 2378 tons (2021) and 2315 tons (2022). 2023 will be an interesting year because it will be the first fully free of the effects of the pandemic. Emissions due to Natural Gas were 903.9 tons (similar to 2021), those due to electricity in buildings and wells 632 tons and those due to vehicles were 529 tons (up 1%). The vehicle emissions were derived from the 2022 Fleet Inventory, submitted as a separate SJ Action. The wastewater treatment data (excel rows 25 and 41) accounts for (a) the energy consumed in sewage treatment and (b) the effect of methane capture from the anaerobic digestion process. Per discussions with Sustainable NJ, we show no results for solid-waste-related activities here, but would have shown a complete model for that in the Community footprint if that would have been submitted. The Committee intends to update the Footprint annually. This footprint will also be used in the Madison Climate Action and Community Energy Planning Programs this year. We also submit as a supporting document the Madison-specific instruction for completing the Municipal Carbon Footprint.

    Community Carbon Footprint

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The Community Carbon Footprint Calculator for the year 2021 was completed (supplied as a supporting doc) and totals 148,582 equivalent metric tons of CO2. This is down substantially from the footprint published for 2020, 171,294, but this is because we used the current SJ factor of 719 pounds of CO2 per MWh of electricity, instead of 1312, the factor used in earlier footprints. Without the change in factors the 2021 Madison footprint is up 6% from 2020. having recovered about half of the drop that was seen from 2019 to 2020 due to COVID. Year-to-year comparisons using a constant factor of either 1312 factor or 719 are supplied on two additional tabs of the workbook. Emissions due to Natural Gas were 48,489 tons (33% of the total and up 5% from 2020). Emissions due to electricity were 40,990 tons (28% of total and up 2%). This was calculated with the emission factor found in the calculator tool, (1312 pounds CO2e per MWh) which is high compared with current estimates of the emissions for NJ electricity and more than twice that for Madison’s electricity. Emissions due to vehicles were 60,373 tons (41% of total and up 13%). For the vehicle emissions, we noted in 2019 that the changes between 2018 and 2019 were negligible. We used the 2019 emission values and the FHA VMT estimates for 2021 (New Jersey, all roads) and found that New Jersey’s VMT for 2021 increased 13% from 2020. This factor yielded the 2021 vehicle emission values. The Committee intends to update the Footprint annually. This footprint will also be used in the Madison Climate Action and Community Energy Planning Programs this year. We have drafted a detailed Instruction for the Madison CCF and include the current draft as a supporting document.

    Community Energy Plan or Climate Action Plan

    10 Points

    Program Summary: To address comments on the Feb 2023 submission, every year since 2018 Madison has submitted both the Fleet Inventory and the Municipal Footprint Actions (just completed for 2022 in April 2023). In 2022 Madison undertook a pilot program of Climate Action (Resolution R38-2022, attached). Its purpose was “to set municipal-level climate goals aligned with New Jersey state strategies, measure progress towards those goals, and recommend actions the Borough can take to address gaps in reaching municipal climate goals.” (from Madison’s Rosenet site: https://www.rosenet.org/1445/Climate-Action-Committee) The pilot program published Madison’s plan in two parts earlier this year. 1. The 2022 Climate Action Report (Jan 23, 2023 attached), a one-time document, laid out: a) The process for annual measurements, assessment, Council review and implementation of new or adjusted actions b) Quantitative long-term municipal goals, derived from NJ State Goals in the 2019 EMP and from state guidance on resiliency c) Municipal climate metrics to be compared annually against the goals. Data to support the metrics were drawn from the 2018-2021 Fleet Inventory, Community Carbon Footprint and Municipal Carbon Footprint actions. The Council voted unanimously to approve the report (Res. 63-2023, attached). 2. The 2023 Climate Recommendations (February 13, 2023, attached) lays out the specific actions to be taken in the next 12-18 months. This plan will be updated every year with measurements, assessments, and further recommended actions. This April the Council (Resolution 119-2023, attached) formally approved the 2023 Recommendations, terminated the pilot program and institutionalized the Climate Plan as an ongoing program with a Climate Committee charged with an annually repeating cycle of measurements, reviews and renewed actions. The Committee is led by a Council member. Public outreach has included four public presentations to Council with public comments, newspaper coverage, and talks to the Madison Rotary and YMCA.

    Community Asset Mapping

    10 Points

    Program Summary: In 2013, the Borough of Madison compiled a list of local non-profit organizations as part of Community Asset Mapping for Sustainable Jersey certification. Ten years later, our efforts to engage in Community Asset Mapping are ongoing. Volunteers share information through meetings, and regularly update a shared Google Sheet, and online map, which is distributed through the website SustainableMadisonNJ.org to stay informed about possible changes. Other aspects of our Community Asset Map draw from multiple sources to illustrate parks and open space, locations of businesses, and schools. The Community Asset Mapping process has provided our town with an opportunity to engage youth in sustainability initiatives, recognize concerns surrounding racial injustice, and to identify both our strengths and weaknesses as a community.

  • Waste Management

    Prescription Drug Safety & Disposal

    10 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: Madison’s emphasis on proper waste management of drugs includes locked waste disposal units at the police station and at the local neighborhood pharmacy and information posted on the Borough website. A prescription takeback day was held on April 30, 2022, sponsored by the Madison Chatham Coalition (https://www.rosenet.org/805/Madison-Chatham-Coalition), with Madison Pharmacy as one of the dropoff locations. The Madison Police Department reports that as of March 30, 2022 the "MedReturn" box at the Public Safety Complex exceeded 5,000 pounds of medication collected since its inception in June 2013. The Madison Police Department prescription drug disposal drop box was provided by the Morris County Prevention is Key (http://www.mcpik.org/) Program. Donations to the drop box are anonymous. When the box is full, coordinators from the Morris County Prevention is Key program transport the contents to an incinerator. The program began in 2013. In 2019, Former Police Chief Darren P. Dachisen, Sr. stated “Our lobby drug collection box is one of the busiest in the county I have been told…MCSO empties the box about every 3 weeks or so." The Madison Pharmacy also collects expired or unused prescription drugs, using a box maintained by the American Medicine Chest Challenge. The pharmacy staff do not maintain information about the type, number or volume of prescriptions collected, but they remove and shred identifying information on prescription bottles. The disposal boxes are listed on borough, county, state and national websites. Notification to residents is made through posts on social media; notices at the Police Department disposal location; through the Madison Pharmacy, the Madison Chatham Coalition (local drug awareness group) Facebook page (attachment 1), the Police Department’s Med Return page (https://www.rosenet.org/653/Medication-Return) and Health Department’s Safe Medication Disposal Page (https://www.rosenet.org/227/Safe-Medication-Disposal) on the Borough website (Attachment 3); and the state N.J. Consumer Awareness website (Attachment 2) .

    Recycling & Waste Reduction Education & Compliance

    20 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: The Borough of Madison continues to expand communications and outreach regarding recycling, especially with the addition of several new and important drop-off programs: textile waste, polystyrene waste, and compost. The 2023 recycling newsletter that was distributed to all residents makes clear that the recycle coach app is the go-to resource for determining which types of materials are suitable for curbside pickup. Recycle coach is now embedded directly on the Borough of Madison website. Recycling topics again featured in the Madison Green Vision Forum (in April 2022), at Bottlehill Day (in October), and through events like the town wide yard sale (in spring and fall), which further communicated the motivation to reduce household waste, to reuse materials, and to limit materials sent to landfill.

    Community Paper Shredding Day

    5 Points

    Program Summary: Rotary Club of Madison has held semi-annual paper shredding events since 2008, in April and again in October. The event is scheduled for April 23, 2023 and was held on October 8 and April 23, 2022 The October 2022 event collected approximately 42 cubic yards of paper and generated about $1350 in "profits," with the spring 2022 event generating about $1500. The money generated is used by Rotary for annual grants and sponsorships to local charities and non-profits, college scholarships to Madison seniors and "Laws of Life" essay prizes to six high school juniors. In addition, Habitat for Humanity was on site collecting gently used or new items for resale in their ReStore to help support local home building efforts and prevent the items from going to a land fill. Also on site was the Madison High School Interact Club collecting food for First Baptist Church food pantry. People using the shredding service came from Madison, Florham Park, Far Hills, Chatham, Westfield, and Short Hills among others. Madison Borough supports this event by providing space in a borough parking lot (# 1) and traffic control. The Rotary Club has submitted a Certificate of Liability Insurance naming the Borough of Madison as an additional insured. Attached are the borough resolutions supporting and an article from the Madison Eagle publicizing the event.

    Food Waste

    10 Points

    Program Summary: For several years, the Madison Environmental Commission has been actively promoting backyard composting and has held annual composter sales. This year, they partnered with the ECs from Chatham, Chatham Township, Florham Park and Morris Township to sponsor an Earth Month Composter sale that ran through April 25, 2022. Please see uploaded “Madison Food Waste.docx” for more info. In March of 2020, Java’s Compost began curbside food waste pickup in Madison Borough, and in the fall of 2021 a compost drop off site was added to the Madison Recycling Center (see photo). As of this submission, 43 households and 2 local restaurants participate in the curbside pickup service, and 6 households use the drop off site at the recycling center. To date, Java’s Compost has diverted 43,911 lbs. of food waste (21.9 tons) from the landfill. Please see uploaded food diversion report. On June 24, 2020, the MEC hosted the "Composting: Eco Tip Community Forum" via Zoom. The forum began with the presentation of statistics on why composting is so important not only to reduce greenhouse gases, but to restore the health of soil. See “Madison Food Waste.docx” for more info. Every year, Madison High School holds a “Day of Service” for graduating seniors. This year, the Day of Service will be on May 27th and a group of seniors who are members of Project Aware will go to Central Avenue School (one of 3 elementary schools in Madison) to teach an interactive lesson about composting. See “Madison Food Waste.docx” for more info. In addition, this year the Madison Green Team is partnering with the green teams of Chatham and Millburn to create a Green Business Recognition Program. We will be encouraging businesses to become members of the New Jersey Sustainable Business Registry. See “Madison Food Waste.docx” for more info.

    Non-Mandated Materials Recycling

    25 Points

    Program Summary: The Borough of Madison continues to recycle the following non-mandated materials: #3-7 Plastics (10 points) Textiles (5 points) Cartons (5 points) Christmas Trees (5 points) Please see "Non-Mandated Materials Recycling 2022-R1.pdf" below for details.

    Recycling Depot

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The following items are recycled at the Borough of Madison Recycling Depot: • In 2021, the Borough added a textiles collection bin from Green Tree Textiles to recycle clothing, shoes, handbags and textiles. In 2022, 11,541 lbs. was collected at the recycling depot, almost all of which was reused or recycled. Please see uploaded Green Tree report. • Styrofoam recycling has also been added to the recycling center since our last submission. Although the exact weight is not tracked, the DPW estimates that 1 ton of Styrofoam was recycled in 2022. • Food waste is recycled using Java’s Compost. The drop off site was at the Borough recycling center until October of 2022 when it was moved to the Borough safety complex parking lot. It was moved to give residents 24/7 access to the drop off site. In 2022, 14.837 tons of food waste was diverted from the landfill. This included the waste collected from the drop off site at the recycling center/safety complex and the curbside pickup service residents use through Java’s. Report below. • Borough residents can pay $25 to have old household appliances picked up and brought to the recycling center. In 2022, 6.82 tons of appliances were recycled this way. Please see uploaded tonnage report. • In 2022, 16.09 tons of electronics were recycled at the recycling depot only. See tonnage report. • Christmas trees can be brought to the recycling center where they are turned into wood chips that are used on Borough property. • Residents can also bring unpainted pumpkins to the recycling center. Please see uploaded Madison tonnage report for stats on items recycled via the Recycling Depot. Please also see uploaded files: Recycling Newsletter, Java’s Compost diversion stats, Green Tree Impact Report and Recycling Depot photos.

    Backyard Composting Program

    5 Points

    Program Summary: Since our last submission to SJ, the Borough of Madison has had one composter sale in the spring of 2022. Madison Environmental Commission (MEC) partnered with the Environmental Commissions of Morris Township, Chatham Borough, Chatham Township and Florham Park to sponsor and promote the sale of “Eco Cube” composters at a discounted price of $99 (retail cost is $127). Please reference uploaded press release, “Composting master gardener press release 2022.pdf” The multi-town effort sold 33 Eco Cube composters, 7 of those were purchased by Madison residents. We do not have a way of tracking composters that are purchased independently of MEC-sponsored sales. In addition to the press release, the sale was promoted via social media, the MEC’s newsletter, and on the Borough website rosenet.org. Please reference uploaded PDF, “Backyard Composting promotions.pdf.” The MEC partnered with the Morris Township EC and Rutgers to offer a webinar on March 28, 2022 titled “Black Gold for Your Garden — Composting Simplified” (see uploaded flyer, “Composting Simplified Madison EC 3-28-22.pdf”). This webinar was also promoted on social media and in the MEC newsletter. Madison plans to continue promoting backyard composting with future sales and educational programs. Borough residents are also encouraged to sign on with Java’s Compost. They offer industrial composting so that ALL food waste can be recycled along with compostable containers and flatware, paper towels, etc. Currently, Java’s has 51 residential curbside pick-up customers in Madison, 16 drop-off participants (a more cost-effective option), and 2 commercial pick-up customers. In 2022, a total of 40,209 lbs. of food scraps from Madison were diverted from incinerators and landfills using Java’s Compost service.

    Grass - Cut It and Leave It Program

    5 Points

    Program Summary: The Borough of Madison's Grass - Cut It and Leave It program has been in effect since 2013 and continues today. A brochure was made to educate residents - and importantly through residents, their landscapers - on why environmentally friendly lawn care is beneficial for both residents and the Borough. Madison updated its brochure in February 2023 based on input from members of the Madison Environmental Commission (which includes two Rutgers Environmental Stewards and a Rutgers Master Gardener specializing in organic lawn care) as well as the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County. The new brochure reflects an approach to lawns/gardens promoted by Doug Tallamy - noted author, professor of entomology and ecology, and conservationist -- around native and natural. In the brochure, residents are encouraged to share the brochure with their lawn service and ask them to leave grass clippings on lawns. The brochure is on the Sustainable Madison Advisory Committee page of the Madison Borough website under Grass Cut It and Leave It (https://www.rosenet.org/447/Sustainable-Madison-Committee), and on the Sustainable Madison website (https://sustainablemadisonnj.org/useful-handouts) - copies of the website pages are attached. Also available on the Sustainable Madison website is "ABC's of Organic Lawn Care" (copy attached) which include Cut It and Leave It. The Borough of Madison website has a link (copy of website page attached) to Recycle Coach which includes advice on making a yard greener (copy attached with Grasscycling highlighted). In terms of distribution, a hardcopy of the brochure was available as a handout at Madison's EV Expo on April 22, 2022 at the Madison Environmental Commission table. A hardcopy of the new brochure is available at Borough Hall (photo attached), and it will be available at the 2023 Madison EV Expo scheduled for April 19th. The brochure also is distributed through social media (photo of Borough Facebook posting attached). In April 2022, a member of the Madison Environmental Commission did a Master Gardener talk on Organic Lawn Care at the Madison Public Library (23 attendees), highlighting, among other things, the benefits of Cut It and Leave It.

    Materials Reuse Program

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The Borough of Madison continues to support a Materials Reuse Program through several initiatives, including leveraging social media. The programs are very valuable to residents and to the environment. Madison continues its participation the the Town-Wide Yard Sale along with The Chathams (Chatham Borough and Chatham Township). There were two sales in 2022 - April 30 and October 16. Registration is required in advance. For a $10 listing fee, a registrant has the sale items and address listed on a digital map shared with the public. The listing fee is a tax-deductible donation to benefit the Great Swamp Watershed Association ("GSMA"). Participants who have yard sale leftovers are encouraged to contact certain charitable organizations to arrange pick-ups of leftovers. In April, there were about 100 registrants and in October there were about 60 registrants - thus a total of about $1600 was donated to the GSWA. The Town-Wide Yard Sale will run again on April 29, 2023 and also in October 2023 (date not chosen yet). Attached is a copy of an event announcement by GreatSwamp,.org. Tap into Madison also ran articles about the event, copies are attached. The Madison Swap and Share group on Facebook (a private group) started in July 2020 and currently has about 3100 members (out of approximately 16000 residents). Acceptable items include household goods, appliances, electronics, sports equipment, furniture, tools, toys, books and clothing. Items are approved by a group administrator. There are a number of postings each day, and a number of times posted are claimed. Attached is a screen shot of the group FB page, as well as a few examples of items posted. This digital swap group replaced the in-person town swap previously held in the Spring at the DPW garage. It is a much more current, and also a more efficient way of sharing extra items, versus waiting for a specific date and having to transport items to a specific location. In fact, it has become a very active group. Sustainable Madison promotes the Madison Swap and Share program on its website - www.sustainablemadisonnj.org/madison-swap-and-share. A copy of the page is attached.