Certification Report - Sustainable Jersey

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

Arts & Creative Culture

Establish a Creative Team

10 Points

Program Summary: The Madison Arts and Culture Alliance (MACA), established in 2004, is a dedicated non-profit organization supported by the community to enhance and advocate for the arts in Madison, NJ. In 2013, the Borough Council formally recognized MACA’s role as a Creative Team through a resolution. The Downtown Development Commission (DDC) collaborates closely with MACA as both entities work hand in hand to foster a vibrant community that promotes arts and entertainment, drawing in tourism, commerce, and investment. A significant milestone was reached in 2019 when the Madison Community Arts Center (MCAC) was established, providing MACA with a major venue. For information about upcoming events and a link to the Madison town calendar, visit https://www.rosenet.org/1432/Arts-Center-Events

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

10 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, Caroline Romanelli, 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. 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 three projects that have seen enhancements or changes in the last couple of years – the farmers market re-visioning as a farm & artisan market, with live music every week, the summer concert series and a monthly Come Original series at the Madison Community Arts Center.

Community Partnership & Outreach

Green Team

10 Points

Bronze Required Silver Required

Program Summary: Sustainable Madison Advisory Committee (Madison's Green Team), officlally established by ordinance in 2012, works with Borough staff, Council, committees and volunteers to initiate, support and report on the many sustainable initiatives Madison continues to undertake. See the attached summary report which recaps 2023 and looks forward to 2024. For additional information about Sustainable Madison, including current membership, and recent agendas and minutes, visit https://www.rosenet.org/447/Sustainable-Madison-Committee. SMAC is proud that our town has been recognized five times by Sustainable Jersey as the mid-sized population champion in the state, and that we continue to add new actions to our accomplishments.

image SMAC-Green Team Members 2024
pdf Signed Ordinance Creating Green Team/SMAC
pdf SMAC 2023 Annual Report

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 new book talk series co-sponsored with the Nature of Reading, including a main event featuring the author of Bad Naturalist, and 3) the Eco-Garden Tour, in combination with year round events to encourage planting and stewardship of native species. 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. Please note, we moved the Eco-Garden tour from our Green Building Education application to Community Education this year, because of insufficient focus on building efficiency and design. However, it is a phenomenal event, as described in our application.

Green Fair

10 Points

Program Summary: Madison Green and Clean was held Sunday, April 27, 2025. The event was coordinated with an EV Expo, a Vegan Fair, and tabling from Madison area green groups, including the Environmental Commission, Sustainable Madison, Climate Action Committee, Friends of Drew Forest. Green and Clean Day also included groups of volunteers doing cleanup and mulching of the downtown street trees and at other municipal properties; some of these volunteers attended the Green Fair after their volunteer work was completed. Native plant and green landscaping and equipment businesses, Sierra Club, Avenues in Motion and a couple of local natural beauty product businesses also attended. Unfortunately, the event was postponed from its original date on Saturday, due to rain, so some originally scheduled exhibitors could not make the rain date. In addition, perhaps because of the change of date and cold, gusty winds, turnout was low. The Arbor Day celebration which usually draws children (who perform) and their parents was held on the original Saturday date, which also diminished Sundy attendance. The event was scheduled for 9 to 2, but the winds were strong enough that canopies and tables were blowing over, posters and flyers went flying, so some tablers left early. The Borough of Madison played a central role in the planning and support for the event. It was held the parking lot next to Borough Hall and promoted by the Downtown Development Commission. DPW oversaw the site and provided tables, chairs, canopies and trash stations. The municipal communications director designed and/or printed posters and the DDC director provided easels, assigned exhibitor spaces and coordinated with the Chair of the MEC and the organizer of the EV Expo regarding participants. Together the communications director and DDC director were responsible for promotion of the event on the Borough website, Facebook and Instagram. The MEC also promoted the event. A highlight of the day was Maya, a 10-year-old Chatham Borough resident, who was sellling her one-foot forward garden kits, which include native plant seeds.

pdf Green Fair Worksheet
excel Green Fair Exhibitors
pdf Green Fair Borough Promotion and Press
pdf Environmental Commission and GreenMadisonNJ Promotion

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.

pdf Environmental Justice in Planning and Zoning - 2023 Update

Emergency Management

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).

Emergency Communications Planning

15 Points

Program Summary: At Bottle Hill Day, a yearly street festival that drew an estimated 15,000 people on October 5, 2024, the Madison Police and Morris County Public Safety boot handed 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 the documentation below.

Vulnerable Populations Identification for Emergencies

10 Points

Program Summary: 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. 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. 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. Online and hard copy forms for the information are always available through the town website.

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 we have done since 2021, we obtained monthly consumption for the past year for all 59 municipal electric and 15 gas meters. The buildings use no other fuels and were broken down into the same five categories as in previous years. • 5 Key buildings that became the LGEA “building portfolio” • 7 Other buildings and sheds • 7 Water facilities (5 Wells, 2 water towers) • 7 Wastewater pumping stations • 33 Street, Traffic and Athletic Lights and concession stands The database has 8 worksheets detailing our electrical and gas consumption. We have loaded the 19 buildings of the first 3 categories into ESPM. This year we added 2 buildings; the Borough’s Museum of Early Trades and Crafts and the prior Masonic Temple, built in 1825 as a church, which the Borough has purchased and is renovating into a senior center. Several notes on the data: 1. The Library was closed for several months in 2024 for renovation. 2. The Utility building electric meter includes a well-pump and water-treatment facility. 3. The garage has no air-conditioning. 4. It is interesting to note that 45% of the municipal electric consumption is due to the water utility. Optional 10 points. Regular ET&M updates for 2024 data are complete. We have interfaced the PSE&G Portal to ESPM for 3 of our buildings. We attach the ESPM and PSEG pages for the Public Safety Building as an example. The process document has been updated and is attached, as are: (a) 5 ESPM summary graphs for 2018 thru 2024 for our 5 “portfolio buildings and (b) the 2024 ESPM SEP reports for the 5 buildings. In 2025 we will be working out some bugs to interface the two remaining portfolio buildings with the PSEG Portal. Madison is applying for both the mandatory and the optional points. Mandatory 10 points. As we have done since 2021, we obtained monthly consumption for the past year for all 59 municipal electric and 15 gas meters. The buildings use no other fuels and were broken down into the same five categories as in previous years. • 5 Key buildings that became the LGEA “building portfolio” • 7 Other buildings and sheds • 7 Water facilities (5 Wells, 2 water towers) • 7 Wastewater pumping stations • 33 Street, Traffic and Athletic Lights and concession stands The database has 8 worksheets detailing our electrical and gas consumption. We have loaded the 19 buildings of the first 3 categories into ESPM. This year we added 2 buildings; the Borough’s Museum of Early Trades and Crafts and the prior Masonic Temple, built in 1825 as a church, which the Borough has purchased and is renovating into a senior center. Several notes on the data: 1. The Library was closed for several months in 2024 for renovation. 2. The Utility building electric meter includes a well-pump and water-treatment facility. 3. The garage has no air-conditioning. 4. It is interesting to note that 45% of the municipal electric consumption is due to the water utility. Optional 10 points. Regular ET&M updates for 2024 data are complete. We have interfaced the PSE&G Portal to ESPM for 3 of our buildings. We attach the ESPM and PSEG pages for the Public Safety Building as an example. The process document has been updated and is attached, as are: (a) 5 ESPM summary graphs for 2018 thru 2024 for our 5 “portfolio buildings and (b) the 2024 ESPM SEP reports for the 5 buildings. In 2025 we will be working out some bugs to interface the two remaining portfolio buildings with the PSEG Portal.

Residential Energy Efficiency Outreach

20 Points

Program Summary: Madison is applying for 20 points based on the April 2024 revision to the Residential Energy Efficiency Outreach action forwarded by Tracey Woods in May. (Note that we could not find any information for residents regarding the Home Weatherization Program for Income-Qualified Customers, either on the NJ Clean Energy site nor in the list of resources for the action.) We meet the requirements for the additional points and have submitted the energy audit contract with Ciel Power and the resolution to extend it through August 2025. Since we have our own electric utility and since the plans to roll out a non-IOU program have now been pushed until next year, we have not had direct contact with a utility partner to create an outreach program. However, Ciel Power, Madison's HPwES contractor, does coordinate with PSE&G (which supplies natural gas to customers in Madison) to provide the maximum amount of energy efficiency information as a follow-up to its audit (see website https://www.cielpower.com/madison, which mentions the PSE&G HPwES incentives). In addition, as you can see from the activities described below, we have implemented our own robust outreach program. We have met the intent of this action over the last couple of years with a Home Energy Forum, a Home Energy hub (which includes mention of the Comfort Partners program) on our municipal website, tabling at Green & Clean Day April 2024, Bottle Hill Day October 2023 and a House & Garden Tour in October 2023 that included several eco-friendly houses, newsletter articles in the Environmental Commission’s newsletter, press coverage and social media. Posters, handouts and QR codes were available at outreach events to facilitate residents learning more. Also of note, Madison has adopted a Climate Action Report and Recommendations (2023) and a Community Energy Plan (2024) that include implementing a Residential Energy Efficiency Outreach Campaign as an initiative. In addition, Madison is the process of rolling out its own heat pump incentive program modeled after the product eligibility requirements from the JCP&L and PSE&G programs. The incentive will be issued as a credit on the electric bill. See the documentation files below.

Fleet Inventory

10 Points

Bronze Priority Silver Priority

Program Summary: The 2024 Fleet 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. Six hybrids (incl. five police Interceptors) are currently in service. 2. Three Chevy Bolt EVs are in service, one for parking patrol and two for building inspectors. 3. Madison is installing it first DC Fast Charger which will be accessible both to municipal and public vehicles. A second one is on order. 4. In 2024 Madison DPW bought and began using a Mean Green zero-turn EV mower. 5. A report is attached analyzing the fleet efficiency and carbon footprint. It includes data on maintenance procedures and driver training. 6. The spreadsheet and the report include an analysis of the performance of the first 5 hybrid Interceptors that the police department has been using since 2021. Two specific topics in the report are: • A performance and emissions-saved and fuel-saved analysis for the Hybrid Interceptor Police Cars ( 17 mpg vs. 8 mpg for non-hybrid Interceptors) • A performance and emissions-saved and fuel-saved analysis for the three Chevy Bolt EVs 7. Also of note is that in late 2023, Madison received an NJDEP grant for a new EV Shuttle Bus which will be selected and procured in early 2025 8. Also attached is the process document detailing how the data for the inventory are acquired using the new fueling software acquired by the Borough in mid-2023.

Electric Vehicle Community Outreach

10 Points

Program Summary: For the past five 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. The most recent Expo (April 26, 2025) included ~11 dealer-provided vehicles, 16 owner-provided vehicles and ~100 visitors (due to inclement weather). Web and newspaper publicity (attached) reached over 16,000 people. Event task reports for the 2024 and 2025 Expos include photos and published announcements. An additional outreach event was held at Madison’s annual Bottle Hill Day in October 2023. At this festival, annually attended by 10,000 – 20,000 people, the Sustainability and Climate committees hosted a table for the electric Vehicle Association and also served chili warmed on an induction cooktop powered by a Ford Lightning F-150 EV pick-up. Sustainable Madison also runs a newspaper column “North Jersey Green” (previously coordinated by the North Jersey Sustainable Municipal Alliance), which has published 40 monthly columns in the New Jersey Hills Newspapers, including the Madison Eagle. Three recent articles highlighted EV experiences and EV adoption progress. We have received favorable feedback from readers specifically about the EV articles. Copies of newspaper articles are included with the task report. With the newspaper articles and the annual 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.

pdf 2025 Madison EV outreach event descriptions (four) with photos

Purchase Alternative Fuel Vehicles

15 Points

Program Summary: Madison is applying for 15 points under the “Purchase Alternative Fuel Vehicles” Action. The 2023 Fleet Inventory was submitted earlier this year and approved (A copy is included in this submission as well). The Madison fleet includes a total of 93 vehicles. The Madison fleet includes 2 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EVs used by building inspectors, 1 2022 Bolt used for parking patrol and 5 Ford Hybrid Interceptor SUVs used for Police Patrol for a total of 8 qualifying vehicles. One submitted document includes registrations for 4 of the Interceptors, all 3 Bolts and one (non-qualifying) hybrid Escape used by the Engineering department. A short spreadsheet excerpted from the fleet inventory documenting just these vehicles is also submitted. Finally, we also submit a copy of the 2023 Fleet Inventory Text Report which was submitted with the fleet inventory. This report shows the fuel savings and emission savings due to the use of the Hybrids and plug-in EVs, specifically: (a) an 18% fleet-wide decline in CO2 emissions from 2018 to 2023 (with no decrease in mileage), (b) the 5 Hybrid Interceptors saving 27 tons of CO2 and $9500 in fuel cost annually, and finally (c) the Bolt EVs, with lower mileage than the hybrids, saving 1.5 tons of CO2 emissions and 255 gallons of gasoline annually. Currently, the Bolt EVs use much less than one battery charge per day and charge overnight at one of the Borough’s 10 dual cable Level II chargers. Madison used grants from the NJDEP “It Pays to Plug In” program to buy these 10 chargers. Madison is also installing a DC Fast Charger which could be used if any of the Borough EVs need a mid-day re-charge. This year Madison is evaluating which EV shuttle bus it will buy with an NJDEP grant won recently.

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.

pdf October 2020 official Madison letter on EV Charging stations

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. There are eighty-four 10’ by 20’ plots and several wheelchair-accessible plots. There are also 2 greenhouses, 1 hoop house and two Rutgers Master Gardener plots. These provide educational opportunities and produce food throughout the year that is donated to local food pantries. 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. 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. News for 2024 includes: (1)in 2023 the Borough installed an electric line to the shed (2) the Rotary donated a refrigerator which is used for the donation program and (3) transition from wood-chip paths to grass paths. Volunteer gardeners run the donation program to four local food pantries. Over 1200 pounds in 2023! Appreciation notes from two food pantries are enclosed as one document. A pollinator garden in the main garden area and beehives located in a secured area of the Garden provide additional educational opportunities, as well as pollination for the plots. This action was updated for 2024 by updating food donation documentation, the photos and the questionnaire (which includes a link to the plot application). The policy banning synthetic chemicals, herbicies, insecticides, fertilizers is in the attached Application Form that each member is required to sign and also in the attached Garden Information notice. All personal emails in attachments have been blacked out.

Buy Fresh Buy Local Programs

10 Points

Program Summary: The Borough of Madison has long supported and promoted the availability of fresh and local products to residents and businesses. Sustainable Madison canvassed local businesses and worked with Borough staff to update our list of Buy Fresh Buy Local venues/businesses in Madison – that list is attached, and as noted below is on the Borough website. Madison has had a vibrant farmers market for over thirty years – now called the Madison Farm and Artisan Market. The Market sells fresh fruit/vegetables/produce to consumers and restaurants. The Borough website which promotes the Market highlights the “Jersey Fresh” program (copy of website page attached). The Market also is on the “Jersey Fresh” Directory of markets that offer Jersey Fresh produce and products. The two supermarkets in Madison - Stop and Shop and Whole Foods, highlight local fruits, vegetables and flowers in season. Gary's Wine and Marketplace sells "New Jersey local" beers. Organic co-ops with delivery sites/neighborhood groups in Madison include Mountain Lakes Organic Co-op, Purple Dragon Co-op Inc and Flock Town Farm. Several specialty shops and restaurants in Madison source locally – and the number of restaurants doing so has increased since our last canvassing. 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 Farm and Artisan 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 for the community on local and fresh food. For social media, I Love Madison posts the link to the Buy Fresh Buy Local list - copy of recent screenshots (April 3, 2025) from Facebook and Instagram are attached, and are run monthly.

Farmers Markets

10 Points

Program Summary: 2023 was the 31st season of the Madison Farmers Market, which is sponsored by the Madison Downtown Development Committee ("DDC"), a mayoral appointed commission consisting of 16 regular members and 2 ex-officio members (residents, public officials, business owners, representatives of organizations important to the Madison community). In 2023, the market season was from May 25 to November 16. Similar to the previous year, 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 2023, there were 14 seasonal 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 2023 there were 3 weekly food vendors and 11 weekly non-food vendors. 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 2023 Farmer's Market is attached. In 2023, 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. (Same cost as the previous year) Copies of the 2023 vendor contracts are attached. (Note that although the wording at the top of the contracts reads “2022”, the body of the contracts is for the 2023 season.) Gross annual income in 2023 was approximately $10,000, while operational expenses totaled about $1,000, excluding staffing costs. The Farmers Market is promoted on the Borough website (https://www.rosenet.org/380/Madison-Farmers-Market). Tap into Madison publishes information about the market – two examples of articles 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). The Madison Farmers Market will return in 2024 for the 32nd season, for a slightly extended period from May 25 to December 14, The market will be held on Saturdays, from 10am to 3pm, and will be at a new location, also centrally located and highly accessible. Attached is a copy of the page from the Borough website with this announcement.

Making Farmers Markets Accessible

5 Points

Program Summary: Per your feedback, we have updated the Farmers Market action to reflect the 2023 Farmers Market. 2023 marked the 31st season of the Madison Farmers Market (“MFM”), sponsored by the Madison Downtown Development Commission (“DDC”), a commission which includes municipal public officials. Accessibility to a larger number of people and more diverse population remains an important part of planning for the MFM. In 2023, the MFM was once again held at Dodge Field, on Thursdays, with this season running from May 25th to November 16th. Hours were 1 – 6 pm which enables people to stop by on their way home from work. Dodge Field, which includes playing fields and thus is a flat surface, is a well-known location by Madison residents, on well-travelled streets, easy to reach by pedestrians and cyclists from most neighborhoods in town. It also is across from the Central Avenue School making it convenient to stop by after school pick-up for part of the season. Street parking is available on all four streets surrounding Dodge Field, and the Cook Avenue public lot, with free parking, is nearby. Two handicapped parking spaces were available to the MFM. Attached are photos which show the handicapped spaces and flat walkways. The attached map shows that the NJ Transit Madison Station and a bus stop are close by (rounded 0.3mi and 0.1mi, respectively). A copy of the text from the Borough of Madison website (http://www.rosenet.org.380/Madison-Farmers-Market) is attached. It includes information on the MFM and in particular identifies the vendors that accepted Food Stamps (Alstede Farms, Meredith’s Country Bakery) and WIC Coupons (Alstede Farms, Melick’s Town Farm), to make it easier for customers to identify the vendors. Also attached are copies of both the full season and weekly market contracts, which ask vendors to identify whether they accept food stamps/WIC coupons.

word Photos of 2023 MFM at Dodge Field
pdf 2023 MFM Vendor Contract
word 2023 Madison Farmers Market Website Text
pdf 2023 MFM Weekly Vendor Contract
pdf MFM Accessibility - Train, Bus - Map.pdf

Green Design

Green Building Policy/Resolution

5 Points

Program Summary: On February 12, 2024, the Madison Borough Council adopted Resolution R 79-2024, endorsing the adoption of green building practices for civic, commercial and residential buildings. The resolution is based on the model resolution supplied by Sustainable Jersey but adds statistics specific to Madison, based on data gathered for our municipal carbon footprint, i.e., buildings in Madison account for 66% of our carbon footprint – more than either the transportation or industrial sectors. Adopting a Green Building Policy by resolution was one of the Climate Action Recommendations the governing body endorsed in 2023. A signed copy of the resolution and copies of the email distributed to department heads and Planning and Zoning Board personnel are included in the documentation. This, along with the Sustainable Land Use Pledge, is another indication of the Borough government's commitment to sustainability and specifically to the goals of the town's climate action plan and the state's Energy Master Plan and other climate change strategies and initiatives. The resolution can be found on the Borough's website at https://www.rosenet.org/912/Borough-Resolutions

Green Building Education

5 Points

Program Summary: The Madison Environmental Commission co-organized a green building education event with Chris Kellogg, an acclaimed sustainable architect. Chris opened his home to Madison residents July 12 to demonstrate how houses can be designed or retrofitted with elements that improve energy efficiency: triple-glazed windows, ground-source heat pumps, and designs that take advantage of natural lighting. Kellogg’s home is ‘net zero’ by means of solar panels, in combination with efficient design. In addition to the building elements, native plantings and rainwater capture present a model garden for promoting local pollinators, and reducing stormwater runoff. Registration for the event was made available online and communicated a variety of ways, including a Borough of Madison press release and article in the Madison Eagle newspaper. The event attracted around 70 attendees and raised $1300, which will be used for habitat restoration projects in Madison Borough green spaces. Please note, we removed the Madison EcoTour from this action to the Community Education Action, because it did not have sufficient attention on green building education. The Kellogg house tour was a separate event, which just took place this July.

pdf Green Building Education - 2025 Update - Net Zero House Tour

Upgrade/Retrofit-Light Pollution

10 Points

Program Summary: The Borough of Madison has established policies regarding exterior lighting which are included in the Borough Code. The Borough Code can be accessed through www.rosenet.org/27/Government, and clicking the link for the Borough Code on the sidebar of the page. The section of the code that covers Exterior Lighting (a copy of which is attached) is found under Part II – General Legislation, Chapter 195 Land Development, Chapter 195 Article IV Development Requirements and Standards, Section 195-25.6 Exterior Lighting. In particular, Section 195-25.6 C.(2) addresses light trespass (installation and maintenance) and Section 195.25.6 C(3) addresses energy conservation. Municipal properties are in compliance with the policies. As an example of implementation of the policies, attached is a copy of the lighting specs for the new solar carport at the Madison Recreation Complex, on which construction has begun. The CREE lighting brand EDGE product is known for its energy efficiency and provides focused and low-glare illumination. In addition, since the site of the carport is near some environmentally sensitive areas, the specs also call for the use of amber turtle friendly LED’s. As another example, in 2024 the Borough re-did one of the downtown business district parking lots, including new lighting fixtures (Cook Ave Parking Lot). Attached is a copy of the purchase order which includes details on the light pole and fixtures. Note that although the date of the purchase order is 2022, the project was done in 2024. The light fixtures are LED lights, and there are solid aluminum tops (domes) to prevent skyglow effect. Also attached is a photo of one of the light fixtures in the parking lot. In addition, the Electric Utility continues to replace old, non-functioning light fixtures with LED’s. Over the past year, these replacements have been done out of inventory (from prior purchases). Because it is a standard practice (cost and energy efficiency), the Utility does not keep specific records of replacements. The Utility, working with the Purchasing Dept, expects to order additional LED’s in the coming months.

Health & Wellness

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: Madison has been participating in the Mayor's Wellness Campaign since 2007 and is listed as one of the 435 participating municipalities. The mayor has signed the pledge again in 2025 and remains active with the statewide program. Madison's Mayor’s Wellness Campaign has been inactive recently, but the mayor is committed to reactivating it, beginning with a meeting that was held in June and another meeting planned for the fall, Note that we had trouble finding confirmation of submitting the pledge; the mayor completed the form more than once trying to get a confirmation; we also called NJHCQUI, but no one called back. In the end, we captured the form as the mayor filled it out but before hitting the Submit button, so we wouldn't lose the information! 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.

pdf 2025 Employee Segment
pdf 2025 Senior Segment
pdf 2025 Youth Segment
pdf 2025 Community Segment
pdf 2025 Mayors Pledge and Participating Municipality

Integrating Health Into Municipal Decision Making

25 Points

Program Summary: To fulfill the requirements of the Action Plan titled “Integrating Health into Municipal Decision Making,” we have completed the Action Questionnaire and the Municipal HIAP Checklist. We have included the certificates for the two representatives (one from the Health Department and one regular resident) who completed the HIAP training in March 2024, as well as a Community Health Assessment snapshot. We presented the findings from the checklist and some initial observations from the task force to the governing body and the Planning Board by email and at a Borough Council meeting on July 28, 2025. At that meeting, the Borough Council adopted R 207-2025, resolving to apply an HIAP approach to the municipality’s decision-making, establish a task force (the initial task force has been formed), and provide a report of the task force’s findings this fall. Below are some preliminary findings that were presented at the Council meeting: Feedback shows that multiple issues are actively being addressed, and some require long-term attention. Examples of current issues include: The health effects of gas leaf blowers in terms of excessive noise and dangerous particulate exposure. (Madison Borough is on the way to transitioning to EV equipment and vehicles.) The health effects on humans and wildlife of artificial lighting, particularly blue-spectrum LED lighting. (The Planning Board is currently reviewing the lighting ordinance on this specific subject, and the Environmental Commission is doing an educational outreach series about the negative effects of light pollution.) The need for the preservation of open space and protection of the aquifer. (This is a long-range consideration for Madison’s leadership.) Members of the Sustainable Madison Advisory Committee and the Health Officer for Madison were the leads on this action, and other town leaders, including the President of the Madison Board of Health, became involved as the project progressed.

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: In 2023 the Climate Action Committee developed a Climate Hub on Rosenet. The hub is designed to provide helpful information and links about climate action in Madison. Using the Climate Action Report as a framework, the hub reflects the five major categories from the report. Icons developed for those five categories are used on the climate hub and in other outreach materials, so that there is consistent branding across communications. Detailed hubs have been created to date for three of the five categories: EVs, solar and home energy. We plan to flesh out the other categories as programs and progress allow. The documentation below includes the content from the three hubs and examples of outreach regarding the hubs.

Innovative Community Project 2

10 Points

Program Summary: Time of Use Rate Pilot - Madison pays up to $3 million dollars a year in Peak Demand energy costs. And this cost is calculated based on our electric consumption on just the 5 hottest, peak consumption hours. If we find a way for residents to voluntarily curtail electric consumption on the few peak hours this summer, we can save the Borough up to $100,000 or more per year. This is the impetus behind introducing a time of use rate pilot, optional to residents, in 2025. It is innovative because Madison has its own electric utility, so a first for small utilities like us in New Jersey. Reaching this point took considerable time to figure out how to make changes to the billing system to accommodate time of use rates - peak, off peak and regular. The peak rate only applies for 20 hours per week -- 3-7 pm Monday-Friday. And off-peak rates are offered 88 hours per week -- 11 pm-7 pm weekdays and all day weekends and holidays. Regular rates apply 60 hours per week -- 7 am-3 pm and 7 pm-11 pm Mon-Fri. At first, the TOU offer was not going to be extended to solar customers, but Borough administration found a way. And solar customers who charge their cars in off-peak hours can really help the Borough manage peak energy costs, not only by not drawing energy from the grid during peak hours but by also sending excess energy back to the grid during the peak usage hours of 3-7 pm (on sunny days when solar generated exceeds home usage). This benefits, not only the Borough, but the EV owners, who reap the benefit of charging at a lower rate. People who sign up for the pilot must commit to staying on TOU for at least a year. The program was launched at the beginning of April 2025 with rates set per ordinance 4-2025 adopted on February 26, 2025. About 30 people have opted in as of mid-May. In addition to being presented at the April 14 Council meeting, TOU information has been added to the websites, announcements have been made on social media and posters and flyers were on hand at Green and Clean Day (both at the EV Expo and the Sustainable Madison table). The option to save money by charging EVs at off-peak rates has also been referenced in the EV section of the Climate Hub on the Borough website.

pdf Time of Use Web Pages, Signup Form, Ordinance
pdf TOU Media
pdf New Jersey Hills Article
pdf Sample Solar Export to Grid During Peak Hours

Innovative Community Project 3

10 Points

Program Summary: Madison had its most successful year of offering a bicycle helmet reward program for youth in 2023. The bicycle helmet reward program was started in 2014 by then Patrolman Lisa Esposito [in conjunction with the Madison School District & St. Vincent Martyr School] to encourage safe cycling practices among youngsters. At that time, the reward was a homework pass (see photo). Starting in 2021, the ice cream reward was introduced, a joint effort between the Police Department, a local towing company and a local ice cream store. Posts about this program as well as other posts about the safety practice of wearing a bicycle helmet (for cyclists of all ages) are routinely published on the Borough’s Facebook page in the warmer months. The helmet reward program had its highest reach in 2023, with 141 certificates recorded as handed out (versus 123 in 2022, and 57 in 2021). Note that the actual #s may be higher since some may not have been recorded. The program will be continued in 2024. Documentation includes Facebook posts, photos, memos of instruction to police department members and articles from local newspapers.

Land Use & Transportation

Sustainable Land Use Pledge

10 Points

Bronze Priority Silver Priority

Program Summary: On April 28, 2025, Madison's Borough Council reaffirmed commitment to the Sustainable Land Use Pledge by Adopting R 146-2025. This follows prior resolutions: R39-2023 (January 9, 2023), R138-2020 (May 11, 2020), R155-2016 (May 9, 2016) and R175-2010 (June 28, 2010). In this iteration we reference some of the initiatives Madison has taken in keeping with the pledge: WHEREAS, the Borough of Madison reviews and updates its parking plan periodically; and WHEREAS, the Borough of Madison is in the process of updating its Environmental Resource Inventory and is seeking to preserve 50+ acres of forest on the Drew University campus; and WHEREAS, the Borough of Madison has created overlay zones to accommodate more affordable housing opportunities; and WHEREAS, the Borough of Madison, with the aid of its Climate Action Committee, is in the process of analyzing municipal properties and creating plans for potential municipal solar installations and municipal building electrification; and WHEREAS, the Borough of Madison is supporting the building of 44 ZeroEnergy Ready Homes (ZERH) affordable housing units with solar on property formerly owned by the Borough [and transferred to a sustainable developer] and is in the process of updating a historic building on Main Street [including building electrification] to serve as a senior and community center... A copy of the new resolution is attached. The Borough Clerk distributed a copy of the resolution by email to the Zoning and Planning boards and the environmental commission (attached).

Bicycle & Pedestrian Audits

10 Points

Program Summary: Significant changes have been made to the Madison Borough pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure since the last audit was completed in 2020. The network of sidewalks in the Borough have been expanded by almost three miles, over 200 additional curb ramps were identified in this audit (774 in total), 62 percent with tactile, detectable warning surfaces. Seven additional Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacons (RRFB) were installed (now totaling 12), and 92 additional crosswalks were painted, with the 428 in the current inventory more visibly painted than before. We added a crossing guard post map to this audit (21 locations), as well as crash data summary. Updated American Community Survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau (2018-2022) revealed increases in walking to work across the town (9 percent, up from 7 percent). Though crashes that involve pedestrians remain a problem, we identified opportunities and constraints to existing infrastructure. The approval of the 2020 Master Plan with a Community Mobility provides key guidance for how to prioritize pedestrian and bicycle safety that will enhance the accessibility of our community. This audit is being shared with Borough Council, the Complete Streets Committee (including the Borough Engineer), and the Environmental Commission.

Bicycle and/or Pedestrian Improvement Projects

25 Points

Program Summary: In late 2022, Madison successfully completed installation of an ADA-compliant accessible trail at the Madison Recreation and Conservation Complex (MRCC). The trail provides access from ADA-compliant sidewalk at the MRCC entrance on Ridgedale Avenue to the parking lots, athletic fields, Community Garden and the meadow, forest and trails at the conservation area. This trail was envisioned in many planning documents as far back as 2013. Funding included a Trail Construction grant from Morris County and appropriations from the town's Open Space Trust. The decision to make this trail an ADA-compliant accessible trail aligns with the Mobility Element of the 2020 Master Plan. Before installation of the trail, pedestrians, the wheelchair-bound, people with strollers and dogs, and cyclists had to access the complex using the vehicular entrance road. The trail is also well situated to serve two neighboring communities - the Cheshire Home (a rehabilitation center for patients with spinal cord injuries) and Brighton Gardens assisted living. The ribbon cutting for this trail took place on June 3, 2023, National Trails Day. Documentation includes a town press release, newspaper articles and photos, as well as maps showing the evolution of plans for the trail as far back as 2013.

pdf Trail Plans
pdf Media
pdf Maps Photos Resolutions
pdf Project Submission Worksheet-Madison ADA Trail

Bicycle and/or Pedestrian Plan

10 Points

Program Summary: On December 15, 2020, the Madison Borough Planning Board adopted updated elements of its Master Plan, including a Community Mobility Element. The Executive Summary includes a statement of adoption on page ii (https://www.rosenet.org/DocumentCenter/View/10899/0_Cover_ExecutiveSummary) and outlines general vision, guiding principles and goals for the Master Plan (pages 2+), including "Maintain and enhance a transportation system that is safe, sustainable, and accessible for people of all ages and abilities to walk, bicycle, drive, take transit, or use other shared mobility services." The summary for the Community Mobility Element outlines the objectives for this element, including "Enhance connectivity by expanding pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure" and "Expand and modernize bicycle parking in and around the downtown." Strategies for a Pedestrian and Bicyclist Network are listed on page 12, where it is noted that "47% of survey respondents ride a bicycle in and around Madison." The Community Mobility Element itself (https://www.rosenet.org/DocumentCenter/View/10903/4_CommunityMobilityElement) includes Goals and Objectives specfic to this element, provides an overview of existing conditions and identifies issues and opportunities, as well as fleshing out the strategies enumerated in the Executive Summary. In addition, the Land Use Plan element includes this strategy: "Add convenient, secure, well-lit bicycle parking to encourage bicycling as an alternative to driving." In addition to providing links to these documents herein, pdfs are attached below as well as a copy of the presentation to the Planning Board at the December 15, 2020 public hearing (see pages 20-23 for the slides on the Community Mobility Element) and the minutes of the 12/15/2020 public hearing at which the Planning Board voted to approve and adopt the Borough of Madison Master Plan presented at the hearing and the resolution memorializing the adoption.

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.

pdf Parking Narrative
pdf Parking Presentations and Reports 2018-2019
pdf Parking Report 2018 Supporting Documentation
pdf PR and Outreach
pdf Ordinances and Supporting Documents

Enhanced Stormwater Management Control Ordinance

20 Points

Program Summary: On March 11, 2024, Borough Council passed Ordinance 9-2024, updating the Stormwater section of the Land Use chapter to meet the new state requirements, as well as to include enhancements suggested by The Watershed Institute and enhancements specific to Madison. After the 2021 update, discussions between the Planning Board, Borough Engineer (who is the SW Coordinator), the Environmental Commission and Sustainable Madison Advisory Committee resulted in the changes adopted in Ordinance 9-2024. Although the updated language has not yet been incorporated into the code narrative, the ordinance is referenced under the New Laws section (https://ecode360.com/11752273#11752273) of Chapter 195, Land Use, where the stormwater regulations are published, and its provisions are in force. A certified copy of Ordinance 9-2024, ORDINANCE OF THE BOROUGH OF MADISON AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING CHAPTER 195 OF THE BOROUGH CODE ENTITLED “LAND DEVELOPMENT” REGARDING STORMWATER MANAGEMENT is included in the documentation below.

pdf Ord. 9-2024 Certified Copy
pdf ESWMCO Worksheet - Madison

Green Infrastructure Planning

20 Points

Program Summary: In 2023, Madison was awarded a PSE&G $20,000 grant for Green Infrastructure Planning & Implementation. We contracted with the Rutgers Water Resources Program to complete an assessment of townwide IC and of IC and GI potential on municipally owned properties (see action plan); an action plan; and a strategic plan. IC assessments in these documents replace the one submitted to SJ in 2020. Community engagement included a project team, which was invited to the kickoff of the field assessments by the Rutgers team and to select subsequent assessments. Present at the kickoff, which visited several sites, were the Borough Engineer, the DPW department head, representatives from the environmental commission and the Sustainable Madison Advisory Committee and other interested parties. Subsequent engagement included a presentation to Borough Council by Dr. Chris Obropta, the project lead from Rutgers, which was delivered in February 2024, after completion of the action plan; a workshop held at the Public Safety Building on 2/17/2024 to which all project team members and members of the Planning and Zoning Boards, the EC, SMAC and other interested parties were invited (the workshop was well attended despite a light snowfall); tabling at community events such as Bottle Hill Day in Oct 2023 and Green and Clean Day in April 2024. Project team members were also encouraged to attend public green infrastructure training sessions from Rutgers on Zoom; Madison now has four GI champions, who attended the courses. We look forward to the installation of a demonstration rain garden project at the Madison Public Library later this year, which will involve participation by Rutgers and Madison's DPW. Rutgers is currently finalizing the engineering and design plans for this project. This link includes a brief description of the project and links to the action plan, strategic plan and presentation to Council: http://water.rutgers.edu/Projects/Madison/Madison.html An interim grant report, which includes information on community engagement and media coverage, is included below.

word Interim Grant Report and Media Coverage

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.

pdf Gibbons Pines Park Rain Garden
image Borough of Madison Rain Gardens Web Page
pdf MRC Rain Gardens

Heat Island Assessment & Mitigation Plan

10 Points

Program Summary: The most recent Land Use Plan Element of Madison's Master Plan from 2020 addresses urban heat as follows: “The sustainable, efficient use of land, and preservation of natural resources that smart growth entail are especially important when planning for a world impacted by climate change. The impact of climate change in New Jersey will entail hotter days and more severe and frequent storms. This means that the State, County, and Borough need to be able to plan to keep people cool and to prevent flooding and storm damage to critical infrastructure.” Additionally, this updated heat island assessment builds on the existing Land Use Element goals and the previously complete Heat Island Assessment from 2019, which urge administrators and decision makers to “[e]nhance Madison’s resiliency to potentially catastrophic events including pandemics, extreme weather and climate, and critical infrastructure interruptions.” 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 of electricity during these days will reduce prices overall for the Borough and all residents. One way that the Borough is seeking to increase energy conservation is through the introduction of a Time of Use pilot for electric pricing. Residents are now able to choose to opt-in to lower electric rates during non-peak hours, while potentially paying higher prices during peak hours. Time of Use pricing has been demonstrated to effectively promote energy conservation. Six years ago, an examination of the heat islands in Madison Borough was conducted. Using LandSat satellite imagery to detect land surface temperatures, we focused on the Central Business District, Giralda Farms, and Madison High School. Over time, we have seen some changes in the heat signature for Madison, but downtown (Madison Borough center) and the high school remain a concern. For this updated assessment, we identified four different hotspots based on the highest land surface temperatures, as seen in Figure 2. Downtown Madison remains the largest hotspot, encompassing many of the busiest pedestrian streets and the parking lots behind them. The second hotspot is the building and parking lot of 175 Park Ave, Madison, located near the northern border of town. The third hotspot is a large shopping center and a car dealership along Main Street, which contains several large parking lots between the two of them. The fourth hotspot is Madison High School and its fields, many of which use artificial turf in place of grass. On a hot summer day, Madison Borough hotspots are on average 7-13 degrees hotter than average land surface temperatures in the town. Most of the hotspots are notable for their impervious cover: roads, parking lots, buildings, and in some cases, artificial turf. Social vulnerability in these spots are representative of the town averages. However, all locations have significantly below the town wide average for tree canopy cover: 27-38 percentage points lower. Planting additional trees in all of these locations could help mitigate the effects of heat islands, and contribute to cooler temperatures for nearby communities. Additionally, because of the density of impervious cover in hotspots, tree planting and green infrastructure projects in these areas can also facilitate not only cooling, but also improved stormwater management. We are pleased that the Madison School District has applied for the Trees for Schools grant program, while submitting information on our heat island assessment as part of the grant application. As a heat island that affects youth in our town, prioritizing tree plantings here can contribute to cooler temperatures for students inside the high school and on its nearby playing fields.

Historic Preservation Element Retired 12/31/22

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.

pdf Madison Cultural Resources
pdf Historic Preservation Overview
pdf Executive Summary
pdf Historic Preservation Element
pdf Planning Board Special Meeting Minutes 2020 12 15
pdf Master Plan Appendix

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.

word Madison Borough_TOD_submission_form
pdf Madison Borough - Land Use Element
pdf Ordinance 26-2020
pdf Community Place Redevelopment Plan

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: The primary Buy Local vehicles for Madison are its bi-monthly Madison Marketplace newsletter, Experience Life magazine (both print and digital), Instagram and Facebook. They are branded with the I Love Madison tagline and the Madison-Shop-Dine-Play-Love logo or the Experience Madison logo. Events sponsored or co-sponsored by the Downtown Development Commission (DDC), often in concert with or in support of the Chamber of Commerce, are supported by outreach through these vehicles and major events are also publicized on the Borough website. The DDC serves as the Steering Committee for any buy local campaigns. The twice-monthly e-newsletter, Madison Marketplace, encourages the nearly 7,000 recipients to shop local at the businesses that advertise in the newsletter at no cost. The Experience Life magazine (4th edition Fall/Winter 2024) includes a Business and Dining Directory and Event Calendar. See documentation. A major Buy Local campaign is the “There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays in Madison” launched in 2016. In 2022 local businesses report a record holiday season. It continued in 2023 and 2024 with branded lamppost banners and yard signs as well as coverage on the website, Facebook and Instagrram. A highly successful event every year is the Taste of Madison, sponsored by the DDC, Chamber of Commerce, Rotary and local businesses such as Gary's Wine & Marketplace. See Taste of Madison and social media pdfs. As stated above, social media is used extensively to promote Borough-sponsored initiatives and events and local businesses, and to encourage people to shop local: Facebook (with 6,700+ followers) and Instagram (6,500+ followers) @ILoveMadisonNJ. 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 several local annual local events and initiatives, some of which can be found on the DDC page of the Borough website: https://www.rosenet.org/371/Downtown-Development-Commission. See pdf of select pages.

Support Local Businesses

10 Points

Program Summary: The Downtown Development Commission (DDC), created in 1981 by Ordinance No. 35-81, studies and advises on the economic growth and development of the downtown district, and supports and promotes programs that help sustain a thriving business community. The DDC has four standing committees: arts and events, marketing and economic development, public improvement, and signs and facades (see website pdf). The Borough funds the DDC annually for a full-time director, initiatives and programs. The DDC works closely with the Madison Area Chamber of Commerce (COC). A CoC representative sits on the DDC and a DDC commissioner and a Borough Council member sit on the COC BOD. The DDC actively supports Madison businesses by sponsoring events that draw people into town such as Bottle Hill Day; Taste of Madison, a fundraiser where food from local restaurants is sampled by hundreds of attendees; Green & Clean Day and EV Expo; Farm & Artisan Market (held Saturdays late-May to mid-December); and Summerfest (coming in 2025). A Home for the Holidays campaign, which promotes shopping locally during the holidays, is a joint effort between the Office of Business Development, the DDC, and the COC. See uploaded Web pages pdf. The Borough publishes a Madison Marketplace e-newsletter (see also Buy Local Campaign), has an active Instagram and Facebook presence and publishes an Experience Madison magazine; Fall/Winter 2024 (https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/68776214/experiencemadison-fallwinter2024-digitalissue ) is the fourth edition and another one is currently in preparation. A print edition is available at Borough Hall, the arts center, and some businesses. The magazine includes a business and dining directory and event calendar. The Borough also lists on its website Madison businesses that source from local NJ farms (https://www.rosenet.org/380/Madison-Farm-Artisan-Market). We are one of four Destination Electric towns in NJ, an initiative encouraging EV owners to shop and dine here at participating establishments (https://dep.nj.gov/drivegreen/destination-electric/ and https://driveelectricus.com/news/green-city-guide-madison/ ) The Borough welcomes new businesses with resources on the website and often with a ribbon-cutting attended by the mayor and Council members.

pdf Press Samples
pdf Experience Madison Fall/Winter 2024
pdf Madison Marketplace E-News
pdf Social Media and Signage
pdf Downtown Development Commission and Main Street Business Development
pdf QA & Home for Holidays

Natural Resources

Environmental Commission

10 Points

Program Summary: In January 2023, at the request of Madison Environmental Commission (MEC) Chair Claire Whitcomb, the town passed ordinance 10-2023 amending the Borough Code to allow for associate members on the MEC, to fill a need for broader participation. See included documentation. During the year, MEC worked to promote climate action on various topics. See the included Report to Mayor for more details. A summary: Town-Wide Yard Sale, May and October Multi-town/GSWA Pollinator Plant Sale—April Seed Swap, Feb 18, Methodist Church EV Expo, April 19 Home Energy Fair, April 20 Native Plant Sale, April 29 at Madison Clean & Green House & Garden Tour, Sept 10, Seed and pollinator plant giveaways of 200 packets of native plant seeds at Bottle Hill Day. Milkweed and pollinator seedlings giveaways at the Farmer’s Market in July and September. Museum of Early Trades & Crafts Family Day. July 15 Native plant outreach Water Conservation Talks: * March 4, Parsippany Green Fair * June 8, Zoning Board of Adjustment * April 29, Town Council * June 15 Rotary Save the Drew Forest support at multiple county-wide events Site plan reviews Climate Action Committee/Climate Hub Participation: Kirsten Wallenstein Anti-Idling Committee: Bridget Daley Sustainable Madison Advisory Committee Liaison: Deanna Schmidt Leaf Blowing Campaign – Multi-Town Discussions Members of the MEC were also involved in discussions with other committees, boards, Borough staff and elected officials, providing an environmental lens on various town projects and initiatives.

Environmental Commission Site Plan Review

10 Points

Program Summary: In 2023, the Environmental Commission reviewed six Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment applications. In our comments, we educated and recommended that applicants include strong stormwater systems, solar panel readiness, building electrification (heat pumps for heating and cooling), native plant habitat and reduced impervious paving and lawn areas. Thanks to the strong vision of new Master Plan and Madison’s Climate Action Goals, our recommendations are being taken far more seriously than in previous years. This work is accomplished with SMAC’s chair, Kathleen Caccavale and the MEC’s Deanna Schmidt, an engineer specializing in sustainability. 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, in reaction to COVID, Zoning Board meetings became 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 2020 Master Plan and the state Energy Master Plan, which push toward green development, the Planning Board updated the former 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 was submitted under the Green Development Checklist action. A copy of the current Environmental Checklist and a recently filled out checklist are submitted, along with a spreadsheet listing all site plan reviews for 2023 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: A Borough water conservation initiative to raise water rates for the highest users was made effective as of January 1, 2025. This had been communicated to Borough residents through a presentation at a November Borough Council meeting. As stated in the presentation "Adding higher rate for consumption over 10,000 would generate an additional $75-85k in revenue if usage continues at the same level. But our goal is not to increase revenue, it’s to reduce the consumption of water and strain on our system." See documentation. In addition, the Borough and the Madison Environmental Commission continue to remind and inform residents about the importance of water conservation since we are 100% dependent on the groundwater sourced from the Buried Valley Aquifer. The suffers from depletion due to increased usage and loss of groundwater recharge sites to increasing impervious cover. These reminders include social media posts in the Borough's communications channel and in the MEC's e-mail newsletters. A water conservation poster is included at tabling events such as Bottle Hill Day in October each year and the Repair cafe held April 12, 2025. In 2024, the MEC provided educational outreach on water conservation through a talk to the Garden Club of Madison.

pdf Water Rates Presentation
pdf MEC Garden Club Talk
pdf General Water Conservation Social Media and Pubs
pdf Water Rates Worksheet
pdf Water Poster
pdf Water Talk Worksheet

Winter Best Practices to Reduce Road Salt Impacts

5 Points

Program Summary: Participation in New Jersey Salt Watch Study: This winter the Madison Borough Green Team (Sustainable Madison), the Green Team at Madison High School, and volunteer students from Drew University collaborated in sampling surface water streams and water bodies within the Borough. Using chloride testing strips from the Watershed Institute, we sampled freshwater sources from February through April 2025. Overall, we took 13 samples at six locations, which ranged in chloride content from a low of 0 mg/L to a maximum of 750 mg/L, which was found at three locations - Black Brook, Spring Garden Brook (Main St.), and Spring Garden Brook in Memorial Park. We shared the results of our work through a QR code to an online map, and a large bookmark infographic that we distributed at the Madison Green and Clean event (our green fair).

Easement Inventory & Outreach

10 Points

Program Summary: The last Conservation Easement Inventory and Outreach Action was completed for Sustainable Jersey by the Borough of Madison over ten years ago in 2013. Since that time, the engineering department completed and updated conservation easement maps. Sustainable Madison conducted research via the Morris County Clerk's web site and database. Only two additional conservation and historic preservation easements were added to the updated inventory, identifying a total 16 sites. These are reflected in the inventory spreadsheet, a recently created GIS web map, and an updated easement map. Most of the original members of the founding conservation easement team are still actively working with the town, making the update and buy-in easier. The brochure was updated and recently shared at an Arbor Day event called Madison Green and Clean.

pdf Conservation Easement Brochure
pdf Easement Inventory Worksheet
pdf Madison Easement Inventory Spreadsheet
image Conservation Easement Inventory Map

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.

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 -2023 Approved Accreditation Report (Annual)-Accredited for 2023

Tree Hazard Inventory

10 Points

Program Summary: Madison's tree inventory is maintained regularly as work needs are identified and completed. A retained arborist and his team, DPW, Shade Tree Board Members, and residents can all request evaluation of street and public trees. At a minimum the Board will survey following major storms (such as August 2024) and will complete windshield surveys of the whole community at least once a year. Any hazards noted are followed up by Arborist evaluation. Documents attached include select ArborPro data, maps indicating work areas, annual service requests for 2024, and costs for 2024 tree maintenance.

excel 2024-2025 arbor pro data
pdf Tree Work Activity 2024.pdf
pdf Arborist Assessments Spp.pdf
pdf Arborist Assessments Status.pdf
excel 2022-2024 budget and Arborist report.xlsx
word LIST #17-2024.docx

Tree Maintenance Programs

10 Points

Program Summary: The Shade Tree Management Board had budgets of $207,071 in 2023 and $216,482.50 in 2024. Budget increases reflect the higher cost of purchased street trees and the continuing, though declining, cost of ash tree removals. Volunteer time keeps costs down significantly. Each year one or two routine surveys of street trees is conducted by teams of two in each quadrant of the borough. Teams evaluate the need for, pruning, trimming, stump removal, tree removal and tree planting. Problems of significance are referred to the Arborist for evaluation and recommendation. In addition, surveys are conducted after significant weather events such as major storms or high winds. Problems are reported to DPW and the Arborist. Tree maintenance and planting are completed by DPW and/ or a local contractor determined by bid annually. The Shade Tree Management Board meets monthly at 8:15 AM on a Thursday. One meeting for each of the past two years was moved to the evening to make it more accessible to some members of the public. It made no difference in public involvement at the meeting. Meetings are attended by liaisons from Friends of Madison Shade Tree, Madison Environmental Commission, Open Space, Borough Council, DPW, Madison Arborist, and Sustainable Madison. Changes to the Shade Tree Ordinance were considered but will carry on into 2025. Arborist Annual Report details 2023 163 permits, 337 approved removals, $9,275 in fees, 230 required replacement trees, 164 recommended replacements 2024 179 permits, 398 approved removals, $7,725 in fees, 258 required replacement trees, 88 recommended replacements.

pdf 2024 annual report.pdf
pdf STMB 2023 Annual.pdf
word STMB 2023 annual report supplement.docx

Tree Planting New 2026

10 Points

Program Summary: Shade Tree budget was $202,200 in 2023, a $12,000 increase over 2022. Much of the budget increase was used for dead/dying ash tree removal if they were a danger to public paths. Planted 176 trees on streets and in parks. Fifty of those were bought and planted by Madison Rotary. Rotary plans fifty more in 2024. We continued to replace failing pear trees on Main St. The Landmark Tree brochure was updated with four additional trees and one lost. Our tree canopy coverage was updated to reflect most recent (2021) data available.

pdf 2023 Canopy survey.pdf
pdf Landmark tree brochure 2023.pdf
word Madison Main St. Pear Replacement Program
excel 2023 spring and fall locations and species.xlsx

Operations & Maintenance

Green Purchasing Policy

5 Points

Program Summary: Members of the Sustainable Madison Advisory Committee worked with the Borough of Madison's Purchasing Agent, and through him, other Borough staff including the IT director, to update Madison's Green Purchasing Policy. This updated policy was adopted by resolution by Madison's Borough Council on January 27, 2025. A copy of the signed resolution is attached. The resolution is posted on the municipal website under https://www.rosenet.org/912/Borough-Resolutions. Also attached is a copy of a memo from the CFO/Asst Borough Administrator to the Borough Department Heads with a copy of the updated policy and a reminder wherever practicable to work with the Purchasing Dept to follow the guidelines. Also noted in the email chain is that the purchasing policy was discussed with Department Heads at their weekly meeting. The Borough's Purchasing Agent has set up a tracking system so that purchases of green products can be identified. He continues to expand categories as to what is tracked. In terms of implementation, attached is a workbook with spreadsheets on Green Maintenance Equipment and Materials purchased in 2024, and also Recycled Paper purchases in 2024.

Green Cleaning Products & Motorized Cleaning Equipment

10 Points

Program Summary: We are applying for 10 points under this action item for green cleaning product purchases. For 2023 the Borough did not purchase motorized cleaning equipment. As part of the implementation of the Borough of Madison’s Green Purchasing Policy, and recognition that green cleaning products offer effective performance while minimizing health, environmental and worker safety effects, the head of our Borough purchasing department has focused efforts on green purchasing. To support efforts around green cleaning products in particular, our purchasing agent has started to track cleaning supply purchases separately. As shown on the attached worksheet in 2023, 30% of the Borough’s total costs for cleaning supply purchases were “green”. The worksheet identifies the products, the green specifications, the quantities and the dollar amounts. Future purchasing will include a closer look at green cleaning products.

excel Copy Green Cleaning Product Purchases - 2023 - Madison.xlsx

Green Maintenance Equipment & Materials

10 Points

Program Summary: As part of the implementation of the Borough of Madison's green purchasing policy, Madison's Purchasing Agent tracks a number of routine green purchases. Docmentation includes a copy of a spreadsheet listing many office supply purchased during 2024, including a column with the green specifications, and three pdf files containing the related POs.

pdf 2024 POS 1
excel Madison Green Maint Equip + Mats Purchases 2024
pdf 2024 POs 2
pdf 2024 POs 3

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.

pdf Submission Madison Recycled Copy Paper Tracking Sheet 2022

Green Grounds & Maintenance Policy

10 Points

Program Summary: The Borough of Madison decided to use this opportunity of an expired action, to do a re-fresh of its Green Grounds and Maintenance Policy. Therefore we are following the guidelines for a new submission. Madison’s new Green Grounds and Maintenance Policy was prepared with input and involvement from the Madison Environmental Commission, Sustainable Madison Advisory Committee, Shade Tree Management Board and the Department of Public Works. It addresses efficient landscape design, minimization of water consumption, integrated pest management (avoidance of pesticides, fertilizers and synthetic chemicals), and composting/recycled materials. R147-2025, Resolution of the Borough of Madison Supporting the Adoption of an Environmentally Beneficial Grounds and Maintenance Policy was adopted by Borough Council on April 28, 2025. A copy of the signed/certified resolution is attached. It is posted on the Borough website under www.rosenet.org/912/Borough-Resolutions. Also attached is a copy of an email sent to all Borough department heads by the Assistant Borough Administrator for distribution and posting of the policy in their departments. Examples of current implementation of the policy by the DPW on municipal properties include: - Mulches grass and leaves with one electric lawn mover and two conventional mowers with mulching decks - All grass is cut and left, clippings are not bagged - Leaves are left at edges of wooded areas to minimize leaf blowing and removal - No routine use of pesticide or herbicides - Two small electric blowers are used for clearing sidewalks of grass clippings in summer (and Madison is looking to acquire more powerful electric blowers to use for more challenging locations such as wet leaves) - Lawn irrigation at Borough Hall follows best water conservation practices; the municipal lawns are not irrigated - Dead wood is left in natural areas - Wood mulch is created from municipal tree trimming; no virgin wood is used. That mulch is used on municipal park pathways/trails - Per the Borough of Madison Ordinance 13-2024 (copy attached) that was adopted in 2024 to promote native planting on municipal properties, the DPW uses native plants on Borough properties with some exclusions (roses) and exemptions (some properties maintained by a volunteer rather than the Borough). The Ordinance applies to new and replacement plantings. Finally, our recycled materials and composting action was approved last year and thus still is current.

Recycled Materials & Composting

10 Points

Program Summary: As part of its Green Grounds + Maintenance Policy, the Borough of Madison remains committed to recycling waste as well as minimizing waste in its operations. Pruned branches and branches/fallen trees from brush pile clean-up (eg, after storms) are chipped. Christmas trees left at the curb are collected and chipped. Wood chips are used on municipal park pathways around town, which saves purchases for path maintenance. Due to the emerald ash borer, a number of trees in the Borough's parks and along streets had to be removed. Attached are photos of the chip pile and logs at the DPW from these trees, as well as photos of the wood chips on paths/trails around the Borough. Chips also are processed into mulch which is used on Borough properties throughout the year, including at municipal rain garden locations and during the annual “Green and Clean” Day, a townwide beautification and eco-friendly initiatives promotion/ education day – which again saves purchases. Mulch from the DPW also is available to Madison residents for use on their properties. Any excess tree parts/branches/brush beyond what can be used by the Borough are sent to Northeast Products for mulching, which keeps these materials out of the waste stream. The Borough has very little grass for recycling because of its “Cut It, Leave It” policy. It is mostly only grass from the playing fields that is sent to Northeast Products for recycling. Leaves from municipal properties are collected, sent to Northeast Products and are processed into mulch or composted. Regarding reuse of goods, the DPW stores and reuses old benches that were replaced on Main St, to meet requests for benches in parks and recreation areas. Attached is a photo of some of the former Main St. benches at the DPW waiting to be reused. The DPW refurbishes the old benches and installs them in new locations. In 2023, three benches were placed at the Borough's Ice rink/sports field at Memorial Field, a municipal recreational complex. Reuse keeps them out of the municipal waste stream, and also saves the Borough the cost of purchasing new benches. Documentation includes a map of Memorial Park, showing the location of the rink and photos of the three benches.

Public Information & Engagement

Municipal Communications Strategy

10 Points

Program Summary: An inventory takes place yearly by the Communication Director (Formerly 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), updating and broadening media contact lists, and utilizing the county’s AlertMorris (AlertMadison) emergency notification system. Communication is ever-changing, and as communication outlets change, Madison looks into the best possible way to communicate with our residents. Our Communication Director (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.

pdf Municipal Comm Strategy_5.24

Improve Public Engagement in Municipal Government

10 Points

Program Summary: The checklist and required supplementary documentation have been uploaded. Participation has increased and fewer meetings are canceled as we have utilized 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 Director (PIO), has 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 before 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 Director (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. See checklist attached.

pdf Digitizing Public Information Checklist_5.24

Sustainability & Climate Planning

Municipal Carbon Footprint

10 Points

Bronze Priority Silver Priority

Program Summary: The Municipal Carbon Footprint Calculator for the year 2023 was completed (supplied as a supporting doc) and totals 2195.7 equivalent metric tons of CO2. This is down substantially from 2315.6 tons in 2022. Year-to-year comparisons using the 2022 factor set are supplied on the last tab of the workbook. There is an overall decrease from 2734 tons (2018) and 2801 tons (2019) to 2195.7 tons in 2023. To convert the electric data to emissions, we used the 2022 factor since no 2023 factor was available. The reduction from the 2022 footprint are due to (a) the very warm winter in 2023-2024 reducing consumption of natural gas, and (b) electric and hybrid vehicles reducing fleet emissions. The 2022 footprint included the Madison Civic Center, but that was closed for demolition in late 2022. The 2023 footprint adds: (a) the old Masonic Temple just purchased by the town to be re-built as a Senior Center, and (b) the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts, which is a municipal building, but is used by a private foundation. Compared to the Civic Center, the two newly added buildings add consumption of about 8000 kWh of electricity and 400 therms of natural gas. If these changes to the building portfolio had not occurred, the reduction in the footprint would have been larger. The wastewater treatment data accounts for (a) the energy consumed in sewage treatment and (b) the methane captured 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. We also submit as a supporting document the Madison-specific instruction for completing the Municipal Carbon Footprint.

Community Energy Plan or Climate Action Plan

10 Points

Bronze Priority Silver Priority

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.

pdf Community Asset Mapping Report - Borough of Madison -2023

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. The Madison Police Department reports that as of March 2025 the total weight disposed of through the permanent "MedReturn" box since its installation in June 2013 at the Public Safety Complex is 6,269 pounds. In 2024 we collected 374 pounds and in 2023, 487 pounds. The Madison Police Department prescription drug disposal drop box was provided by the Morris County Prevention is Key Program. Donations to the drop box are anonymous. When the box is full, a designated municipal police officer and a Sheriff’s Officer collect the medications from the locked box that is kept in the lobbies of the Public Safety Complex. The collected medications are taken to the Sheriff's Office Evidence Unit and logged and stored until destruction (https://www.morriscountynj.gov/Departments/Sheriff/Community-Programs/Prescription-Drug-Drop-Box-Program). The disposal box is listed on borough, county, state and national websites. Notification to residents is made through posts on the Borough's social media; notices at the Police Department disposal location; through the Madison Pharmacy, the Police Department’s Med Return page (https://www.rosenet.org/653/Medication-Return); the Morris County Sheriff's Office Prescription Drug Box Program (https://www.morriscountynj.gov/Departments/Sheriff/Community-Programs/Prescription-Drug-Drop-Box-Program), the NJ Dept of Consumer Affairs' Project Medicine Drop (https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/meddrop/Pages/Locations.aspx#Morris), the American Medicine Chest website (https://www.americanmedicinechest.com/ and https://www.americanmedicinechest.com/locations/?p=locations&find_state=New+Jersey&find_county=0&find_miles=5&find_zipcode=07940&submit=Go#search-results), and the DEA National Takeback Day site (there are two official takeback days per year, the first one in 2025 being April 26 - https://www.dea.gov/takebackday?src=deatakeback.com) 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.

pdf PDP Media and Drop Boxes

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 2025 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 at the Madison Green and Clean (in April 2025), 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: The Madison Rotary’s Shred It Day directly aligns with Sustainable Madison’s mission to provide environmentally friendly solutions for its residents. This established program has educated the community on the importance of responsible disposal, reinforcing Madison’s status as a leader in sustainability. The shedding event this year was held on Saturday, May 31, 2025, from 9 am to Noon. Despite starting with a bit of rain, a steady stream of cars made their way to the downtown municipal lot. This year's Shred It Day marked a historic achievement for the Madison Rotary, successfully processing over 5½ tons of paper and raising $2,500 for local charitable efforts.

Food Waste

10 Points

Program Summary: The Madison Environmental Commission continues to actively promote backyard composting and reducing food waste in their newsletters (see attached "MECNewsletter-2023.jpg"). Javacompost is the service used for curbside food waste pickup in Madison and has been featured and participated in multiple town events, Bottle Hill Day on October 21st, 2023, and Taste of Madison April 24th, 2023. Others were scheduled but due to rain the events had to be canceled. Please see the uploaded “MadisonFoodWaste.docx” for more info. In March of 2020, JavaCompost began curbside food waste pickup, and in the fall of 2021 a compost drop off site was added to the Madison Recycling Center. Currently the drop off site is located in a more accessible location at Kings Road parking lot as Chatham is now a partner in the drop off service. As of this submission, 65 households participate in the curbside pickup service, and 16 households use the drop off site at the Kings Road lot. To date, Java’s Compost has diverted 84,850 lbs. of food waste (42.4 tons) from the landfill. Please see the uploaded food diversion report. Every year, Madison High School holds a “Day of Service” for graduating seniors. This year, the Day of Service will be on May 24th 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 “MadisonFoodWaste.docx” for more info.

word MadisonFoodWaste.docx
pdf TasteOfMadison_2023 (1).pdf
pdf Madison- 2023 Diversion Report (1) (1).pdf
image MECNewsletter_2023 (1).jpg

Non-Mandated Materials Recycling

25 Points

Program Summary: The Borough of Madison has a robust recycling program which incorporates non-mandated materials. We are submitting this action for the following: Plastic containers #3-7 (10 points): Madison continues to recycle Plastics #5, which are collected curbside along with the mandated #1 and #2 plastics. Plastics on the attached 2024 tonnage report shows the total for #1, 2 and 5, as these are not separated out. In addition, the Borough accepts Styrofoam (#6 EPS expanded polystyrene) for recycling at the Recycling Depot (see attachment). The DPW estimates that in 2024, approximately 1.5 tons of Styrofoam were recycled. Textiles (5 points): Madison continues to offer an active textile recycling program (clothing, shoes, handbags, household linens) through Green Tree Textiles. The program was initiated in 2021 through a resolution authorizing placement of a Green Tree bin at the Borough Recycling Center/DPW (attached), and this resolution continues to be effective. Per the attached 2024 report from Green Tree, 11,495 lbs were collected, almost all (99%) of which is reused or recycled. The program is promoted on the Borough website. See attached for textile recycling materials. Cartons (5 points): Madison’s recycling program continues to include paper cartons. Milk and beverage cartons can be placed at the curb for pick-up for recycling along with paper, cardboard and junk mail. Carton recycling is promoted on the Borough website (see attached excerpt from website) and in the Recycle Coach app. Carton volume is included in the tonnage report under “Other Paper/Mag/Junk Mail”. Christmas Trees (5 points): Each year, the Borough encourages residents to recycle their Christmas trees by either leaving their trees at the curb on garbage collection day for the DPW to collect them for recycling (post Christmas through the end of January), or by bringing their Christmas trees to the Borough recycling center on specific days. Trees are not collected by the trash hauler. Christmas tree recycling is promoted on the Borough website and through local publications (see attached copy of material from website and article from Tap Into), as well as through social media. The number of trees collected is not tracked. The trees are chipped for mulch that is used by the Borough. Note that Madison residents can find answers to their questions about recycling in the Borough through Recycle Coach, available both on the Borough website (https://www.rosenet.org/1078/Recycle-Coach) and through the app.

word Madison Textile Recycling - Website
word Madison Christmas Tree Recycling
pdf Madison 2024 Tonnage Report
word Madison Carton Recycling - Website
word Madison Styrofoam Recycling
pdf Green Tree Report 2024 - Madison

Recycling Depot

10 Points

Program Summary: Madison’s Borough Recycling Center is located on Station Rd, near the Dept of Public Works. Residents and businesses can drop off (at no charge) recycling, electronics, textiles and styrofoam, on Tuesdays and Fridays, 8am to noon, and on Saturdays 8am to 2:30pm. The Borough provides detailed information to residents and businesses on its recycling program on the Borough website: www.rosenet.org/377/Recycling. In addition, Madison sends a Recycling Newsletter annually to all postal customers which includes location and hours of operation for the Recycling Center (copies attached). Residents also are informed through Instagram posts. Recently, the Borough added a new position to staff – a recycling monitor at the Depot during hours of operation. Attached is a 2024 Madison recycling tonnage report. Some specific recycling items include: Since 2021, the Borough has had a textiles collection bin from Green Tree textiles to recycle clothing, shoes, handbags and textiles. Per the attached report from Green Tree, in 2024 11,495 lbs were collected, almost all (99%) of which is reused or recycled. The amount (in tons) also is included in the Madison tonnage report. The DPW estimates that 1.5 tons of Styrofoam were recycled in 2024. Food waste is recycled using Java’s Compost. The collection site was moved from the Recycling Center to a public parking lot to make it available all the time, rather than just when the recycling center is open. In 2024, 17.5 tons of food waste was diverted from the landfill, an increase from the 2022 amount. See attached Java’s report and Madison tonnage report. Madison residents can pay $25 to have old household appliances picked up and brought to the recycling center. Per the attached tonnage report, in 2024, 17.75 tons of consumer electronics were sent to Erevival. Residents can have their Christmas trees picked up by the DPW, or they can bring their trees to the Recycling Center where they are chipped and used on Borough property. See attached article and photos. Unpainted pumpkins can also be brought to the recycling center.

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 created a new handout --Grasscycling - Cut It and Leave It - in February 2023 with updated information, based on input from members of the Madison Environmental Commission [MEC, 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 current handout 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 handout, residents are encouraged to share it with their lawn service and ask them to leave grass clippings on lawns. Cut It and Leave It is also mentioned in an Organic Lawn Care handout also developed by the MEC. The handout can be accessed from the MEC page on Rosenet, the Borough's website, and on the greenmadisonnj.org website under Sustainable Living/Sustainable Yards. Also available on the Sustainable Madison website is "ABC's of Organic Lawn Care" (copy attached) which include Cut It and Leave It. In terms of distribution, the handout was made available at Bottle Hill Day in October 2024, Green and Clean in April 2025, at the Environmental Commission table at Repair Cafes held In June and November 2024 and April 2025. The handout is also available in the literature rack in the Clerk's office at Borough Hall. The handout and the cut it and leave it concept have aslo been mentioned in social media. See documentation.

Materials Reuse Program

10 Points

Program Summary: The Borough of Madison continues to support materials reuse through several initiatives, including in-person events and leveraging social media. Madison continues its participation the Town-Wide Yard Sale along with The Chathams (Chatham Borough and Chatham Township). Yard sales were held in spring and fall 2024 and May 2025, with another scheduled for October 18, 2025. Advance registration is required. For a $10 listing fee, the registrant's sale items and address are listed on a digital map shared with the public. The fee is a tax-deductible donation to benefit the Great Swamp Watershed Association ("GSWA"). Participants with yard sale leftovers are encouraged to contact charitable organizations to arrange pick-ups of leftovers. The May 3, 2025, event had 106 registrants, totaling $1,060 in donations to GSWA. Since the town-wide yard sale was started, more than $7,000 was donated to the GSWA. See promotional documentation for web, social media and press coverage. The Madison Swap & Share (private) Facebook group started in July 2020 and has grown to 4.2K members (out of approximately 16000 residents). Acceptable items include household goods, appliances, electronics, sports equipment, furniture, tools, toys, books and clothing. A group administrator approves items. There are a number of postings each day, and many draw multiple interest. Attached is a screen shot of the group FB page, its about information and rules, 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. I GreenMadisonNJ.org promotes the Madison Swap & Share program on its website - https://www.greenmadisonnj.org/swap-recycle-repair.html. This page also mentions the town-wide yard sales, the twice-yearly Repair Cafes sponsored by Madison Rotary and held at a local church, information on composting and, finally, some recycling resources.

Sustainable Jersey Certification Report

Contact Information

Actions Implemented

Arts & Creative Culture

Establish a Creative Team

Municipal Commitments to Support Arts and Creative Culture

Utilizing Your Creative Assets

Community Partnership & Outreach

Green Team

Community Education & Outreach

Green Fair

Diversity & Equity

Community Equity & Diversity Profile

Environmental Justice in Planning & Zoning

Emergency Management

Extreme Temperature Event Plan

Emergency Communications Planning

Vulnerable Populations Identification for Emergencies

Energy

Energy Efficiency for Municipal Facilities

Energy Tracking & Management

Residential Energy Efficiency Outreach

Fleet Inventory

Electric Vehicle Community Outreach

Purchase Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Public Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

Make Your Town Electric Vehicle Friendly

Food

Community Gardens

Buy Fresh Buy Local Programs

Farmers Markets

Making Farmers Markets Accessible

Green Design

Green Building Policy/Resolution

Green Building Education

Upgrade/Retrofit-Light Pollution

Health & Wellness

Best Practices for Local Boards of Health

Building Healthier Communities

Integrating Health Into Municipal Decision Making

Safe Routes to School

Tobacco Free Community

Healthy Homes Inspection & Training

Innovative Projects

Innovative Community Project 1

Innovative Community Project 2

Innovative Community Project 3

Land Use & Transportation

Sustainable Land Use Pledge

Bicycle & Pedestrian Audits

Bicycle and/or Pedestrian Improvement Projects

Bicycle and/or Pedestrian Plan

Effective Parking Management

Enhanced Stormwater Management Control Ordinance

Green Infrastructure Planning

Green Infrastructure Implementation

Heat Island Assessment & Mitigation Plan

Historic Preservation Element *Retired 12/31/22*

Transit-Oriented Development Supportive Zoning

Local Economies

Green Business Recognition Program

Buy Local Campaign

Support Local Businesses

Natural Resources

Environmental Commission

Environmental Commission Site Plan Review

Open Space Plans

Water Conservation Education Program

Winter Best Practices to Reduce Road Salt Impacts

Easement Inventory & Outreach

Environmental Assessment Ordinance

Community Forestry Management Plan & NJUCF Accreditation

Tree Hazard Inventory

Tree Maintenance Programs

Tree Planting *New 2026*

Operations & Maintenance

Green Purchasing Policy

Green Cleaning Products & Motorized Cleaning Equipment

Green Maintenance Equipment & Materials

Recycled Copy Paper

Historic Preservation Element Retired 12/31/22

Tree Planting New 2026