Position: Mayor
chrissyformontclair.com

Question: If elected, what will your top three climate-related initiatives be and how do they relate to the Town’s Climate Action Plan?

Answer: There are some easy fixes, and some not so easy ones, and both cost money.

1) Focus on healthy living. Mind/body wellness is achieved in part by being healthy, comfortable (lots of trees, flowers, planters, green space, water gardens) and being able to exercise/bike/walk/trolley through Montclair. This helps to address not only congestion and parking issues but also promotes healthier activity and cleaner environment. [Many problems can be resolved or addressed by layering (or building in) solutions to environmental concerns with every project/development/plan. So adding a trolley/(recycled DeCamp bus?) constantly running transit system (like the monorail at Disney, but from 4th Ward to MSU)) would eliminate the need for parking spaces right in front of businesses (people like to park close to where they are going, are lazy, and are reasonably fearful of parking decks, which are high-priced and house our homeless), and could also alleviate some of the issues with biking and walking. As we re-plan our roads to create safer streets, we focus on making sure they are also “green.”


2) Address environmental issues with new construction and development.

a) We should require solar panels on all government buildings (it is inexpensive, we may get significant federal funds, and, if we keep our AAA bond rating, we will earn back our money relatively fast). This may alleviate some of our million dollar disputes with PSE&G billing (PSE&G is required to give us credit for our solar energy).

b) We should also consider environmental sustainability a requirement for development. I do not believe developers should get tax breaks or PILOTs or variances unless the benefit is to the taxpayers and the well-being of the municipality.

c) Developers must be responsible for drainage/ flooding /stormwater/ traffic /transit/ public safety/ school budget management that comes along with the increases in population developers are creating. The town cannot continue to subsidize other towns or developers. Proper planning will be a win-win. Developers will make profits while alleviating infrastructure burdens and paying commercial taxes that alleviate tax burdens on residents.

d) I am really concerned that there is a lot more flooding in areas that were not deemed flood zones when people purchased their properties, and a lot of it has to do with development in the mid 1900’s. The costs of insurance and the loss in property value due to inadequate planning 50 years ago is exactly what we can expect 50 years from now if we are not proactive. With new construction, we have to take additional precautions (above and beyond what is permitted) because of climate change. We need to be very cautious about giving variances and deviating from already existing laws when it does not benefit the taxpayers.
e) Have recycle bins right next to those fancy, expensive trash cans. Really, it seems that maybe one side should have been trash, and a slightly smaller side, recycling, but we should look into having just as easy to use and beautiful recycling bins, especially if stores are selling bottles of water/soda/etc. and cans. At least require them in uptown/downtown/Watchung Plaza, and possibly in parks. (I know there is one recycle bin in Edgemont and one in Watchung Plaza, but they are not convenient, and people are lazy….

Question: What is the major obstacle to our town being more sustainable? How do we overcome this obstacle?

Answer: Montclair’s largest obstacles are apathy, ineptitude, cronyism, lack of transparency, lack of community involvement, and lack of expert Involvement until it is “too late.” (Look at the mess at Woodman Field, as an example). We overcome problems by getting truly competent, caring people to run for office, then work hard to make sure they get elected. We need to stop trying to revive beloved, but poorly trained politicians with big egos who think the towns “owes them” something.. We need volunteers. People who are actually willing to serve the public well. We need to elect 7 smart PTA moms, dads or others (who happen to be successful lawyers, bankers, researchers, writers and community activists), who can get amazing things done on a very tight budget. By relying on the extraordinary talents and expertise found within our community, we can all do really well by doing what’s good for our children and our children’s children..

Question: When making hiring decisions for key positions (such as Township Manager) will you include their commitment to implement the Climate Action Plan as a major criteria in the evaluation process?

Answer: Yes.

Specific policies:

1) Question: To minimize the worst impacts of climate change, it is urgent to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. What specific policies do you support that would help Montclair residents, businesses and the municipality eliminate fossil fuel use? Ex: a ban on fossil fuel appliances in all new construction in Montclair, rebates on electrification retrofits, electrification of municipal vehicle fleets, or other.

Answer: Montclair has been a model for sustainable communities for decades. We have purchased several AFV’s in the past, and going forward, I would like to see us purchase more electric or hybrids, with a goal of reducing our emissions and carbon footprint without sacrificing speed or safety. There are already excellent high-speed electric police SUVs, and even electric ambulances. As we retire cars, they should be replaced with environmentally friendly vehicles. There are also huge federal grants and incentives for using them and for installing necessary charging stations. (Paterson just got one).

Back in the day, Montclair had a streetcar system. It ran from east to west, Newark to Caldwell along Bloomfield Ave., and was eventually replaced by a bus. Above, I touched on my idea for a trolley/monorail system that runs from north to south, from Montclair State to the furthest points in the fourth ward, in sort of a “loop” to limit the need for cars for local trips to shops, schools, restaurants and bars, sort of like the public trolley system in CA. (We might try to get DeCamp to donate an old bus as the “beta test.”) If we do it properly, the fare will be cheap enough to encourage use, but high enough to be self-sustaining and maintainable. We should also think about imposing the cost of this “alternate form of travel” on builders who want to be relieved of their parking requirements.

2) Question: Montclair used to benefit from an energy aggregation program that made it easy for residents to opt-in to cleaner energy for their homes, but that program has ended. What specific policies do you support that would promote clean energy use in Montclair?

Answer: I am all for using energy aggregation programs if they actually provide cheaper energy. I think that opt-in is better than opt-out, especially if it is more expensive to use green energy. Also, I want the solar panels on the buildings as discussed above.

3) Question: The majority of greenhouse gas emissions in Montclair come from transportation, but Montclair is sorely lacking in EV chargers, slowing down adoption. What specific policies do you support that would drive the expansion of public and private fast EV chargers across Montclair?

Answer: People should use the federal grants/tax rebates that are out there, and the Township should be shouting about them from the rooftops. The township also must timely apply for all available federal money, especially when they hire grant writers or have citizens willing to do the work. Fiscal irresponsibility is inexcusable.

4) Question: New Jersey Transit has failed to restore full bus service following the decision by DeCamp to stop providing commuter service to our region (Montclair, Bloomfield, Nutley, Verona, and the Caldwells) - will you act to resurrect the Transportation Advisory Committee and lobby NJ Transit to restore full weekday and off peak service?

Answer: Yes.

5) Question: Would you support developing a Montclair Electric Jitney service to link the south, central and north wards with a public transit option?

Answer: Yes, if that would work. Please see above.

6) Question: Our trees shade thousands of square feet with their large canopies and mitigate against thousands of gallons of storm water and runoff each year. The removal of urban forests impact the watershed and can increase emissions in the summer of nearby homes, years worth of stored carbon will be released back into the atmosphere and we lose the entire ecosystem they sustain. Montclair continues to lose its tree canopies. Recent decisions with the Board of Ed being a prime but not the only example. And we understand that 50% of our trees are on private properties. What do you propose to preserve and expand our tree canopy?

Answer: For every tree that is cut down or falls, a new one should be planted. Our trees should be properly maintained, as well. We have an arborist, They should be held accountable.

7) Question: We must urgently work not just to prevent the impacts of climate change but to help Montclair weather the impacts we already see. Will you ensure Montclair improves its stormwater management and works towards greater resilience against floods? And how?

Answer: Yes. We need to prevent building that does not exceed recommendations and requirements for flooding and drainage. We have a sewer tax. What is the money being used for? I do not believe there needs to be a Storm Water Authority. We know what the issues are and we know why flooding exists. We know where the brooks are. We know how our culverts work. We know there is increased drought and flooding. We should be upset when water starts seeping up through our basements because our aquifers are flooding. We also need to educate homeowners about how adding layers of sand and soil and french drains will help with flooding on their own property. Teaching children and parents through open communication can make “going green” really fun.

8) Question: This fall, Scotch Plains and Westfield residents voted against new artificial turf projects by wide margins. Arlington, Concord, Wayland, Sharon, and Boston have declared moratoriums on Artificial Turf. Several towns in California are passing bans like the one in Millbrae. Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center recommends a moratorium on Artificial Turf. There are bills in the NYS Senate and another in Massachusetts. In addition, NY has passed legislation that forbids the use of PFAS in carpeting, including artificial turf and Colorado has banned the use of artificial turf in landscaping as a part of a water conservation law. Will you agree to a moratorium on further artificial turf in Montclair to prevent further PFAS contamination and microplastics pollution?

Answer: If there are cheaper, better, safer, long-term alternatives, why wouldn't we use them? The cost of lining and mowing grass fields is nominal, but aren't the health and safety of our children, their children and our planet paramount? I want beautiful, functional, competitive facilities that are both efficient and safe. I would want to have presentations about possible alternatives, then think it should probably be put to a public vote. I would hope with education, we would all vote against harm.

Please feel free to add any information that you feel is relevant regarding previous work or positions on environmental issues that you think we should be aware of.

Growing up in Montclair makes you appreciate the earth and nature. It was ingrained in us not to pollute and to recycle. We have programs like roots and shoots in our schools. We love “bulky waste” shopping. Montclair is an amazing place to be, and we have a wealth of smart people who can be consulted on almost anything. IThe government needs to be more transparent and communicative with the public. The public also needs to take every opportunity to engage with the government. I am not an environmental expert, nor do I pretend to be.

Position: Mayor
renee4montclair.com

Question: If elected, what will your top three climate-related initiatives be and how do they relate to the Town’s Climate Action Plan?

Answer:
1) Review the ordinances regarding electric vehicles and make sure that we are assessing our fleet of vehicles in the township to be considered for electric when it is a clear benefit to the environment. Decrease greenhouse gas emissions

2) Create a storm Water Utility to address the effects of flooding as a result of extreme weather. Work closely with Gary Obzarney to do this and to review the storm water system of pipes and culverts that exist in areas prone to flooding and eventually all over

3) Continue to advocate and educate about the benefits for Active Mobility, from a mental health, physical health and environmental perspective. This will help to reduce heat-trapping pollution.

Question: What is the major obstacle to our town being more sustainable? How do we overcome this obstacle?

Answer: The biggest obstacle is lack of knowledge. I don’t think that many residents have gotten to the point where they are actually even thinking enough about this. Through education in our township and schools and putting a sustainable consideration in every development, in our schools starting with Pre-K, the same way that we got families in town to become more aware about recycling and why, we can begin to educate people. We can use TV34, Township Newsletters even find ways to offer incentives for households who reduce their use of natural gas and switch to electric use for the same thing.

Question: When making hiring decisions for key positions (such as Township Manager) will you include their commitment to implement the Climate Action Plan as a major criteria in the evaluation process?

Answer: I certainly will consider it highly along with the other qualities which will ensure that we have the best candidates at our table when we are interviewing people. It will be important for the manager to understand and have knowledge about those things that we feel are most important to our township. This is definitely very important to everyone in our township and all who visit.

Specific policies:

1) Question: To minimize the worst impacts of climate change, it is urgent to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. What specific policies do you support that would help Montclair residents, businesses and the municipality eliminate fossil fuel use? Ex: a ban on fossil fuel appliances in all new construction in Montclair, rebates on electrification retrofits, electrification of municipal vehicle fleets, or other.

Answer: Encourage and promote Biking and walking in addition to what you have listed. I have worked with Bike Walk Montclair and others in town for many years from 2008 until now to try to create SAFE and GREEN Streets. I like actually having designate bike lanes where it will not cause a hardship to others, ie parking.

2) Question: Montclair used to benefit from an energy aggregation program that made it easy for residents to opt-in to cleaner energy for their homes, but that program has ended. What specific policies do you support that would promote clean energy use in Montclair?

Answer: I participated in the energy aggregation program. I would work diligently to find out if there are other programs like that or similar that we can offer the residents of Montclair. Make sure that new homes must be electric and not have gas lines automatically for homes. If residents needed gas lines I would consider an additional charge above those who had all electric developments. ReI would consider “Net Zero Ready” in the Redevelopment Plan.

3) Question: The majority of greenhouse gas emissions in Montclair come from transportation, but Montclair is sorely lacking in EV chargers, slowing down adoption. What specific policies do you support that would drive the expansion of public and private fast EV chargers across Montclair?

Answer: I would be in favor of requiring X percentage of spaces in town to be designated for EV charger spaces after I get the data to substantiate what that number would be. I would give the spaces closest to popular location for EV charging next to handicapped, of course, as an incentive. I will work closely with the state to come up with ways to give individuals and household re-bates of some sort driving electric vehicles

4) Question: New Jersey Transit has failed to restore full bus service following the decision by DeCamp to stop providing commuter service to our region (Montclair, Bloomfield, Nutley, Verona, and the Caldwells) - will you act to resurrect the Transportation Advisory Committee and lobby NJ Transit to restore full weekday and off peak service?

Answer: I served on the TPAC for the years that it existed, I will definitely work to resurrect the Transportation Advisory Committee, but it won’t just be to lobby NJ Transit. We have so many reasons to reinstate this group. This group needs to represent all of the major stakeholders in towns as well as some folks who are interested in getting a segment of individuals who are interested in lobbying NJ transit. We need folks to Lobby the state to get more options for our seniors to get from point A to be, That may be offering people over 55 very low cost or no cost bicycles, or electric bus service that they can utilize more that 20 rides on. My point is yes…that is important but I think that in addition to serving on the committee, I would allow the committee to set their priorities based on data. I would like to see that data before setting anything as a major priority or deciding what the township commissions will lobby for. I don’t have any idea at this time what the numbers are who are affected by the lack of DeCamp service, but it certainly is important to me and I will find out very soon. Thank you asking this question. It helping me to realize something that is very important to residents that has not, by any means been addressed by our township leadership.

5) Question: Would you support developing a Montclair Electric Jitney service to link the south, central and north wards with a public transit option?

Answer: Absolutely. We had jitney service here before, but I like the electric jitney service idea. We could link up our train stations and residential drop off areas during commuter hours and business districts during the less busy hours in-between commuter use.

6) Question: Our trees shade thousands of square feet with their large canopies and mitigate against thousands of gallons of storm water and runoff each year. The removal of urban forests impact the watershed and can increase emissions in the summer of nearby homes, years worth of stored carbon will be released back into the atmosphere and we lose the entire ecosystem they sustain. Montclair continues to lose its tree canopies. Recent decisions with the Board of Ed being a prime but not the only example. And we understand that 50% of our trees are on private properties. What do you propose to preserve and expand our tree canopy?

Answer: The first thing is to enforce the tree ordinances that we have. Sadly I see people removing trees from their property every day and not replacing them. I think that we should become more diligent with planting of trees, especially when we loose trees as a result of a natural disaster. Why does it take so long for us to replenish our tree canopy. Many of our areas which were once beautiful wooded or forest-like areas are now barren. I think that we may want to look into creating an ordinance which requires residents to plants trees on their property based on the size of their property when they purchase their home or apartment buildings.

7) Question: We must urgently work not just to prevent the impacts of climate change but to help Montclair weather the impacts we already see. Will you ensure Montclair improves its stormwater management and works towards greater resilience against floods? And how?

Answer: I will follow the plans that are suggested by Vision Zero like using permeable pavers, tree and plants in the curb-like areas of the street, even create “green” islands on wide streets to make the streets more narrow and to improve the storm water management. I even like the idea of rain gardens. Kim Craft created one at Orange Road and Linden Ave and unfortunately it was not kept up. The difficulty with our form of government is that great things come and go depending on who is in office. Under Mayor Jerry Fried’s council, there was great progress in the areas of biking and walking and creating parking for bikes and even some bike lanes that we had plans to create. After he left office these things seemed less important to the next council. I say that as someone who served on both. That was truly an opportunity missed but I am not discouraged! I worked on these plans and understand the benefits and will be able to hit the ground moving to get them back on the agenda and actually completed and become that model city that I know we can become.

8) Question: This fall, Scotch Plains and Westfield residents voted against new artificial turf projects by wide margins. Arlington, Concord, Wayland, Sharon, and Boston have declared moratoriums on Artificial Turf. Several towns in California are passing bans like the one in Millbrae. Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center recommends a moratorium on Artificial Turf. There are bills in the NYS Senate and another in Massachusetts. In addition, NY has passed legislation that forbids the use of PFAS in carpeting, including artificial turf and Colorado has banned the use of artificial turf in landscaping as a part of a water conservation law. Will you agree to a moratorium on further artificial turf in Montclair to prevent further PFAS contamination and microplastics pollution?

Answer: Yes. During the moratorium, I will begin the process in a very transparent manner with an aggressive educattion campaign. In a very short response it is important to me because of my commitment to health and healing and the Oath that I have taken and try very hard to live by; "Above all else do no harm." The moratorium needs to be a part of a holistic approach which will include sharing information about other sources of PFAS, including food that is high in PFAS, 39 out of 101 bottled water products that are high in PFAS, non-stick pans, the lists go on and on. We need a very aggressive education campaign to make sure that people understand the things that you understand regarding PFAS . This needs to start from Pre-K and continue .....We need to have a smogasbord of options instead of materials that have PFAS, including grass seed and water..and choose the least toxic options. We need to put laws into place that will require that we do some research about products, before we decide to use them. Most of us talk about safety first, so lets start demonstrating that more. We should choose to do things that will be the healthiest and safest options for all. The municipality should choose not to deliberately continuing to put cancer-causeing substances into our community when there are safe options readily available. Substances which have been shown to alter immune and thyroid function, cause liver disease, lipid and insulin dysregulation, kidney disease, cause adversities on reproductive and development outcomes and cause cancer.I know that it won't happen over night. As with many things, it will be a gradual process but the end result will be well worth the wait; a healthier community of people. We have examples of where it has been done, which is a blessing. I will continue to value and welcome all of the information which is presented to me to help us to become the best Montclair that we can become. If we start by educating people and then move forward with choosing which actions to address first and which actions will be expected to give us the most health benefits then we can procees with those.” The above will be going on whlle the moratorium is in place to make sure that we get the residents to understand why we need to move to more permanent measures.

Please feel free to add any information that you feel is relevant regarding previous work or positions on environmental issues that you think we should be aware of.

I am very concerned and interested in all of the topics. I have worked closely with Gray Russel on storm water initiatives and a number of things as well as Bike Walk, SAFE and GREEN Street initiatives and Traffic Advisory Committee. Please know that none of the things that you are raising here are going to the back burner if I am elected. In addition I think that we as a township should embrace the ”BIKE BUS” and help to expand the usership and do whatever we need to do as a town to ensure the safety of our Bike Bus families.
Thank you for taking your time to create this opportunity for us. I am grateful.

Position: Councilor At-Large

susanshinandersen.com

Question: If elected, what will your top three climate-related initiatives be and how do they relate to the Town’s Climate Action Plan?

Answer:
(1) Safer streets, moving forward Vision Zero in an incremental way. This could include implementing demonstration projects such as protected bike and pedestrian lanes to promote use of alternative ways of getting around town other than by car, and exploring public transportation such as a town jitney service/shuttle (electric vehicles) to and from train stations and community centers (2) Examination of zoning regulations (as well as Master Plan and parking regulations) and initiating resident and other stakeholder conversations about potential changes to encourage multi unit housing options throughout Montclair, near transport (3) Improvements and new public green spaces - such as smaller parks throughout town, and protection and strategic planting of trees.

Question: What is the major obstacle to our town being more sustainable? How do we overcome this obstacle?

Answer: I believe major obstacles are costs to residents and lack of education/awareness. Investing in a more robust township communications strategy could help
with the latter. Ensuring that the township pursues funding from the county, state, and federal sources would help with the former.

Question: When making hiring decisions for key positions (such as Township Manager) will you include their commitment to implement the Climate Action Plan as a major criteria in the evaluation process?

Answer: In evaluating candidates for key positions, I will include evaluation of whether or not they will commit to implementing all priorities that the Council identifies. Given the long-stated commitment to environment and sustainability, commitment to implement the approved Climate Action Plan should be high on the list.


Specific policies:

1) Question: To minimize the worst impacts of climate change, it is urgent to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. What specific policies do you support that would help Montclair residents, businesses and the municipality eliminate fossil fuel use? Ex: a ban on fossil fuel appliances in all new construction in Montclair, rebates on electrification retrofits, electrification of municipal vehicle fleets, or other.

Answer: I would need to do some more research into specific policies that could address this, including potential impact and residents’ ability to comply. A policy on electrification of municipal vehicle fleets seems a reasonable place to begin, however.

2) Question: Montclair used to benefit from an energy aggregation program that made it easy for residents to opt-in to cleaner energy for their homes, but that program has ended. What specific policies do you support that would promote clean energy use in Montclair?

Answer: Policies to require renewable energy in development/construction, and incentives for cleaner energy in homes.

3) Question: The majority of greenhouse gas emissions in Montclair come from transportation, but Montclair is sorely lacking in EV chargers, slowing down adoption. What specific policies do you support that would drive the expansion of public and private fast EV chargers across Montclair?

Answer: I would need to do some more research into this issue.


4) Question: New Jersey Transit has failed to restore full bus service following the decision by DeCamp to stop providing commuter service to our region (Montclair, Bloomfield, Nutley, Verona, and the Caldwells) - will you act to resurrect the Transportation Advisory Committee and lobby NJ Transit to restore full weekday and off peak service?

Answer:I will support actions to restore public bus service to our area, based on the recommendations of such an advisory committee.


5) Question: Would you support developing a Montclair Electric Jitney service to link the south, central and north wards with a public transit option?

Answer: Yes, as stated above,under General Position.

6) Question: Our trees shade thousands of square feet with their large canopies and mitigate against thousands of gallons of storm water and runoff each year. The removal of urban forests impact the watershed and can increase emissions in the summer of nearby homes, years worth of stored carbon will be released back into the atmosphere and we lose the entire ecosystem they sustain. Montclair continues to lose its tree canopies. Recent decisions with the Board of Ed being a prime but not the only example. And we understand that 50% of our trees are on private properties. What do you propose to preserve and expand our tree canopy?

Answer: I would recommend looking at strategic expansion of our tree canopy, making sure the township makes use of grants received to fund planting of and replacement of trees, and looking into an ordinance addressing preservation and planting of trees.


7) Question: We must urgently work not just to prevent the impacts of climate change but to help Montclair weather the impacts we already see. Will you ensure Montclair improves its stormwater management and works towards greater resilience against floods? And how?

Answer: Yes; starting with research and investigating how other towns in our State have successfully addressed stormwater management, and pursuing funding for infrastructure wherever available. We must also always ensure that stormwater management is fully addressed in development proposals.

8) Question: This fall, Scotch Plains and Westfield residents voted against new artificial turf projects by wide margins. Arlington, Concord, Wayland, Sharon, and Boston have declared moratoriums on Artificial Turf. Several towns in California are passing bans like the one in Millbrae. Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center recommends a moratorium on Artificial Turf. There are bills in the NYS Senate and another in Massachusetts. In addition, NY has passed legislation that forbids the use of PFAS in carpeting, including artificial turf and Colorado has banned the use of artificial turf in landscaping as a part of a water conservation law. Will you agree to a moratorium on further artificial turf in Montclair to prevent further PFAS contamination and microplastics pollution?

Answer: Other towns in New Jersey and towns in other states are voting against new artificial turf projects on publicly owned land, or issuing moratoriums on artificial turf. I have read and understand the environmental and health concerns raised through studies specifically about PFAS. I am in favor of moving toward a moratorium (with exemptions perhaps similar to the ordinance enacted by Sharon) and toward a ban on further use of artificial turf in Montclair that contains PFAS. I do believe it is important to include a cross-section of stakeholders before the township issues a moratorium and/or ban to consider the alternatives to turfs that contain PFAS, costs and upkeep. In my experience, it is productive to come together to discuss and work through respective concerns with a goal of identifying common interests.

Please feel free to add any information that you feel is relevant regarding previous work or positions on environmental issues that you think we should be aware of.
I think that more communication and education for residents on recycling is necessary. I am a supporter of the Northeast Earth Coalition. In addition, I am a member of the Toni’s Kitchen advisory committee. TK has implemented initiatives such as composting, a garden to produce vegetables and herbs to use in its Kitchen, and food rescue partnerships with supermarkets and restaurants so as to reduce food waste.

Position: Councilor At-Large

Carmel Laughman

Question: If elected, what will your top three climate-related initiatives be and how do they relate to the Town’s Climate Action Plan?

Answer: I fully support the implementation goals of the CAP as described on pages 14-16 of the climate action plan. Specific initiatives that would be a top priority with me are:

1) Conserve energy residential - I support the plans noted but one item not mentioned in the cap is the fact that much of the housing stock in Montclair was built prior to the use of home insulation. Homeowners could benefit from an initiative to install insulation where none exists and help finance this expensive improvement. This could involve insulating basement heating pipes, attic insulation, basement wall insulation, and efficient windows. Home insulation increases the efficiency of the home heating appliances that use fossil fuel cutting down on emissions.

2) Clean electricity - I support the plans noted but also want to add that Tesla produces solar tiles for a total roof replacement. This should be explored by the town and info provided to residents. (there is such an installation on cloverhill rd.)

3) Clean transportation - the town must do an audit of the town fleet and school buses. Do we need so many vehicles; do they need to be suvs or are more fuel efficient vehicles possible; can the use of school buses be cut back and/or right sized; how can existing nj transit bus routes substitute for private busing; where does it make sense to have electric/hybrid vehicles; what would be the cost of installing fast EV stations on many town owned properties/schools and which sites specifically make sense for installation?

I have been a long-time advocate of a circular bus route around town to cut down on car/uber/lyft use. A bus route from the south end of town to shop rite is particularly needed. Having a supermarket at Lackawanna plaza does nothing to address the “food desert” problem the basis of which is a lack of cars by residents in the south end of town where and no public transportation exists.

A north/south bike route should be installed. Bike lanes to nowhere like on Glen Ridge avenue make no sense and waste taxpayers’ money. Analyze where the best place to put a bike lane is and do it! We have been talking about this for years. I believe study of this has already been done by bike walk Montclair and is ready to go but nothing has been done by the town.

With respect to municipalities and businesses: The town has not been investing in its properties and many are in poor condition or are obsolete. Thus potential capital projects that will need to be addressed within the next five years or so include - police department, municipal building, cary anderson arena, public library, and mills building senior center. Thus we may indeed be trying to apply the recommendations on clean energy and conserve energy which i totally support (i addressed the transportation element above.)

Question: What is the major obstacle to our town being more sustainable? How do we overcome this obstacle?

Answer: public will;cost; availability of reasonable financing;renters; practicality of some initiatives; help with grant writing; research on available funding; incentives that bear some reasonable relation to the actual cost.

Question: When making hiring decisions for key positions (such as Township Manager) will you include their commitment to implement the Climate Action Plan as a major criteria in the evaluation process?

Answer: Yes. And implementation of the cap should be a measurable goal on the town manager’s and relevant department heads’ performance reviews and resulting salary increases. (however, i understand that there is a problem in town hall that performance reviews are not routinely done.)

Specific policies:

1) Question: To minimize the worst impacts of climate change, it is urgent to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. What specific policies do you support that would help Montclair residents, businesses and the municipality eliminate fossil fuel use? Ex: a ban on fossil fuel appliances in all new construction in Montclair, rebates on electrification retrofits, electrification of municipal vehicle fleets, or other.

Answer: I support all those measures mentioned except not sure who is providing the “rebates”?

2) Question: Montclair used to benefit from an energy aggregation program that made it easy for residents to opt-in to cleaner energy for their homes, but that program has ended. What specific policies do you support that would promote clean energy use in Montclair?

Answer: (answered above re clean energy use.) This aggregation program was more expensive that normal pse&g bills. I sometimes think the poorer amongst us are not considered when programs like this are implemented. I would advise policy makers to be sure less advantaged people are part of town committees so another point of view is aired.

3) Question: The majority of greenhouse gas emissions in Montclair come from transportation, but Montclair is sorely lacking in EV chargers, slowing down adoption. What specific policies do you support that would drive the expansion of public and private fast EV chargers across Montclair?

Answer: One thing to consider is for the town to make arrangements for bulk installation of residential ev stations at lots of residences then finance this cost but charge the cost back for residential installation over time perhaps on the tax bill. I believe such a program would be similar to some of pse&g’s programs.


4) Question: New Jersey Transit has failed to restore full bus service following the decision by DeCamp to stop providing commuter service to our region (Montclair, Bloomfield, Nutley, Verona, and the Caldwells) - will you act to resurrect the Transportation Advisory Committee and lobby NJ Transit to restore full weekday and off peak service?

Answer:The lack of bus service to nyc is problematic from a climate viewpoint and property valuation. Researching solutions to this reduction in service would be a priority. Included here should be an expansion of the train line service to weekends too. My election platform, as seen on my team’s website www.montclairteam.com, highlights forming citizen advisory committees on a variety of issues. Certainly exploring solutions to transportation cutbacks merits a committee.

5) Question: Would you support developing a Montclair Electric Jitney service to link the south, central and north wards with a public transit option?

Answer: Absolutely. Why only the seniors have this service is baffling to me. There is great need in the less economically advantaged areas of town for some reliable, reasonable cost transportation service. I am a big believer in public transport and would look to every possible way to provide public transport services. I find montclair needs to be more focussed on making sure we address helping those truly in need.

6) Question: Our trees shade thousands of square feet with their large canopies and mitigate against thousands of gallons of storm water and runoff each year. The removal of urban forests impact the watershed and can increase emissions in the summer of nearby homes, years worth of stored carbon will be released back into the atmosphere and we lose the entire ecosystem they sustain. Montclair continues to lose its tree canopies. Recent decisions with the Board of Ed being a prime but not the only example. And we understand that 50% of our trees are on private properties. What do you propose to preserve and expand our tree canopy?

Answer: I found it outrageous that 24 historic trees on town property were chopped down! It was the unimaginable that we now know can happen in “progressive” montclair. Hopefully the town activists (myself included) will make sure this cannot happen again.

I note with respect to trees a look at the town interactive stormwater map shows where https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/7a7a37b2548849eeba71475f52683d65there is a dearth of trees. See:
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/7a7a37b2548849eeba71475f52683d65

The fourth ward in particular seems to need more tree plantings. One thing i would allow is for residents to pay for trees they would like planted on their property or curbside but have the town do the digging. As a woman not as strong as i used to be, i am happy to buy the trees but am not able to dig the holes. I bet town workers have some time in their schedules to do the digging. Planting these trees benefits the whole town so it is reasonable to have the town be a partner in their planting. Of course, this would not preclude the town buying and planting trees. But would speed the process if a resident/town partnership existed. I have canvassed the town over the years for tree planting and have been successful in having six trees planted over time.

7) Question: We must urgently work not just to prevent the impacts of climate change but to help Montclair weather the impacts we already see. Will you ensure Montclair improves its stormwater management and works towards greater resilience against floods? And how?

Answer: This is indeed a troublesome issue. We have underground springs running all through town. Over development has exacerbated the problem and will continue to do so. Once again i think the town does not do adequate maintenance of its assets. Streams should be dredged and garbage remove; the stream banks need to be repaired and rebuilt as appropriate, sewers too need to be maintained so water flows appropriately and is not blocked. I think rather than “global warming” we are experiencing “global wetting’ and are having more and more rain than ever. Homeowners should be advised of the cost and appropriateness of installing french drains and sump pumps to protect their property. Soil grading too could be helpfull. I would like town engineers to survey properties to determine the extent of the problem then develop solutions, and implement these in order of urgency.

8) Question: This fall, Scotch Plains and Westfield residents voted against new artificial turf projects by wide margins. Arlington, Concord, Wayland, Sharon, and Boston have declared moratoriums on Artificial Turf. Several towns in California are passing bans like the one in Millbrae. Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center recommends a moratorium on Artificial Turf. There are bills in the NYS Senate and another in Massachusetts. In addition, NY has passed legislation that forbids the use of PFAS in carpeting, including artificial turf and Colorado has banned the use of artificial turf in landscaping as a part of a water conservation law. Will you agree to a moratorium on further artificial turf in Montclair to prevent further PFAS contamination and microplastics pollution?

Answer: yes, absolutely. Not considering the grievous fact that people may be hurt, i find it incredulous that the town would expose itself to the potential liability of injury resulting in class action lawsuits from PFAS exposure especially as the town would have limited defense as PFAS is a known potential health hazard. Knowing about a hazard and doing nothing about it increases liability exposure.

Please feel free to add any information that you feel is relevant regarding previous work or positions on environmental issues that you think we should be aware of.

I worked for 16 years at a major copper mining company that had a number of superfund and state circla actions against it so have knowledge of environmental issues. Just a couple of random thoughts:

In nyc they have a program where residents are taught to care for street trees. I think such a program in montclair would be beneficial building community and helping keep the town beautiful.

The town needs a brand new master plan that should engage residents on climate issues among other matters.

Consideration should be given to underground electrical wiring. When pse&g trim our trees to accommodate wires they give no thought to how to correctly prune so the trees are left distorted in shape and damaged..

Residents should be encouraged to limit lawns and replace with bushes, trees, vegetable gardens etc.

Islands on municipal roads (see walnut st/walnut crescent) should be planted with greenery that does not need mowing every two weeks but that is self sustaining. This would cut back on the use of gas powered lawn mowers and the cost of manpower.

Position: Councilor At-Large

Bob Russo

Question: If elected, what will your top three climate-related initiatives be and how do they relate to the Town’s Climate Action Plan?

Answer: My major environmental and climate related initiatives have always been first, shifting all energy sources to sustainable, non-fossil fuel, such as electric, solar and wind. Our ban on gas powered leaf blowers has been my initiative for over 20 years. I also advocated the use of the first natural gas vehicles which we purchased in 2002 while I was Mayor. I continue to urge the purchase of all electric vehicles for our town fleet, especially school buses, and the installation of many more electric charging stations. Secondly, the protection of our natural tree canopy, with stronger regulation similar to the Madison tree ordinance, which I advocated last year as a model for Montclair to avoid the destruction of older trees. Third, the end of use of toxic materials found in so many products we purchase for our buildings, parks and fields.

Question: What is the major obstacle to our town being more sustainable? How do we overcome this obstacle?

Answer: Our town has been a leader in shifting to a more sustainable future, but my experience as Mayor 20 years ago was very disheartening. After getting $900,000 placed in the BOE budget for the installation of solar panels on all school buildings, the next mayor and council removed the item from the budget just to reduce taxes and cut out “unnecessary experimental spending”. So pure politics obstructed progress and set us back many years. The obstacle is always cost. Corkeen may cost more than artificial turf, electric vehicles cost more than traditional gas engines, and solar panels are seen as a budget item that could be deleted for short term savings. Investing in our future of a sustainable society is a long-term commitment I am willing to make.

Question: When making hiring decisions for key positions (such as Township Manager) will you include their commitment to implement the Climate Action Plan as a major criteria in the evaluation process?

Answer: Yes, certainly will make a commitment to the Climate Action Plan a major part of any hiring interview and decision, with sustainability a priority for any new Manager or Dept staff.

Specific policies:

1) Question: To minimize the worst impacts of climate change, it is urgent to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. What specific policies do you support that would help Montclair residents, businesses and the municipality eliminate fossil fuel use? Ex: a ban on fossil fuel appliances in all new construction in Montclair, rebates on electrification retrofits, electrification of municipal vehicle fleets, or other.

Answer: All of the above actions I will support but add that investing in an increased infrastructure of electric charging stations is fundamental to shifting to all electric municipal vehicle fleets.

2) Question: Montclair used to benefit from an energy aggregation program that made it easy for residents to opt-in to cleaner energy for their homes, but that program has ended. What specific policies do you support that would promote clean energy use in Montclair?

Answer: I would like to return to the energy aggregation program in conjunction with other neighboring communities which seemed to be a good way for residents to sign up for cleaner energy supplies for their homes and businesses. Again, to shift from dirty energy to clean energy, we must incentivize this change and encourage regional efforts to offer alternative supplies.

3) Question: The majority of greenhouse gas emissions in Montclair come from transportation, but Montclair is sorely lacking in EV chargers, slowing down adoption. What specific policies do you support that would drive the expansion of public and private fast EV chargers across Montclair?

Answer: Again, I already stated the need for a greater investment in EV chargers all over town, and particularly for multi-family buildings. My own has only a few available outlets for charging so over 100 vehicles continue to be traditional gas guzzlers, with no incentive or opportunity to shift use to electric vehicles. We must mandate that any new multi-family construction include adequate charging stations for at least a third of the vehicles and that older buildings transition their parking lots and garages to EV charging station sections to encourage the purchase and use of electric vehicles.


4) Question: New Jersey Transit has failed to restore full bus service following the decision by DeCamp to stop providing commuter service to our region (Montclair, Bloomfield, Nutley, Verona, and the Caldwells) - will you act to resurrect the Transportation Advisory Committee and lobby NJ Transit to restore full weekday and off peak service?

Answer:Yes, we should have a very active TAC and lobby NJ Transit to restore the service we lost with DeCamp, as well as restore full weekday and off peak service.

5) Question: Would you support developing a Montclair Electric Jitney service to link the south, central and north wards with a public transit option?

Answer: Yes, the shuttle bus service we once had eliminated auto use and linked the town north and south with an alternative public transit service which I supported when I was mayor, with grants from the Federal government.

6) Question: Our trees shade thousands of square feet with their large canopies and mitigate against thousands of gallons of storm water and runoff each year. The removal of urban forests impact the watershed and can increase emissions in the summer of nearby homes, years worth of stored carbon will be released back into the atmosphere and we lose the entire ecosystem they sustain. Montclair continues to lose its tree canopies. Recent decisions with the Board of Ed being a prime but not the only example. And we understand that 50% of our trees are on private properties. What do you propose to preserve and expand our tree canopy?

Answer: As stated above as one of my priorities, I want to introduce a stronger tree ordinance like Madison has, with even more protection for older, historic trees, preventing cutting of such beautiful trees on all town property and private property.

7) Question: We must urgently work not just to prevent the impacts of climate change but to help Montclair weather the impacts we already see. Will you ensure Montclair improves its stormwater management and works towards greater resilience against floods? And how?

Answer: The flooding keeps coming in certain areas of town, with a need to have continual clearing of all curbs and drains that are often blocked by leaves and debris…. My old condo at 530 Valley Rd has experienced so much from flooding over the years that could easily have been prevented by proper maintenance of the streets. I will work with our environmental coordinator and public works staff to implement policies recommended by Federal officials who visited us and surveys areas of great risk for flooding a few years ago. Nothing substantial seems to have been done to follow up on those visits.

8) Question: This fall, Scotch Plains and Westfield residents voted against new artificial turf projects by wide margins. Arlington, Concord, Wayland, Sharon, and Boston have declared moratoriums on Artificial Turf. Several towns in California are passing bans like the one in Millbrae. Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center recommends a moratorium on Artificial Turf. There are bills in the NYS Senate and another in Massachusetts. In addition, NY has passed legislation that forbids the use of PFAS in carpeting, including artificial turf and Colorado has banned the use of artificial turf in landscaping as a part of a water conservation law. Will you agree to a moratorium on further artificial turf in Montclair to prevent further PFAS contamination and microplastics pollution?

Answer: Yes, and I want to find the best alternatives for the future, such as Corkeen and other materials that will be safe, durable and sustainable. Communication among those bodies in town ordering and contracting materials with PFAS must be clear, so alternatives can be explored and used in the future.

Please feel free to add any information that you feel is relevant regarding previous work or positions on environmental issues that you think we should be aware of.

Once again, I want to initiate numerous environmental efforts which I began as Mayor in 2002 and got blocked by short-sited political leaders. Investing in solar and electric are my top priorities and protecting our natural tree canopy and parks, fields free of contaminated soil and materials will be my focus during my last term if re elected to the Council. Thank you!

Position: Ward One Councilor

erikdamato.org

Question: If elected, what will your top three climate-related initiatives be and how do they relate to the Town’s Climate Action Plan?

Answer: By my reading of the CAP the best approach is simply to move as swiftly as possible on implementation on the GHG reduction objectives given “high” potential in the CAP. I would expect that members of the MEC and others would be involved in helping the Council rank order such initiatives given both financial and other constraints, but if I was expected to do the prioritizing I would go with a speedy phase-in of zero-emission vehicles for the municipal fleet, creating more public charging stations for electric vehicles, and pursuing renewable government energy aggregation.

Question: What is the major obstacle to our town being more sustainable? How do we overcome this obstacle?

Answer: Leaving aside broader patterns of consumer behavior and preference (e.g. the desire for large personal vehicles, indoor thermal comfort) and focusing on what the Council can do, the answer is clearly financial: The Township’s budgetary resources are already largely accounted for, and
the capacity for higher levels of taxation (meaning the willingness of residents to approve growth above the 2% growth cap) appears to be nil. So the answer here is that any spending on initiatives like new zero-emissions vehicles or charging stations will need to be offset by cuts in other areas.

Question: When making hiring decisions for key positions (such as Township Manager) will you include their commitment to implement the Climate Action Plan as a major criteria in the evaluation process?

Answer: Yes, it is logical that a Township Manager should express a commitment to implementation of the CAP, if it is adopted by the Council. But to be honest, I’d take a highly-skilled manager agnostic about the benefits of the CAP over someone deeply devoted to it but who was lacking in management skills, since a poor manager would likely result in both the CAP objectives and other crucial municipal goals going unfulfilled.

Specific policies:

1) Question: To minimize the worst impacts of climate change, it is urgent to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. What specific policies do you support that would help Montclair residents, businesses and the municipality eliminate fossil fuel use? Ex: a ban on fossil fuel appliances in all new construction in Montclair, rebates on electrification retrofits, electrification of municipal vehicle fleets, or other.

Answer: Again, I would prefer to be steered in my priorities by the MEC and others, but I am also drawn to certain initiatives, especially programs promoting household decarbonization, including tighter building energy codes. However, I believe that to be honest we will not have resources to offer significant rebates for things like full-house heat pump conversions, which by my calculation cost ≈2x the average annual Township tax levy per house.

2) Question: Montclair used to benefit from an energy aggregation program that made it easy for residents to opt-in to cleaner energy for their homes, but that program has ended. What specific policies do you support that would promote clean energy use in Montclair?

Answer: Beyond public education on the topic I have no specific policy suggestion here.

3) Question: The majority of greenhouse gas emissions in Montclair come from transportation, but Montclair is sorely lacking in EV chargers, slowing down adoption. What specific policies do you support that would drive the expansion of public and private fast EV chargers across Montclair?

Answer: I would support technical and financial assistance for charging stations at multifamily dwellings, as I believe this would be more impactful than public charging stations (but I could be wrong!)

4) Question: New Jersey Transit has failed to restore full bus service following the decision by DeCamp to stop providing commuter service to our region (Montclair, Bloomfield, Nutley, Verona, and the Caldwells) - will you act to resurrect the Transportation Advisory Committee and lobby NJ Transit to restore full weekday and off peak service?

Answer: Yes, this is a no-brainer.

5) Question: Would you support developing a Montclair Electric Jitney service to link the south, central and north wards with a public transit option?

Answer: Yes, and for reasons that go beyond sustainability. But again, it will require sacrifices in other areas.

6) Question: Our trees shade thousands of square feet with their large canopies and mitigate against thousands of gallons of storm water and runoff each year. The removal of urban forests impact the watershed and can increase emissions in the summer of nearby homes, years worth of stored carbon will be released back into the atmosphere and we lose the entire ecosystem they sustain. Montclair continues to lose its tree canopies. Recent decisions with the Board of Ed being a prime but not the only example. And we understand that 50% of our trees are on private properties. What do you propose to preserve and expand our tree canopy?

Answer: I support immediate action to strengthen and better enforce the current tree replacement ordinance, and creation of a plan akin to the “Tree Tenders” to meaningfully expand the existing canopy of shade trees, on both municipal and other property.

7) Question: We must urgently work not just to prevent the impacts of climate change but to help Montclair weather the impacts we already see. Will you ensure Montclair improves its stormwater management and works towards greater resilience against floods? And how?

Answer: I support immediate action to incorporate bioswales and rain gardens into all future improvements, as well as vulnerable neighborhoods (e.g. Windermere Road in the First Ward).

8) Question: This fall, Scotch Plains and Westfield residents voted against new artificial turf projects by wide margins. Arlington, Concord, Wayland, Sharon, and Boston have declared moratoriums on Artificial Turf. Several towns in California are passing bans like the one in Millbrae. Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center recommends a moratorium on Artificial Turf. There are bills in the NYS Senate and another in Massachusetts. In addition, NY has passed legislation that forbids the use of PFAS in carpeting, including artificial turf and Colorado has banned the use of artificial turf in landscaping as a part of a water conservation law. Will you agree to a moratorium on further artificial turf in Montclair to prevent further PFAS contamination and microplastics pollution?

Answer: I would support a Council-enacted moratorium on further turf projects on public property, though this would be largely symbolic, as from what I understand we’ve largely completed or committed to all the turf projects envisioned by the Township and schools. But I would prefer to let voters weigh in on questions like this, just as they were allowed to in these other communities, via a referendum during one of our normal fall elections, when it doesn’t cost us anything to tack on a question on the ballot. Not only would passage via popular referendum give such regulations more legitimacy, the referendum process would be a good way to highlight other sustainability concerns, and help put Montclair at the forefront when it comes to the environment.

Please feel free to add any information that you feel is relevant regarding previous work or positions on environmental issues that you think we should be aware of.

I believe it is easy to just say “yes” to every question on a survey like this, and that on some levels these surveys unduly favor the unserious, who are unwilling to face budgetary and other capacity tradeoffs that will be necessary to actually achieve any of these goals.

Position: Ward One Councilor

www.shivaun4first.com

Question: If elected, what will your top three climate-related initiatives be and how do they relate to the Town’s Climate 20Action Plan?

Answer: Energy Conservation, Reduce Emissions, Renewable Energy. All climate initiatives align with and complement the goals and strategies outlined in the Town’s climate 20action plan, while addressing the specific needs of the community.

Question: What is the major obstacle to our town being more sustainable? How do we overcome this obstacle?

Answer: The major obstacles to achieving sustainability include: education and outreach, awareness and education, fostering more educational programs, policy support, infrastructure investment, and community engagement. By addressing these obstacles Montclair can overcome barriers to sustainability and move closer to achieving its environmental goals.

Question: When making hiring decisions for key positions (such as Township Manager) will you include their commitment to implement the Climate Action Plan as a major criteria in the evaluation process?

Answer: Yes, considering a candidate's commitment and philosophy to the Climate 20Action Plan would have to be a criterion in the evaluation process for a key position such as Township Manager.

Specific policies:

1) Question: To minimize the worst impacts of climate change, it is urgent to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. What specific policies do you support that would help Montclair residents, businesses and the municipality eliminate fossil fuel use? Ex: a ban on fossil fuel appliances in all new construction in Montclair, rebates on electrification retrofits, electrification of municipal vehicle fleets, or other.

Answer: All of the above examples provided are needed. The development of a comprehensive greenhouse gas emission plan can accelerate Montclair to transition away from fossil fuels and toward a more resilient energy future. Additionally, stakeholder engagement, collaboration with local businesses and organizations, and ongoing monitoring and evaluation of policy effectiveness are crucial for the elimination of fossil fuels.

2) Question: Montclair used to benefit from an energy aggregation program that made it easy for residents to opt-in to cleaner energy for their homes, but that program has ended. What specific policies do you support that would promote clean energy use in Montclair?

Answer: Community solar programs such as the Federal Investment Tax Deduction for Solar Energy System. Green building oridinances to mandate highly efficient, all electric, renewable energy installations on all new construction. Programs like these can help promote clean energy use in Montclair.

3) Question: The majority of greenhouse gas emissions in Montclair come from transportation, but Montclair is sorely lacking in EV chargers, slowing down adoption. What specific policies do you support that would drive the expansion of public and private fast EV chargers across Montclair?

Answer: To drive the expansion of public and fast electric vehicle (EV) chargers across Montclair federally funded projects are available to increase EV stations, like the current agreement with Tesla and Ford using shared charging stations is promising in reducing emissions. These and other supportive policies can drive the expansion of public and private fast EV chargers can make electric vehicle ownership more feasible and convenient for residents and convenient for residents and visitors.

4) Question: New Jersey Transit has failed to restore full bus service following the decision by DeCamp to stop providing commuter service to our region (Montclair, Bloomfield, Nutley, Verona, and the Caldwells) - will you act to resurrect the Transportation Advisory Committee and lobby NJ Transit to restore full weekday and off peak service?

Answer: Yes, lobbying NJ Transit to restore full weekday and off-peak bus service within our regions would be a priority. In addition to lobbying for the restoration of NJ Transit bus service, exploring alternative bus transportation solutions could help mitigate the impacts of the DeCamp decision. This could include lobbying a private entity, exploring partnerships with local shuttle services, ride sharing programs, micro transit solutions, and other innovative approaches to enhance mobility and connectivity within our region.

5) Question: Would you support developing a Montclair Electric Jitney service to link the south, central and north wards with a public transit option?

Answer: Yes, EV Jitney!

6) Question: Our trees shade thousands of square feet with their large canopies and mitigate against thousands of gallons of storm water and runoff each year. The removal of urban forests impact the watershed and can increase emissions in the summer of nearby homes, years worth of stored carbon will be released back into the atmosphere and we lose the entire ecosystem they sustain. Montclair continues to lose its tree canopies. Recent decisions with the Board of Ed being a prime but not the only example. And we understand that 50% of our trees are on private properties. What do you propose to preserve and expand our tree canopy?

Answer: Some proposals to help preserve and expand Montclair’s tree canopy include developing a replacement tree program, establishing a tax incentive to preserve trees on private properties, consulting with NJ Transit when they are cutting down trees along the train line for the replanting of trees.

7) Question: We must urgently work not just to prevent the impacts of climate change but to help Montclair weather the impacts we already see. Will you ensure Montclair improves its stormwater management and works towards greater resilience against floods? And how?

Answer: Apply for grants for upgrading/modernizing stormwater management programs to ensure necessary upgrades to infrastructure and effective floodplain management.

8) Question: This fall, Scotch Plains and Westfield residents voted against new artificial turf projects by wide margins. Arlington, Concord, Wayland, Sharon, and Boston have declared moratoriums on Artificial Turf. Several towns in California are passing bans like the one in Millbrae. Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center recommends a moratorium on Artificial Turf. There are bills in the NYS Senate and another in Massachusetts. In addition, NY has passed legislation that forbids the use of PFAS in carpeting, including artificial turf and Colorado has banned the use of artificial turf in landscaping as a part of a water conservation law. Will you agree to a moratorium on further artificial turf in Montclair to prevent further PFAS contamination and microplastics pollution?

Answer: Yes, we need to protect our student athletes and the community at risk from the health concerns presented by toxic chemicals from the runoff.

Position: Ward Two Councilor

www.montclairteam.com/ilmar-vanderer

Question: If elected, what will your top three climate-related initiatives be and how do they relate to the Town’s Climate Action Plan?

Answer: 1) I commit to empowering Montclair’s municipal Sustainability Office with additional staff as well as financial resources to exponentially expand its scope, effectiveness, and deliverables.

2) I pledge to protect, preserve, sustain, and improve Montclair’s municipal parks and outdoor green recreational facilities according to environmentally optimal guidelines and best practices.

3) I will advocate for forming a Climate-Ready advisory team to provide ideas and expertise for policy making decisions, ideally including environmental scientists from local/regional universities, as well as representatives from Montclair’s robust community of environmental advocacy groups.

Question: What is the major obstacle to our town being more sustainable? How do we overcome this obstacle?

Answer: One of our greatest environmental challenges involves green space conservation, particularly removal of mature trees as a result of development, and then subsequent air pollution, exacerbated by an increase in automobiles as a result of residential and commercial densification.

As a municipality, we are facing a period of major growth and associated development. It will be a challenge to ensure that we balance environmental sustainability with other considerations such as housing affordability and access to services. In general, growth is positive, but there is also a limit to the amount of growth any one community can take on while still ensuring that growth is sustainable and fits within important environmental targets such as tree canopy coverage. I believe we need to use regulatory mechanisms to slow down to a more moderate level of growth to ensure that we can meet our important climate and environmental targets and achieve and maintain our status as a truly sustainable community.

When it comes to protecting trees, waterways, and green spaces, we can never do enough. The municipality has authority to restrict development in certain areas to protect the environment. If elected, I will speak up for the designation of more green spaces in our community and call for rezoning, instead of sustaining the type of urban development which inevitably accompanies the destruction of green spaces.

For me, environmental issues are at the forefront of civic decision making. As a Councilor, I will work to achieve meaningful engagement with climate stakeholders in all environmentally-impactful decision making. My long track record of successful advocacy and proven ability to work with others to achieve consensus would ensure that community planning prioritizes sustainable development of affordable communities which minimize commuting volumes while also protecting and preserving our environment.

Question: When making hiring decisions for key positions (such as Township Manager) will you include their commitment to implement the Climate Action Plan as a major criteria in the evaluation process?

Answer: Yes, definitely. It should go without saying that our Township Manager and key staff are in alignment with township environmental objectives. Additionally, I will advocate for mandating that every municipal government department must integrate sustainability, greenhouse reduction goals, and climate preparedness into planning and implementation. This will require oversight from a senior level position, such as the Deputy Township Manager, to oversee this process and integrate planning related to facilities, services, operations, and infrastructure across relevant departments. In doing so, we must consider the cost of implementing such actions to improve our ability to adapt, as well as the potential cost of inaction.

Specific policies:

1) Question: To minimize the worst impacts of climate change, it is urgent to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. What specific policies do you support that would help Montclair residents, businesses and the municipality eliminate fossil fuel use? Ex: a ban on fossil fuel appliances in all new construction in Montclair, rebates on electrification retrofits, electrification of municipal vehicle fleets, or other.

Answer: We must investigate and evaluate the full range of options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Montclair, while also working regionally with our neighboring municipalities to ensure that surrounding areas are in alignment and working in tandem towards common, mutually-beneficial climate goals. At the same time, we should be leading the way, and not waiting around for others to take action.

At a minimum, I promise to evaluate all options for reducing emissions from gas-powered equipment and vehicles, including upholding leaf blower ban and exploring optimal electric municipal vehicle options.

Greenhouse gas removal should be categorized, governed, and incentivized with proper framing leading to policy recommendations that are inclusive, robust, urgent, and justifiable for all. We need targets and actionable benchmarks towards achieving them. More gets accomplished when there are quantitative metrics, deadlines, and buy-in from everyone from residents to our town, county, and state governments.

In the face of rapidly-worsening climate change, activists are campaigning for carbon pricing at every level of government, including municipalities, which are often considered to be laboratories of invention and innovation, implementing policies that can be experimented with before spreading across the nation.

Cities and towns have the potential to enact strong climate legislation and impose economy-wide fees on pollution. If elected, I would explore options to introduce and implement carbon pricing legislation in the form of a cap-and-trade system which aims to encourage and accelerate the uptake of new technologies.

2) Question: Montclair used to benefit from an energy aggregation program that made it easy for residents to opt-in to cleaner energy for their homes, but that program has ended. What specific policies do you support that would promote clean energy use in Montclair?

Answer: It is not clear if this program ended. According to Township Ordinance O-22-03 adopted 3/15/22, “authorization provided to lead agent is valid until December 31, 2025 (the “effective period”), at which time program is subject to renewal at discretion of Township Council.” If renewing or continuing this existing program is an option then I absolutely pledge to vote in favor of doing so if elected as a Councilor.

In any case, we need to develop a clean energy master plan which focuses on low-carbon energy and efficient solutions, such as district energy, solar energy and combined heat and power technologies. We must prepare our residents and businesses for climate change impacts we are already experiencing, but our municipal government cannot do it alone. As a Councilor, I would work with a broad cross-section of stakeholders, including businesses, schools, nonprofits, and community organizations, to outline short-, medium-, and long-term achievable strategies for increasing our township’s environmental resiliency.

3) Question: The majority of greenhouse gas emissions in Montclair come from transportation, but Montclair is sorely lacking in EV chargers, slowing down adoption. What specific policies do you support that would drive the expansion of public and private fast EV chargers across Montclair?

Answer: It should go without saying that prioritizing environmentally beneficial transportation modes must also involve building better infrastructure to support more hybrid and alternate fuel vehicles.

Achieving efficient, effective expansion and equitable access to chargers across Montclair must first and foremost include community input and feedback about charger locations. Surveys and public engagement will address charger disparities, better understand current transportation patterns, and identify community needs. Engaging with all types of EV users, especially those historically excluded from municipal planning processes, will ensure that public chargers are effectively utilized and meet the needs of different users.

Additionally, prioritizing public charging infrastructure in charging deserts and near multifamily housing is critical in achieving full transportation electrification. Renters and residents living in multifamily housing cannot integrate charging into their own private residence, making areas dense with apartment complexes and rented properties more likely to be charging deserts, so municipal planning should prioritize areas with more multifamily housing as they develop EV charging policies, plans, and programs.

Increasing pricing clarity and transparency is also key, as publicly accessible charging infrastructure is often owned and operated by private charging providers, and charging fees are not standardized and vary greatly, which confuses customers. If our government owns or contracts chargers through municipal procurement processes, it can influence how fees are set by user type. Offering free or discounted charging to low-income users, and requiring transparent signage about fees, also should be considered.

Finally, as we work to reduce vehicle miles traveled in our community, truly equitable access to EV charging should involve taking a system-wide approach and providing charging for all modes of transportation, including e-bikes, e-scooters, e-rideshare, e-ride-hailing, as well as electric transit e-buses.

4) Question: New Jersey Transit has failed to restore full bus service following the decision by DeCamp to stop providing commuter service to our region (Montclair, Bloomfield, Nutley, Verona, and the Caldwells) - will you act to resurrect the Transportation Advisory Committee and lobby NJ Transit to restore full weekday and off peak service?

Answer: It goes without saying that public transportation, including bus service, is core, frontline infrastructure and must be sustained as an efficient, cost-effective, environmentally beneficial alternative to individual vehicle transit. However, commuting patterns have been drastically altered following Covid, so data about commuter patterns, ridership demand, and most-utilized travel routes must first be studied to identify and evaluate peak demand times and optimal geographic locations for restoring bus service.

5) Question: Would you support developing a Montclair Electric Jitney service to link the south, central and north wards with a public transit option?

Answer: Yes, most definitely. It is already proven that electric public transportation has multiple advantages, including ease of battery recharging, regenerative braking, and lower operational costs and maintenance expenses. In addition to fully eliminating gas engine emissions, an electric jitney would significantly reduce noise pollution and contribute to an overall improvement in community quality of life.

6) Question: Our trees shade thousands of square feet with their large canopies and mitigate against thousands of gallons of storm water and runoff each year. The removal of urban forests impact the watershed and can increase emissions in the summer of nearby homes, years worth of stored carbon will be released back into the atmosphere and we lose the entire ecosystem they sustain. Montclair continues to lose its tree canopies. Recent decisions with the Board of Ed being a prime but not the only example. And we understand that 50% of our trees are on private properties. What do you propose to preserve and expand our tree canopy?

Answer: Heat domes, smoke from wildfires, and atmospheric rivers remind us of the urgent need to take action. The Council is the frontline of climate governance and must take steps to protect residents from worsening impacts. For the record, I attended Board Of Ed meetings when the Woodman Field tree issue first surfaced. Well before I was an officially certified candidate, I spoke out publicly against the BOE decision and in favor of retaining trees. It also should be noted that no other current council candidates attended those meetings, or took any public stand in favor of retaining our tree canopy in this situation.

Interestingly and encouragingly, in 2023 Montclair was the recipient of a $1 million US Department Of Agriculture grant awarded through the NJ Forest Service for “a project to mitigate urban heat island hotspots by increasing the urban tree canopy in underserved communities, increasing education and outreach, and supporting youth employment. It would be useful to have a status update on this grant, and to explore options for securing additional, similar grants from foundations or other levels of government.

Meanwhile, I support a strong tree management plan which first and foremost involves planting more trees, then incentivizes builders to build around trees, and finally establishes strong replacement tree ratios. Additionally, arborist assessments should be done for any existing trees on a property being redeveloped to assess what trees might be kept, and to assess any potential adverse effect to trees on adjacent properties. We should require mature trees be kept when they are found to be healthy, wind-resistant, and outside of new building envelopes. We must increase re-planting requirements for trees that are taken down to build a new house, with a focus on tree species that are native to our region.

If this type of development is done, we must ensure that green areas and tree canopies are left in their natural state and with a larger setback than currently required. Such areas would be much more wind-resistant, would provide shade and cooling for the neighborhoods, and would serve as natural habitats. This model not only preserves more of our tree canopies and provides benefits to mitigate climate change, it also would be impactful to human livability, including physical as well as mental health.

7) Question: We must urgently work not just to prevent the impacts of climate change but to help Montclair weather the impacts we already see. Will you ensure Montclair improves its stormwater management and works towards greater resilience against floods? And how?

Answer: Having lived for decades in a flood-prone area of the Oakcroft district, I am personally impacted by and vulnerable to periodic flooding from Essex County's Anderson Park, which overflows into Toney's Brook in heavier rainfall. This is particularly problematic for residents of adjacent, connecting streets, where overflowing rain water ultimately drains in the aftermath of severe storms, so it goes without saying that I absolutely support all stormwater management and flooding mitigation efforts.

Over many years, there have been attempts to address this issue in our neighborhood, most recently 14 years ago, by Montclair's former mayor, Ed Remsen, who worked with Essex County to install a drainage system in Anderson Park to control flooding, and prevent Toney's Brook from overflowing. It worked well for a few years, but has not been well maintained since then, so flooding is now back to previous levels.

In managing stormwater runoff rate and volume, use of green infrastructure components such as permeable pavers, rain gardens, green roofs, drainage basins, and infiltration trenches should be encouraged and incorporated as landscaping features in new residential and commercial development.

8) Question: This fall, Scotch Plains and Westfield residents voted against new artificial turf projects by wide margins. Arlington, Concord, Wayland, Sharon, and Boston have declared moratoriums on Artificial Turf. Several towns in California are passing bans like the one in Millbrae. Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center recommends a moratorium on Artificial Turf. There are bills in the NYS Senate and another in Massachusetts. In addition, NY has passed legislation that forbids the use of PFAS in carpeting, including artificial turf and Colorado has banned the use of artificial turf in landscaping as a part of a water conservation law. Will you agree to a moratorium on further artificial turf in Montclair to prevent further PFAS contamination and microplastics pollution?

Answer: There is growing awareness that inorganic materials and proven toxic chemicals contained in artificial turf are
affecting people, altering our organic environment, and disrupting our shared, natural ecosystem, so I do favor
a ban. However, in addition to simply being opposed to plastic grass, I believe that we as a municipality as well as a community must do more to educate and inform residents about obvious benefits of organically managed natural grass turf fields as the more fiscally responsible, physically safer, and ecologically preferable alternative.

Position: Ward Two Councilor

www.eileenformontclair.com

Question: If elected, what will your top three climate-related initiatives be and how do they relate to the Town’s Climate Action Plan?

Answer: The Climate Action Plan has ambitious goals—it should remain front and center in all decisions being made by the Council, and the Council should work closely with the Enviromental Commission and other groups to ensure we are moving toward a more sustainable future. My top three overarching initiatives fall into three categories:
1. Commitment to making community property and infrastructure sustainable
a. The Climate Action Plan has ambitious goals to reduce emissions—a large part of reaching these goals depends on making our community property (eg municipal, schools) more sustainable. We need to develop a strategic plan to ensure that going forward, we invest in sustainable infrastructure and products. This includes energy audits of all buildings, investment in low-emission vehicles, and capital projects that modernize our infrastructure in a sustainable way. For example, we need to have a plan for our municipal fleet, including our police cars, to replace with lower emission vehicles as older vehicles cycle out. Police cars everywhere spend a lot of time idling, producing emissions. A hybrid powertrain has become standard for some police cars, and the Ford Interceptor, which is one of the most popular police cars in the country, has this available. Many communities are shifting toward hybrid fleets, which saves on fuel costs and can substantially lower emissions. Princeton is transitioning and replacing older police cars with hybrids. Yet Montclair just last month authorized purchase of new SUV police cars that to my knowledge are not hybrids. Is there a rationale for this? We need to have a plan, as cars cycle out, to replace them with more efficient, lower emission vehicles. According to their website Bloomfield has at least 10 municipal vehicles that are electric, and is replacing older vehicles with energy efficient ones. Bloomfield has also pursued grants to purchase electric vehicles, such as electric trucks. There are several examples around the state that Montclair can look to in terms of modernizing infrastructure—including Maplewood’s police station that was one of the earliest LEEDs certified municipal buildings in the state. We should look to successes in other towns, as well as innovative technology, to inform our decisions. One important thing we should discuss as a town is whether to establish an Open Space Trust Fund.
2. Encouraging Energy Efficiency/Clean Energy/Electrification in Private Properties
a. I installed solar panels on my house 4 years ago and it remains one of the best things I did to my house. However, the only reason I even knew it would be something attainable for my house, was because a salesperson knocked on my door and told me how it worked and about the incentives available. I absolutely love it. I hope we can do more of this type of outreach, and let people know about this and other ways to modernize homes to be more efficient. As technology advances, people need to know how these advances can be incorporated into their homes. We should make sure people are aware of any incentives available.
b. Provide more electrical charging for vehicles
i. Montclair was among the first municipalities to provide this, but we need to continue to expand—accessing grants that are available, as well as requiring in new construction builds.
3. Helping our wonderful commercial spaces become more environmentally-friendly
a. Just some examples: At a budget meeting in January, it was noted that Montclair had 174 restaurants. This is amazing and is such a great feature of Montclair.
b. We should look to make this as sustainable as we can—with reduction of single-use plastics (as NYC is doing), encouraging compostable or sustainable packaging. For example, we should assess if people who order take out need/use the plastic utensils that are often included in takeout orders. Do they use these? Or do they just get left in the bag and then thrown away? I really appreciate when restaurants only provide these when asked, and this is the kind of simple thing that can reduce waste. I was so pleased to see the removal of Styrofoam from restaurant packaging, and hopefully we can continue to encourage more sustainable packaging.
c. Make parking options clear to avoid people driving around for spots/double parking and idling. Consider to provide more 15 minute parking to prevent idling and having people double park or be driving around. Other towns with commercial spaces adopted this during Covid and it has facilitated safer driving and less “block circling.”
Each of these objectives supports the goals of the Climate Action Plan.

Question: What is the major obstacle to our town being more sustainable? How do we overcome this obstacle?

Answer: I think a major issue for Montclair is that much of our infrastructure is old/and or aging, and requires considerable investment to modernize/upgrade/replace it. Many times we seem to be putting bandaids on situations/buildings that probably require replacement or much larger repair. These buildings that were built decades ago are often very inefficient. So we need to really assess what our infrastructure priorities are because it doesn’t make sense to continue to patch up many of these older buildings when their long term use is likely not sustainable or efficient. Our power grid is also outdated and should be modernized. So much of this comes down to money. We need to allocate our resources to ensure we can move forward in a sustainable way.

Question: When making hiring decisions for key positions (such as Township Manager) will you include their commitment to implement the Climate Action Plan as a major criteria in the evaluation process?

Answer: Yes, I would hope that we would be able to find people who have education and experience in environmentally-sustainable practice, and this should be top of mind when hiring.

Specific policies:

1) Question: To minimize the worst impacts of climate change, it is urgent to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. What specific policies do you support that would help Montclair residents, businesses and the municipality eliminate fossil fuel use? Ex: a ban on fossil fuel appliances in all new construction in Montclair, rebates on electrification retrofits, electrification of municipal vehicle fleets, or other.

Answer: As above, I believe we should commit to an environmentally friendlier municipal infrastructure, including municipal fleet. We should liase with other towns who have been using these vehicles to see what the pros/cons have been. We should be performing energy audits of all of our municipal buildings to see where we can make improvements in existing buildings, and what buildings need more major capital projects to support or replace them. At this time, I am not ready to commit to passing any bans on private construction, as I believe this needs significant research into feasibility and cost prior to reaching any conclusions. I believe in incentives that can be used to encourage people to make a switch to more sustainable infrastructure. Much information can be found at the Sustainable Jersey website to see what other towns have successfully done—we should use this as a resource for possible activities that Montclair could do.

2) Question: Montclair used to benefit from an energy aggregation program that made it easy for residents to opt-in to cleaner energy for their homes, but that program has ended. What specific policies do you support that would promote clean energy use in Montclair?

Answer: I believe that the municipality should serve as a model for environmentally-sustainable practice. We have many people within our community who can help develop specific strategies, based on the goals of the CAP, as well as nearby communities that have taken steps, and we can seek to emulate their positive experiences. As much as we can, we should take advantage of grants/resources available at the state and federal level to encourage transition to clean energy. As mentioned above, there are incentives available to homeowners and business owners to install solar panels and other clean energy actions and we should ensure that people are aware of these.

3) Question: The majority of greenhouse gas emissions in Montclair come from transportation, but Montclair is sorely lacking in EV chargers, slowing down adoption. What specific policies do you support that would drive the expansion of public and private fast EV chargers across Montclair?

Answer: 1. If any new parking deck is built (not sure we need anymore, but if) there should be a requirement to include electric charging stations. This can also be true for new parking garages in new residential buildings.
2. Consider to add on street parking spots that can accommodate electric chargers.
3. Possible incentives to busineses to include within their lots (eg supermarkets)
4. Assessment of available municipal space to see if electric chargers can be installed for community use.

4) Question: New Jersey Transit has failed to restore full bus service following the decision by DeCamp to stop providing commuter service to our region (Montclair, Bloomfield, Nutley, Verona, and the Caldwells) - will you act to resurrect the Transportation Advisory Committee and lobby NJ Transit to restore full weekday and off peak service?

Answer: Yes, I think the TAC was instrumental in 2009 in getting NJT to bring train service to Bay Street on weekends, and this service is invaluable, if imperfect, to this community. I think as we have new challenges to our transportation infrastructure—including increased cost of NJT, delays, departure of DeCamp, the TAC would be vital in helping to develop a plan for our community and advocating for community needs.

5) Question: Would you support developing a Montclair Electric Jitney service to link the south, central and north wards with a public transit option?

Answer: Yes, I think we have several nearby examples of towns that use jitneys to help people access public transportation. Princeton has recently received a grant for two electric jitneys. I think Montclair needs to seriously look at the needs of the community in terms of getting to public transport, AND around town. Giving people the option to not use a car makes our streets safer, and reduces emissions.

6) Question: Our trees shade thousands of square feet with their large canopies and mitigate against thousands of gallons of storm water and runoff each year. The removal of urban forests impact the watershed and can increase emissions in the summer of nearby homes, years worth of stored carbon will be released back into the atmosphere and we lose the entire ecosystem they sustain. Montclair continues to lose its tree canopies. Recent decisions with the Board of Ed being a prime but not the only example. And we understand that 50% of our trees are on private properties. What do you propose to preserve and expand our tree canopy?

Answer: There are several things we should do. I think we can look to towns with model tree ordinances to see if they are appropriate for Montclair. We should have an arborist working with adequate hours to continually assess our trees to make sure they are safe—recent severe weather has resulted in loss of trees in several places. We should plant appropriate trees that will be resilient against diseases.
Montclair should have a serious conversation (with possible referendum) about establishing an Open Space Fund because that unlocks resources available at the state level that can help us preserve open space, and use it to develop urban forests where we can. Many communities have established Open Space Funds that make them eligible for grants and/or low interest loans, and this is something Montclair should evaluate as to whether it would benefit our town.

7) Question: We must urgently work not just to prevent the impacts of climate change but to help Montclair weather the impacts we already see. Will you ensure Montclair improves its stormwater management and works towards greater resilience against floods? And how?

Answer: Yes, I think we can no longer afford not to. Extreme weather events will continue to happen and we must address this issue urgently. These projects tend to be large and require expertise that is available on the federal, state and county level. We should ensure we are accessing all available external funding for necessary projects. This includes expert assessment of Toney’s Brook and the culvert system—where it needs improvement, what might be daylighted, and at what cost/benefit. We know that the Army Corps of Engineers has assessed parts of our town that are prone to flooding—what is their evaluation? What can be acted upon?
Additionally, we can take steps at a local level that include building up our green infrastructure to build resiliency, including planting rain gardens that reduce runoff. We can do this on a municipal level as demonstration projects, and encourage people to build them on their property as well.

8) Question: This fall, Scotch Plains and Westfield residents voted against new artificial turf projects by wide margins. Arlington, Concord, Wayland, Sharon, and Boston have declared moratoriums on Artificial Turf. Several towns in California are passing bans like the one in Millbrae. Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center recommends a moratorium on Artificial Turf. There are bills in the NYS Senate and another in Massachusetts. In addition, NY has passed legislation that forbids the use of PFAS in carpeting, including artificial turf and Colorado has banned the use of artificial turf in landscaping as a part of a water conservation law. Will you agree to a moratorium on further artificial turf in Montclair to prevent further PFAS contamination and microplastics pollution?

Answer: I would agree that the use of turf with PFAS should no longer be encouraged, as there is uncertainty about long term health consequences to humans (with accruing evidence that there is negative effect), and there is enough certainty about its negative environmental impact. Right next door, Verona has had to take 2 wells out of commission due to PFAS contamination, and our own Rand Well needs rehabilitation. The creation of heat islands is also something we need to avoid, and in general we need to be focused on what is healthy and sustainable. We are also seeing authorities establishing more stringent regulations around exposure to PFAS. I think we need to balance our recreational and sport needs, as there is increasing demand for playing surfaces. All of this is a reason I think Montclair should look at possible benefits of establishing an Open Space Fund, as it can be used to support recreational facilities and fields, and there may be matching money available that can help us build sustainable natural surfaces. We should look to train our staff in best practice in natural playing fields, including drainage. Grass has been the default playing surface for eons, so I think we should evaluate how we can continue that. I say this with deep appreciation for the benefits of recreation and athletics, but also caution in the face of unknown, long term consequences of chemical exposure. We should work toward something better.

Please feel free to add any information that you feel is relevant regarding previous work or positions on environmental issues that you think we should be aware of.

I have been very inspired by the work of many people in our community regarding environmental sustainability and resiliency. I have learned a lot through them, and been able to adopt several in my personal life, which has been fairly seamless. I hope as a community we can be leaders in environmental best prac;ce. I think we should try and priori;ze this as a community, and this includes budge;ng for it, as well as aggressively pursuing external funding for improvements.

Position: Ward Three Councilor

www.rahumformontclair.com

Question: If elected, what will your top three climate-related initiatives be and how do they relate to the Town’s Climate Action Plan?

Answer: I do not believe in reinventing the wheel. I like the Town’s Climate Action Plan’s existing initiatives: Energy efficiency and electrification; use of clean energy; and use of clean transportation.

Question: What is the major obstacle to our town being more sustainable? How do we overcome this obstacle?

Answer: I think that our collective reliance on ICE vehicles for transportation and providing municipal services (e.g. police, fire department, etc) is a major obstacle to the town becoming more sustainable. I think that the Federal government providing subsidies for EVs is starting to have the intended impact on consumer demand for these vehicles. However, we need to make fast chargers just as ubiquitous as gas stations to allay concerns about range anxiety.

Question: When making hiring decisions for key positions (such as Township Manager) will you include their commitment to implement the Climate Action Plan as a major criteria in the evaluation process?

Answer: Yes

Specific policies:

1) Question: To minimize the worst impacts of climate change, it is urgent to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. What specific policies do you support that would help Montclair residents, businesses and the municipality eliminate fossil fuel use? Ex: a ban on fossil fuel appliances in all new construction in Montclair, rebates on electrification retrofits, electrification of municipal vehicle fleets, or other.

Answer: I would like to see the town electrify its fleet of vehicles. However, the costs of EVs need to become more comparable to ICE vehicles and the Town needs to increase its investment in the charging infrastructure first. I would also like to see the town make use of renewable energy sources like solar.

2) Question: Montclair used to benefit from an energy aggregation program that made it easy for residents to opt-in to cleaner energy for their homes, but that program has ended. What specific policies do you support that would promote clean energy use in Montclair?

Answer: I am not sure if this question is referencing the Sustainable Essex Alliance program, which allowed certain towns in Essex County to buy renewable energy on behalf of its residents. But I would definitely like to see this program relaunched. I believe that this would be a very effective way to not only lower energy costs for residents but also promote the use of renewable energy sources. This program also dovetails into something that I am very passionate about, shared service agreements amongst the municipalities as a way to share costs and stymie tax growth.

3) Question: The majority of greenhouse gas emissions in Montclair come from transportation, but Montclair is sorely lacking in EV chargers, slowing down adoption. What specific policies do you support that would drive the expansion of public and private fast EV chargers across Montclair?

Answer: I currently own an EV, an electric scooter (that I use for commuting to work), an electric snowblower and an electric toothbrush (maybe I could have left this part out). Basically, I am all in for a strategy that would install fast EV chargers via a public/private partnership at various locations throughout town. I would support a policy that streamlined permitting for fast chargers, working with PSE&G on upgrading electrical service to the fast chargers, and revising zoning laws so that charger placement is a top priority.

4) Question: New Jersey Transit has failed to restore full bus service following the decision by DeCamp to stop providing commuter service to our region (Montclair, Bloomfield, Nutley, Verona, and the Caldwells) - will you act to resurrect the Transportation Advisory Committee and lobby NJ Transit to restore full weekday and off peak service?

Answer: Yes

5) Question: Would you support developing a Montclair Electric Jitney service to link the south, central and north wards with a public transit option?

Answer: Yes. This sounds like a great initiative for the contemplated relaunched Transportation Advisory Committee to undertake. We would also need to reconvene the Town’s Finance Committee, so that we could find the capital in support of this initiative.

6) Question: Our trees shade thousands of square feet with their large canopies and mitigate against thousands of gallons of storm water and runoff each year. The removal of urban forests impact the watershed and can increase emissions in the summer of nearby homes, years worth of stored carbon will be released back into the atmosphere and we lose the entire ecosystem they sustain. Montclair continues to lose its tree canopies. Recent decisions with the Board of Ed being a prime but not the only example. And we understand that 50% of our trees are on private properties. What do you propose to preserve and expand our tree canopy?

Answer: As I canvased the 3rd Ward, I noticed that there are several blocks that look barren, due to the lack of shade trees. Beside from the beneficial environmental impacts that shade trees provide, they also enhance curb appeal. I would make sure that there is money in the budget to continue to plant shade trees throughout town. As for the Woodman field tree issue, I believe that there are already permitting requirements that govern the taking down of trees. The issue with Woodman field revolved around a debate about BOE’s need to obtain permits from the town for the work that was done.

7) Question: We must urgently work not just to prevent the impacts of climate change but to help Montclair weather the impacts we already see. Will you ensure Montclair improves its stormwater management and works towards greater resilience against floods? And how?

Answer: I was recently made aware of the fact that some of my neighbors get up to 3.5 feet of water in their basements when the culvert that runs through their property overflows. While I am not directly impacted by flooding, I reached out to the Town Manager about the flooding to see if anything could be done to permanently remediate the situation. If I am elected to town council, I will look to make sure that there is money in the capital budget allocated to address flooding. I would also support the hiring of an civil engineer to oversee the remediation of the flooding issue and various other infrastructure projects (e.g. Vision Zero initiatives).

8) Question: This fall, Scotch Plains and Westfield residents voted against new artificial turf projects by wide margins. Arlington, Concord, Wayland, Sharon, and Boston have declared moratoriums on Artificial Turf. Several towns in California are passing bans like the one in Millbrae. Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center recommends a moratorium on Artificial Turf. There are bills in the NYS Senate and another in Massachusetts. In addition, NY has passed legislation that forbids the use of PFAS in carpeting, including artificial turf and Colorado has banned the use of artificial turf in landscaping as a part of a water conservation law. Will you agree to a moratorium on further artificial turf in Montclair to prevent further PFAS contamination and microplastics pollution?

Answer: I am not an expert on PFAS and artificial turf, but I would consider a moratorium after the Town held a hearing on the topic. If we can use another product that minimizes contamination risk, then I think that it makes sense to do so.

Position: Ward Three Councilor

www.montclairteam.com/roddy-moore

Question: If elected, what will your top three climate-related initiatives be and how do they relate to the Town’s Climate Action Plan?

Answer: My top climate initiative is more so related to dealing with current problems and improving the town’s ability to withstand the inevitable, future impacts from climate change. That is stormwater management. This most recent storm was shocking. From what I saw on Llwellyn at Nishuane Park, behind houses along Tony’s Brook in the 4th, and in the widely circulated video in front of the high school; flooding has reached critical proportions and needs immediate consideration. While stormwater management doesn’t materially impact the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, it does address a pressing risk that we are currently facing. I also support exploring the establishment of an electric Jitney service to both get cars off of the road (ties directly to the Climate Action Plan) and improve affordable transportation options as a matter of equity.

Question: What is the major obstacle to our town being more sustainable? How do we overcome this obstacle?

Answer: Achieving the desired reductions in greenhouse gas emissions will require participation (and money) from residents to really move the needle on reducing Montclair’s greenhouse gas emissions, both in terms of home emissions and transportation emissions. The Town should focus on a targeted communication strategy to educate homeowners (particularly ones in the equipment buying cycle) on the options, available incentives, and potential risks/impacts from climate change to help overcome this. I think that projects funded with proceeds from the school infrastructure bonds should have mandates geared towards reducing reliance on fossil fuels, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving sustainability. Impact on the Climate Action Plan (the “Plan”) aside, I think that it’s important that Montclair lead by example.

Question: When making hiring decisions for key positions (such as Township Manager) will you include their commitment to implement the Climate Action Plan as a major criteria in the evaluation process?

Answer: The Plan should be a topic during the evaluation process for key positions. However, my expectation is that it would be more so to weed out candidates that deny science or are otherwise incredulous. When hiring a key employee, I’d like to focus on attributes that will make the Plan’s execution more likely. Without certain key attributes, I’d view any candidate’s affirmative support for the Plan as lip service.

Specific policies:

1) Question: To minimize the worst impacts of climate change, it is urgent to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. What specific policies do you support that would help Montclair residents, businesses and the municipality eliminate fossil fuel use? Ex: a ban on fossil fuel appliances in all new construction in Montclair, rebates on electrification retrofits, electrification of municipal vehicle fleets, or other.

Answer:
● Advocating for environmental initiatives as a part of large-scale, development negotiations; particularly around energy efficiency, electrification, and stormwater retention.
● Providing incentives to residential property owners for material reductions in fossil fuel use.
● Electrification of the municipal fleet.
● Exerting influence where possible on BoE infrastructure spending.

2) Question: Montclair used to benefit from an energy aggregation program that made it easy for residents to opt-in to cleaner energy for their homes, but that program has ended. What specific policies do you support that would promote clean energy use in Montclair?

Answer:

● Advocating for environmental initiatives as a part of large-scale, development negotiations; particularly around energy efficiency, electrification, and stormwater retention.
● Providing incentives to residential property owners for material reductions in fossil fuel use.
● Electrification of the municipal fleet.

3) Question: The majority of greenhouse gas emissions in Montclair come from transportation, but Montclair is sorely lacking in EV chargers, slowing down adoption. What specific policies do you support that would drive the expansion of public and private fast EV chargers across Montclair?

Answer: I’d want to see data that supports the suggestion that a lack of fast EV chargers is a primary roadblock to adoption. However, I think that independent gas station owners should be incentivized to participate in the transition to cleaner transportation. Gas stations are natural locations for fast EV chargers and drivers are already conditioned to “fill up” here. Furthermore, as a matter of empathy and equity, consideration should be given to the impact on gas station owners (mostly independent) that the transition to cleaner transportation will inevitably have.

4) Question: New Jersey Transit has failed to restore full bus service following the decision by DeCamp to stop providing commuter service to our region (Montclair, Bloomfield, Nutley, Verona, and the Caldwells) - will you act to resurrect the Transportation Advisory Committee and lobby NJ Transit to restore full weekday and off peak service?

Answer: I certainly support reestablishing the Transportation Advisory Committee.
Reduced bus service has been particularly harmful to our senior community and others that depend on public transportation. While I’m loath to call it “lobbying”, the 3rd Ward should have representation with a track record of success in the kind of evidence-based advocacy this effort will require.

5) Question: Would you support developing a Montclair Electric Jitney service to link the south, central and north wards with a public transit option?

Answer: I do support an electric Jitney in concept, but the long-term funding of such a service should be analyzed and understood BEFORE just doing it to score a political win on a grant that’s going to go away. We should be upfront about this funding challenge.

6) Question: Our trees shade thousands of square feet with their large canopies and mitigate against thousands of gallons of storm water and runoff each year. The removal of urban forests impact the watershed and can increase emissions in the summer of nearby homes, years worth of stored carbon will be released back into the atmosphere and we lose the entire ecosystem they sustain. Montclair continues to lose its tree canopies. Recent decisions with the Board of Ed being a prime but not the only example. And we understand that 50% of our trees are on private properties. What do you propose to preserve and expand our tree canopy?

Answer: I’d be interested to learn from Montclair’s environmental advocates here.

7) Question: We must urgently work not just to prevent the impacts of climate change but to help Montclair weather the impacts we already see. Will you ensure Montclair improves its stormwater management and works towards greater resilience against floods? And how?

Answer: This is a key concern for me. Negotiations related to future development should be used as opportunities to make strides here. It’s also important that we collaborate with neighboring towns to understand the environmental impacts of our collective decisions.

8. Question: This fall, Scotch Plains and Westfield residents voted against new artificial turf projects by wide margins. Arlington, Concord, Wayland, Sharon, and Boston have declared moratoriums on Artificial Turf. Several towns in California are passing bans like the one in Millbrae. Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center recommends a moratorium on Artificial Turf. There are bills in the NYS Senate and another in Massachusetts. In addition, NY has passed legislation that forbids the use of PFAS in carpeting, including artificial turf and Colorado has banned the use of artificial turf in landscaping as a part of a water conservation law. Will you agree to a moratorium on further artificial turf in Montclair to prevent further PFAS contamination and microplastics pollution?

Answer: The growing body of scientific research clearly shows the dangers posed by PFAS chemicals and microplastics, particularly their persistence in the environment and their potential to accumulate in the human body over time. These “forever chemicals”, found in many artificial turf products, do not degrade naturally and can lead to long-term health
risks and environmental contamination; particularly when it comes to the inevitable disposal at the end of its useful life.
In addition to the concerns about PFAS and microplastics, there are other significant
environmental issues associated with artificial turf. This material can considerably elevate local temperatures, creating uncomfortable and potentially hazardous conditions during hot weather. This increase in heat not only affects players and spectators but also leads to heightened cooling demands in nearby buildings, resulting in higher energy consumption and associated emissions. Furthermore, the impermeability of artificial turf exacerbates stormwater runoff, increasing the risk of flooding and facilitating the transport of pollutants into local waterways.
The decisive actions taken by communities across the nation against artificial turf clearly
underscore the urgent need to address these concerns comprehensively. Montclair should be a leader on this issue, guided by science. I strongly support a moratorium on the
installation of new artificial turf fields in Montclair. At a minimum, such an action should be viewed as a prudent, precautionary measure.
This stance not only reflects our community’s commitment to environmental sustainability and public health but also ensures that our public spaces remain safe and healthy for all residents. Engaging with our community through informed discussions, partnering with
community organizations, and basing our actions on robust scientific evidence will guide us in making responsible decisions that protect our town now and in the future.

Please feel free to add any information that you feel is relevant regarding previous work or positions on environmental issues that you think we should be aware of.

I won’t pretend to be an expert on environmental issues. However, I care deeply about our environment, and as an engineer I trust science. The impacts of climate change are obvious, and this must be prioritized in the Town’s decision making. This is an area where community advocates should be leveraged to advise the township.

Position: Ward Three Councilor

www.wendyformontclair.com

Question: If elected, what will your top three climate-related initiatives be and how do they relate to the Town’s Climate Action Plan

Answer: If elected, my top three climate-related initiatives for Montclair would be:
Promoting renewable energy adoption through incentives and partnerships.
Implementing energy efficiency programs for buildings and transportation, and encouraging sustainable development practice.
Expanding green spaces throughout Montclair. Additionally - work with local car dealerships to provide discount vouchers for residents that are interested in
transitioning to electric cars.

Question: What is the major obstacle to our town being more sustainable? How do we overcome this obstacle?

Answer: Lack of Awareness and Education: Many residents may not fully understand the importance of sustainability or know how to adopt more eco-friendly practices in their daily lives. We can overcome these obstacle by providing free training to businesses and residents, and allocating funds from the township for these trainings.

Question: When making hiring decisions for key positions (such as Township Manager) will you include their commitment to implement the Climate Action Plan as a major criteria in the evaluation process?

Answer: The Climate Action Plan should be an important component of the evaluation process. This can be balanced with other essential qualifications and experience required for the position to ensure the best candidate is selected.

Specific policies:

1) Question: To minimize the worst impacts of climate change, it is urgent to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. What specific policies do you support that would help Montclair residents, businesses and the municipality eliminate fossil fuel use? Ex: a ban on fossil fuel appliances in all new construction in Montclair, rebates on electrification retrofits, electrification of municipal vehicle fleets, or other.

Answer: I would strongly encourage transitioning all of Montclair's municipal vehicles, including buses, garbage trucks, and service vehicles to electric alternatives,which significantly reduce emissions. This can be achieved through incentives for purchasing electric vehicles (EVs), installing charging infrastructure across the town, and setting targets for the electrification of the municipal fleet over time.

2) Question: Montclair used to benefit from an energy aggregation program that made it easy for residents to opt-in to cleaner energy for their homes, but that program has ended. What specific policies do you support that would promote clean energy use in Montclair?

Answer: I would implement incentives for residents and business owners to invest in renewable energy technologies such as solar panels. This could include tax credits, rebates, or low- interest loans to offset the upfront costs of installation.

3) Question: The majority of greenhouse gas emissions in Montclair come from transportation, but Montclair is sorely lacking in EV chargers, slowing down adoption. What specific policies do you support that would drive the expansion of public and private fast EV chargers across Montclair?

Answer: I support allocating public funds or grants for the deployment of publicly owned fast EV chargers in strategic locations, such as municipal parking lots, libraries, recreation centers, and along major transportation corridors. This would enhance accessibility and visibility of charging options for residents and visitors, thereby stimulating EV adoption.

4) Question: New Jersey Transit has failed to restore full bus service following the decision by DeCamp to stop providing commuter service to our region (Montclair, Bloomfield, Nutley, Verona, and the Caldwell) - will you act to resurrect the Transportation Advisory Committee and lobby NJ Transit to restore full weekday and off peak service?

Answer: Yes, I will. Reactivating the TAC would provide a platform for community input, collaboration, and advocacy on transportation-related matters. The committee could gather feedback from residents, businesses, and local stakeholders to assess the impact of reduced bus service and formulate recommendations for improving public transit accessibility.

5) Would you support developing a Montclair Electric Jitney service to link the south, central and north wards with a public transit option.

Answer: Absolutely. By connecting different regions of Montclair, the Electric Jitney service can improve overall transportation connectivity within our town. This could benefit residents by providing seamless transfers between neighborhoods, shopping districts, our hotels, educational institutions, and other key destinations.

6) Questions: Our trees shade thousands of square feet with their large canopies and mitigate against thousands of gallons of storm water and runoff each year. The removal of urban forests impact the watershed and can increase emissions in the summer of nearby homes, years worth of stored carbon will be released back into the atmosphere and we lose the entire ecosystem they sustain. Montclair continues to lose its tree canopies. Recent decisions with the Board of Ed being a prime but not the only example. And we understand that 50% of our trees are on private properties. What do you propose to preserve and expand our tree canopy?

Answer: The town can conduct a comprehensive assessment of the existing tree canopies to better understand the current state and identify areas for improvement. We should also consider measures such as urban forestry plans, tree protection ordinances, street tree programs, green infrastructure integration, and community engagement and education.

7) Question: We must urgently work not just to prevent the impacts of climate change but to help Montclair weather the impacts we already see. Will you ensure Montclair improves its stormwater management and works towards greater resilience against floods? And how?

Answer: Yes. By adopting a holistic approach that integrates green infrastructure, regulation for new developments, public education and outreach, and collaboration with community partners and stakeholders, our town can effectively manage stormwater to protect water quality, reduce flooding risks, and enhance the overall resilience of our community.

8) Question: This fall, Scotch Plains and Westfield residents voted against new artificial turf projects by wide margins. Arlington, Concord, Wayland, Sharon, and Boston have declared moratoriums on Artificial Turf. Several towns in California are passing bans like the one in Millbrae. Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center recommends a moratorium on Artificial Turf. There are bills in the NYS Senate and another in Massachusetts. In addition, NY has passed legislation that forbids the use of PFAS in carpeting, including artificial turf and Colorado has banned the use of artificial turf in landscaping as a part of a water conservation law. Will you agree to a moratorium on further artificial turf in Montclair to prevent further PFAS contamination and microplastics pollution?

Answer: Yes, I would agree to a moratorium on further artificial turn in Montclair. There are many concerns about the potential health risks associated with exposure to PFAS and
microplastics from artificial turf, particularly for children who play sports on these surfaces or community members who use turf-covered fields for recreational activities. As a mother of a 4-year-old, I want to ensure all of our children, and our community, are safe from harmful chemicals.

Please feel free to add any information that you feel is relevant regarding previous work or positions on environmental issues that you think we should be aware of.

I would like to advocate for cleaner streets and more green programs created throughout Montclair for our high school & college students, to encourage advocacy among our youth.

Position: Ward Four Councilor

zinafloydfor4thward.org

Question: if elected, what will your top three climate-related initiatives be and how do they relate to the Town’s Climate Action Plan?

Answer : My top three Climate related initiatives align with the CAP overall vision.

1. Improved Public transportation
2. Renewable Energy development
3. Green Building energy efficiency
4. Bonus - Business district restaurant composting


Question: What is the major obstacle to our town being more sustainable? How do we overcome this obstacle?

Answer: Our greatest obstacle lies in the dual challenges of convenience and adaptability. Transforming habits and a comfortable way of life to be more sustainable often involves changes that can be perceived as inconvenient or require significant adaptation from the community.

- Staying ahead of the state regulations allows a slow and cost effective approach to implementing new requirements.
- Consistent public meetings in order to exchange thoughts, information and suggestions
- Make sustainable practices more user friendly and available i.e. EVP

Question: When making hiring decisions for key positions (such as Township Manager) will you include their commitment to implement the Climate Action Plan as a major criteria in the evaluation process?

Answer: It's difficult to envision a scenario where the Climate Action Plan (CAP) isn't considered a top priority. Many of the required changes align with state mandates, requiring that the town manager possess a thorough understanding of the processes, needs, and associated costs involved.

Specific Policies:

1) Question: To minimize the worst impacts of climate change, it is urgent to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. What specific policies do you support that would help Montclair residents, businesses and the municipality eliminate fossil fuel use? Ex: a ban on fossil fuel appliances in all new construction in Montclair, rebates on electrification retrofits, electrification of municipal vehicle fleets, or other.

Answer: A rebate on using fossil fuel or converting to electric with current homeowners and ban it for new development. Strengthen building code requirements. Initiate community solar projects.

2) Question: Montclair used to benefit from an energy aggregation program that made it easy for residents to opt-in to cleaner energy for their homes, but that program has ended. What specific policies do you support that would promote clean energy use in Montclair?

Answer: Montclair can establish a new Municipal Energy Aggregation (MEA) program that again focuses on renewable energy sources. The previous program was an opt-in, this could be designed with an opt-out feature, automatically enrolling residents in clean energy plans while still giving them the choice to opt-out if they prefer.

3) Question: The majority of greenhouse gas emissions in Montclair come from transportation, but Montclair is sorely lacking in EV chargers, slowing down adoption. What specific policies do you support that would drive the expansion of public and private fast EV chargers across Montclair?

Answer: Municipal investment and Private public agreements can leverage private investment to quickly expand charging infrastructure without relying solely on public funds.

4) Question: New Jersey Transit has failed to restore full bus service following the decision by DeCamp to stop providing commuter service to our region (Montclair, Bloomfield, Nutley, Verona, and the Caldwells) - will you act to resurrect the Transportation Advisory Committee and lobby NJ Transit to restore full weekday and off peak service?

Answer: I would think that was extremely beneficial. How that looks I’m not sure. I would also consider customized transportation for seniors etc.

5) Question: Would you support developing a Montclair Electric Jitney service to link the south, central and north wards with a public transit option?

Answer: Yes. I think it should be mandatory.

6) Question: Our trees shade thousands of square feet with their large canopies and mitigate against thousands of gallons of stormwater and runoff each year. The removal of urban forests impacts the watershed and can increase emissions in the summer of nearby homes, years worth of stored carbon will be released back into the atmosphere and we lose the entire ecosystem they sustain. Montclair continues to lose its tree canopies. Recent decisions with the Board of Ed being a prime but not the only example. And we understand that 50% of our trees are on private properties. What do you propose to preserve and expand our tree canopy?

Answer: “Priority” strengthen tree preservation ordinances.

7) Question: We must urgently work not just to prevent the impacts of climate change but to help Montclair weather the impacts we already see. Will you ensure Montclair improves its stormwater management and works towards greater resilience against floods? And how?

Answer: Yes. We should have continuous study or data on stormwater management. Have an emergency preparedness plan. I would also suggest upgrading drainage, and limit or secure the methods of development in flood areas.

8) Question: This fall, Scotch Plains and Westfield residents voted against new artificial turf projects by wide margins. Arlington, Concord, Wayland, Sharon, and Boston have declared moratoriums on Artificial Turf. Several towns in California are passing bans like the one in Millbrae. Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center recommends a moratorium on Artificial Turf. There are bills in the NYS Senate and another in Massachusetts. In addition, NY has passed legislation that forbids the use of PFAS in carpeting, including artificial turf and Colorado has banned the use of artificial turf in landscaping as a part of a water conservation law. Will you agree to a moratorium on further artificial turf in Montclair to prevent further PFAS contamination and microplastics pollution?

Answer: Yes I would agree to a moratorium on further artificial turfs in Montclair. Natural Grass is ideal or organic infill where needed. There are several alternatives to consider such as a sand turf and other comparable options.

Please feel free to add any information that you feel is relevant regarding previous work or positions on environmental issues that you think we should be aware of:

Answer: I truly appreciate this questionnaire! Thank you for providing the opportunity to delve into these issues with a deeper understanding. I would have liked to provide more detailed responses, but I recognize the need for further research to do so.

Position: Ward Four Councilor

Coming soon...

Position: Ward Four Councilor

www.montclairteam.com/aminah-toler

Question: If elected, what will your top three climate-related initiatives be and how do they relate to the Town’s Climate Action Plan?

Answer: I fully support the objectives outlined in the 2024 Climate Action Plan on pages 14-16.

Initiatives that I would prioritize include:
Energy Conservation in Residential Areas: While I back the current plans, the Climate Action Plan overlooks a crucial aspect – many homes in Montclair were built before home insulation standards were in place. To address this, I propose an initiative to install insulation in inadequately insulated areas, offering financial aid to homeowners for this costly upgrade. This could involve insulating basement heating pipes, improving attic insulation, adding insulation to basement walls, and fitting energy-efficient windows. Enhanced home insulation boosts the efficiency of fossil fuel-based heating systems, thus lowering emissions.

Question: What is the major obstacle to our town being more sustainable? How do we overcome this obstacle?

Answer: I think it's crucial to involve the community in embracing sustainability in our town. I propose backing monthly seminars and workshops to highlight the significance, along with a DIY program to spark residents' interest. Additionally, hiring a grants writer could assist families who want to adopt eco-friendly practices but are unable to do so due to financial constraints.

Question: When making hiring decisions for key positions (such as Township Manager) will you include their commitment to implement the Climate Action Plan as a major criteria in the evaluation process?

Answer: Indeed, incorporating the CAP implementation as a measurable objective in the performance evaluations of the town manager and pertinent department heads should also influence their salary increments.

Specific policies:

1) Question: To minimize the worst impacts of climate change, it is urgent to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. What specific policies do you support that would help Montclair residents, businesses and the municipality eliminate fossil fuel use? Ex: a ban on fossil fuel appliances in all new construction in Montclair, rebates on electrification retrofits, electrification of municipal vehicle fleets, or other.

Answer: Specific Initiatives that Hold Top Priority for Me Include:

○ Conserve Energy Residential:
○ Supporting the noted plans, one important aspect not mentioned in the CAP is the age of Montclair's housing stock, built before home insulation was common. Homeowners could benefit from an initiative to install insulation where none exists, such as insulating basement heating pipes, attic, basement walls, and windows. This improves the efficiency of home heating appliances, reducing emissions and saving homeowners some money while doing good for the environment.
○ Clean Electricity:
○ In addition to supporting the existing plans, exploring Tesla's solar tiles for total roof replacement should be considered. Providing information about this option to residents could be beneficial. Educating the community on the importance and the effects of solar power is key.
○ Conducting an audit of the town fleet and school buses is crucial. Questions to consider include the necessity of the vehicles, the possibility of using more fuel-efficient options, optimizing the use of school buses, and integrating NJ Transit bus routes.
○ Circular Bus Route and Bike Lanes:

○ Advocating for a circular bus route around town to reduce car/Uber/Lyft usage is essential. A bus route from the south end of town to ShopRite is particularly needed to address the "food desert" issue. It's crucial to act on existing studies, like the one done by Bike Walk Montclair, to ensure progress for bike lanes.
○ Municipalities and Businesses:
○ Addressing potential capital projects within the next five years, such as the Police Department, Municipal Building, Cary Anderson Arena, Public Library, and Mills Building Senior Center, is necessary. Investing in town properties is crucial, as many are currently in poor condition or outdated. Aligning these efforts with clean energy and energy conservation recommendations is key, and I fully support these initiatives. I would think addressing these capital projects we could serve a model town if federal or state funding from grants could be incorporated.

2) Question: Montclair used to benefit from an energy aggregation program that made it easy for residents to opt-in to cleaner energy for their homes, but that program has ended. What specific policies do you support that would promote clean energy use in Montclair?

Answer:This aggregation program incurred higher costs compared to typical PSE&G bills. Sometimes, I feel that the less fortunate in our community are overlooked when such programs are introduced and unaware of such programs. My suggestion to policymakers is to ensure that individuals from less privileged backgrounds are included in town committees to bring forth diverse perspectives. Iw ould also recommended hands on workshops/seminars for those to engage and better learn the importance of cleaner energy.

3) Question: The majority of greenhouse gas emissions in Montclair come from transportation, but Montclair is sorely lacking in EV chargers, slowing down adoption. What specific policies do you support that would drive the expansion of public and private fast EV chargers across Montclair?

Answer: I believe that implementing shared EV charging stations in local neighborhoods could be successful with the provision of a tax break. Additionally, there is a need for increased engagement from the town government to emphasize the significance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Town could further explore applying for grants to organize workshops for residents to enhance their understanding. Per the 2024 CAP report pages 14 -16 I agree with.

4) Question: New Jersey Transit has failed to restore full bus service following the decision by DeCamp to stop providing commuter service to our region (Montclair, Bloomfield, Nutley, Verona, and the Caldwells) - will you act to resurrect the Transportation Advisory Committee and lobby NJ Transit to restore full weekday and off peak service?

Answer: Yes, indeed. Public transportation is essential in our town as it provides a
cost-effective and efficient means of getting around. I have been involved in NJ Transit webinars and surveys, advocating for the maintenance of specific lines and proposing the addition of more stops within Montclair.

5) Question: Would you support developing a Montclair Electric Jitney service to link the south, central and north wards with a public transit option?

Answer: Agreed! I strongly believe that an EV Jitney service would be perfect for our community. There are currently grant opportunities available that our town should capitalize on. It's important for residents to have a safe and eco-friendly way to travel around town.

6) Question: Our trees shade thousands of square feet with their large canopies and mitigate against thousands of gallons of storm water and runoff each year. The removal of urban forests impact the watershed and can increase emissions in the summer of nearby homes, years worth of stored carbon will be released back into the atmosphere and we lose the entire ecosystem they sustain. Montclair continues to lose its tree canopies. Recent decisions with the Board of Ed being a prime but not the only example. And we understand that 50% of our trees are on private properties. What do you propose to preserve and expand our tree canopy?

Answer: We urgently require our trees! Witnessing a tree being felled for development or pavement truly saddens me. Trees not only supply vital oxygen and offer shade from the heat, but they are essential for our well-being. Preserving our trees is crucial, and launching a campaign to support this cause may be necessary. Perhaps, by implementing a grant program, we can establish ourselves as a "tree town," motivating residents to plant more trees in exchange for a small tax incentive. Just pondering some creative ideas here.

7) Question: We must urgently work not just to prevent the impacts of climate change but to help Montclair weather the impacts we already see. Will you ensure Montclair improves its stormwater management and works towards greater resilience against floods? And how?

Answer: Without a doubt, as a resident facing basement flooding after a heavy rain, I strongly advocate for taking action to address the existing damage and prevent future flooding incidents. The two rivers flowing beneath our town have caused significant flooding in certain areas, resulting in costly aftermaths. It is crucial to educate residents on the significance of Tony's Brook's flow, alongside the impact of global warming on our environment. It is imperative that we take steps to protect our planet immediately.

8) Question: This fall, Scotch Plains and Westfield residents voted against new artificial turf projects by wide margins. Arlington, Concord, Wayland, Sharon, and Boston have declared moratoriums on Artificial Turf. Several towns in California are passing bans like the one in Millbrae. Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center recommends a moratorium on Artificial Turf. There are bills in the NYS Senate and another in Massachusetts. In addition, NY has passed legislation that forbids the use of PFAS in carpeting, including artificial turf and Colorado has banned the use of artificial turf in landscaping as a part of a water conservation law. Will you agree to a moratorium on further artificial turf in Montclair to prevent further PFAS contamination and microplastics pollution?

Answer: I strongly advocate for a halt to installing more artificial turf in Montclair. It's vital for our community to understand the harmful effects of PFAS chemicals on our children's well-being. When making decisions on such important issues, it's crucial to take a proactive approach rather than a reactive one. Ensuring the safety of everyone from this environmental harm is paramount. I am genuinely worried about the long-term impacts of synthetic fields on our children, environment, water, and more. I appreciate organizations like Healthy Playing Surfaces for their dedication to educating and promoting the necessity for change.

Please feel free to add any information that you feel is relevant regarding previous work or positions on environmental issues that you think we should be aware of.

I played a key role in organizing a walk at Tony's Brook with the Northeast Coalition and the Sierra Club to raise awareness among residents about the brook's path through our town. There is a possibility that the development around the Lackawanna area might need to be reevaluated to ensure the brook is visible. As a co-founder of Montclair Mutual Aid, in our first year, we aided residents in their shopping trips to reduce air emissions. Additionally, we introduced a gopher program to assist families without transportation in obtaining essential household items without relying on taxi or Uber services. I have also advocated for daylighting the stream at Lackawanna during Town Council meetings before a decision was made on the project.

I have also reviewed the Townships 2024 CAP report.