Committee tables Millburn Deli rain garden funding request until applicant can attend

The Open Space Trust Fund Advisory Committee voted to table consideration of a grant request to refurbish the rain garden behind the Millburn Deli until the applicant or a Shade Tree Commission representative can attend and answer questions.

Committee members said the application did not include sufficient detail about how the roughly $24,000–$25,000 request would be spent, whether a contractor would be hired or volunteers used, and who would maintain the garden after work is completed. A member also raised an application comment that suggested greasy runoff from the deli could be entering the garden, a point members said would affect whether work should proceed at that location.

"There's a comment in the application that there's greasy runoff coming from the deli into the garden," said Dave, a committee member who reviewed the submission. "That's an issue if that's happening."

Members discussed procurement and municipal purchasing rules, noting that any contractor or consultant work would require multiple quotes and documentation under township rules. Several said they could not responsibly approve funding without more information on bids, maintenance plans and how the money would be allocated between plants, labor and other costs.

The committee moved and seconded a motion to table the request until someone who submitted the application, identified in the discussion as "Liz," or another representative from the Shade Tree group could join a future meeting to address those questions. Members voiced approval on the motion.

Matt, who provided the committee's financial update, said no disbursements have been made from the fund and reported the committee's balance at a little over $2 million across two assessments, with current interest earnings around 3.4%.

Members also briefly discussed whether to invite a representative from the Flood Mitigation Advisory Committee to participate in future reviews. Some members said that panel focuses on large-scale flood-control projects and may consider smaller green-infrastructure items outside its core remit; others said periodic coordination could prevent siloed planning.

The committee agreed to follow up with the town engineer to clarify equipment and digging observed at a nearby property on Millburn Avenue and to ask applicants to attend future meetings when their projects are under consideration. The meeting concluded after routine business and the committee voted to adjourn.

Votes at a glance
- Motion to approve minutes from May 12: moved, seconded and approved (one abstention recorded for a member absent on May 12).
- Motion to table the Millburn Deli rain garden request until the applicant or Shade Tree representative can attend: moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.
- Motion to adjourn: moved, seconded and approved.

Next steps: staff will request that project applicants attend the meeting when their applications are under review, follow up with the town engineer about activity at the Millburn Avenue parcel, and notify the applicant identified as Liz about the committee's request to appear at a future meeting.