Shade Tree Management Board

SHADE TREE MANAGEMENT BOARD Borough of Madison Madison, New Jersey 07940 Minutes of March 14, 2012 Meeting The Shade Tree Management Board held its regular monthly meeting on March 14, 2012 in the second Floor Committee Room of Hartley Dodge Memorial, 50 Kings Road, Madison, New Jersey. Present: Penny Garman, Gene Cracovia, Christine Hammitt, Steve Miller, Alan Andreas Jack Kranefuss and Vince Licari. Also present: David Maines and Paul Allocco. Absent: Nancy Bruce and Mike Kopas. Pledge of Allegiance Call to Order Alan called the meeting to order at 8:00 and Steve read the Sunshine Law for compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act. Minutes The Board approved the February 16, 2012 minutes. The Board addressed the following items of business: Council Liaison Report No report. Budget Report The amount of $21, 565 of $101,850 has been spent year-to-date mostly toward continuing the October storm cleanup. Public Comments/Correspondence The resident at 29 Knollwood Avenue emailed asking that we plant more Maples and Oaks in her neighborhood. Christine will reply with a letter. The resident at 64 Green Avenue asked for trees and is willing to pay if he can choose them. Vince and Mike will evaluate the site to determine the appropriate number and type of trees. Two Paper Bark Maples were requested. FMST will be consulted. A tree needs to be removed at 17 Beech. A neighbor emailed the FMST that Drew University students are abusing the use of the picnic tables at Gibbons Pines Park. The neighbor wants the benches removed and will contribute $1000 for trees to replace them. Parks will assess the issue and determine what to do with the benches. Borough Tree Status Ninety trees have been removed and currently eighty-five more are on the list. At present three hundred trees are on the pruning list. Cedar Hill Nursery won the tree contract and will deliver the trees in mid-April. DPW asked for mark-outs and will plant them. Honor Tree has not submitted any bills, creating problems. Alan will ask Jim Burnet to issue a letter notifying Honor to stop holding bills for months and bill on a regular, timely basis. TCC No applications were reviewed. FMST Penny and Gene will confirm the planting spots for the pears on Main Street and Condurso Way. Parks Advisory Committee Paul noted that DPW cleared the major paths which are in good shape. Summerhill Park needs to be checked for hangers. Old Business Madison Rotary would like a per tree estimate for providing and planting. This is for a possible project this year. They meet every Thursday at 8:15 at the YMCA. Cathie Coultas submitted the paperwork for the High School Service Day requesting 60 students at the Luke Miller house and Summerhill Park. New Business Mike is working on the 2011 year-end report. A letter from the state indicated an April 16 deadline. Penny asked the Board to confirm what trees still need pruning from the old list. The five-year plan needs to be resubmitted for the Green Communities Grant request. The Board adjourned at 9:20 am. Minutes submitted by Christine Hammitt.