Shade Tree Management Board

SHADE TREE MANAGEMENT BOARD Borough of Madison Madison, New Jersey 07940 Minutes of April 19, 2012 Meeting The Shade Tree Management Board held its regular monthly meeting on April 19, 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, Nancy Bruce. Also present: David Maines and Paul Allocco. Absent: Mike Kopas. Jack Kranefuss and Vince Licari. Pledge of Allegiance Call to Order Alan called the meeting to order at 8:00 and read the Sunshine Law for compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act. Minutes The Board approved the March 14, 2012 minutes. The Board addressed the following items of business: Council Liaison Report No report. Budget Report The amount of $40,084.50 of $101,850 has been spent year-to-date. Ray Codey indicated that the hurricane Irene FEMA application is being worked on and may come through August, 2013. Public Comments/Correspondence The resident at 18 Ardsleigh has requested that a tree be removed (because they are dangerous) and wants no replacement. The homeowner on Wisteria at Madison Avenue offered to pay for something small(Pears) to screen and replace a damaged tree. Utilities may be an issue. Borough Tree Status David will update the pruning and removal numbers to Ray Codey. Honor is handing in weekly bills. DPW can handle tree fall planting in August and September. Penny will hold off tree planting efforts until July in case the money is needed for maintenance. The homeowner is not happy with two willow oaks that were planted at 24 Douglas in 2010. Penny will ask Vince to evaluate them and may need to follow up with a hired arborist. The homeowner at 2 Linwood has four sycamores whose roots have grown on the surface in the lawn. The roots may need to be cut. One hundred twenty-three trees have been removed. TCC No report. FMST J&M won the contract to plant the replacement trees on Main Street and Condurso Way. Gene walked and marked the spots. FMST will plant additional trees based on available sites and money. Parks Advisory Committee Paul indicated that the fence at Luke Miller was painted by Monks. Honor is pruning the hangers around the play equipment at Delbarton Park. The tables and benches at Gibbons Place have been removed. Old Business STMB, FMST, GCM and Parks will work together at the Green Fair on May 3, 3:30-7:30 in front on the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts. Arbor Day will be May 5 at 9:00am at Hartley Dodge Memorial. The theme is “Regreening the Rose City” and lollipops and bracelets will be handed out. STMB will celebrate the 27th Tree City USA award and the 5th Growth Award. New Business Gene and Nancy will work on the year-end report. Christine will organize updating the five-year plan which needs to be resubmitted for the Green Communities Grant request by the end of the year. The Board adjourned at 9:30 am. Minutes submitted by Christine Hammitt.