Shade Tree Management Board

SHADE TREE MANAGEMENT BOARD Borough of Madison Madison, New Jersey 07940 Minutes of August 16, 2012 Meeting The Shade Tree Management Board held its regular monthly meeting on August 16, 2012 in the second Floor Committee Room of Hartley Dodge Memorial, 50 Kings Road, Madison, New Jersey. Present: Mike Kopas, Penny Garman, Gene Cracovia, Christine Hammitt, Steve Miller, Nancy Bruce and Jack Kranefuss. Also present: Paul Allocco. Absent: Vince Licari, Alan Andreas and David Maines. Pledge of Allegiance Call to Order Mike 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 July 19, 2012 minutes. The Board addressed the following items of business: Council Liaison Report No report. Budget Report An unencumbered balance of $3,250 remains of the total 2012 budget of $101,850. Public Comments and Correspondence Alan submitted to the Madison Patch the following update on cleanup efforts after the fall snowstorm damaged hundreds of borough trees: Dear Madisonians: It has been approximately ten months since the October 2011 storm that devastated Madison’s public tree population. As we approach the fall planting season, the Shade Tree Management Board (STMB) would like to update everyone on the progress towards the massive clean-up effort. To date, there have been a total of 175 trees removed, 130 trees were pruned or elevated to promote better health. More importantly, 375 public trees with dangerous or potentially dangerous hanging limbs have been pruned. The trees along Woodland Road, Colonial Way, and Commuter Parking Lot #3 have all been pruned and Niles Avenue work will commence shortly. For the next year or so, the STMB budget will be primarily devoted to tree removal and pruning, reducing the number of new trees the borough can plant. Even so, the spring saw 25 trees planted by the STMB. Thanks to the ongoing fundraising efforts of the Friends of Madison Shade Trees in partnership with the Garden Club of Madison, another sixteen pear trees were planted along Main Street. This fall the Friends of Madison Shade Trees will sponsor the purchase and planting of 26 new trees. Both planting endeavors will contribute greatly to restoring the trees lost to the storm while continuing to preserve and enhance our tree lined streets. Lastly, The Shade Tree Management Board acknowledges, and is grateful for, the hard work of the volunteers, DPW and private crews, and all the personnel involved in restoring our home town. Continuing in your service, The Borough of Madison Shade Tree Management Board Another update may be submitted in October to the Patch and the Eagle. NJDEP Management Plan expires in December. The Borough of Riverdale is offering training for CEU credits on September 5. Borough Tree Status Honor Tree is not billing. TCC Jack suggested a tree be removed at the old Blockbuster. FMST Twenty-six fall planting sites have been determined and the trees will arrive September 17. Vince or Mike will approve the delivered trees and DPW will plant them. Parks Advisory Committee Paul persistently waters the trees at the Luke Miller house and in Memorial Park. There is a hanger in the Buckingham Drive Park. Hangers are an issue in the Parks. Paul will write a note to Council-Liaison Mr. Links in reference to STMB and Park’s policy. Old Business Windshield surveys are due October 1so that Honor has time to complete the work before December. New Business A-L Services of Parsippany has donated a landscape design at the MRC. The Board adjourned at 8:52 am. Minutes submitted by Christine Hammitt.