Shade Tree Management Board

SHADE TREE MANAGEMENT BOARD Borough of Madison Madison, New Jersey 07940 Minutes of August 21, 2014 Meeting The Shade Tree Management Board held its regular monthly meeting on August 21, 2014 in the second Floor Committee Room of Hartley Dodge Memorial, 50 Kings Road, Madison, New Jersey. Call to Order Alan Andreas called the meeting to order and read the Sunshine Law for compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act. Present: Alan Andreas, Christine Hammitt, Steve Miller, Nancy Bruce, Gene Cracovia, Vince Licari, Penny Garman, Mike Kopas and Lauren Hagerstrom. Also present: Paul Allocco. Absent: David Maines. Bill Johnson, who represents the Borough in a slip-and-fall case, attended the meeting. The Board went into and out of executive session. Minutes The Board approved the July 17, 2014 minutes. The Board addressed the following items of business: Budget Report The year-to-date expended Maintenance Services total $45,133.50 of $82,550 or 55%. Council Liaison Report No report. Public Comments and Correspondence The homeowner at 6 Hamilton Street asked for private tree advice for screening. The homeowner at 4 John Marshall Lane asked for private tree advice. Mike Piano indicated that trees at Madison Plaza and 53 Lathrop are affecting the electric line and will be pruned or removed. A Borough tree located at Anthony and Wayne Boulevard needs to be elevated. The homeowner at 69 Green has requested the replacement of a street tree. Ray Codey’s office will be asked to resend a letter to 34 Green, asking for an explanation about a missing street tree. Borough Tree Maintenance The year-to-date tree removals total 140. The North-East quadrant spring windshield survey is outstanding. Autumn surveys are coming up. TCC Mike and Alan advised the builder on what trees to keep at 85 Green. FMST Paul Leo donated the installation of a bubbler irrigation system at Rose Garden Park. Parks Advisory Committee The Dog Park Committee will meet with the Pool Board and then Borough Council. New Business Penny proposed that the STMB continue with the same planting program without Penny; planting between the sidewalk and the curb will be decided on a case-by-case basis; if there is no sidewalk, the homeowner can reject a replacement; a flyer offering a free tree will be inserted in the next electric bill; publicize a free tree through the Eagle; request sheets will be available at Bottle Hill Day; the homeowner will have no choice in the type of tree; divide the duties into 4 teams/ 1 team per quadrant; the tree list will prioritize requests, then replacements, sidewalk trees and then non-sidewalk trees; decide in December (no later) what type of tree goes where; order the trees the first week in January. Vince will survey the roads scheduled for construction and meet with Bob Vogel to discuss who pays for the tree replacements. Alan arranged with the Borough that the Zoning checklist will include the tree protection policy before a permit is issued. Also, Alan proposed that Council, through Rob Catalanello, update the tree protection measures in the Borough Code to include private construction affecting public trees. Dave is asking for replacement suggestions to address downtown tree issues and the roots uplifting the sidewalks. The Board voted to approve the use of expandable strapping on the trees for the MRC deer fence. At the next meeting, Steve will offer an ArborPro v iTree presentation. Bottle Hill Day is September 27. Homeowners will be able to volunteer for tree plantings and submit entries to update the 2007 Landmark Tree registry. Nancy will send out a press release. Mike, Vince and Christine will meet to write up a planting option policy. Windshield surveys are due October 1. The Board adjourned at 9:35 am. Minutes submitted by Christine Hammitt.