Shade Tree Management Board

SHADE TREE MANAGEMENT BOARD Borough of Madison Madison, New Jersey 07940 Minutes of May 21, 2015 Meeting The Shade Tree Management Board held its regular monthly meeting on May 21, 2015 at 7:00 pm in the Trustees 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, Nancy Bruce, Penny Garman, Christine Hammitt, Steve Miller, Lauren Hagerstrom, Gene Cracovia and Vince Licari. Absent: Mike Kopas, Paul Allocco and David Maines. Pledge of Allegiance Minutes The Board approved the amended April 16, 2015 minutes. The Board addressed the following items of business: Budget Report Currently, $18,971.45 has been expended and $54,689.50 of a $96,683.55 balance is encumbered (removals and maintenance) of the 2015 budget of $108,194.20. Council Liaison Report No report. Alan will submit quarterly updates in March, June, September and December. Public Comments and Correspondence Barbara Hightower of Crescent Road suggested that trees removed at 85 Green Avenue were on her property line. Nancy will advise Ms. Hightower to call Fran Boardman of the Building Department for the relevant Planning Board minutes. Borough Tree Maintenance Status To date, 57 trees have been removed. There were 41 planting replacements and requests (21 of which were approved and 20 were denied). Twelve homeowners rejected the trees. Windshield surveys are due July 1. Additional planting sites are not needed. Please report on the following: Dead or dying trees; Trees that need trimming; Hanging branches that need immediate attention; New trees that are leaning too much; Remove deer guards (especially the solid black pipes) and staking wires that are too tight; Remove gator bags unless they are full of water; Indicate streets that need pruning; Check the new tree planting sites – how are they doing? Spring Tree Planting One hundred and five Trees were delivered in the wrong order. Six Elms and 6 Amalanchiers were switched and need to be replanted. Alan, Penny and Gene will meet with David and Jimmy Sodano to discuss planting issues and solutions. TCC No cases were reviewed in May. FMST Five hundred seedlings were planted by the New Jersey Tree Foundation in the MRC deer exclosure on April 20. Free tree seedlings given out to Madison residents on Monday, April 20 as part of the New Jersey Tree Recovery Campaign. The Friends is planning a fall planting by the NJ Tree Foundation including trees around the Bailey-Ellard field’s parking lot. Parks Advisory Committee No report. Old Business The flag celebrating Madison’s 30 years as a Tree City USA will be flown in May. Only 20 towns in NJ achieved 30 years. Vince will verify the Landmark Tree nominations at 69 Glenwild and 12 Grove. Vince will evaluate the Space Shuttle Tree for removal to a better location. Larry Tabor will be recognized on the Landmark Tree brochure for starting the historic Tuttle Oak from an acorn. New Business A thank you note was signed by the STMB and mailed toTina Notas who coordinated the Drew students to distribute the NJ seedlingson April 20. The Board adjourned at 8:10 pm. Minutes submitted by Christine Hammitt.