Shade Tree Management Board

SHADE TREE MANAGEMENT BOARD Borough of Madison Madison, New Jersey 07940 Minutes of December 17 , 2015 Meeting The Shade Tree Management Board held its regular monthly meeting on December 17, 2015 at 8:00 am in the 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, Steve Miller, Christine Hammitt, Gene Cracovia, Nancy Bruce, Lauren Hagerstrom and Mike Kopas Also present: Paul Allocco. Absent: Penny Garman, David Maines and Vince Licari. Pledge of Allegiance Minutes The Board approved the November 19, 2015 minutes. The Board addressed the following items of business: Budget Report Honor Tree maintenance bills are being submitted. There is approximately $14,000 remaining in encumbered funds. Honor is continuing on additional 2015 maintenance work. Next year’s budget will increase $2000 to $117,655. Council Liaison Report No report. Public Comments and Correspondence The homeowner at 4 Lewis Drive is concerned about a private tree, which may be dangerous, located on a neighbor’s property at 16 Highland Avenue. Mike will apprise the 4 Lewis Drive homeowner of the STMB private tree policy. Bulldozers at 33 Crescent may be damaging private trees on the adjacent properties. Borough Tree Maintenance Status So far this year, 174 street trees were removed. The eleven year average has been 144.6. Whole streets pruned so far this year include Loveland, Ridgedale, Rosedale, and Spring Garden. Honor is still working. There is still no tree protection at 78 Samson. Steve and Nancy's windshield survey form was an excellent creation. Steve will email the Excel template for everyone’s future windshield survey reporting. The pruning contract bid-opening meeting for the 2015-2016 period is scheduled later today at 10:00 am. TCC No cases were reviewed. The builder clear-cut the property at the corner of Division and Kings Road before the subdivision. Mike suggested that the STMB hire a professional arborist to assess TCC applications. FMST The tree nursery was put to bed for the winter. High School students have planted and will maintain ten trees in Summerhill Park. Parks Advisory Committee Park signs will be replaced next year. Parks budget will increase next year. The MRC Passive Committee recommended that Parks monitor the Madison Recreation Complex. David finished taking down the vines at the Luke Miller property. Old Business Nancy submitted the Tree City USA and the Growth Award applications. Tree Enforcement Bob Vogel will expedite enforcement of the STMB ordinance and violation penalties as per section 45:15. A liaison is needed to receive emails and forward documentation to Bob for enforcement. Seventy-eight Samson will move forward. Nomination of Officers Gene and Lauren are volunteering to serve another term. Alan accepted nominations for next year’s 2016 officers and offered the following slate: Chair Gene Cracovia Vice-Chair Nancy Bruce  Treasurer Steve Miller Secretary Christine Hammitt New Business The Private Tree Ordinance may be reintroduced. Friends suggested a sub-committee be formed combining Friends, the Planning Board and the PTO to commission an impact report on the town in terms of environmental impact, soil erosion and the decline of the tree canopy. Gene will reach out to the Environmental Commission. It was also suggested the ordinance could be connected to the issue of preserving heritage properties. Alan will connect with Jeff Gertler in spearheading this aspect of the project. The Board adjourned at 9:51 am. Minutes submitted by Christine Hammitt.