Shade Tree Management Board

SHADE TREE MANAGEMENT BOARD Borough of Madison Madison, New Jersey 07940 Minutes of February 18, 2016 Meeting The Shade Tree Management Board held its regular monthly meeting on February 18, 2016 at 8:00 am in the Committee Room of Hartley Dodge Memorial, 50 Kings Road, Madison, New Jersey. Call to Order Gene Cracovia called the meeting to order and read the Sunshine Law for compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act. Present: Gene Cracovia, Alan Andreas, Steve Miller, Christine Hammitt, Nancy Bruce, Lauren Hagerstrom, Mike Kopas and Penny Garman. Also present: Paul Allocco and David Maines. Absent: Vince Licari. Pledge of Allegiance Minutes The Board approved the amended January 21, 2016 minutes. The Board addressed the following items of business: Budget Report The STMB budget increased $2000 to $117,655. Council Liaison Report No report. Gene will report highlights to Patrick Rowe. Public Comments and Correspondence The resident at 37 Prospect requested that two trees that are raising the sidewalk be removed and replaced when the road is repaved. Borough Tree Maintenance Status Three bids for 105 trees were accepted. Barton won the contract for $16,660. Last year’s winning bid was $14,290. TCC One application was reviewed. It was proposed that when an application is submitted to the Planning Board, the trees would not be touched while the Board considers the application. Pictures will be taken of the neighbor’s yards to assess the impact of the construction on the roots of the neighbor’s trees. FMST The Friends will set up a display in the Coccia Realty window highlighting the value of canopy trees. The FMST Accomplishment Report was emailed to the Shade Tree Management Board. A grant program is being considered to pay for and plant private trees. A “Green Star Award” program was suggested to encourage builders to properly preserve trees and replace removed trees with hardwoods. Parks Advisory Committee Jack Dunne is working with Parks to install an obelisk, 4 benches and some dwarf hollies at the “Walk the Path with Veterans” project. A $2,000 donation will help to replace the shelter at Memorial Park. Old Business Alan, Vince and Gene will meet with Jeff Gertler to discuss the preservation of heritage houses and their trees. Christine will ask Borough IT support to instruct the STMB members how to access the rosenet.org email addresses at the next meeting. New Business JCP&L will meet with Madison Electric on March 16 to review Madison line clearance work. The Community Stewardship Incentive Program (CSIP) has requested grant proposal applications to assist local governments in the implementation of the State Forest Service approved Community Forestry Management Plan. The application deadline is April 12, 2016. Paul expressed interest for Parks. The Board may apply for a grant to re-inventory the trees in Madison. The estimated cost from ArborPro is $20,000 to $25,000. The Board adjourned at 9:28 am. Minutes submitted by Christine Hammitt.