Shade Tree Management Board

Shade Tree Management Board Madison, NJ 07940 Minutes of July 20, 2017 Meeting The Shade Tree Management Board held its regular monthly meeting on July 20, 2017 beginning at 8:00 AM in the Committee Room of the Hartley Dodge Memorial, 50 Kings Road, Madison, NJ. Call to Order: Gene Cracovia called the meeting to order. Present: Gene Cracovia, , Stephen Miller, Brian Monaghan, Alan Andreas, , Nancy Bruce, Penny Garman, , Vince Licari, Carmela Vitale, Tom Salaki, and Dawn Piccione. Not Present: Alice Wade, Paul Alloco, and Ken O’Brien Minutes: The June minutes were approved. The Board addressed the following items of business: Public Contacts  Dawn Piccione of Myrtle Avenue read her letter to the Board in which she questioned the decision to remove the ash trees on Burnett Road. It was her opinion that treating the trees would be better than removing them. It was pointed out that the Board had already decided that removal was a better course to take. Vince explained the pros and cons of treating versus removal. She was also handed a copy of the July 23rd Star Ledger article which discussed the emerald ash borer and its consequences. Gene suggested that Dawn read the article and that the board will respond to her letter. Council Liaison Report  Carmela reported that Matt Jacoby contacted the attorney who spoke at the Core Training Seminar attended by Alice and Brian. They discussed the merits of STMB becoming a commission rather than being a board. Current thinking is that to switch would be cumbersome without sufficient rewards. Carmela suggested a small subgroup be formed to study the topic further. Borough Tree Status   65 removals have been performed YTD versus 144 average. Vince recommended that nothing be done regarding the pear tree fire blight. He suggested that we wait and see if it occurs next year. If it does, we might want to spray.  Fall Planting – It was suggested that pin oaks should replace the ash trees on Burnett. A final decision was postponed until the August meeting. TCC ● Two cases are currently being monitored : the moving of a sign at the high school, and the Giralda Farm construction. Parks Advisory Committee  Vince laid out six spots for trees to be planted at Lucy Dee park. Nancy suggested that the Parks Advisory Committee and FMST get together to discuss Summerhill Park. Budget Report ● 2017 projected budget $117,650 ● Expended $50 Core Training ● Expended $1470 Tree King ● Total Expended $30,968.75 ● Encumbered $52,661.25 ● Unexpended $86,681.25 FMST  Nancy gave a brief update on the Summerhill project. All seems to be progressing well. OLD BUSINESS Nothing to report. NEW BUSINESS ● Tree Inventory- Steve and Penny shared their view that there are concerns with the ArborPro inventory system. ArborPro said that they will address those concerns. ● Community Forest Plan- Nothing to report.  Annual Tree Conference – Meeting will be held in October. Board Adjourned 9:40 am Submitted by Brian Monaghan