Shade Tree Management Board

Shade Tree Management Board Madison, NJ 07940 Minutes of December 20, 2018 The Shade Tree Management Board held its regularly scheduled meeting at 8:00 AM on Thursday, December 20, 2018 in the Committee Room of the Hartley Dodge Memorial, 50 Kings Road, Madison, NJ. Call to Order by Chairman Gene Cracovia. Reading of the Sunshine Law. Action items from November reviewed. Present: Gene Cracovia, Nancy Bruce, Stephen Miller, Vince Licari, Tom Salaki, Judy Honohan, Brian Monaghan, Alice Wade, Ken O’Brien, Carmela Vitale – Council liaison Joan Maccari- Environmental Commission liaison Absent: Alan Andreas Guests: Mike Pellessier, Frank Russo Minutes: November 2018 minutes approved as submitted. Review of November Action Items Public Contacts/Correspondence: YTD there have been 215 home visits in response to calls about trees. In 2018, 106 street trees were planted, 250 pruned and 132 removed. There is one complicated removal to be done at Vinton and Green. Council Liaison report: Reminder of January 2, 2019 Borough Reorganization meeting, 7:00 PM at Borough Hall. Borough Tree Status:  Waverly & Main St. trees: replacement of trees on Waverly and Main from Green Village to Prospect will be submitted as a capital budget item. STMB will provide clear guidelines/standards for new trees as well as propose species and costs. Downtown sidewalks need maintenance or replacement which could affect the timing of new plantings.  Spring Tree Planting: Targeted areas are: Central Ave., Noe Ave., Greenwood Ave., Loantaka Way. Main Street from Prospect to Brooklake recommended trees are London plane, sunset maple, Princeton elm, sweet gum and honey locust. Treasurer’s Report: 2018 Budget $118,150.00 Expended this month (homeowner reimbursement) $853 Total expended 2018 YTD $100,734.66 Encumbered 2018 $13,383.75 Unexpended 2018 $17,415.34 Remaining 2018 balance $4,031.59 Budget 2019 (increased by $2,500) $120,650.00 TCC (Technical Coordinating Committee): There are two cases pending. One is a minor subdivision on Lathrop. Parks Advisory Committee: The Dog Park will be on the Council agenda in January, 2019. PAC’s goal is to coordinate park maintenance with the DPW. The Summerhill trail steps (in steeper areas) have not been installed. This past summer, a split leaf beech was planted in Summerhill. FMST: No report. Old / New Business:  Construction/tree protection: Frank will forward a list of 2019 planned sidewalk and road construction projects.  The Tree City USA application documented: a tour, plantings and trail construction in Summerhill Park, presentations at a Rotary Club meeting, ordinance amendments, meetings with JCP&L, rain gardens, Burnet and Noe street tree plantings.  600 NJ Seedlings will be distributed by Drew University on April 26 from 12 to 6:00pm.  Chatham Borough/Township Private Tree Ordinance has been revised and passed. It was suggested that Madison consider an ordinance change requiring a developer to replace on a one-to-one basis every tree removed. The replacement tree types would be identified from a recommended list.  JCP&L line clearance tree removals are complete. There has been no additional community feedback.  A Green Vision Forum, sponsored by the Environmental Commission is scheduled for March 14, 2019.  Carmela announced that the Sustainable NJ write-up will be led by Stephan Stocker and completed in 2019.  Open Space will update its plan in 2019.  STMB officers will be voted on in January. Action Items:  Vince will provide an estimate of the costs of tree replacement on Waverly and Main (from Green Village to Prospect).  Judy will provide Liz Osborne with 2019 meeting dates.  Carmela will ask Ray Codey to follow up on JCP&L clearing and spraying and get their 2019 plans.  Carmela will meet with Steve Stocker and Claire Whitcomb re Sustainable NJ recertification. Submitted by Judy Honohan