Shade Tree Management Board

Shade Tree Management Board Madison, NJ 07940 Minutes of December 19, 2019 The Shade Tree Management Board held its regularly scheduled meeting at 8:00AM on Thursday, December 19, 2019 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. Members present: Gene Cracovia, Judy Honohan, Brian Monaghan, Stephen Miller, Alice Wade, Nancy Bruce, Vince Licari, Alan Andreas, Tom Salaki Members absent: Liaisons present: Maureen Byrne (Council), Joan Maccari (MEC), Ken O’Brien (DPW) Liaisons Absent: Paul Allocco (Parks Advisory) Borough Staff present: Frank Russo, Michael Pellessier, Lisa Ellis Minutes: November minutes approved as submitted. Public contacts/correspondence: There were some small losses due to the storm though no power outages were caused by limbs. A borough tree will be removed at 25 Greenhill. Tree work RFPs for the coming two years are out for bid. The hope is to grant contracts locally, if possible. Council Liaison: No report. Maureen will continue as liaison in 2020. Tree Protection Ordinance: If a construction permit is required does TPO automatically apply? Consensus is to replace trees 1 for 1 on private property. If planting on same lot is not possible location for replacement tree should be as near as possible to removal site. Quadrant surveys are critical as we move forward. Significant tree was redefined as one 16” in diameter (not 18”). Hope is to introduce TPO at January 13 Council meeting. Borough Tree Status: Contacts/removals/pruning: 89 trees were removed in 2019 (lower count than in past years.) Two removals are scheduled for alongside the Luke Miller House Forge. 2020 Tree requests: Each quadrant team should review and submit locations for spring planting by integrating requests and candidate sites. Lathrop will be a target street and a further 25 trees will be earmarked for Main Street. TCC (Technical Coordinating Committee): No updates. Financial Report: 2019 Budget $130,500 Expenditures- Honor Tree $21,060 Pending James Irish (MRC pear $2,000 removal Pending Creekside Tree Service $1,750 (removals) Pending Tree King (trimming) $920 Pending Arbor Pro (annual $2,250 maintenance) Total expended YTD $72,048.93 Encumbered $17,965 Unexpended $58,451.07 Remaining Balance $40,496.07 Parks Advisory Board: Board will become a committee later in Dec. 2019. There will be several new members in 2020 and all members will have specific responsibilities. Major work will include development of a master plan, better information sharing with DPW, stabilizing the Forge, and exploring with Open Space an invasive species removal grant. Any special projects or work by outside groups will be reviewed by the committee before proceeding. Friends of Madison Shade Trees (FMST): The tree nursery at Community Gardens was deemed unworkable and the remaining trees have been transplanted to the MRC meadow along with 5 tupelos funded by STMB. Old/New Business: Tree City-Growth award: Nancy will suggest partnership projects or workshops. Our suggested tree species list should be readily available to the public. Several members are planning to attend Rutgers Tree Day in January. Arbor Pro: Tom, Steve and Gene participated in a Webinar for new applications. NJ Tree Recovery Seedlings program: Drew is again participating. Any undistributed trees will be given away at Arbor Day. Environmental Commission: Is planning a January Pollinator Garden workshop at the library. A Sustainable/Affordable Building for the Future workshop for builders will be on the 2020 calendar. First Green Drinks gathering is set for January 8. James Park: Needs tree maintenance. Any tree within 100 feet of the tracks involves NJ Transit. Gibbons Pines Park: Stumps must be dug or ground before replacement with white pines or hardwoods. Scholarship: Garden Clubs of America offer scholarships to students in Environmental Sciences. Provide potential applicants with Alice’s contact info. Action Items: Gene: send tree species list to Judy All: finalize all spring planting sites and species recommendations All: read revised tree ordinance and provide feedback to Gene by 12/23 Judy: provide 2020 meeting date information to borough clerk Submitted by Judy Honohan