Shade Tree Management Board

Shade Tree Management Board Madison, NJ 07940 Minutes of February 20, 2020 The Shade Tree Management Board held its regularly scheduled meeting at 8:00AM on Thursday, February 20, 2020 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, Alan Andreas, Nancy Bruce, Vince Licari Members absent: Alice Wade, Tom Salaki Liaisons present: Maureen Byrne (Council), Joan Maccari (MEC), Ken O’Brien (DPW), Liaisons absent: Paul Allocco (Parks Advisory) Borough Staff present: Frank Russo, Minutes: January 2020 minutes approved as submitted. Public contacts/correspondence: The ash tree on the Luke Miller property will be re- evaluated in June. The Borough was praised for its quick response of tree clean-up on Green Hill following the tornado. Frank Russo will monitor a construction site on Woodland where a trailer had been parked under a Borough tree. Council Liaison: no report Tree Protection Ordinance: Council vote is scheduled for February 24. Once passed, the ordinance will be in effect though enforcement is dependent on a yet to be contracted arborist. FMST has provided a written response to mis-information in an opposition flyer. Borough Tree Status: Spring planting: Tree order for 120 trees is out for quote. Planting sites (24) are marked on Main St. A plan to deal with rejection of tree planting by residents should be in place. Contacts/removals/pruning: 3 work orders to be sent to DPW otherwise up to date. Borough tree in front of Takuma Restaurant was improperly pruned (topped) without approval from Vince or DPW. TCC (Technical Coordinating Committee): Betz Auto is putting in a new sign with no tree impact. Financial Report: 2019 Budget $130,500 Expenditures- Honor Tree $29,190 Total expended YTD $108,963.93 Encumbered $21,140 Unexpended $21536.07 Remaining Balance $396.07 2020 Budget $130,500 Encumbered Tree King $1,000 Remaining Balance $129,500 Parks Advisory Committee: Dog park fence will go in next week. Friends of Madison Shade Trees (FMST): Chris Schorr is working with Lisa Ellis on banners for Main St. Earth Day is April 25. Joan will ask Chris to participate with a discussion of the value of trees. Old/New Business: Tree workshop: The Garden Club and FMST is sponsoring a lecture on the impact of climate change - it will include the impact on trees. 2020 STMB workshop ideas include: Recommended plantings for Madison, Value of trees, Chris Schorr’s Rotary presentation on canopy trees. Green Vision Forum: for students at Rose Hall on March 19. Gibbons Pines: STMB and Parks should develop a plan to create improved park space before tree replacement. Stumps still need to be ground. FDU Baseball Fields: Any trees removed will be replaced 1:1 or money contributed to the Tree Fund. Action Items: Judy: Draft letters to residents who requested and will get a tree, or will not get a tree. Tom: With Parks committee develop plan for Gibbons Pines. Submitted by Judy Honohan