Shade Tree Management Board

Shade Tree Management Board Madison, NJ 07940 Minutes of September 17, 2020 The Shade Tree Management Board held its regular meeting at 8:00AM on Thursday, September 17, 2020 in the Courtroom, Borough Hall, Madison. Mask wearing and social distancing observed. Call to Order by Chairman Gene Cracovia. Reading of the Sunshine Law. Members present: Gene Cracovia, Judy Honohan, Stephen Miller, Alice Wade, Brian Monaghan, Alan Andreas, Vince Licari, Tom Salaki Members absent: Nancy Bruce Liaisons present: Joan Maccari (MEC), Rich Wolowicz (Arborist), Maureen Byrne (Council), Liaisons absent: Ken O’Brien (DPW) Minutes: August 2020 minutes approved as submitted. Public contacts/correspondence: Resident requests resulted in 12 trees for trimming, 15 for removal and 3 other issues. Neighbors on Harwood with a property line tree are in disagreement about limb removal. Sewer work at 9 Delbarton will likely damage the oak root system and removal is recommended. A dangerous large oak at MRC has been removed. Council Liaison: Borough revenues will be down in 2021. Council hopes to return to meeting in chambers in late October but will likely also continue access through Zoom. Tree Protection Ordinance: Fourteen permits were issued involving 67 trees. Fifteen of those require replacement, one was a recommended replacement only. There was one permit violation receiving a second letter and a new violation at 15 Canterbury where D- K Tree Service had not obtained a permit. Borough Tree Status: Storm damage/fall survey of NW quadrant completes the borough fall survey for 2020. Spotted lantern fly has been identified in the borough. The borough Facebook page highlights this invasive species. The fly prefers the host tree ailanthus or tree of heaven (also invasive) and widespread. The state requests notification with leaf samples of Oak wilt if seen. Some trees adjacent to roadwork sites on Beverly and Albright Circle have root damage and may need removal. Burger King will bear the removal cost of a tree and replacement with two locust trees. Inquiries should be made at Starbucks and surrounding businesses to explore similar gestures. Gene was featured prominently in a NJ Monthly magazine article about trees in towns. TCC (Technical Coordinating Committee): no new cases. Spring/Fall tree planting 2020: First delivery expected Oct. 1. Planting by DPW. 20 pines (requiring deer protection) 17 red maple 7 red bud 15 yellowwood 2 gingko, 2 sweet gum (sterile) November tree delivery of the balance of our spring order will require a contract planter. Search for same should be underway now. Financial Report: September 17, 2020 2020 Budget $154,500.00 Expenditures- Honor Tree $19,519.00 Richview Consulting $1,614.56 Total expended YTD $63,277.36 Encumbered $51,710.64 Unexpended $91,222.64 Remaining Balance $39,512.00 Parks Advisory Committee: Luke Miller Forge has been stabilized. Stumps around Memorial ice rink may or may not need removal. Trails between Memorial and Delbarton need clearing of storm debris. RFP is out for development of the Master Plan. Work on the plan will commence in 2021 and include all stake holders. Friends of Madison Shade Trees (FMST): No report MEC: Newsletters continue online. There is a Swap and Share site on the MEC page and Oct. 3 is the town wide garage sale. Cost to be included in the sale map is $10. Old/New Business: New Jersey Shade Tree Federation virtual conference October 19-23. Gene, Nancy and Judy attending. Sustainable Madison: Currently we are at Silver level. 2020 application has been submitted. The 2019 Eco House Tour boosted our point total. Clearing and pruning under electric lines is being done well by Madison Electric. Action Items: Rich: letter to D-K Trees noting fines can be levied when trees are removed without a permit. Will develop a written summary of 2020 permit activity for presentation to Council. Board: re-mark all spring planting sites for fall planting. Tom: assess pruning and removal needs from Memorial to Delbarton once leaves have fallen. Gene: explore hybrid STMB meetings. Submitted by Judy Honohan