Shade Tree Management Board

Shade Tree Management Board Madison, NJ 07940 Minutes of January 21, 2021 The Shade Tree Management Board held its regular meeting at 8:00AM on Thursday, January 21, 2021 in the Borough Zoom meeting room. Call to Order by Chairman Gene Cracovia. Reading of the Sunshine Law. Members present: Gene Cracovia, Judy Honohan, Stephen Miller, Kate Bartley, Alan Andreas, Nancy Bruce, Vince Licari, Tom Salaki Members absent: Brian Monaghan Liaisons present: Joan Maccari (MEC), Rich Wolowicz (Arborist), John Hoover (Council), Ken O’Brien (DPW), Chris Schorr (Friends of Madison Shade Trees), Michael Pelessier (Communications) Liaisons absent: 2021 STMB officers: Chair: Gene Cracovia Vice Chair: Nancy Bruce Secretary: Judy Honohan Budget: Steve Miller Minutes: December 2020 minutes approved as corrected. Public contacts/correspondence: Highview Terr. street-side tree ownership has been clarified. Recent removals in the Burnet/Commons area may/may not be permitted. Commons has had a number of ash trees removed and may develop a local pocket park with pollinator garden. Rich will contact Commons re park. Owner of a 44” oak on Wilson claims it suffers from bacterial leaf scorch. Rich unable to verify by inspection. Elk’s Club removed a dangerous, large copper beech and would like a replacement suggestion. A 40” oak at Central Ave. School should be removed. Council Liaison: STMB and Arborist should be fully funded for 2021. A Storm Water Ordinance is on the Council docket. Year-end report (Rich Wolowicz, see also Tree Protection Ordinance below) In 2020 DPW received 215 service requests involving 281 trees. Of those, 81 required removal, 121 needed pruning, the remainder required no work or stump removal. Madison had a net loss of 209 public and private trees. Fall Tree Planting: All trees have now been planted in designated sites. This spring Ken would like DPW to limb up the street trees between Waverly and Green Village. Spring 2021 Planting: Locations will be limited primarily to entry corridor roads (Main St., Madison Ave., Woodland, Kings Rd., Park Ave.) with a minimum of other sites. Rich and Vince will help determine species to order. Order will include native trees to support wildlife in parks. Vendors should be made aware that substitute species will not be accepted. Instead requested species will come from alternate vendor. It was suggested that the resident’s letter include a 30-day limit for objections to planting. Tree Protection Ordinance: Rich provided a summary of 2020 activity.  112 permits issued for removal of 253 private trees  $4,725 in permit fees collected  Zero contributions to Madison Tree Fund (in lieu of planting replacement tree) TCC (Technical Coordinating Committee): Alan reported receiving no notice of work at the vacant vacuum shop and adjacent small building opposite Staples on Main. He will contact the Zoning Board chair to prevent a recurrence. Financial Report: January 21, 2021 2021 Budget $155,500.00 Expenditures- $0 $0 Total expended YTD $0 Encumbered $0 Unexpended $0 Remaining Balance $155,500.00 Tree City 2021 and Growth Awards: Arbor Day requirements were again waived for 2021. The suggestion was made to plant a tree in Summerhill Arboretum, publicize it and make that our Arbor Day celebration. Community Forest Plan (5 year) has been reviewed for progress toward goal evaluation in 2022. Rich will conduct a survey of Summerhill Park, Friends of Madison Shade Tree will plant two (or so) trees in planting beds and the Landmark Tree list must be updated. Parks Advisory Committee: About ten Parks’ Master Plan bids are being evaluated. Scope of the plan may need revision. Friends of Madison Shade Trees (FMST Chris Schorr): Has three new members which will help with greater social media presence. MEC: No report Sustainable Madison: Judy Honohan is new liaison. No report. Old/New Business: Rutgers Tree Day- date not yet out Cook Ave. Parking lot- being renovated and may include rain gardens, new trees Wayne Blvd/Anthony Dr-Any tree work should precede scheduled reconstruction and paving. Tree Seedlings-donated by Rutgers each year and distributed free with the help of Drew students. STMB and FMST will explore other options such as distribution through educational program in schools, or substitution of $4.00 Arbor Day seedlings in tubes. Arbor Pro: The newer Enterprise version is Web based vs our Desktop based. Action Items: John Hoover: Determine who should make Tree Ordinance year-end report to Council Tom: refine spring planting species list Vince: check status of trees on Wayne Blvd/Anthony Rich: inspect Main St. trees from Green Village to Waverly and provide feedback to DPW Gene: explore any planned Park Ave. improvements (County and Borough) Nancy: determine continuing need for trees on Lathrop All: provide Gene and Judy any miscellaneous locations for spring planting Submitted by Judy Honohan