Shade Tree Management Board

Shade Tree Management Board Madison, NJ 07940 Minutes of August 19, 2021 The Shade Tree Management Board held its regular meeting at 8:00AM on Thursday, August 19, 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, Alan Andreas, Brian Monaghan, Vince Licari, Tom Salaki Members absent: Kate Bartley, Stephen Miller, Nancy Bruce Liaisons present: Rebecca Bertrand (Parks Advisory Committee), Joan Maccari (MEC), Chris Schorr (Friends of Madison Shade Trees), Ken O’Brien (DPW), Michael Pelessier (Communications), Rich Wolowicz (Arborist), Lisa Ellis (Borough) Liaisons absent: Bridget Daley, John Hoover (Council) Minutes: July 2021 minutes approved as submitted. Public Contacts/Correspondence: There were 16 permit requests in July with 19 approved removals and 1 required replacement planting. To date in August there have been 3 permit requests involving 4 trees. Private tree permit requests go through the Borough Clerk for consideration through Planning and Zoning. DPW deals only with public trees. In July there were 37 calls with public tree service requests involving 51 trees. Seventeen trees require removal, 30 will be pruned and two are still in discussion. To date in August there have been 6 calls involving 9 trees. The current positive trend is for more pruning and fewer removals. Vince reported there is no issue with the ivy growth on the Glendale Landmark white oak. A homeowner on Glendale/Forest has inquired about partial reimbursement for the removal of a failing ash street tree in an approved new driveway access. After its removal six additional ashes on Forest were removed by the borough. Homeowner will be directed to Ray Codey with her request. Adjacent homeowners at 2 Meadow Court and 9 Old Greenhouse Lane have had their property line and fence correctly located after the removal of trees on the incorrect property. Six new trees must be planted and the borough will plant an additional six trees. Two trees on Walnut Ave. at Central Avenue School must be replaced. Council Liaison: No report. Public 2021 Planting: Fall planting will include 8 swamp white oak and 6 red maple (October Glory). All sites are resident requests and mark outs will be done by quadrant teams just prior to tree delivery in October. RFPs have been issued. There remain 23 unfilled requests which will be included in spring 2022 planting. A suggestion was made to send the spring planting letter in the fall. Contractors for sidewalk replacement should be using best practices to minimize the damage to roots and the stress on trees. Those guidelines should be in the contracts. Details to preserve the health of trees should be included in the bid documents. STMB will work with Bob Vogel to develop the guidelines. Windshield Surveys: All quadrants are now complete. Summerhill Survey: Survey should include any trees compromising trail use. TCC (Technical Coordinating Committee: One case at 18 Madison Ave. was reviewed by Alan and STMB comments were submitted. Drew Forest Preservation: Meeting was held with Borough officials and Drew administrative staff to discuss the future of Drew and plans for selling additional land. Drew is to prepare a document outlining what land will be considered for future sales. The Save the Drew Forest petition has over 8500 signatures. NJ Community Forestry/NJ ShadeTree Federation: The State is revising the contents of the 5-year Community Forestry Plan. Madison’s next 5-year plan was due in 2022 but will now not be required until 2027. Annual CEU requirements and reports are still required. The NJ Shade Tree Federation Conference will be held, in person on 10/21-22. In addition to the presentations, networking with other towns helps with common problems/solutions. Gene asked Board members to consider attending. Financial Report: August 19, 2021 2021 Budget $154,500.00 Expenditures- Honor Tree $2,305.50 $23,155.50 Plant Detectives $20,850.00 Total expended YTD $44,372.88 Encumbered $75,257.12 Unexpended $110,127.12 Remaining Balance $34,870.00 Parks Advisory Committee: Rebecca is looking forward to the results of the Summerhill Park tree survey, especially trees that may endanger the trails. She also expressed concern about the cutting of roots during curb/sidewalk work and how that may compromise the stability of the tree. Friends of Madison Shade Trees (FMST Chris Schorr): Covered the expense of the utility bill insert on Drew Forest Preservation. Member Dawn Piccone was thanked for her detailed survey of NW quadrant trees and tree sites. Its information will be incorporated in the recent fall NW windshield survey. MEC: Eco-Garden tour is set for Sunday, September 12. Open Space: No meeting in July Sustainable Madison: Tree maintenance submission was approved. Action Items: Gene will contact Bob Vogel regarding coordinating the handicapped accessibility project with tree planting at MRC. Submitted by Judy Honohan and Gene Cracovia