Shade Tree Management Board

Shade Tree Management Board Madison, NJ 07940 Minutes of December 16, 2021 The Shade Tree Management Board held its regular meeting at 8:00AM on Thursday, December 16, 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, Brian Monaghan, Kate Bartley, Stephen Miller, Nancy Bruce, Alan Andreas Members absent: Tom Salaki, Vince Licari Liaisons present: R. Duffy (DPW), Chris Schorr (FMST), Bridget Daley (MEC), R. Wolowicz, Lisa Ellis (Borough) Minutes: November 2021 minutes approved as corrected. Public Contacts/Correspondence: No major issues. November saw a decline in tree removal permit requests. 18 permit requests, involving 27 trees. Five plantings required, 21 recommended. New permits are now posted on site with recommended replacement species on the reverse. There is a potential gypsy moth hatch in 2022. Phase III of condo development at 64-68 Park Ave will require removal of a significant number of trees. Council Liaison: No report Public Planting: in 2021 STMB directed the planting of 98 trees in spring, 14 additional trees in fall for a total of 112. There is uncertainty about whether the 2022 spring letters have been mailed as there are no refusals to date. Suggest including Brian Monaghan on mailing list to track letters. Tree Ordinance: Any changes require Council approval. Possible changes include: a maximum % of allowed removals, the % of replacement trees that must be hardwoods, using potential planting area (calculated to square feet and excluding allowed hardscapes- Hanover Twp. Algorithm as resource) to determine number of required trees. TCC (Technical Coordinating Committee): Affordable housing development on the site of the Community House (Senior Services and Health Department) and former Central Ave. School land. Seven buildings will house 44 apartment units. December 15, 2021 2021 Budget $154,500.00 Expenditures- Honor Tree $30,250.96 $33,400.96 Plant Detectives- $3,150 Total expended YTD $135,988.57 Encumbered $4,008.38 Unexpended $18,511.43 Remaining Balance $14,503.05 Parks Advisory Committee: A number of trees have fallen at Ridgedale park located inside the loop of Canterbury and Buckingham. Friends of Madison Shade Trees (FMST): Neil Lebond has won the contract for the redesign of the Rose Garden Park. Judy Mullins Grove has Council approval. Work will begin spring of 2022. The central tree will honor Judy Mullins. Other plantings will support native plants and wildlife. Maintenance will be by FMST volunteers with the entire plot honoring volunteerism in Madison. Water fountain may be potential water source for garden. Plan can be found on the Madison Eagle site. MEC: No update. Open Space: No meeting. Sustainable Madison: No update. STMB Membership Roles: Alan Andreas was thanked for his long service. His last date is 12/31/21. Brian Monaghan and Vince Licari will continue. Gene is seeking names of a potential member for appointment at Council on January 3, 2022. Action Items: Gene: Research Hanover Twp. lot size algorithm in their tree ordinance. Submitted by, Judy Honohan