Shade Tree Management Board

Shade Tree Management Board Madison, NJ 07940 Minutes of February 17, 2022 The Shade Tree Management Board held its regular meeting at 8:00AM on Thursday, February 17, 2022, in the Borough Zoom meeting room. Call to Order by Chairman Gene Cracovia. Statement in compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act In compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act, adequate notice of this meeting of the Shade Tree Management Board was provided by transmitting a copy of the meeting notice to the Madison Eagle, Morris County Daily Record, posting a copy on the bulletin board at the main entrance of the Borough Hall, and filing a copy in the Office of the Clerk, all on January 11, 2022. Copies of said notice were made available to the general public. Name Present Role Name Present Role Bartley x Member Bruce x Member Maccari MEC Cracovia x Member O’Brien x DPW Honohan x Member Wolowicz x Arborist Licari Member Schorr x FMST Limbach Alternate Erlich x Council Monaghan x Alternate Daley x MEC Salaki x Member Bertrand Parks Minutes Approval: Motion to approve and accepted. Public Contacts/Correspondence: • No new contacts from the public to DPW. Honor tree was the lowest bid for removal for 2-year contract. • Rich – January 7 permits – 7 trees authorized to be removed – 3 required to be planted – 3 recommended. February – 4 permits inspected – 9 trees to be removed – 3 required replacement – 3 recommended replacement - 1 denied (2 of 4). • Service requests – Private yard question in January and one in February. • Judy – 6 tree planting letter rejections. We have new places to plant these. Plant Detectives was the only submitted bid and it was accepted. • Ken O’Brian recommends we purchase directly through Plant detectives for the fall plantings. Judy to discuss with Kevin in purchasing to see if this is possible. Council Liaison:  • No new council actions in regard to Shade Tree. Council was presented the annual Shade Tree Report. Tree Ordinance: • Changes have been submitted to the lawyer to incorporate into the ordinance for review. • Gene Cracovia asks, when does a tree permit fit into the overall zoning and planning permit process in order to better track tree removals. • Tree replacement chart –trying to prevent forested lots to be clear cut. • Brian Noted that 75–100-year-old trees are significantly better at sequestering carbon. • Consider planting per square footage of available area (based on lot being cleared) • Board will look at the revised replacement table and work on incorporating lot size. • Time frame to replace is recommended to be at 12 months instead of 6. • Advertise tree permit removal with easy to understand graphic/text. TCC (Technical Coordinating Committee): One project reviewed for Madison Mall apartment. Parks Advisory Committee: No report Open Space: Melissa Honohan has accepted new term. Focus is still on Drew Forest Preservation. MRC access trail out to bid. Gene to walk site with Bob Vogel to review trees along path. Budget Report: Year to Date – 2021 Budget (Total budget of $154,500)  Expended: $147,474.57  Encumbered: $6,822.38  Remaining Balance: $203.05  Unexpended: $7,025.43 This Month Paid: $9,191.00 - Honor Tree Service (Maintenance) $2,355.00 - Richview Consulting (Arborist) Year to Date – 2022 Budget (Total budget of $154,500, Preliminary) 1. Expended: $1,630.16 2. Encumbered: $13,369.84 3. Remaining Balance: $139,484.57 4. Unexpended: $152,854.41 Friends of Madison Shade Trees (FMST): • Fundraising letter and utility insert is set to be reviewed. • Banners downtown to celebrate and display Landmark Trees. MEC: • Ask the Arborist. Specific dates to set up a webinar to ask the arborist general questions. Expected to take place in April. Arbor Day/May Day: • Schools are on board to be there for the celebration, May 7th. 9am Hartley Dodge. • Tree hand out schedule to take place there. • Recommended to hand out trees to all school kids who participate. Sustainable Madison: • No report Action Items: • Send Bridget suggestions for tree books. • Once we have revised ordinance from the lawyer, the Board is asked to review and return comments asap. Submitted by, Tom Salaki