Shade Tree Management Board

Shade Tree Management Board Madison, NJ 07940 Minutes of March 17, 2022 The Shade Tree Management Board held its regular meeting at 8:00AM on Thursday, March 17, 2022. It was a hybrid meeting in the Borough’s Committee Room and a Zoom link. 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. Attendance Name Present Role Name Present Role Bartley x Member Miller 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 x Alternate Erlich x Council Monaghan x Alternate Daley x MEC Salaki Member Parks Minutes Approval Motion to approve February minutes with editing changes and accepted. Public Contacts/Correspondence • No new contacts from the public to DPW. Honor Tree needs to submit quicker billing of completed work • Tree Permit Requests - February: 7 permits inspected, 18 trees to be removed, 10 require planting, 4 recommend planting, 2 permits denied. March: 7 permits inspected, 15 trees to be removed, 6 require planting, 7 recommended • Rich relayed a situation where a resident took down 2 out of 3 trees without a permit. Neighbor complained so an inspection took place which resulted in one additional tree was removed. The Board suggested that the offender plant four trees or contribute to the tree fund. • Another request to take 4 trees down to accommodate a new landscaping plan. Rich allowed two and declined on two. Board agreed. Public Tree Planting • Spring - Judy reported 1 refusal. 92 sites will be planted which will use the remainder of the budget for planting. • Fall - 26 trees are slated for planting along Main Street. Approximately $6000 will be needed to fill the budget for planting.  • Quadrant teams will need to do mark outs starting in April Council Liaison Report - Waverly Place redesign planning kickoff meeting with Bohler Inc. took place last week, and a series of community meetings will be scheduled within the next 90 days for envisioning the future use and design of Waverly Place. Ask The Arborist - The zoom event will take place on April 17th at 7 pm Arbor Day - will take place on May 7th at 9am at either Hartley Dodge or the train station parking lot. Tree Ordinance • Latest and perhaps final version of the Ordinance was sent to STMB and Town Council for a review. Of those contacted, all approve of the draft. Open Space • Nothing to report Budget Report Year to Date – 2021 Budget (Total budget of $154,500)  Expended: $152,169.07  Encumbered: $2,127.88  Remaining Balance: $203.05  Unexpended: $2,330.93 This Month Paid: $4,694.50 - Honor Tree Year to Date – 2022 Budget (Total budget of $154,500, Preliminary) 1. Expended: $1,630.16 2. Encumbered: $127,629.84 3. Remaining Balance: $25,224.57 4. Unexpended: $152,854.41 Tree City - 37th year of earning the award Growth Award - 15th year of earning this award with points to spare Sustainable Madison • No report Friends of Madison Shade Trees • Chris spoke about their efforts to partner with J and M Garden Center to get native trees for both Memorial Park and Summerhill Park. • Working on promoting Arbor Day and Green Forum • In the process of ordering banners for display on Main Street promoting the importance of trees MEC- the town Wide Yard Sale will take place on April 30th. Claire Whitcomb has offered the idea that one could donate the proceeds to the Save The Drew Forest. Joan and Bridget might be building a pollinator garden at the Board of Education building as part of their Rutgers Sustainability Program. Action Items • None Submitted by Brian Monaghan