Shade Tree Management Board

Shade Tree Management Board Madison, NJ 07940 Minutes of May 19, 2022 The Shade Tree Management Board held its regular meeting at 8:00AM on Thursday, May 19, 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 Member Bruce x Member Daley MEC Cracovia x Member O’Brien DPW Honohan x Member Wolowicz x Arborist Licari Member Schorr x FMST Limbach x Alternate Erlich Council Monaghan x Alternate TBD Parks Salaki x Member Minutes Approval Motion to approve April minutes and motion carried. Public Contacts/Correspondence • Tree Permit Requests – April: 23 permits requested totaling 45 trees to be removed. 19 trees recommended to be planted and no permits denied. • Borough resident Hannah Arstein (14 Noe Avenue) addressed the Board to inquire how to go about obtaining Landmark Tree status for her Copper Beech. Nancy Bruce shared the information with her. Council Liaison Report Councilwoman Rachel Erich reported on the following: • At the 5/9/22 council meeting, Borough Council introduced an ordinance establishing the Borough's Complete Streets Committee. They also adopted two resolutions pertaining to Sustainable Madison actions:  • R 148-2022 RESOLUTION OF THE BOROUGH OF MADISON SUPPORTING THE ADOPTION OF AN ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS GROUNDS AND MAINTENANCE POLICY • R 147- 2022 RESOLUTION OF THE BOROUGH OF MADISON SUPPORTING THE ADOPTION OF AN ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE PURCHASING POLICY • A letter was received from the Schiff Natural Lands Trust and Nature Preserve in Mendham, NJ, in support of the Borough's efforts to preserve the Drew Forest. • Public Works: • Public Works has received street trees and is making their way around town to plant them. This is the Borough's spring planting; Public Works will do another planting in the fall. • Public works is filling potholes and doing blacktop patch work from the winter. It was noted that temperatures this past winter included extreme cold and warmth, leading to more potholes than in typical years. • Public works is repairing the Waverly clock. It had a malfunction, and it took some time to get a new motherboard. Repairs should be completed soon. • Spring sports are in full swing, and DPW is lining the various fields daily and mowing daily. Arbor Day – the rescheduled event (due to rain) took place on May 14 at 9am at Crescent parking lot and was a great success. School children participated with singing, poetry reading, and May Pole dancing. Nancy Bruce spearheaded the event. Tree Seedlings – Tree seedlings (about 93) were distributed at Arbor Day. Tom Salaki reported that the leftovers are in a nursery at his Madison home and will be available for further distribution in the Borough. Tree Ordinance • Council approved the revised Tree Protection Ordinance on 4/27/22. The Zoning Board of Adjustment expressed the following concerns: how much authority the arborist should have, fairness of the provisions for homeowners vs developers, consistency with existing land use code and associated check lists and whether an advisory board should have the final say on appeals. After a zoom meeting with interested parties to review these issues, it was agreed that the STMB Chair, Borough legal advisors and the Zoning Board Council will work on code revisions to address the concerns. Budget Report Year to Date – 2022 Budget  Expended: $5,527.04  Encumbered: $131.555.92?  Remaining Balance: $53,117.04  Unexpended: $184,672.96 Landmark Tree Voting – Nancy Bruce indicated there is good momentum for the voting of this year’s nomination of landmark trees. Ballots were available at the Arbor Day celebration. Votes may be cast online. Rotary Tree Canopy Talk • Gene Cracovia reported on a talk at the Madison Rotary Meeting in April. James Park Cherry Trees • The James Park cherry trees are under consideration for pruning. Partner Organizations: Sustainable Madison • No report MEC • The town Wide Yard Sale took place on April 30 and raised $1,100.00 for the Great Swamp Watershed Association. • A composter sale involving 5 towns sold modestly (36 composters). • A multi town native pollinator plant sale with the Great Swamp Watershed Association was a huge success with 23,000 plants ordered directly from growers and about 1,800 plants bought by Madison residents. • A multi town anti-mosquito spray education campaign is in the offing. • Madison Library is currently featuring a table curated with a selection of books about trees and forests. Friends of Madison Shade Trees • Chris Schorr shared an update on the restoration of Rose Garden Park. • Chris spoke about their efforts to partner with J & M Garden Center to get native trees for both Memorial Park and Summerhill Park. • Chris said that the FMST will sponsor the purchase of native hardwood trees when purchased at J & M. Friends will donate $200 for the purchase, and J & M will provide an additional 10% discount. FMST was at J & M on April 23rd and 30th to promote the offer. Action Items • None Submitted by Kate Bartley