Shade Tree Management Board

Shade Tree Management Board Madison, NJ 07940 Minutes of January 19, 2023 The Shade Tree Management Board held its regular meeting at 8:15 AM on Thursday, January 19, 2023 in the Borough Hall Committee Room and by Zoom. 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, 2023. 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 Daley x MEC Cracovia x Member O’Brien DPW Honohan x Member Wolowicz x Arborist Salaki x Member Schorr x FMST Limbach x Alternate Ehrlich x Council Monaghan x Alternate Parks Vacant Member Minutes Approval: Motion to approve December minutes and accepted. 2023 Organization: Board Members, Officers and Meeting Minutes Schedule Chair: Gene Cracovia, Vice Chair: Judy Honohan, Treasurer: Steve Miller, Secretary: Shared by all members, TCC: Tom Salaki, Tree City Awards: Nancy Bruce, Arbor Day: Nancy Bruce and Kate Bartley, Annual Report: Gene, Nancy, and Judy, Committee Liaison: Remains the same. Secretary Schedule: Brian: January and September Kate: February, November, October Nancy: July and August Tom: March, June, December George: April and May Public Contacts/Correspondence: • No new contacts from the public to DPW. Typical year-end reduction. • Service Requests - so far there have been no service requests for January. 1 Public Tree Planting Judy reported that this year there will be a spring and fall planting. Approximately 70 trees will be planted in the spring, and 60 in the fall. This constitutes 11 more than 2022. We are waiting for quotes to come back. Council Liaison Rachael reported that the Council discussed funding for the Cook Street parking lot and proposed Basketball/ Pickleball courts. She also mentioned that the Madison Climate Action plan will be presented at the 1/23/23 Council meeting. She encouraged all to attend the meeting. 2022 Town and Private Tree Activity • 2022 Private Removal Permits totals were 171, number of trees 367, replacement trees required were 112, replacement tree recommended were 175. • 2022 total public tree service requests: Number of trees - 196, number of removals - 141, number of pruning - 189 nothing done -19. TCC (Technical Coordinating Committee) Two cases were discussed by Tom Salaki. • The first is on the corner of Kings Road and Sampson Street. Tom will provide a plan which includes tree information to the builders. • The second site which is on the Lincoln Place will be given ideas to help make the site greener. Open Space Nothing to report. Budget Report Year to Date – 2022 Budget (Total budget of $190,200)  Expended: $188,347.15  Encumbered: $628.76  Remaining Balance: $4224.09  Unexpended: $4852.85 Year to Date – 2023 Budget (Total budget of $154,500, Preliminary) No payments since December. Tree City/ Growth Awards Two new trees were proposed for the Landmark Tree list. They will be evaluated by Rich within the next few weeks. N.J. Tree Recovery Organization Plan Tom and Brian will coordinate with the organization in implementing the tree sapling giveaway program. 2 Sustainable Madison There was no meeting in January. The chair did pass along the Sustainable Land Use Pledge that was signed by the Mayor. Friends of Madison Shade Trees Chris Shorr said that there was no FMST meeting in January. She did report that the February meeting will discuss plans for re-landscaping Rose Garden Park. In addition, they will discuss developing signs to explain the sustainable efforts underway in the Madison parks such as was discussed by Doug Tallamy in the town zoom meeting. MEC Bridget reported that the Doug Tallamy recording supporting the protection of the Drew Forest is now available on the Save the Trees site. Also, there will be tables hosted by Toad Farm, and the Rutgers Sustainable program at the May Day celebration. May 6th will be the day to pick up plants from the Great Swamp plant sale. The MEC, STMB, and Zoning Board are interested in meeting to work on understanding the Madison Tree Ordinance. Action Items None. Submitted by Brian Monaghan 3