Shade Tree Management Board

Shade Tree Management Board Madison, NJ 07940 Minutes of May 18, 2023 The Shade Tree Management Board held its regular meeting at 7:00 PM on Thursday, April 20, 2023. 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, 2023. Copies of said notice were made available to the general public. Attendance Name Present Role Name Present Role Bartley, K x Member Miller, S Member Bruce, N x Member Daley, B MEC Cracovia, G x Member O’Brien, K DPW Honohan, J Member Wolowicz, R Arborist Trynin, R x Member Schorr, C x FMST Limbach, G x Alternate Ehrlich, R Council Monaghan, B x Alternate Salaki, T Member Minutes Approval Motion to approve March minutes; motion carried. Arborist report: Tree Removal Permits April • 21 permits inspected • 37 trees to be removed • 8 planting obligations • 27 recommended planting • 1 tree denied permit to remove May (partial) • 19 permits inspected • 40 trees to be removed • 12 planting obligations • 18 recommended planting • 1 tree not required by ordinance but would improve property. Service Requests April • 26 requests • 64 trees  • 37 remove (22 removal at MRC) • 6 prune • 7 no work • 2 yard questions May (partial) • 9 requests • 28 trees • 2 remove • 4 prune • 22 no work • 1 yard question Private Trees: 1) 49 Elm street Homeowner complaint about “messiness” of 2 sawtooth oaks. Suggestions: prune in fall, street sweeper in spring and fall. 2) 29 Laurel Way Tree removed with no permit. Builder getting permit for this tree and another. Builder will use different tree company. Tree companies now need to have permit in hand. Police can ask for permit. Rich discussed the large number of ash trees that need to be removed and Oak Wilt disease. A report on the status of the golf course tree and the Beech on Glenwild will be provided at the June meeting. Spring Tree Planting: DPW is working with Plant Detectives on a delivery date. All quadrants have had the planting sites marked. Katr and Robin asked for definition of quadrant boundaries – Judy will provide an update. Council Liaison Report, Rachel Ehrlich: Solar car port at MRC going out to bid. Will be installed before end of year. Pickleball courts bids are coming in $100,000 over budget which will be paid out of General Funds. STMB Budget Report Total Budget 2023: $190,200 • Expended: $20,141.35 • Encumbered: $112,699.62 • Remaining Balance: $69,359.03 • Unexpended: $182,058.65 Paid: • $12,830.00 - Honor Tree Service (removals and pruning) • $1,769.97 - FMST, Rose Garden Park • $1,591.00 - Richview Consulting (Arborist) • $95.00 - NJ Shade Tree Federation (Municipal membership) Zoning Board/TCC Cases: Zoning Board chair presented an update to the Planning Board. One of the concerns was the constrains in the Private Tree Protection Ordinance. Arbor Day Recap: Rained, so event was held inside the Hartley Dodge building. Kathy Koop, Kings Road School Principal did a great job organizing the school children performers. Program dedicated to memory of Vince Licari. An oak tree will be planted in his memory in Memorial Park. Jeff Licari attended the Arbor Day ceremony. NJSTF Events Update: Tree Talk – sourcing seedlings is a problem. NJSTF Conference is October 26/27 in Cherry Hill. Core training to be offered. Rotary Tree Planting Project: Tom Salaki is helping to spearhead planting of 100 trees over multiyear period at Lucy D, library, and other locations. TreePlotter: There will be a zoom presentation on an alternative tree inventory product called TreePlotter on 5/23 – all are invited to attend. Partner Organizations: • MEC: highlighted town wide yard sale • Parks Advisory: no report but there was a question of the status of removing invasive plants from Summerhill Park. Gene will contact Dave Miller on the recent data gathering study. • Open Space: Saturday, June 3, National Trail Day to be celebrated with opening of accessible trail at MRC. • FMST: Chris Schorr outlined problems at Rose Garden Park and discussed a landscape plan designed by Beth Riley to address those problems. Submitted by George Limbach