Shade Tree Management Board

Shade Tree Management Board Madison, NJ 07940 Minutes of June 15, 2023 The Shade Tree Management Board held its regular meeting at 8:15 AM on Thursday, June 15, 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 x Member Bruce, N x Member Daley, B x MEC Cracovia, G x Member O’Brien, K DPW Honohan, J x Member Wolowicz, R x Arborist Trynin, R x Alternate Schorr, C x FMST Limbach, G x Alternate Ehrlich, R x Council Monaghan, B x Member Salaki, T x Member Minutes Approval Motion to approve March minutes; motion carried. Arborist Report Tree Removal Permits May • 19 permits inspected • 40 trees to be removed • 12 planting obligations • 18 recommended planting • 1 tree not required by ordinance but would improve property. June (partial)  • 8 permits inspected • 10 trees to be removed • 0 planting obligations • 8 recommended planting Service Requests May • 9 requests • 28 trees • 2 remove • 4 prune • 22 no work • 1 yard question Private Trees 1) Golf Course 5th Green Looks healthy, fan to go into operation shortly. 2) 14 Glenwild Road Looks healthy, leafed out successfully, needs pruning of small dead branches. Rich discussed the large number of ash trees that need to be removed and Oak Wilt disease. 20% of tree removals are dead trees (drought and disease) Public Trees All trees are marked. Total of 80 going in this spring; half already installed. 40 additional in the Fall. Discussed locking in the trees we want to order next year earlier in the bid processing. Memorial Park Path underway: lots of Ash trees removed, great progress on walkways. Tree Canopy Update Lisa Jordan, Professor at Drew offered data from US Forestry Service study 2011-2021. Decline in Madison in all quadrants from 47%-42%. Morris County ranked 3rd highest in tree loss in NJ during this time period. Summerhill Park and Loantka have the most canopy coverage. Council Liaison Report, Rachel Ehrlich Bids to be opened soon for the MRC Solar project. Memorial Trail project started. Eagle Scout project to build kiosk at MRC started. STMB Budget Report Year to Date – 2023 Budget (Total budget of $202,200) 1. Expended: $26,125.85 2. Encumbered: $106.715.12 3. Remaining Balance: $69,359.03 4. Unexpended: $176,074.15 This Month Paid: $3,718.00 - Honor Tree Service (removals & pruning) $2,171.50 - Richview Consulting (Arborist) $95.00 - NJ Shade Tree Federation (municipal membership) Zoning Board/TCC Cases - None NJSTF Events Update Farmer’s Market tabling - Poor response last year; recommendation to forego this year. Ride with the Arborist – Board supported starting this - details to follow. Rotary 100th Anniversary Tree Planting Project 30-40 Trees to be planted in the Fall. Total 100 trees. One third will be planted this year and the next two-thirds over the next two years. Honey Locust and Yellowood at MRC; Maples and Serviceberry at the Library. Rotary doing volunteer rotation of watering. Partner Organizations • MEC - Bridget Daley Need volunteers to weed pollinator garden at 349 Woodland Road. Eco Tour of Homes and Gardens on September 10, 2023. Discussed positive response of Claire Whitcomb’s presentation of connection between trees and our aquifer and trying to educate the Zoning Board on where and why, what and where we plant. • Parks Advisory - no report • Open Space: Discussion of Rose Garden proposal and design. • Sustainable Madison - no report • FMST: Chris Schorr Memorial Park Planting Phase II done. Next year phase III. Swamp White Oak planted in memory of Vince Licari at Memorial Park Miscellaneous • NJ Transit needs to remove many dead Ash Trees along Danforth Road. • Nancy Bruce stated the new brochure for our Landmark Trees will be ready soon. Was started in 1988 and was last updated 2014-2015. There are 22 trees total - 4 new ones. • Farmer’s Market tabling - poor response last time – will forego this year. • Ride with the Arborist – Board supported starting this program - details to follow. Submitted by George Limbach & Robin Trynin