Shade Tree Management Board

Shade Tree Management Board Madison, NJ 07940 Minutes of July 20, 2023 The Shade Tree Management Board held its regular meeting at 8:15 AM on Thursday, July 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 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 Member Minutes Approval Motion to approve June minutes; motion carried. 1 Arborist report from Rich: Tree Removal Permits Service Requests Private Trees: 1. Giralda Farms and Drew have a number of dead trees. 2. Linden trees on Rosemont being treated for aphids. Discussed how to inform public of new obligation to have tree removal permit on site when work being done. Follow up to be sure notice of summons is sent if trees removed without permit. 2 Public Trees Nancy commented that the sycamores on her street are dropping their bark and that she would ask Ken about sending street sweepers to clean up, and otherwise there are no major resident issues. Public Contacts/Correspondence Rich says low period, not a lot of calls. Thinks it’s time to pick an area of town and trim every tree systematically. There is a lot of running around by the tree company. Maybe a separate bid? 24 requests from June-July10 32 spots for new trees and 25 to come down on Main Street. 84 planted so far this spring. Thinking of how to equalize removals and replacements. Public Safety building had major tree work done. Removals and pruning for overgrown trees too close to building. Pickleball court construction is leading to tree removal. Check to be sure they’re only removing the approved trees. Discussed large oak at MRC that has fungus and is coming down. Maybe next spring replace storm damaged and diseased ones that are being removed with oak trees that drop nuts for the wildlife. State road in front of Staples has one dead tree that should be cleared. NJ State has been called. Spring Tree planting is complete. Fall Main Street Planting is upcoming. Tree Canopy Update Updated report on Madison's tree canopy from Lisa Jordan and Michael Herlihy. The main findings for years 2011-2021: • Madison tree canopy declined 5% from 47% of Madison land cover to 42%; in acreage it declined by 113 acres from 1,289 to 1,176. This is an average loss of 11 acres a year. • The largest canopy change was Memorial Park with a loss of 8% • The report does not include data from 2022 and 2023 which experienced a large number of ash trees being removed and other tree losses associated with drought or new development. • New to the report is the Appendix which uses i-Tree to quantify the benefits of Madison's trees - we have some clarification questions on the savings and feedback to i-Tree on the boundary issue. 3 Council Liaison Report, Rachel Ehrlich: No council meeting in July so a quiet month. Ordinance introduced June 26th to fund parks improvement from Open Space funds. RFP for assessment of 4 parks is going out. STMB will be a big part of any decisions on what to do in the parks. $45K appropriation for planning process proposals. Public will be asked to discuss and comment on primary uses of the parks: passive recreation, habit, active recreation, etc. STMB Budget Report Year to Date – 2023 Budget (Total budget of $202,200) 1. Expended: $42,591 2. Encumbered: $93,403 3. Remaining Balance: $66,205 4. Unexpended: $159,608 This Month Paid: $14,330 - Honor Tree Service (removals & pruning) $2,135.38 - Richview Consulting (Arborist) Zoning Board/TCC Cases: Housing authority wants to build additional apartments on Belmont Avenue by the library. Big black walnut is a landmark tree along that fence. Tom Salaki has done the designs for TCC so he can’t comment. One big oak might have to come down. Asking them to provide a detailed layout of what trees are there, what will come down, what will be replaced. Rotary 100th Anniversary Tree Planting Project: Fall planting: trees identified, locations identified (Lucy D., Library, Water Tower), getting quotes. Partner Organizations: • MEC: Bridget Daley Trades and Crafts Family Fun Day was held last weekend and was the first collaboration between our two organizations. Was successful with many participants and giveaways for plants and seedlings. Considering doing the same next year for the trees. Reminder of the Home and Garden Tour with Friends of the Library on September 10th; FMST will be tabling at the Salaki’s home that day. The Central Avenue plantings were discussed at the Planning Board meeting. Seeking ways to make them healthier and will take the lead from other similar areas that are also considered to be part of the Historic Downtown. • Parks Advisory: no report • Open Space: No meeting. 4 • Sustainable Madison: no report • FMST: Chris Schorr Working on Tree Inventory Grant for new software and management of same. Application deadline end of August Bottle Hill Day October 7th discussed. MEC, Sustainability and Friends of Drew Forest are tabling but not FMST or STMB thus far. Maybe share with Parks or Sustainability. Important to have a presence. Submitted by Robin Trynin 5