Shade Tree Management Board

Shade Tree Management Board Madison, NJ 07940 Minutes of August 17, 2023 The Shade Tree Management Board held its regular meeting at 8:15 AM on Thursday, August 17, 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 Member Miller, S x Member Bruce, N x Member Daley, B MEC Cracovia, G x Member O’Brien, K x 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 July minutes; motion carried. Arborist Report from Rich: Tree Removal Permits Service Requests Private Trees 157 Ridgedale across from high school - residents complained about tree removals on that property and Rich confirmed there is a permit. There were three dying spruces being removed and there is a replanting plan. 220 Kings Road – Rachel witnessed removals on Green and Clean Day. Violation letter being sent by Rich to Keegan Landscaping. Property owner and landscaper both get letters. Replanting ordered or money to the tree fund. 91 Woodland (historic home). Builder has trees marked for removal but says that they will not be removed. Unclear how it’s progressing because the building is on hold. Hoping neighbor does a survey so the trees on the property line aren’t improperly removed. Public Trees Fall Main Street Planting. Plant Detectives offer came in, thinking to go with the containers. Judy has details. Council Liaison Report (Rachel) Pickleball court well underway. Expectation that by 9/5 it will be near completion and thus safely secured before school starts. Gene commented on failure to save a healthy tree on the dividing line that was taken down. Courts should have been shifted 5 feet to protect the tree. Did the builder receive the plan for this? Tom suggesting formal plans in the future and not just sketches so when if plan is revised, the contractor sees it and follows it. Early engagement improves the chance that the Green Group comments are incorporated into plans. Memorial Park Trail construction seems more extensive than expected and outreach to Green committees was not done. Construction projects that impact public space should be reviewed by the Green Groups. Residents concerned because they see many trees removed and don’t know that at least 100 were dead. Better communication needed. Home and Garden Tour 9/10. TCC/Zoning Board no cases to report. Rotary Tree Planting Project They have 5-6 quotes from local landscapers and it’s in the 20k-30k range. NJ Tree Foundation in at 15K. Waiting to hear back from one additional landscaper but the NJ Tree Foundation had the lowest quote. 52 trees to be planted this fall, 1.5-2 diameter. Landmark Tree Update Nancy: Total 22 landmark trees and brochures with letters were sent to all owners so project completed. Jim Burnet suggested a Landmark Tree tour. George asked about the maple on Belmont, but it was not submitted. Tom: Belmont Avenue trees - it appears that the Black Walnut in the back will be secured but a big oak is slated to come down. Tom is doing the landscape layout and offered a new site plan to avoid that. The engineer was developing the plan without accounting for specific trees. Tree Inventory-Use/Grant Chris Schorr: In the process of writing grant proposal for $15,000, offering our match in volunteer hours. Grant to purchase software and training time. Jim Burnet to figure out how to pay for iPads. First bid to do inventory came in – costing 55K to use current ArborPro software. Waiting for other quotes to figure out next steps. STMB Budget Report Year to Date – 2023 Budget (Total budget of $202,200) 1. Expended: $80,097.64 2. Encumbered: $57,397.04 3. Remaining Balance: $64,705.32 4. Unexpended: $122,102.36 This Month Paid: $12,295.50 - Honor Tree Service (removals) $2,081.20 - Richview Consulting (Arborist) $3,594.96 - FMST for Rose Garden Park maintenance $18,467 - Plant Detectives Inc. for spring trees Shade Tree Board/Commissions Meeting Madison, Chatham Borough, Morristown, and a New Providence potential leader attended. Program with a speaker would be good for next time. Morristown is going for a huge grant (3M) to upgrade its parks - using professional grant writer. Ride with the Arborist – contact Rich to set up. Bottle Hill Day 10/7 Sustainable Madison, MEC, STMB and Parks may share a table. Tree Conference/Training 10/26-27/23. NJSTF.org for information. Chris Schorr giving a talk. Robin attending CORE. Partner Organizations FMST: Rose Garden Park ongoing. Application to Open Space for 350K is too much to ask for, so breaking down the plan into stages. First stage replacing irrigation so there would be an immediate impact this fall by saving water. The irrigation system it can be laid out so that new pieces kick in as each bed gets planted. First bid for entire irrigation system is only 10K. Planting along the driveway can start first. Next year would be hardscaping. Beginning to discuss grant for path building. Submitted by Robin Trynin