Shade Tree Management Board

Shade Tree Management Board Madison, NJ 07940 Minutes of February 15, 2024 The Shade Tree Management Board held its regular meeting at 8:15 AM on Thursday, March 21, 2024. It was a hybrid meeting in the Borough’s Trustees 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 10, 2024. 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 Member Daley, B x MEC Cracovia, G x Member O’Brien, K DPW Honohan, J x Member Wolowicz, R x Arborist Trynin, R Alternate Schorr, C x FMST Limbach, G x Alternate Landrigan, R Council Monaghan, B x Member Fontaine, E x Guest Salaki, T x Member Duffy, R x DPW 1 • Minutes Approval Motion to approve February minutes; motion carried. • Public Correspondence / Requests o Borough Trees / Service Requests – Nothing out of the ordinary (Attachment 1). o Spring 2024 Planting/Tree Order ▪ Awarded to Plant Detectives ($18,073.75) ▪ 90 trees; planting letters to 94 residents, expecting some refusals. ▪ Trees to be delivered to DPW on 4/1/24 o Private Trees, Rich and Bob (Attachment 2). ▪ Issues discussed: Water Tower property line, 8 Ridgedale, Woodland & Midwood, 35 Knollwood, Kings Rd railroad embankment, Community Place affordable housing tree removals/replacements, 146-150 Central Ave. and 46 Garfield. ▪ Madison Commons: Notice of Violation sent for the unpermitted removal of 10 street trees on Bedford Court. Landscaper has responded but owners have not. Registered letter sent to Commons owner requesting a response. • Council Liaison Report – none • TCC/Zoning Board Cases - none • TMB Budget Reports – Steve Miller provided the budget report (Attachment 3). o Working with a preliminary budget while the full budget is under discussion by the Council. o STMB 2024 Planning Activities: o Arbor Day Celebration - April 27 ▪ Dr. Kathleen Koop is coordinating the public-school portion of the program. ▪ The new Superintendent of Schools will be attending (and presumably speaking). ▪ Mayor Conley will be away that weekend, but council president Eric Range will read the proclamation and accept the tree city flag. ▪ Proclamation declaring April 27, 2024, Arbor Day in Madison is complete. ▪ Invitations/ announcements have been sent by Chris. Mailed hard copies to Governor, senators, congresspeople, county commissioners. Evites to local representatives and groups. ▪ Lisa Ellis will send out Arbor Day info with Green and Clean pr. ▪ Mayor and Council liaison Bob Landrigan, Lisa Ellis know about plans to use the Hartley Dodge rotunda if it rains. ▪ No word from St Vincent’s. o NJ Tree Recovery Campaign – approved for 100 seedlings; pick-up on 4/11 when we will know the tree species; to be distributed on 4/12 at Borough Hall and at the 4/27Arbor Day celebration. 2  o Rotary/Council Arborist Talks – Rich gave a talk to the Rotary morning meeting on the State of Madison Trees; a noon Rotary talk is scheduled in May and a Council update in April. • Partner Organizations o MEC, Bridget: discussed the proposed Native Plant ordinance; there were both favorable comments and concerns; the concerns included understanding the definitions, constraints on availability of native plants and the application to Rose Garden Park. Additional feedback will be provided to Bridget. o FMST, Chris ▪ Planning work continues on Rose Garden Park. ▪ Tree Posters are in the windows of the METC annex. ▪ Tree Banners will be on Main St. for the month of April. o Parks Advisory, Gene ▪ There has been a delay in completing the assessment of the Parks Planning RFQ responses, but a meeting is being sent up to complete the evaluation process. o Open Space, Brian ▪ Approved $13,000 for improvements at Masonic Lodge. o Sustainable Madison, Judy ▪ Updates to 2 Tree Actions have been submitted – awaiting feedback. Submitted by George Limbach 3  Attachment 1 # Trees # # TREES Denied 2024 PERMITS TO BE PLANTING RECOM Permit to INSPECTED REMOVED OBLIG PLANTING Removed Notes January 6 7 4 3 1 142 trees at Madison February 9 158 38 10 Townhouse March April May June July August September October November December Total 15 165 42 13 1 4  Attachment 2 Service # No Yard Health Requests Requests # trees remove Prune Work Stump Question Misc. Dept Jan 7 8 3 2 1 1 1 Feb 3 3 2 1 March April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Total 10 11 5 2 2 0 0 1 1 5  Attachment 3 Budget Report As of February 14, 2024 Year to Date – 2024 Budget ($53,077.52 – 26.25% of proposed budget)  Expended: $2,400.00  Encumbered: $49,390.13  Remaining Balance: $1,287.39  Unexpended: $50,677.52 This Month Pending: $2,76.13 - Richview Consulting (Jan & Feb) $18,073.75 - Plant Detectives Inc. 6