Shade Tree Management Board

Shade Tree Management Board Madison, NJ 07940 Minutes of May 16, 2024 The Shade Tree Management Board held its regular meeting at 8:15 AM on Thursday, May 16, 2024. It was a hybrid meeting in the Borough’s Trustee 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 Member Miller, S x Member Bruce, N x Member Daley, B x 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 Landrigan, R Council Monaghan, B x Member Salaki, T Member • Minutes Approval - Motion to approve April minutes; motion carried. 1 • Tree Status o Borough Trees Mike Giodano: lots of rejections for street trees *Honor Tree finishing list 13, ready with 14, 15 upcoming. *Honor Tree getting price for Memorial Park Phase 3 trails. Rich has over 108 trees marked for removal. Trying to preserve as much as he can. ➢ Spring 2024 Planting - near the end, 5 trees left to plant. 89 trees planted. Substantial increase in requests after the offer was posted. Judy creating report of suggestions of new ways to do things to maximize trees in the ground and avoid the folks who don’t want trees e.g. 139 Central always says no to planting - take off list. ➢ Fall 2024 Planting - 30 more trees to plant and we’ll use social media to offer. ➢ Service Requests - Rich: one denial for oak tree being removed because acorns; 161 Madison Ave. - dead trees adjacent to water tower. Builder of the house next door owns the lot and the neighbor is complaining. o Private Trees ➢ Tree Permits - nothing special to report. ➢ Service Requests - no ash tree removal requests came in for April so we might have peaked. *Rich and Chris Schorr writing up a post about checking the health of your trees. • Arbor Day Celebration - Nancy: was a successful kick off for Green fair and DPW was honored. Mayor proclamation, Mikie Sherrill proclamation. Madison Eagle didn’t show up for some reason so traditional maypole dance wasn’t highlighted in paper. Is there a better future rain date location? 2 • Rotary Tree Plantings - Tom Salaki project - proposing to locate 30 trees at MRC …heading to final total of 100. • STMB 2024 Budget Report - As of May 15, 2024 Steve: One bill pending to Richview. Annual budget approved - Shade Tree budget $214,808. Year to Date – 2024 Budget ($214,808) 1. Expended: $36,963.09 2. Encumbered: $17,890.38 3. Remaining Balance: $159,954.53 4. Unexpended: $177,844.91 This Month Pending: $1,791.38 - Richview Consulting Paid: $2,125 - Honor Tree Service $18,073.75 - Plant Detectives Inc. • Partner Organizations o FMST - finished spring planting 6 trees at Memorial Grove. Adding understory trees and basically creating a small forest. 3 London Plane trees in Waverly parking lot; 1 might not make it but will be replaced. 3 Rose Garden park - Beth got grant from Garden Club and planted fringe and witch hazel as part of whole master plan. Rose Garden park - Rotary to install and maintain a reading library. Needs council approval to install and it can be moved around. Ken said that Condurso Memorial Park needs new dogwoods and asked that we check older ones before Memorial Day parade…Working with FMST to plant them with J & M. O MEC - Bridget said that Green and Clean was successful; Native plant ordinance passed so public plantings must be native with two exceptions (seasonal plantings and veteran’s park plantings); invasives removed at Library - mulched to prevent regrowth and will get replanted with native groundcover; plan for 2025 gas leaf blower moratorium. O Open Space - Brian: figuring out how to speak to all stakeholder groups when an open space application comes up. Parking tickets going out during games when people are parked on grass under no parking sign. Brian representing Shade Tree on 5/22 for parks planning meeting for 4 parks. O Sustainable Madison- $1500 grant for redoing Gibbons Pines Park entrance way. Claire said notification should be Friday. Shade Tree resubmitted 2 actions to Sustainable. MISC: *Gene - deer exclusion guy at MRC will be stepping down. Gene doing call out for green groups to find someone to take these responsibilities (fencing, paths, deer control) *Nancy: two new Landmark trees - Fringe tree at 29 Kensington, and second one at 56 Hillside (Japanese Maple). Chris added that Fringe Trees are now planted in Rose Garden Park and will bloom this year so town can see an example of a good native. Also, Black walnut coming down at affordable site on Belmont although 2 oaks were saved. Also, Rich being requested to look at Landmark trees in the future to check on their health. Chris Schorr 4  will send a letter telling homeowners that the Arborist offering to check on the trees. *State is treating the ash tree at 100 Ridgedale. *Council meeting report: Gene Memorial Park Phase 2 trails ribbon cutting 9 am June 1 Cook Ave parking lot reconstruction to start mid to late June Dodge Field Playground being redone early July - 3-month project – playground will be closed. TRPA 5 Service Requests Minutes submitted by Robin Trynin 6