Shade Tree Management Board

Shade Tree Management Board Madison, NJ 07940 Minutes of June 20, 2024 The Shade Tree Management Board held its regular meeting at 8:15 AM on Thursday, June 20, 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 x Member Miller, S x Member Bruce, N 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 1 • Minutes Approval - Motion to approve April minutes; motion carried. • Borough Trees Discussed watering Rotary Trees at Lucy D if Rotary buys bags; watering town baskets regularly unless definite rain; watering Water Tower trees and at the library o Service Requests – ➢ Rich: 20 requests on 24 trees, 10 need removal, 13 pruning, 1 not needed. Discussed Beech Leaf disease and information on injections. ➢ Ken: Will check street tree patch at 27 Ferndale that is bare and needs grass seed. ➢ Gene: Reminded everyone to push information on mulch volcanos. ➢ Judy: Asked Rich to look at half dead copper tree near Walgreens on Greenwood. o Ken: Honor is finishing list 14, list 15 beginning. Trees on Main Street near Museum of Crafts are next for pruning. Honor did Waverly already but how much time do the trees have left? Ken said to leave the small ones that would break a fall in the event of a fire emergency rescue from the 2nd floor of the wooden residential buildings; Bottle Hill Tavern wants their trees pruned again. If trees need to be looked at email Ken at DPW and it leaves a paper trail to reach Rich. o Spring 2024 Planting – ➢ Check 63 Shady Lawn where Chris Schorr notes a dead street tree that could possibly be planted in the spring. Consider same for dead tree on the Burnet/Ridgedale line. o Fall 2024 Planting – ➢ 89/120 planted. Spring cost was $20K. Need to cover the next 30 trees for $6K. Judy will pick species including some redbuds. Fall plantings should be in containers. Also receiving list from Carmella where Honor removals are happening which gives us good locations, though each one must be assessed if a new tree should be planted there or not. ➢ Reissue the online request form that Mike Pellessier started last spring. Should be pushed out more often so we get the request organized and not just do our driving around to find spaces. Form will include clarification that these are street trees not private). ➢ 54 Main and Pharmacy have empty pits that can be planted in the fall and there’s a pear tree to be replaced as well. Take care to note the water valves that complicate placement. o Phase 3 Memorial Park Trail- Honor giving estimate to take down more than 100 Ash trees ASAP because they pose a potential hazard. • Private Trees o Tree Permits - 18 permits for May - 28 to remove, 28 replace. o 146 Central- Spruce trees trimmed by owner; must replant a buffer and do a trimming properly and we want to see a landscape plan first. Rich will follow up with Dennis. o Commons: They responded to our request to replace removals with 50 trees and the landscaper attorney said they planted 28 trees that are bigger than 2 inches. Ongoing conversation. There are also dead ash trees that they were supposed to take down (their responsibility because it's private property). 2  o Service Requests – none highlighted. • Parks Development Plans - Brian attended meeting of 4 parks being developed. (Tom Salaki working with firm from Atlanta) Livesey off Kings Road, Summerhill, Central Green, Delbarton. Researching the history of each park, then asking public what they want to see. Discussion through September then they’ll develop a plan. Come visit the parks on July 13 - discussions open to the public. • Chris Schorr asked if pocket park at Anthony and Canterbury that floods can be checked to see if trees and a berm can be added to stop half the yards flooding all the time. • Chris is also creating the 2 proposed Tree Info Bulletins - one reminder to check health of your trees and another describing the value of the trees. Judy comment: change wording to say that any tree over 6-inch diameter is protected. Idea to engage realtors and suggest they hand them out. • Rotary Tree Plantings will be the first week in November. NJ Tree Foundation doing it. All in MRC area. T. Salaki is choosing tree species. 30-35 trees. Will get us to 85 trees of 100. The remainder will be planted 2025. Consider issue of watering at MRC. • STMB 2024 Budget Report - As of June 19, 2024 Steve: 39K to Honor last month. Most of it is removals. Seems like a lot for one month but might be rollover. We are doing much more tree work than surrounding towns - we are very active with systematic trimming and removals. Minimizes paying overtime after storms. Year to Date – 2024 Budget ($214,808) 1. Expended: $80,561.35 2. Encumbered: $85,900.50 3. Remaining Balance: $48,346.15 4. Unexpended: $134,246.65 This Month Paid 1. $39,198.50 - Honor Tree Service 2. $4,399.76 - Richview Consulting • Partner Organizations o FMST -Rose Garden Park being used and maintained. Thank you to DPW for maintaining the watering system. FMST will next meet in September. Follow up on the Dogwoods in Condurso Park that died: Toni at J & M got them delivered and Ken got them planted and FMST picked up the cost. o MEC - Bridget reported: ➢ MRC deer fencing broken by trees. ➢ MEC received a grant to remove barbary shrubs and plant American hollies. One year grant must be completed by 6/1/25. Moving ahead with Ken for DPW doing this work at Gibbons Pines. ➢ Repair Café - MEC talked about light pollution and the effect on wildlife. Shared yellow bulbs as an alternative. ➢ Reminded us of the July 13 input and design session for Parks Dept. Gave away 90 pollinator plants at Farmers market. 3  ➢ Blue Sky Green Earth all electric company is coming to Madison to serve some families next month ➢ State senate environmental committee meeting today to hear about statewide gas leaf blower ban. If it doesn’t pass, Madison is going to try to establish their own ban in 2025. Put forth as seasonal ban. o Open Space - Brian reported that reskimming is most of the budget; working on transitioning passive rec areas at the MRC to other members of the MEC. Open space application being changed to say before you apply you must check with all green committees. o Sustainable Madison- Judy H. reported that Sustainable tree actions were resubmitted. George: Chris Nash would like a plaque by the oak tree that his dad planted. Ken thinks the tree it is not doing well though he’s trying to save it. Rich also thinks it is not going to make it. Need to replace it to shade the dogwoods there if it’s not going to make it. Perhaps the next generation of the family would want to do another one. Minutes submitted by Robin Trynin 4 TRPA 5 Service Requests 6