Shade Tree Management Board

Shade Tree Management Board Madison, NJ 07940 Minutes of July 18, 2024 The Shade Tree Management Board held its regular meeting at 8:15 AM on Thursday, July 18, 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 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 Landrigan, R Council Monaghan, B x Member Whitcomb, C. guest MEC Salaki, T Member Sinha, Gretchen guest Garden Club of Madison • Minutes Approval - Motion to approve June minutes; motion carried. •Tree Status o Borough Trees 1 Gene for Ken who is absent. Trees taken down by junior school. Maybe a space to plant new ones. Follow up to see what happens with stumps. Honor on list 17 up from list 14 last month. ➢ Fall 2024 Planting –Judy H. requests for quotes went out this week due July 29 sent to NJ Tree Foundation, Cedar Hill, Plant Detectives and might add Shade Tree Nursery (Bergen County). Sticking with natives. 14/30 sites allocated for fall street tree planting. Gene: Ken was asking NJ Tree Foundation to do the planting in lieu of DPW. Need to follow up and ask if that’s happening. ➢Service Requests Rich: storm problems 35 requests involving 59 trees, 22 required removals, 33 pruning. Normal averages even though more trees. o Private Trees ➢Tree Permits Rich: 11 requests involving 36 trees to be removed. 16 on one property on Dogwood. Rich authorized 2 damaged to come down but there will be follow up by owner. Black Oak on Barnsdale needs to be pruned though owner asked to remove. Arborist assessment is that it appears healthy so asked owner to get their own arborist to confirm and keep it. Canterbury new owner took down a tree and neighbor called it in. Reaching out to contractor. On South Oak a tree was removed, and a permit was filed after the removal. ➢Service Requests: nothing of note. Comments: Chris Schorr provided an update on the proposed tree information pamphlet. Learned Borough doesn’t send anything out when new people move in. Talking to Ray to figure out how to reach realtors. Post in their offices? In one of their specific publications? Waiting for feedback from Carmella Vitale. Discussed asking R. Landrigan and Council how they’d inform new homeowners of our Tree Ordinance info and possibly include a mailer with the Trash and Recycling info. Claire suggested Advantage Cleaner mailing to get our flyer in but that goes to Chatham and Harding too. Nancy said maybe go through the Chamber of Commerce. Nancy asked for update on Landmark trees: Copper Beech on Lawrence, White Oak on Golf Club. Rich says yes to both. Getting further details to send letters to homeowners. • Tree Protection Ordinance Proposed changes based on Madison experience and NJ model ordinance: 2 1. Require permit be displayed in conspicuous place 2. Different fee structures for different removal conditions. Want to simplify ordinance and say $25 application fee to have arborist to assess the tree. Either get the permit to remove or he rejects it. Trees under 6 inches don’t need a permit. Over that size, the arborist has to be involved. 3. Replacement tree algorithm but if the number of replacements can’t fit on a property after trees are removed, they pay to tree fund - $400 / tree right now. Proposes replacement tree fund contribution be based on size of tree. Claire asked if these changes could apply to currently active projects. Do we use the date when work starts or when paperwork filed? Consider a case like Drew University. Brian: how and who enforces our tree ordinance? Gene answered that Rich assesses each situation. If there’s a violation, he sends a letter requiring an adequate remediation plan. If not, our lawyers get involved with potential legal/court action. This has happened 2 or 3 times. How do citizens follow up when they see an infraction? Discussion. Claire offered to publicize our steps of action in MEC newsletter Brian asked how we follow up on compliance? Rich checks within the one-year time frame. • Niles Park GCM Mary McDaniel Garden – Gretchen Sinha from Garden Club reported that the GCM was offered $5000 to update the garden. She presented a design developed by GCM landscape gardeners. There was extensive conversation regarding cultivars specified in the design vs. changing to straight species. There will be follow-up. • Tree City Growth Awards Actions - Nancy discussed this and a few other items: list of trees straight species, tree planting projects, Cook Ave. parking lot and young tree pruning. All this info is educational and will be put on the STMB website. Discussed having a “State of Madison’s Canopy” posted on our website annually or quarterly. STMB provides content for the Shade Tree Board website. Discussed having members write a monthly article regarding anything “Shade Tree” related. One person per month. Gene to assign accordingly. • STMB 2024 Budget Report - As of July 17, 2024 Year to Date – 2024 Budget ($214,808) 1. Expended: $84,710.81 2. Encumbered: $86,523.50 3  3. Remaining Balance: $43,573.69 4. Unexpended: $130,097.19 This Month Paid: $1,194.50 - Honor Tree Service (tree removal) $2,235.46 - FMST (rose garden park) Pending: $2,537.00 - Richview Consulting •NJ Shade Tree Conference in Atlantic City 10/17-18/2024 •Kate mentioned Tree ID Walk on Sunday Oct. 27 at 1:30. More information forthcoming. •Bottle Hill Day is October 5th Saturday, and we are looking for volunteers. •Partner Organizations o Parks Development Plans - Brian said the Parks Development planning run by Tom Salaki was terrific. o FMST - Chris S. gave out proposed pamphlets on the Madison Tree Protection Ord. o MEC - Bridget discussed grant received to remove the barberry at Gibbons Pines Park. Also, Eco Garden Tour to be 9/21/24 12:00-4:00p. Discussed rain garden proposed at Library. o Open Space - Brian said the fence was going to be fixed at MRC and Open Space will possibly be funding a small amount to repair the Early Trade Clock. Minutes submitted by Robin Trynin & George Limbach 4