Shade Tree Management Board

Shade Tree Management Board Madison, NJ 07940 Minutes of August 15, 2024 The Shade Tree Management Board held its regular meeting at 8:15 AM on Thursday, August 15, 2024. 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 10, 2024. Copies of said notice were made available to the general public. Attendance Name Present Role Name Present Role Bartley x Member Miller x Member Bruce x Member Daley x MEC Cracovia x Member O’Brien DPW Honohan x Member Wolowicz x Arborist Trynin Alternate Schorr x FMST Limbach x Alternate Landrigan Council Monaghan x Alternate Salaki x Member Minutes Approval Motion to approve July minutes and motion carried. Tree Status August 6 Storm Damage The wind shear plus 7 inches of rain resulted in many downed & damaged trees (including the Centennial Copper Beech at the Madison Train Station) throughout the Borough. Borough Trees - Fall 2024 Planting. 30 trees will be planted. Currently, there are 28 requests for trees. Two more sites are being sought. - Service Requests. Borough Arborist Rich Wolowicz reported that the annual total of tree service requests through May of 2024 is 55 for 76 trees. A total of 28 have been removed and 33 pruned. Private Trees - Tree Permits 18 Barnsdale. Request for removal of a 36 inch (dbh) oak tree discussed. STMB members asked to assess the health of the tree and report back.  Other Tree Permits. Borough Arborist Rich Wolowicz reported that the annual total tree permit requests through July of 2024 is 86 for 212 trees with a planting obligation of 154 trees. A total of 22 permits to remove trees have been denied. - Service Requests – Numbers were provided but none were discussed . Niles Park GCM Mary McDaniel Garden The garden design to update and refresh the Mary McDaniel Garden at Niles Park was approved by the Board. MRC Rotary Proposed Plantings The proposed plantings for the MRC Rotary gift to the Borough were approved by the Board. STMB Monthly Article/Report Board Chairman Cracovia asked that each STMB member participate in creating an article/report for the monthly MEC newsletter. Articles/reports should be submitted to Gene Cracovia in a timely manner. Assignments are as follows: 2024 September – Tom Salaki October – George Limbach November – RobinTrynin December – Brian Monaghan 2025 January – Nancy Bruce February – Kate Bartley March – Steve Miller April – Gene Cracovia May – Judy Honohan STMB Budget Report STMB member Miller reported that as of August 14, 2024, the board had expended $98,415.73, encumbered $89,797.00, with a remaining balance of $26,595.27, and an unexpended amount of $116,392,27. (see attached budget report) Partner Organizations: - MEC MEC representative Daley reported that the MEC will be hosting an Eco Garden Tour in Madison on Saturday, September 21. She also reported that the MEC, STMB and Friends of Madison Shade Trees, will be sponsoring a Madison Tree Identification Walk open to the general public at 1:30 pm on Sunday, October 27, at the Conservation Forest of the MRC. The event will be led by naturalist Ginger Van Ryzin of the GSWA. Change in Time for November 21, 2024, STMB The STMB approved changing the meeting time for the November 21, 2024, STMB meeting from 8:15 am to 7 pm. Action Items None recorded. Submitted by Kate Bartley