Shade Tree Management Board

Shade Tree Management Board Madison, NJ 07940 Minutes of September 19, 2024 The Shade Tree Management Board held its regular meeting at 8:15 AM on Thursday, September 19, 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 January10, 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 zoom MEC Cracovia x Member O’Brien x DPW Honohan x Member Wolowicz x Arborist Trynin zoom Member Schorr FMST Limbach x Alternate Landrigan Council Monaghan x Alternate Salaki x Member Minutes Approval Motion to approve August minutes with one correction; motion carried. Madison Tree Status Borough Trees • Fall 2024 Planting: Trees ordered through Plant Detectives. All in containers; to be delivered approx October 1. 30 sites, mostly requests, have been marked. • Service Requests: Rich reported normal numbers. Private Trees: Permits • Monthly report for August: 24 permits inspected with 37 trees applied to be removed. Planting obligation: 36 trees, with 7 more recommended for planting. • 18 Barnsdale - Discussion regarding large oak that resident wants to remove; permit was denied with the stipulation that if other independent arborist(s) provide a different assessment of the tree, the denial would be reconsidered. 1  • 20-24 Belmont – new affordable housing project redesigned to save large Landmark walnut tree. • 49 Elm St.- resident wants to remove 2 sawtooth oaks. She wrote to Mayor. Exploring options. Service Requests: • Service requests for August: 14 with 22 trees involved. • Discussed dead tree at 61 Noe. DPW report: • Ken O Brien will be leaving Nov. 1 • Water trucks will go out again, concentrating on trees planted this spring. • Discussion of additional cost of tree removal for police charges required to shut down streets for public tree work. • Honor Tree is a little behind due to early August storms. Council Liaison Report: None STMB Budget Report Ken reported that STMB will be given more money to cover storm damage, ash tree removal etc. Although the monthly budget report does not reflect it, all funds plus more will be spent by year end. Total Budget 2024 ($214,808) • Expended: $149,127.73 • Encumbered: $45,681.86 • Remaining Balance: $19,998.41 • Unexpended: $65,680.27 Paid: • $44,799.50 - Honor Tree Service (removals and pruning) • $5,912.50 - Richview Consulting (Arborist) Tree ID Walk: 10/27/24 at MRC (STMB, MEC, FMST) • Walk will be through the Conservation Forest section of MRC, starting at 1:30.The walk will be led by naturalist Ginger Van Ryzin of the Great Swamp Watershed Association. • Participants will be eligible for CEUs. STMB Monthly Report: • Articles on tree care, information, tree tips are scheduled. Brian and George have already submitted their articles. It would be helpful to have photos included. September – Tom Salaki October – George Limbach November – Robin Trynin December – Brian Monaghan 2025 January – Nancy Bruce February – Kate Bartley March – TBD April – Gene Cracovia May – Judy Honohan 2  • NJ Shade Tree Federation Conference, October 17-18 in Atlantic City. • Tree Symposium Frelinghuysen Arboretum, November 2. • Local Shade Tree Group Meeting, Sun, Oct 20. Judy, Brian, Gene and Chris S. plan to attend. Partner Organizations: • MEC: Eco house/garden tour in partnership with Nature of Reading Bookstore on 9/21. Gibbons Pines replanting will be completed in early October. Native plant material will come from Gino’s Nursery in PA and Sunset Farmstead in NJ. • Parks: Tom reported that Square Acre Studio will have an update on the parks plan in early October. He will hold a public meeting after Bottle Hill Day. • Open Space: Funding for the restoration of the clock at the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts. • Sustainable Madison: Madison achieved Silver certification for 2024. • FMST: FMST partnered with Madison Rotary to install a “Little Library” box at Rose Garden Park. It will contain children’s books, pre-school through elementary ages. Submitted by George Limbach 3