Shade Tree Advisory Committee

WESTWOOD SHADE TREE COMMITTEE APPROVED MINUTES Tuesday, January 12, 2021 – 6:30 pm 1. Call to Order – the meeting was called to order by the Chairman, Fred Rella, at 6:37pm 2. Members Present: Fred Rella, Jeff Ocher, Beth Staples, and Casey Christopher, and Councilmember Jodi Murphy 3. Minutes - The minutes of the December 8, 2020 meeting were approved. 4. Items for Discussion a. Fred Rella was reelected as chair of the WSTC and newly reappointed member Beth Staples was reelected as secretary. b. Budget: Councilwoman Murphy reported that she had put in a budget line item request of $15,000 for WSTC. There is no word yet on whether or not it was approved. She should know by our next meeting. c. Door Hangers: The door hangers (500) have been printed. WSTC members will hand them out throughout the Borough. Beth Staples will prepare a dissemination map so that streets are not duplicated. d. Purchase Orders: Councilwoman Murphy has requested that she, as the WSTC council liaison, sign off on purchase orders using WSTC funds and that she be informed of all tree removals. A tree removal report will be generated. e. Volunteers: Councilwoman Murphy reported that all parties have weighed in on the issue, and she is waiting for the Borough Attorney to draft the paperwork. Use of volunteers will be coordinated with the DPW after locations have been approved. She should have the final wording by our next meeting. f. Spring Plantings: Jeff Ocher will check with additional nurseries for pricing on trees for the spring planting. He will price 6’ trees in the varieties listed on the Borough website and the WSTC Operating Procedures. Councilwoman Murphy will get the DPW’s pricing for a comparison. g. CDB trees: There is no official answer yet as to who owns and is responsible for the trees planted within the easement in the CBD. Councilwoman Murphy reported that the DPW has been maintaining these trees. h. WSTC Operations Plan: It was asked that all committee members read the Westwood Shade Tree Committee Operations Plan and be prepared to discuss it at our next meeting.  i. Tree Removal Permits: Councilwoman Murphy will obtain more information on an historic tree ordinance to require a permit for the removal of historic trees within the Borough. j. Holiday Lights: Fred Rella asked Councilwoman Murphy to ask Mayor and Council how they would like the WSTC to approach this issue. There was discussion on possibly having the expense be born by CBD property owners. k. Tree City: The application has been filed. l. Bamboo: Fred Rella brought forth the issue of banning bamboo plantings within the Borough. Councilwoman Murphy will check with the NJ League of Municipalities for information on how other towns have handled this issue. m. Historic Designation: There was discussion about possibly obtaining an historic designation for certain trees within the Borough. 5. Adjournment – the meeting was adjourned at 7:23pm Next meeting will be February 9, 2021 at 6:30pm Action Items: 1. Door hanger distribution map – Beth 2. Final decision on use of volunteers - Jodi 3. Review pricing for trees at other wholesale nurseries – Jeff 4. Request for clarification of “ownership” and responsibility for town trees in the CBD – Jodi 5. Review WSTC Operations Plan – all members 6. Tree removal permit - Jodi 7. Mayor and Council’s views on having white holiday lights on the town trees remain up all year – Fred 8. Bamboo ordinances - Jodi