Shade Tree Advisory Committee

WESTWOOD SHADE TREE COMMITTEE APPROVED MINUTES Tuesday, February 9, 2021 – 6:30 pm 1. Call to Order – the meeting was called to order by the Chairman pro tem, Beth Staples, at 6:30pm 2. Members Present: Beth Staples, Jeff Ocher, and Casey Christopher, and Councilmember Jodi Murphy Absent: Fred Rella 3. Minutes - The minutes of the January 12, 2021 meeting were approved. 4. Items for Discussion a. Door hanger distribution: WSTC members will distribute the door hangers using the Borough’s election district map (appended, page 3). Districts were assigned as follows: Fred (2), Casey (5), Beth (4), Jeff (8), and Jodi (3). The remaining districts (1, 6, 7) will be addressed for the Fall planting. b. Volunteer Ordinance: The ordinance has officially been introduced and should be voted upon at the next Council meeting. It was amended to reflect that the WSTC will contact the utility companies prior to plantings. c. CBD trees: Councilwoman Murphy reported that there is no clear answer as to the “ownership” and responsibility for trees planted within the town’s easement in the CBD. However, the Borough has the responsibility for the care of these trees and for the decoration of them. An agreement was reached with the DPW liaison (Councilman Chris Montana) that the DPW will not cut or replace any CBD tree without WSTC notification. d. WSTC Operations Plan: It was agreed to amend the WSTCOP to reflect a one for one replacement of town trees. Beth Staples will amend the document and recirculate it to members for review. e. Tree Removal Permit: Councilwoman Murphy is waiting for an answer from the Council on the proposal. f. Bamboo ordinance: Councilwoman Murphy reported that the State legislation is still pending and that she had reviewed the ordinances from Oradell and Park Ridge. She will share them with the WSTC. g. Tree Sculptures: Councilwoman Murphy reported on the Ridgefield Park Arts Committee Tree which has worked with a volunteer artist to carve a sculpture from a dead town tree. Their arts committee works with the artist to determine if the tree is viable for sculpture and then instructs the DPW on how high to cut the stump. Artists submit drawings and even hollow trees can be carved.  h. Spring plantings: Jeff Ocher will check with additional nurseries for pricing on trees for the spring planting. 5. Adjournment – the meeting was adjourned at 7:06pm Next meeting will be March 9, 2021 at 6:30pm Action Items: 1. Dissemination of door hangers: All members 2. Review pricing for trees at other wholesale nurseries – Jeff 3. Send revised copies of WSTC Master Plan to all members – Beth 4. Request for clarification of “ownership” and responsibility for town trees in the CBD – Jodi 5. Review costs of having white holiday lights on the town trees remain up all year – Fred 6. Tree removal permit – Jodi 7. Bamboo ordinances from neighboring towns – Jodi