Shade Tree Advisory Committee

WESTWOOD SHADE TREE COMMITTEE APPROVED MINUTES TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2022 –6:30PM 1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by the Chairman Dan Zambrano at 6:33pm 2. MEMBERS PRESENT: Dan Zambrano, Fred Rella, Beth Staples, Councilwoman Erin Collins, new member Michael Murtaugh – Absent: Casey Christopher 3. APPROVAL OF PAST MINUTES: The minutes of November 30, 2022 were approved. 4. INTRODUCTION OF NEW BOARD MEMBER: Michael Murtaugh introduced himself. He had worked on trees with his father for years and now is a laborer with the WWDPW and is certified for fertilizer and pesticide application. 5. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION: a. UNPLATED YARD RELEASE TREE FOLLOW-UP: Dan reported that the DPW Superintendent stated a tree was not planted at 63 Cardinal Lane because the resident wanted the tree planted beyond the 10’ easement. The Borough Clerk agreed. b. COMMUNITY FORESTRY MANAGEMENT PLAN: NJUCF has said that we can require the plan ourselves (we do not need to hire an arborist to draft the plan). Beth will update our last plan for dates, etc. and WWSTC will work on the Implementation Schedule goals this year. It will cover 1/1/23 – 12/31/27. Dan went over the guidelines and deadlines. Goal is to finish all by February of 2024. The plan will have to be submitted to NJUCF Forester Levon Bigelow in enough time to allow for revisions to the final plans if we want it approved in 2023. We will also need to have at least 2 people complete at least 8 Continuing Education Units by December 31, 2023. The final Annual Accomplishment Report (which must be approved by the Mayor and Council prior to submission) must be submitted by February 15, 2024. c. REVISIT DRAFT OPERATIONS PLAN: Beth will revise the plan to bring it down to a simple 2-page document. Tree replacement goals were discussed as the original plan sought a 1:1 replacement. It was agreed to request an increase from 50 to 75 trees in 2023 and then from 75 to 100 trees in 2024. A tree sponsorship program will be implemented once the Tree Removal form is fully operational online. Additional funding will be required in the WWSTC budget for training/education, Spotted Lantern Fly traps, tree wrap, and the additional trees. Councilwoman Collins will present this to the Mayor and Council d. LEAVES, MULCH, WOOD CHIPS: There was discussion of the Borough’s leaf removal program. Westwood contracts to have the leaves removed from the DPW and mulched elsewhere. It was proposed to consider making the wood chips available to the public. 6. 2022 HIGHTLIGHTS: Chairman Zambrano reviewed the WWSTC accomplishments in 2022. a. Application for Tree City USA was approved and a successful Arbor Day Celebration was held. b. A total of 46 Trees were planted: 37 in front of Resident houses; 6 at Gritman Park; and 3 at Veteran's Park. c. Seedlings from the great Salem Oak were received from the NJ Forestry Service and planted. d. The WWSTC Facebook Page was approved and is up and running. Our email account has been fixed and is operational. e. The Yard Side Planting Indemnification and the Hold Harmless Agreement forms were approved.  f. One Committee Member and two DPW Employees completed NJUCF Core Training. g. We have laid out a road map to obtain NJUCF Accreditation in 2023. 7. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 7:27pm NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at 6:30pm ACTION ITEMS: 1. Updated the Operations Plan – Beth 2. Community Forestry Program goals – full committee 3. Stewardship Plan – Dan, Beth, and Erin 4. Increased budget request – Erin 5. Tree Removal form – waiting on Borough 6. Tree Sponsorship Program – waiting until Tree Removal form is finalized and operational 7. Procedure for notification of Building Department tree removal authorizations – Erin 8. Salem Oak – members will continue to grow saplings as their homes 9. Sidewalk Replacement Plan - Beth