Shade Tree Advisory Committee

WESTWOOD SHADE TREE COMMITTEE APPROVED MINUTES TUESDAY, AUGUST 1, 2023 1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by the chairman at 7:08pm. 2. MEMBERS PRESENT: Dan Zambrano, Terence Beutel, Michael Murtaugh, Fred Rella, Beth Staples, and Councilwoman Erin Collins. Absent: Christine Blaney 3. APPROVAL OF PAST MINUTES: The minutes of July 11, 2023 were approved. 4. APPROVAL OF DRAFT REPORT TO ZONING BOARD RE: ABBOTT 169 CARVER AVE. The written report to the Westwood Zoning Board regarding the proposed development at 169 Carver Avenue and its impact on the trees existent to the building lot was reviewed and approved. It was agreed to send the report to the Planning Board as well. 5. SPOTTED LANTERN FLY TRAPS: A number of SLF traps have been requested by residents in response to our FaceBook posting. Nine residents requested traps for their private yards. After discussion, it was decided to make the remaining traps available at the upcoming Westwood Public Library event on 8/7 on a first come/first served basis. Residents will receive the traps and the instructions on how to install them properly. Councilwoman Collins will make additional copies of the instructions so that each trap will have a full set. The SLF grant which provided the traps has $9800 remaining. It was agreed to ask the Borough Arborist for a recommendation for a company that can spray certain areas with smaller circumference trees. The Borough Clerk has requested SLF information for the Borough’s electronic sign. 6. TREE(S) AT POLICE PARKING LOT: The trees abutting the Westwood Police Department (WPD) parking lot were dripping sap on the patrol cars parked there. The WPD eventually would like to have all of these trees removed. The large tree in the corner of the lot has a number of dead/bare branches on the parking lot side. All of these trees have already been trimmed such that any branches on the parking lot side of the tree have been removed. This has unbalanced the trees and may affect their long term health. After discussion, it was agreed to ask the Borough Arborist to review the situation and make a recommendation. It was suggested to plant a new row of trees (native evergreens) between the existing trees and Washington Avenue so that when the current trees finally have to be removed, the lot will still be screened. It was also suggested to continue this planting on the easterly side of the building to balance the overall landscaping. 7. REPORT A CONCERN FORM (TREE ISSUE): The new “Report a Concern” form allows the DPW and the Borough Clerk 72 hours to reply before notification is given that action needs to be taken. 8. TREE REMOVAL REQUEST AT FINNEGANS: The owner of the property that houses Finnegans Restaurant has requested that the town tree in front of the building be removed. The owner would like  to replace the tree and repair the sidewalk and the curb. After review of a photo of the tree in question and discussing alternative options such as creating a curved bench around the tree facing the building and covering the tree roots, it was decided to refer the matter to the Borough Arborist for a review of the tree’s condition and pedestrian safety. 9. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:04pm Next Meeting: The next meeting will be on September 12, 2023 at 7:00pm