Shade Tree Advisory Committee

WESTWOOD SHADE TREE COMMITTEE APPROVED MINUTES TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2023 1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by the chairman at 7:06pm. 2. MEMBERS PRESENT: Dan Zambrano, Christine Blaney, Michael Murtaugh, Fred Rella, Beth Staples, and Terence Beutel. Absent: Councilwoman Erin Collins. 3. APPROVAL OF PAST MINUTES The minutes of September 12, 2023 were approved. 4. TREE PLANTINGS UPDATE: The DPW Superintendent, Rick Woods, informed the chairman that the DPW could not do any fall plantings this year. The reasons given were Covid absences and short staffing. There was discussion of options to use the $1830 remaining in the WSTC budget. It was decided to research to see if it would be possible to pre-purchase trees for planting in the spring. 5. NJ UCF CONFERENCE UPDATE: Chairman Zambrano reported that WSTC is OK on Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) for this year, but we will need more CEUs for next year. 6. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER TREE WORK: The spreadsheet of work performed during September and October was reviewed. There was a follow up discussion on the tree removal request from Oberg and Lindquist. The trees have been removed with permission from the Borough Administrator on instructions from the Borough Attorney. 7. SHADE TREE EMAILS: A resident requested clarification as to who is responsible for the tree at 65 Second Avenue on the corner. It was determined that this is a Borough tree and, therefore, is the Borough’s responsibility to trim and maintain. A resident requesting the pruning of low branches at Wheeler and Seventh Avenue. Subsequently, it was determined that the resident had already trimmed the tree. A request for a permit from the Bergenfield Tree Service for work to be performed at 12 Lexington Avenue was forwarded to the Building Department. Beth Staples reported that Veolia water company cut a number of roots on a Borough tree while digging to replace a line connection on Roosevelt Avenue. 8. NJ DEP MODEL TREE REMOVAL-REPLACEMENT ORDINANCE: WSTC voted to recommend the adoption of this model ordinance. The chairman will inform Councilwoman Collins of the committee’s recommendation. 9. SHADE TREE OFFICER REORGANIZATION: Chairman Zambrano informed the committee that he will not be continuing as chairman for next year. There was discussion of new officers, but no decisions were made. This will be reviewed again at the December meeting. 10. TREE CITY USA: Fred Rella informed the committee that the application should be completed by the end of the month. 11. COMMUNITY FORESTRY MANAGEMENT PLAN: There was discussion of dividing the remaining work so that the plan could be completed as soon as possible. Budget numbers will have to be obtained from the committee’s council liaison (which may change in 2024). Beth Staples volunteered to work on the Implementation section which can be modeled after Hillsdale’s accepted plan. It was noted that the last tree inventory on file is from 2008. 12. OTHER TREE FUNDING POSSIBILITIES: Terry Beutel noted that the NJ Department of Education has a $6500 grant program for native shade trees on school property. Christine Blaney informed the committee that Westwood Regional has a Sustainable School program. There was discussion of partnering with WRS to apply for this grant. 13. SPOTTED LANTERN FLY TRAPS: The Borough Administrator has ordered additional SLF traps. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:07 pm. NEST MEETING: The next meeting will be on Tuesday, December 12 at 7:00pm.