Shade Tree Advisory Committee

WESTWOOD SHADE TREE COMMITTEE APPROVED MINUTES TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2024 –7:00PM 1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Chairman Zambrano at 7:05PM. 2. MEMBERS PRESENT: Dan Zambrano, Christine Blaney, Michael Murtaugh, Fred Rella, and Terence Beutel, Councilwoman Erin Collins Absent: Beth Staples 3. APPROVAL OF PAST MINUTES: The minutes of January 23, 2024 were approved. 4. MEMORIAL BENCH DONATION PROGRAM: Peter Grefrath explained the Westwood Memorial Bench Program and how it works. Mr. Grefrath was asked to do this due to the fact that the Shade Tree Committee is looking into implementing an Adopt-A-Tree Program. A discussion ensued about the program. It was agreed that the Adopt-A-Tree discussion would continue at the March Shade Tree Committee Meeting. 5. 169 CARVER AVENUE WESTWOOD: Mr. Grefrath spoke to the Shade Tree Committee about a non-agenda item; the proposed residential construction at 169 Carver Street and the builders proposed tree plans. Mr. Grefrath spoke to the committee as a member of the Westwood Zoning Committee. Mr. Grefrath asked if the Shade Tree Committee could review the plans and make comment to them by Monday, March 4, 2024. The Shade Committee agreed to respond. 6. COPPER BEECH TREE INFORMATION-VETERANS PARK ARBOR FEST PLANTING: James Gines of the Westwood Heritage Society spoke to the Committee about the Copper Beech Tree stating: the estimated by Bill Murtaugh, Borough Arborist 2021, the Copper Beech is 140 or more years old. Copper Beech does not grow in this area and, had to be imported and planted. This goes along with the story told by Leigh Hopper that one of Westwood’s civil war soldiers brough two saplings home from the south, planted one in Westwood and the other planted at Van Riper’s Farm. Mr. Gines continued stating, the tree is called the kissing tree. Under its branches, many couples would share their first kiss. This was confirmed at a reunion of the class of 1943. Mr. Gines then gave a suggestion of planting the Arbor Fest Tree as a replacement for the pine tree that was planted several years ago near the train station parking lot. The Shade Tree Committee said it would take the suggestion under consideration. 7. JANUARY 2024 TREE WORK: Chairman Zambrano presented the January 2024 spreadsheet for tree work; removals and pruning. 8. JANUARY 2024 TREE REQUEST: Chairman Zambrano presented the list for 2024 tree request. Currently there are 28 residential requests for tree planting. 9. NEW TREE PLANTING POLICY: This agenda item was tabled to the next Shade Tree Committee Meeting due to the discussions with Peter Grefrath and James Himes being lengthy and the meeting was running late. 10. LIZ STEWART ARBORIST SERVICES: It was agreed by the Shade Tree Committee that Liz Stewart would be asked to speak at the March Shade Tree Committee meeting in a Q and A format for a fee of $90 per hour. It was also agreed that Ms. Stewart would evaluate the Veteran’s Park historic Copper Beech Tree for a fee of $135. This would include a site visit, evaluation and written report. 11. 52 LOCKERBY LANE and 78 BOULEVARD: Chairman Zambrano informed the committee that 52 Lockerby was a wait and see situation with the tree as determined by the DPW. The DPW wanted to see if the tree would be healthy after the spring bloom to make a final determination. 78 Boulevard Chairman Zambrano said a request came in by the homeowner to prune two trees that are dropping branches and possible removal . Chairman Zambrano asked Michael Murtaugh to inspect the trees and provide shade tree with his opinion. 12. ARBOR FEST 2024 PLANNING: A discussion ensued about Columbia Bank and what type of tree they would plant, on what day and in which park of the Arbor Fest celebration. It was decided that a discussion would be had with Tony Pallogudis, Branch Manager of Columbia Bank. (It was agreed that a tree would be chosen from our tree list) and final decisions would be made at the March Shade Tree Committee Meeting. Lastly, Fred Rella agreed to reach out to Bartlett Tree Service to see if they would supply us with sapling giveaways as they have done in prior years. 13. OTHER COMMITTEE ITEMS: None 14. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:40PM