Shade Tree Advisory Committee

WESTWOOD SHADE TREE COMMITTEE APPROVED MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2024 -7:00PM 1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by the chairman at 7:01pm. 2. MEMBERS PRESENT: Dan Zambrano, Christine Blaney, Fred Rella, Beth Staples, and Terence Beutel, and Councilwoman Erin Collins. Absent: Michael Murtaugh 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of April 9, 2024 were approved. 4. JUNETEENTH TREE PLANTING COLLABORATION: Kristi Currie from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Pastor Sutton from the Lebanon Baptist Church appeared before the committee to requested town shade trees for planting along the church’s easement. After some discussion, it was decided to plant 2 new shade trees for Juneteenth on Wednesday, June 19 at 10:00am. The holes will be pre-dug by the DPW and Rick Woods, DPW Superintendent will confirm the placement within the right of way. Dan will confirm the availability of linden trees at our supplier, American Nursery. 5. APRIL 2024 TREE WORK SPREADSHEET: The spreadsheet of tree removal, plantings, and pruning for April was reviewed. 6. NEW SHADE TREE REQUESTS / SPRING PLANTINGS: Since our April meeting, 10 new shade tree requests have been received. 10 new shade trees were planted in March, 35 in May (15 lindens, 15 Red Sunset maples, and 5 cherries), and 6 for our Arbor Fest celebration. In total, 51 new trees have been planted this Spring. 7. SHADE TREE EMAILS: The resident at 427 Center Avenue inquired about the stump that remained after a town tree was removed and was advised that the DPW would be back to grind the stump. The resident at 104 and 111 Berkeley Avenue inquired about getting 2 new town trees to replace ones that were removed in 2023. The resident was advised to submit a shade tree request form but has not done so yet. The resident at 191 Roosevelt Avenue requested (via Beth Staples) that the dwarf dogwood that the town planted in the easement more than 10 years ago be replaced with a shade tree. After some discussion, it was decided to have committee member, Terry Beutel, remove the tree and transplant it to 516 Fairview Avenue where the homeowner had requested a small dogwood. A new tree would then be planted at 191 Roosevelt. The DPW will be consulted as the viability of this proposal. The resident at 72 Goodwin Terrace requested that 2 diseased town trees be removed, and both replaced. The work will be scheduled for the fall. The resident at 126 Second Avenue requested that a town tree be removed as it was encroaching on their private trees. After review by Rick Woods and Michael Murtaugh, it was decided that this medium sized Norway maple should not be removed as the branches are only affecting one Japanese maple on the resident’s property and could be cabled to support its “V” shape. 8. NJ DEP BIG AND HERITAGE TREE APPLICATION: Christine inquired of the DEP and was informed that additional documentation was needed. She will contact Jim Gines of the Westwood Heritage Society for background and photos on the Veterans Park Copper Beech tree. There was discussion of asking if all work orders for large projects such as this copper beech tree could be reviewed by the arborist. Dan will contact Rick Woods as to the status of work done on the copper beech to date as to aeration, feeding, pruning, cabling, etc. 9. ARBOR FEST 2024 PRESS COVERAGE & FEEDBACK: Chairman Dan Zambrano was thanked for his work on Arbor Fest and reported more than 6,000 views of our FaceBook posts, 5 published articles in the Pascack Press, and a front page published article about stormwater management in The Bergen Record/Community Life. 10. TREES FOR EQUITY: A member of Arbores Ad Aequitas (Trees for Equity, https://www.arbores- ad-aequitas.org/ ) participated in Arbor Fest and posted Westwood in their list of tree request programs. 11. KIWANIS SPARK A S.T.E.A.M. FAIR FOR KIDS: Christine briefed the committee on this event to be held on Saturday, June 15th from 12:00 to 4:00pm at the Westwood Community Center. The WSTC has been invited to participate and there was discussion of activities oriented for children to have out our table such as a sensory bin, tree bark rubbings, etc. Terry will contact the Westwood Garden Club to ascertain if they would like to collaborate with us as a vendor. There was then discussion of partnering with other town groups such as sporting groups and the clergy council. 12. OTHER COMMITTEE ITEMS: a. 2023 GROWTH AWARD APPLICATION FOR TREE CITY USA: Fred indicated that he would have the application completed by our next meeting. b. NJUCF CEU’S: Beth participated in the NJDEP Model Tree Ordinance training sessions and earned 3 continuing education credits. c. COMPOSTING PROGRAM: Christine will follow-up with the Westwood Environmental Action Committee. The program features an enclosure on a concrete pad with 3 sides and a gate. The enclosure would be vermin proof and accept only kitchen waste from 100 approved families. The company would pick up the bins, compost the waste, and sell back some of the resulting soil. d. 169 CARVER AVENUE: The property was described in the Boswell Engineering report to the Westwood Zoning Board as “a tree building lot.” e. TREE INVENTORY: There was discussion of having the arborist write, edit, and review our Community Forest Management Plan. The committee also discussed inquiring if it was possible to mark trees along with sewers and manholes on the Stormwater Inventory Map and reviewed Pequannock’s stormwater map of municipally owned outflows (facilities). f. BUDGET: Councilwoman Collins advised that we should have a concise budget request for 2025 prepared by September. 13. ADJOURNMENT NEXT SHADE TREE MEETING: JUNE 18, 2024 – 7:00PM