Bernards Township Shade Tree Commission Minutes

March 12, 2008   7:15 PM

Town Hall Conference Room

1.         Call to Order:

- The meeting was called to order by Randy at 7:25 PM.

2.         Roll Call

Present: Randy Santoro, Mark Harabedian, Fred Burgerhoff, Jack Gray, Charlie Cunion, Scott Spitzer, Judy O’Connell.  

Absent: Dave Ferratti, Chris McManemin, Dennis Dinsmore.

3.         Minutes from February

- Reviewed and accepted as written. (thank you Randy)

4.         Bills

- Membership for NJ Shade Tree Federation – will process for 7 members.

- Parker Landscape has been paid.

- Sent check for the free sapling shipping charges.

5.         Correspondence

- Resident on Gelsey Lane concerned about lack of noise barrier at his location. Randy will check with Engineering about the trees trimmed because of the bike path.

- reply was sent to Julie of the Environmental Commission.

6.       Grant Report (Green Communities)

- Received go ahead for the Forestry Plan. Grant was approved, we will submit proof of payment for reimbursement after we pay Dave Welch.

7. Charter Day

- Chris will be our Charter Day manager. More info will be shared in the April meeting.

- Judy sent Charter Day application information to Chris.

8. Arbor Day (April 26)

- Fred will coordinate tree placements at the Dog Park with Jen Gander and Dan Callahan.

- Judy will post notice on the Bernards Township Website.

9. Education Report

- Searched through our filing cabinet and gave Fred a sampling of brochures to handout at the elementary schools.

10.      New Tree Plantings

- Parker Landscaping will be taking care of the irrigation pipe break on Woods End.

- All members should send emails to Randy about opportunities for new plantings.

11.      Tree Removals/Prunings

- Pear tree at house of Pheasant Run is being evaluated to see if it’s in the right of way.

- Power company is continuing to prune throughout the township.

12.     Updated Community Forestry Plan

- subcommittee will meet with Dave Welch. Judy will reserve conference room.

- goal is to submit the Plan to the Township Committee for approval in April.

13.     Old Business

- Jack looked at the power substations for possible planting sites.

- Ordinance 2004 will be introduced at the March 25 Township Committee meeting to allow the Shade Tree Commission to include up to 2 alternate members. (Secretary’s Note: Ordinance 2004 was introduced and passed at first reading on 3/25/08).

- Tap the Talent forms will be available at Charter Day so we can fill our alternate member positions.

- Fred will compose a letter to the Editor of the Bernardsville News about our Tree City, USA status, Arbor Day, Charter Day, New plantings, etc.

14.     New Business

- Arbor Day (Resolution 080173 from March 25 Township Committee meeting) will be celebrated at 10:00 AM, April 26 in the Dog Park.

15.     Next Meeting:   April 16, 2008

15.      Adjournment

9:00 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

Judy O’Connell

Secretary