Welcome the Shade Tree Commission to our joint meeting here with the environmental commission. Nice to see everybody here tonight. Um we um will start off the dark our set of stuff and then we'll move on to your set of stuff. So first of all, if everybody from the commission has seen the minutes, can I
have a motion to accept the minutes from the October meeting? >> Second. All in favor? >> I motion carried? Opposed? Um the environmental commission is offering a couple of grants. So, just to
give you a little bit of an idea about what we're we do, we have a green team grant which is from Sustainable Jersey and gives us a little bit of money to pay for literature and workshops and programs around town. We're pretty much closing that grant out and we had a social media consultant who gave her
final report. So, that is kind of finishing up. We have a grant from the DPW which is to purchase some electric battery operated landscaping equipment for them as sort of a demonstration to the community as well as to be mindful
of operator um breathing fumes hearing the noise to see if that's a better type of equipment for them to operate. Um and so Billy Musco has the budget. He'll be purchasing probably early spring the equipment for that. Um secondly, we have a community energy plan grant which is
it's for the bureau to complete a multi-year energy conservation plan. So in order to do that, what we've been doing is meeting with different department heads in the bureau to get input from them about what kind of changes they might make in the way they
operate or in the kind of things that they purchase or the way they manage their facility. That would in the long term a more conservation approach to archers. So, we've met with police department, the tourism commission, we met with people hall, fire department,
chief, um the police, and so we we're taking in input. So, if anybody here has some thoughts about that that you want to share with us at any point over the next couple months, there's going to be a community meeting in early spring at Taylor to like invite residents to come and talk or business owners to come and
speak about the kind of things that they might like the burrow to plan for. Some examples are we're doing an energy audit. So that means they're going to walk through all the buildings and get the burough feedback about the building envelope, about the windows, about the lighting systems, about the way they
operate the computers. There might be some more ways people do things and use less electricity. Um, which helps cost, but it's also more sustainable way to operate your facility and your people. Um, so we're working on that. Um, and
also like I said, we're going to have this like community engagement. So, we're looking for ideas from people. Some ideas that we've gotten so far include purchasing more bicycles from the police department to use in the summer because we don't use any fuel. Um, there's less maintenance on a
bicycle. They already have some bicycles that they use for the special officers. We're looking that some suggestions include looking at the outdoor exterior lighting downtown to see if we maybe need less light or different type of LED lighting. of the buildings. Uh we're looking at maybe LED lighting for the
gym, looking at Taylor Pavilion. Um looking at just ideas from people about ways that they think we could meet the future and be more prepared for the future. Um so that's the the energy plan grant that we're working on. >> So one of the things that's critical
there is that it's going to save money. It's not just about environmental causes or anything else. It'll it'll hopefully make them everyone work more efficiently and hopefully saves money so we have out of the money can go somewhere else. So it's a it's a dual benefit the environment and if your facilities
person like Billy or someone else they should see a benefit in their in their expense lines. >> That's um yes but being the environmental commission we also support things that are more sustainable for the environment. So >> that's the next program that we're
working on is the patchwork for wildlife. This is if anybody's familiar with um COMO's patchwork for wildlife. John Gibbons operates a community garden over there where he demonstrates sustainable maintenance and it has a lot
of native plants. So I think >> so he it's a kind of a demonstration garden. does workshops for master gardeners, for community residents, but it kind of reached out into the neighborhood where he began giving the neighbors positive reinforcement about
the use of native plants, having more trees, um about being more sustainable in the way they take care of their property. >> And the idea there is that that is more beneficial to wildlife, to um birds, to pollinators, to um things that are
migrating through. Um, so that's that's a program for neighborhood recognition. It's a very positive kind of thing where we locate we see yards. We have like a team of people that do this and then we recognize the owners with an award certificate that a sign that they would
put in their front yard so that the neighbors can see that they were recognized for the way they manage their property. So that's patchwork for wildlife. Anybody have any questions about any of that so far? never talked to person about this question. We definitely recognize trees
as part of the whole, you know, collaborative that we're doing. >> Um, >> next is the Silver Lake. We've been working on Silver Lake for quite a while. And I think I'm going to >> ask Katie maybe to weigh in on what she's been doing, too, because she's been really spearheading that for us
with the burrow. But at this point, we have made recommendations to the burrow about geese management, about native plants, about the pruning of the trees. We had a collaborative meeting with with Jim and his group with public works about how to manage the trees and who's going to make those decisions about the
trees around the lake. Um, we got a planning grant from the Army Corps of Engineers, which is a a year-long planning partnership with them where they have a team of engineers assigned to Silver Lake, and they've did a site visit. We've had several online conversations about what they're doing
and they're collecting information about habitat, about the history of the lake, water quality over time, about um you know the flood mitigation issues that might arise down there and what can what should the bureau consider doing about
Silver Lake when it comes to the engineering of the lake, the inflow, the outflow. Um the lake gets a lot of runoff from the street. It doesn't get a lot of the only fresh water that comes in is rainwater. So if we don't have a lot of rainfall, we get algae blooms because the water is kind of still down
there. It used to have a connection to the ocean where the water would come in from the ocean and that would kind of freshen it up and leave a more of a brackish environment and that was um shut down a couple years ago. So we're investigating the possibility of reopening that connection to the ocean
to make a fresher, more natural kind of water environment in Silver Lake. So that's um we're also seeking grant money and continue to seek grant money. Um we're trying to work on a DDP grant right now and I thought you might have something you want to say.
>> Sure. Um well as far as the newer grant that we're work well I'll start with the grant we have which is the Army Corps grant. Um there's a couple things that there's a lot of things that we're doing to um provide them with the information we need. One of the cooler things is um
something we came across when we were at Clonet, which is this gathering of all the different towns who have coastal lakes and talk about the progress they're making. Um they had a grad student who presented where they can take samples of the water and through these sandfills determine uh what type
of living organisms are in the lake. So vertebrae, invertebrate, whatever it is. So what type of fish, what type of turtles, what type of bugs. >> Sure. I don't remember my high school biology very well anymore. Um, so, uh, they're
interested in working with us for that aspect of the grant. So, they would come down here and do the testing and present to the public. It's really cool. I think it sounds a little dry the way I'm presenting it, but it's really interesting that they can uh, find out all this information from the samples of the water. Um, and that will help us
also determine like what what will change if we were to open the ocean obviously up because then the water is changing from fresh fish to uh brackish to to to more heavily brackish and anything that changes the water will
change what's living in it. >> Are they also going to look at other species or just the organisms they kind of microb microbiology level? >> That's a good question and that just depends on how deep we want to go. Actually, I have to contact Army Corps to see how much information they want
because the more information they want, the more it would cost. It still wouldn't cost that much, but it's something for us to be aware of because we're always keeping an eye on that bottom line. Um, uh, some of the other things that happened, I I know recently,
um, that the DPW went around and cleared a lot of the, uh, the plant life around the lake. Some of which was not entirely intentional. I think there was a miscommunication over which was Yeah. which is too bad. Um uh
but it just is one of those things that underscores how important communication is and um what we're really looking forward to I think with this grant is having professionals come in and tell us exactly what should be planted and where to really maximize the beauty and the efficacy of this lake. So we're excited
about that. Um there's another grant we're looking at and it looks like we'll be partnering with Montlair State and this could be up to a million dollars and this would be an implementation grant. Um so it would be that handoff between the planning grant actually getting supplies, getting everything um
ordered and getting things put in there. Um so uh they would be doing kind of carbon mapping which someone smarter than me can explain exactly what that is. I'm looking down at you guys.
Um but uh the idea is always uh uh to make our environment a better place and to um clean up kind of some of the the bad practices that have gone on for a long time. >> Hi.
>> Is this a the D grant? >> Yes. New Jersey. >> It comes from federal money which is like right now something we have to be aware. you know the government when the government shut down they were lucky that the army corp could keep working um because they were considered essential personnel
>> um yeah and I consider silver very essential so it all worked out um so our grant writer has been working on that from our end and then we will kind of pair up with Montlair for their contribution and send something in our fingers are crossed on that because um
that's always the missing piece of this puzzle is how do we go from planning to implementation because these things are so expensive Um, the other thing about Silver Lake is I know I've already had residents reaching out to me about now the brands that are there. Those are those birds that look like Canadian geese but
smaller and want the full black hood. Um, they are no one's favorite. And I actually did talk to Paul at Geese Birds Beware today who is our bird chaser. Um and he was actually saying so one of our problems and what makes Silver Lake kind of unique, well a lot of things make
Silver Lake unique is we have that large green area between the lake and Ocean Avenue and the geese love that area. >> Um and so he was saying there is something you can spray on the grass for that but as we reapplied frequently and
one of the side effects is >> I'm sorry is geese diarrhea. which kind of feels counterproductive to what we want. Um, so he's going to look into it and ask her to see if he can do something that is just discouraging and not in the worst possible way.
>> Probably encourage. >> So these are the migratory birds, right? The brass. >> Yes. Which also have problems with us in the way we can um discourage them. >> Oh, yeah. We can't grass them the way we do normalies, right? Exactly. Exactly. a migratory species with because we have
three or four migrations at least that come up here because we are on a migratory pathway >> and so it's a it could be a challenge and >> we need to do education around the lake about what's migratory birds and and I wish I mean and you hear from DPW I'm
sure you hear more than we do about what people's opinions on all this are but um and you know and for most residents I think on the lake it doesn't make a difference to them whether it's a brand they're Canadian, they consider it a nuisance. My my sympathies for that. So, um it's just there's a limit to how much
we can actually do, which is a shame. >> And and the other thing I will update you on two other things uh while I have the floor. One is that we did submit a grant along with members of let's see Avon Neptune Neptune City Wall uh the
county the American literal society and forgetting somebody somebody else is in there um in regards to Shark River to try and get and that would be another planning grant to take that first step towards dredging getting in a living shoreline all these other things um
hopefully as close to Belmar in Belar as possible um to make that a better situation for all of us. And finally, the Lake Ko valve, if you're not aware, that valve in Lake Ko, the lake of Lake Ko is broken, and that's their ocean
pipe. Uh so we are waiting, we are in line with the manufacturer to have that a new one sent over to us. And in the meantime, our DPW has been working very hard to uh manually operate that valve and so far that has worked. So, um, we are keeping residents updated there and if you're interested on being on the
mailing list for updates on the lake, we can link anyone to that. >> Kate, did we ever reach out to like Lake Como and, um, Spring Lake to see who's like also responsible for that, Valve or? No, but I did reach out to our
burough attorney in April and they brought up the contract and uh we have >> a an easement and in that language it makes us responsible for >> I know >> but it was definitely >> I think that was done because we were
going to get the grant money and the and the FEMA money for that, right? >> That was just like a step one. So there still digging to be done literally and figuratively. Okay. Uh, thank you. Sustainable Jersey is um a state organization. It's a
nonprofit. They are funded by the Dodge Foundation and I think by some other utility companies, a whole bunch of different funders. But what they do is they certify towns and they certify schools as being sustainable. So last year, GME achieved bronze certification
under sustainable Jersey thanks partly to the shade tree commission. So, thank you because the tree inventory and some of the other work that you did gave us credit as a community to be certified. So, thank you for that. The thing about how wonderful it is is that it it has to be renewed. So, every two years we have
to go through the process again. It's not a bad thing because the process is really sort of a roadmap for doing good things in your community. So there's a lot of great possibilities that you can do and then document for sustainable Jersey and that's where you get these awards and that is why we have three
grants from sustainable Jersey now is because we went through the process we got to know them they got to know us made us eligible for funding. So for example the community energy plan grant that I mentioned before year two they have implementation funding that you can apply for which can be up to like I
think they said it goes up to about $250,000. So, there are some things that we might plan to do for the town to conserve energy and save on utility costs and then get the funding to support those things. Um, and I I'll mention one example to the council women that are
here because it came up with the police department which they mentioned that their vehicles are in the lot and there's no cover for the vehicles and in some public lots they have cover that's actually solar powered. So it protects the vehicles from salt damage or the
wind, keeps it cooler in the summer when you have to get into the car. You have to run the engine to cool it down. So that's an idea that they suggested, which I thought was kind of a win-win for everybody. But then also if there's implementation money down the road, and to Gary's point, when you save money on
utility cost, gain money to do infrastructure management. So there might be money saved that we could use for projects like that. So I'm glad I got to mention it. Well, there's also the possibility that we might use that lot for potential parking garage down the road, which we could always put
something on the top of that and that would be >> many layers of >> there's that's a long way down the road, but that's something that Kate and I have been discussing >> a lot about. >> So, but I like the idea that we need this
>> coverage over that because that is our potential spot for a future parking garage. I mean, future in we're talking not anywhere near but but p but something that's necessary in town. So I like this idea.
>> Hey Diane, something came up actually at Tuesday's council meeting >> which is we now have a shared service agreement. Well, we had the same one with W Township for our leaf collection. >> Um did that come up when you were doing the sustainable Jersey >> leaf collection? >> Yes. because it goes to I don't know a
yard a facility >> in wall they they bury the leaves and compost them out in wall. >> I'll check it out >> and they get they probably get credits but we were wondering if we would get credits for that. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And the other thing one of the I think it was Mr. Kramer was asking
whether or not there's other points we can get outside because I thought of sustainable Jersey but I don't know if there's things outside of sustainable Jersey that we would get credits for that for. So I thought I would bring it up. Yeah, >> we can find out. >> Could we also do something where like new municipal buildings should have flat
roofs so we can put solar panels on? >> Well, >> that's an engineering question, too. >> Flat roofs are can present maintenance difficulties. So, >> well, or >> but you the slate slant on the pitch can support towns, too. >> Yeah. I mean, I'm just looking because
the new bathroom plans for 16th Avenue. >> That's true. >> It's a giant building. It's got a Just looking at the plans, it's got a 10 10 foot tall attic inside. >> I was wondering if instead of going up another 10 feet, we could lower it down,
put solar panels on here as well. >> Well, I know that our engineering costs are already high on that. So, changing the plans might be a flag. Um, and I also don't know if this proximity to the ocean with those winds is also an issue.
But I don't know. That's I'm just wondering. >> It's worth asking. I'll bring it up for sure. It was also mentioned in one of these meetings that maybe we can look into. Sometimes they have solar panels on the street lights on Ocean Avenue. >> Oh yeah. >> Oh yeah, the little the smaller ones. I
still get something from that. So that's like another suggestion. >> Who's the who's in charge of the lights? The county. >> Depends on the street. >> Well, I know the Ocean Avenue is county road. >> We've all learned that. >> No, I was just wondering who's in char.
They said, "Yeah, there's like if you go off to the side of the road, now you're on burrow property again kind of thing." It's like because where you can get the boardwalk, so there's lights on the boardwalk also, >> right? >> So there's like depends exactly precisely where you are who's responsible. >> But I think that that might be something interesting to bring up to the utilities
company because we want to talk to them anyway about the um their tendency to loop those wires and >> yeah, increasingly aggravating and messy ways. >> Yeah, >> they're a tree problem, too. M I problem. That's a big point.
>> That's probably because they're using I'm guessing they're using fiber optic. >> Yeah, but then they they save it like they try to like put extra >> but it's not like copper where they could cut it and put on >> they buy them in 100 foot lengths and if it are only using 40 feet, they got 60
feet they coil up. >> They can't cut it. They can't like cut the wire. >> Fiber optics is a real pain. If it's fiber optic, it's a real pain in the neck to cut. And that's mostly cable. >> Oh, it is. >> Isn't it curled wire? Mostly cable.
>> I have no idea. It is. >> It's a cable. Everyone always scream at it. Oh, it's 100% fiber optic cable. >> Um, well, I just know I remember from the summer walking down Main Street and I'm 5'5 and one of the loops was like I could touch it. I was like, that's not
>> Yeah, there's one. >> That's an appropriate house. >> They're all over town. Some of it's fiber optic, some of it's just coax. >> And it would be very nice if they looked it up, but a lot of places it's just hanging all over the place. And some of it just flops in the trees. I asked
April about that. I know DPW came out once or twice and >> tried to correct it. But it's a problem. >> Yeah. But it's not our DPW's problem for them to leave their mess. >> Exactly. >> Yeah. >> So I just have a question. who who says
something to, you know, this is either Optimum or Verizon, right? >> This is something we've been talking with Billy MTO about for a while and we want to we want to send kind of notice to all the utilities and let them know that they need to like to clean it up.
>> Clean up your mess. >> Bill, >> I know people who ran those divisions. So, if you want some additional background, just let me know. I can I'll see what I can do for you. >> That would be good. If we can give Billy a name, that'll probably be better. Yeah, I'll I'll I'll I'll ask next.
>> Now, we've had some homeowners where Verizon or Optim had actually strung the cable on the trees. So, we sent a notice to the homeowners that was their responsibility to contact their
cable company and in every case they responded and was situation was corrected. Yeah, >> on the trees. >> They were strung on trees and the ordinance doesn't allow that. So, we sent a nice letter, friendly letter.
They they obliged >> called the op them. I'm not sure who, but it was corrected. It's about three or four different instances over the last year. >> Yeah. I I called up once about my pole and they replaced it in my backyard. >> Telephone pole. >> Yeah. It was 100 years old.
>> Really? 100 years? >> Was one in our backyard? They used to they used to lean >> the one that leaned. Yeah. We we uh were catt. >> It was going it was it was gonna come down in a good storm. So I went brought someone back there and gave my old thing and they said you're right. It has to
go. So you do call them. They do respond. So we just have to get the right name. >> Okay. Okay. So in some with sustainable Jersey we're going to be going through the process again. So just you know maybe reaching out again to the state tree commission or other people might be
interested in working on the project with us because we give you all the help we can get because there's a lot of different elements to it that have to be kind of documented and traced through and sometimes you find good ideas. You know you read through and you say you know this this would be great if we could do this. Um so there's that. Um
now that Matthew is here Matthew you want to talk about the Sharp River Coalition you want to share about that? >> Sure. Um not much report but just some happy news that doesn't that only indirectly affects BMAR which is that um
well I'm not sure Kay you mentioned this that Sharp River Cleanup Coalition along with the municipalities and the county applied for a large planning grant. So hoping hoping to hear back on that for coastal resiliency for community and also uh we
got word I don't know if this is officially yet that uh Mammoth County public purchase more um uh shoreline properties in uh next to Memorial Park in Neptune City. >> Oh >> um that will be the whole span from the
old marina all the way over to Memorial Park. So the big house that's there and a couple other houses there. So more more space along the shoreline protected against, you know, future development. >> There's that open space. Uh >> um yeah, it it it came before the, you
know, the approval. That's that's our tax dollars that work there purchasing land that'll be for public use and that will will not be any further development than it already. >> Great. That's great. That's really good. um with Shark Crew Cleanup Coalition was not directly involved in that, but you
know, we're uh >> supportive >> support supportive of it and you know some there's some overlap between our members and folks that are um volunteering and working with the county to to help um uh fix up what used to be marina there and make it available for
public use. >> That's great. >> Okay. So, I want to turn it over to J. You have some items you want to >> I'm I'm up. >> You're up. >> All right. that erupt. Uh first of all, I want to thank everybody for having us. Uh we
were notified in early October that we couldn't have our meeting uh that we usually barrel hall. We couldn't have it this month hopefully just this month. So we as we talked about previously we were going to have
another meeting in November anyway. So we meet here. So it's I thought it would be uh tight but it's really not that bad. So, but what we do with the uh shade tree, we have a agenda. I'll cast them out. Uh we kill some trees. So, um
you'll be glad to hear that. We just I don't think I have enough. I didn't think there'd be that many people here. So, uh and we just go by the agenda um forum and then I call on each individual person uh commissioner to give us a
report where they're going. Yeah. >> Uh, and we'll start with the minutes from the um October meeting. Every every one of our commissions I've read them. I have a chance to uh peruse them. Uh, any changes? Anybody
>> a motion to accept? >> Yes. >> Nancy. >> All in favor? >> We don't have enough. I can >> do. >> Yeah. Should be a couple of each. >> I did get it right on the money. Wow.
>> Is there any one or >> if there's if there is one? >> You're welcome. >> Everybody all set. So, we just follow along. Um we're talking about the executive session here, but we don't hopefully we don't need that. So, we'll get down to the general business. The a
day committee. Um Nancy uh I looked up today uh other day the last a with last Friday in April which is April 24th and it doesn't conflict as it with Easter as it did last year. Easter is early April.
In fact, it's uh April 5th. So we should be well clear of any the schools being on vacation. So uh for anybody who doesn't know that's here, we we just we do two other day celebrations. One with uh St. Rose. We do that here outside and
then we go to Belmont Elementary. We go into the the backyard and we have we have some planting boxes that we use and we bring the kids out and they you know they get to play in the dirt and all that other stuff. So, and some sometimes we give them a little we have a little
trees that we give them. So, everything really good. It's a It's actually a fun day for us because we have a presentation that Keith uh uh developed programmed about two years ago. We use that and really goes over big and it's a learning experience for the kids and you
know we teach them about you know the oxygen and you know how it goes back and forth and everything. It's a it's a it's a fun day for us. So it's a it's a work day but it's a fun day. Uh, so we go to the next day. We nurserying and the
planting. Nancy, >> everything's fine. Nothing to report. >> How about the trees on Main Street? >> That was Harold's thing. So, >> we got to report that later. >> Okay. You want to do that? Oh, yeah. The tree inventory. K.
>> So, yeah. Um, last month we had six new permits. Uh it's kind of uh gone down a little bit in terms of quantity. Um we've have uh we stopped the letter writing campaign right now because we're kind of
on hold. There's a question in terms of signatory on the letters. It's been brought up and um both Jim and I don't feel comfortable signing letters from the town. So we need to discuss this with code enforcement and the mayor. >> I'll jump in. The mayor wants us to sign
the letters that go out to the individual homeowners and we want somebody from the shade tree commission >> personally to sign >> to personally sign the letters. I'm not comfortable with that. We've been operating this for the five, six years that I've been here >> that it would go out from the shade tree
that a person was in violation like the tree was going to fall down. All those different things or the trees got to be pruned, whatever. And the mayor all of a sudden said to us, I want somebody from the shade tree said to me, I want somebody from the commission to sign the
letters. And I don't think as a volunteer organization we should do that. And I think we should have the liability to do that either personally. >> So basically, um, kind of hit a, you know, we're in a limbo here, a stagnation point because we have a
backlog of violations. I mean, there's a lot of dead trees in this town. If anybody, especially in the winter when they're barren, I mean, because trees have leaves on them, that doesn't mean the tree is healthy. You know, a lot of trees are really in bad shape. And a lot
of trees have been planted like the ones in front of Gary's house and George's house. We we live on Ninth and the trees were in pretty bad shape. And they're 100 years old and they're the London Plains. The London Planes are the one where the bark is peeling off.
>> Everybody thinks that's it's but that's a normal progression in the lifespan. >> But what happens after like 60, 70, 80 years, the tree starts to deteriorate. A lot of them trees are hund over hundred years old and a lot of them are hollow. So when they
>> so when a windstorm or a burst hits them they come down. >> And our our point of view is we you know we take it from a public I come from a public safety background. Let's put it that way. So I'm always looking at you know the potential these trees coming down and and hurting people or killing
people because we all hear that all over the state. Well, somebody got killed in a park, somebody got killed here or there. And that's what we're looking at. And I hate to say that the prior shave tree committees kicked the can down the road, but apparently they did.
>> We've had two in the last two months, two uh hazardous limbs, I'll call them that, uh fall and damage vehicles in Belmont. Um I would estimate right now we have about 80 to 90 potentially hazardous as
at risk trees in the burrow. >> 80 to 90 >> 80 to 90. Now >> can I ask do you have an idea how many trees we have altogether? >> 2,000 plus >> when I say a hazardous tree there they're there a lot of different
definitions. >> Tree could be dead. Tree could have dangerous limbs, which many of them are, which can fall. >> A tree can be overgrowing the planting strip >> and can be a hazard in that it pushes the sidewalk up, a tripping hazard. We
have a number of those. So, a lot of different different reasons. And we've been very successful with the letter writing campaign. We've done around 70 permits this year >> uh from the letter letterw writing and interacting with the individuals in the
town. Most people are very obliging. Uh many people will contact us and and say, "Hey, I've got a tree. I need to take it down or I'm concerned about it." But some people can get very indignant. Very indignant. So, um I don't feel comfortable signing a letter because I
don't really, you know, want >> that personal issue come up. Uh the mayor actually went on to say that he wanted someone signing the actual emails because sometimes we're we're I'll email people on our tree to resolve an issue and get a permit done. So I don't have
any issue signing an email an internal email whether it's to somebody in the town to April or CFO whoever because that's internal. But when I send an email out to a homeowner I the signatory is just Belar Shay Tree Commission. So
that's another area of concern that's kind of we continue to do in the emails but >> that's the other that's the other issue. >> Well you also have a problem with code of course right basically said he doesn't want to he doesn't want to he >> he doesn't want to do anything with trees. So,
>> which essentially is his job. >> There's we've >> we're going round and round and round and round around and you know it's it's it's come to a head where we have had to take even though there's some serious you know there's a couple of trees that are serious.
>> We've had to take Okay, let's stop. And I'll be honest with you, I'll lay it out here right now. I asked the mayor about a month ago, >> April the 30th October, we had a meeting with >> No, but before that, we had a meeting with Ray. Ray Claudio's been good. I
have to admit he's been very good. Come on. You know, he's helped us a lot. >> But his thing is, Puff is not going to do I'm going to lay it down. Pop was here. Pop's a friend of mine. I'll lay it I'll said tell it right to his face. You're a freaking lo. What do you want
me to tell you? See the process is we over a year ago we had about a dozen hazardous trees that we had sent a letter to which we were it was ignored. We sent another letter. We met with Rey.
Ry put us off. We sent another letter and fast forward a year. We were ready to violate about 10 folks. So the violation process according to the ordinance is if we reach the point of no return
we were supposed to hand it off to code enforcement and they do the violation. >> Okay. >> Now it's a non-payable violation. So what that means is that individual has to go to court. They can't come in >> here's the >> and get rid of it >> and get rid of it. They have to go to
court. >> So we don't want to go to court. We're volunteers. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So, code enforcement, it's their responsibility, but PA has put up a roadblock on this. So, we're at, you know, we're kind of
>> So, the latest thing I said to the mayor more than it's about a month now. I said, "Okay, we were supposed to have a meeting." The the October 30th meeting we had was between Keith, me, and Ray. >> And no, that was the 14th. And then we
had on schedule >> on the 30th, >> right? They couldn't make it, >> right? But that was still with it. So, right, >> I said to the mayor, okay, since nobody can make it, you and Pop get together on a mutual date and me and Keith will be there and I sent them that email a month
ago and I haven't heard back. So, that's where we are. >> So, so the shade tree committee is basically >> on hold >> on hold with any violations or anything else. So, that's where we are. Can I So, how many did you say are like how many
did you say were at that violation stage? >> There were about 10. And now I'm going back a year. A year ago, we were at that violation stage. >> It was put off, put off, put off. And then what happened was it was put off to
the spring and then Ray said, "Well, it's summertime. I have no time now. Period. Let's wait till the fall." So we keep going round and round. >> We were trying to work with Ray. We understand that >> he's very obliging. So we were trying to work work work and then all of a sudden
it got to the point where okay, >> you know, it's just I'm not going to beat my head against the wall anymore, you know. So that's where we are. >> We will never be able to walk down a street in Delmare on windy day again with the same peace of mind you had after we've been to one of these
meetings. Oh, part of my brain is back at the hollow tree wondering what happens if an animal goes into the hollow. >> They're in there. >> They're in there. >> They're in there. >> I mean, who's accepting the liability of for damage or death? >> The mayor, >> not the homeowner.
>> You could sue everybody, right? >> That's just it. If it hits a car, if a branch hits a car, >> not us. We're the only one that actually is covered by the law. >> And this is according to Bill Br. If we're if we're if we're core certified, we're indemnified.
>> God. >> And and here's my point. >> Oh my god. >> Here's my point. We have to go >> the shade tree has to go so far. >> And then like our responsibility is over. It's up to >> code. >> Code enforcement the barrel to take it
the step further. And you know, we can't we we can't force any action. They have to enforce it. So Jim, last time we went through something similar, we got we we managed to speak to the the town lawyer. I forgot that guy's name. >> Have you reached out to him again? Just >> question.
>> Well, I don't know if was George McIll then. I don't know. I think it was somebody else. >> But here's the thing. You have a different administration. You know, they look at things differently, which is fine. That happens all the time. Well, this same administration when the when we had the challenge about where trees belong and who could plant them and tell
us where to plant trees, we spoke to the lawyer and the lawyer gave us some really good guidance. Is that that happened again? >> We're kind of way past that with MS4 and all that stuff. >> Way past that. >> Oh, way past that. We rewrote the we've rewritten I'm getting off topic but we rewrote the ordinance
>> a year ago in winter and we're still waiting for a a discussion on that >> is the ordinance states back to 1991 and it's a mess. So >> yeah, because what they did, they added, subtracted, added, and A contradicts
contradicts D, you know, so it's not a workable thing. I mean, certain parts, >> certain parts aren't. And with storm water and everything else playing into it. >> Oh, yeah. >> We we rewrote the ordinance, you know, at nauseium, we spent that, submitted
it, and it's kind of laying there, you know. Hey, look. We all know that if when people have a a tree and they get notified, you got to take a lift. It costs money. >> It does. We all get that. >> But the other thing is if it falls down and kills somebody, you know, >> that's a lot more money.
>> It's a lot more money. But people really get obnoxious with us, you know. So, we're at the point where we we bend over Keith Keith send out like four or five letters to different people. >> People could get very nasty. >> All right, my friends. We got to move on. Yeah, we do.
>> Okay. >> Well, thank you. >> Thank you for keeping us on. >> Uh, where are we commission? Where are you, Joe? Come on. >> Free inventory. >> Okay. Uh, >> and the website, >> the website. >> Let me just finish on a free inventory.
Another topic. Oh, >> arborist. So, we have retainer on the arborist for $3,000. We have spent, and I can test this out. We've spent $1,250.
So that means there's $1,750 left within the retainer. So we discussed this >> by the end of this year. >> Yeah. So I spent sent an email to um Lorraine asking whether we could somehow
roll over the 1750 into the new year. So she we went out to Bill Brash and asked that he agreed to do that. So, she came back and said, "Yes, we've got agreement." Um, the question is, "How is it rolled over?" I've asked her asked
her in an email, but I haven't got a complete response yet. So, if we have a $3,000 budget for the AR Arbor, so to speak, and we've spent 1250, that$,750 left will be rolled over into the new
year. Does that mean that we have a $3,000 budget for 2026 plus a additional spend of$,750 that we didn't spend last year? >> Probably not. >> The 1750 come off the 3,000. So it's unclear.
>> We had a I think a $6,000 budget approved for this year. >> Right. >> The 3,000 was not an addition to that. It was just a part of that. So it's effectively part of our budget. My expectation I'm going to confirm this with the mayor is we roll the 6,000. We have a $6,000 budget next year also >> and my expectation would be that the
retainer for the arburous should we choose to continue it is part of that same budget >> stays at three. >> Yeah. So I don't >> otherwise plan. >> Right. So I don't think we need to complicate. >> Okay. Okay. That's good. >> Plus Bill's going to have a ton for us
to do which I'll hit on in my section. So >> all right. MS4 special events. >> No website first. >> A website. >> A website. Uh uh the phone the new phone extension is up. We have a Belmar shade
tree phone extension in the in the municipal office. Uh what what that does for us is in the past people would give it give somebody inquired uh would give uh that person my personal phone number
which at times could be an issue. So I asked for an extension from the sha tree commission. We've got it. So people do call in. I've got actually got two messages. I don't know if we've got any for Belmar but um they'll leave a message. I can call back with a block number.
>> You could start training an AI clone. >> Yeah. Right. Yeah. But that's worked out well and and that that's up and we've also put some uh education material up on website as well. I think I've copied everybody on that stuff. So, and that's
it. Nothing on MS4. >> Okay. Special events >> special events. Um, as we were sitting here, I was thinking, has John Gibbons done um, any special presentation to the town?
>> He did a presentation. We had a a workshop at Taylor Pavilion about sustainable maintenance. So, he did he was there with his information. >> Was it talked >> successful? Were there a lot of people? >> We had like 40 people, I think. >> Okay. >> So, but we we're going to do something again in the spring. Um,
>> okay. That's what I was wondering if that would be something we could join in on. >> Sure. >> Totally. >> Yeah. >> To get our group, your group, combine them. >> Write it down. April 26, Taylor Pavilion, and we'll we'll talk about a program together. >> But John is already interested in doing
something. >> And there there's an art show at the Belma Arts Center, uh, April 20th to May 30th, Nature at the Shore. It just opened for submissions. If you know any artists, I'm the chair. So,
>> be at Taylor Pavilion. >> Yeah. No, Belmore Art Center. >> Belar Art Center. >> The But there's the presentation is going to be at Taylor Pavilion on the 26, April 26.
>> So, we also have a um a sustainable landscaper that presented in October that he might be able to come back again in April, too. Talks about land management and that kind of thing. and about landscaping, like working with landscapers to do native plants and
sustainable practices. His name is Rich McCoy from McCoy Landscaping. So, he's doing some consulting work. >> Pruning and things like that, too. >> Pruning and things like that. Oh, >> what's that? >> April 26th. >> Okay, great. >> I like it.
>> Hey, Diane just got she had a hospital stay recently, so >> just going to skip over a couple things unless you have something. No, just >> the budget >> before you jump. >> I'm sorry. We >> No, he has the budget information. >> Oh, I was going to say though, we should
talk about the beautiful Belmore program, right? >> Yeah. Right. Yeah. >> What's up? >> So, that's >> It was great. >> It was great. >> It was great. Diane did a great job. Um, and we I don't know how many trees we planted. 14 trees we planted.
>> Nice. And one >> All around town. >> All around town. One person in particular must have done five or six. >> Yes, >> I know. A man after my own heart. >> Um, >> but that's somebody who get one of those award >> on their property.
>> On their property on their Okay, great. >> You could give me their address and we'll go check it out for our >> program. Um, and award ceremony, too. So, >> so it was great. It was very good. We did not give them the water bags. Yeah,
there was >> maybe a breakdown in communication because, you know, this is really Dian's thing and and I just sort of took it over at the last minute to get through that day and I didn't have the water bags, >> but honestly, you don't really need them this time of year, but we're going to need them in the spring.
>> I have them. >> Okay. Also, um Kevin from Fernbook and he was right. I don't know how many trees it was. I can go back and look. Two or three of them need the small ones. The higher looking ones. The
donuts. Do we have those two? >> No, but we can get them. >> Okay. So, um yeah, that was those were the only issues. It was great. It was good. People were so excited to get their trees >> and um it was good. >> The main street trees.
>> The main street trees. But but I mean I know Diane typically does it but I just the first time I went through the process with Nancy right >> she went to every homeowner um made sure every tree was planted properly. >> Yeah. Nancy just to recap did everybody >> job people bought trees. explain what
exactly bel Diane has set up a program with um Bern Brook Nurseries and they do so many different communities in Mammoth County and every spring and every fall they offer trees for sale and the homeowners and every town does the
payment differently for us. Then the homeowner fills out a permit and writes a check and then on this day this one planting day they come and they do the entire town. They replaced the oak tree by the marina as well, the one that we
planted in the spring and died. >> So, um, and every tree is guaranteed for a year. >> Yes. >> A year. >> Yeah. >> So, you got a tree from them a couple years ago. >> So did Gary. >> So, um, it was great. I did go back two days after they were planted just to be
a crazy person and tested each of them with a moisture reader to be sure they had all been watered. Two of them had not been, so I watered them myself and then sent a text to the owners with a picture. But, um, everybody else was really good about watering them. So, yeah, that was fine.
>> Thank you. >> That was good. >> Great. Actually, it all worked out really well. I was impressed. Whatever you guys put in place, it worked out great. >> Diane did that. She had it all in place. >> You both participated. So, thank you. It was great. >> You want You want to get >> I'm at the end here.
>> Okay. All right. Make your story. budget and long-term planning. >> Oh, Facebook, did we have any? >> We we skipped all that. >> Okay. >> Okay. Um >> George, the long-term um >> Yeah. So, uh
>> I I think I provided uh in email for the last meeting, but we got our grant from the D. Um since that point, the purchase order has been set up. So, we've got uh uh Bill Brash set up. So, he's got 20,000 to spend next year. We're going to
refresh our inventory. He's going to start it in the spring because it doesn't really make sense to do it. >> This is our arborist. Bill Crash is our arborist. >> It does not come out of our budget, right? >> Huh? >> No. >> That's coming out of the grant. >> The grant of the grant and $5,000 match from the town.
>> Um, so he's going to start the inventory in earnest in the spring once the leave starts coming back. Uh, also got >> just a quick question. There were there was email traffic talking about the 5,000 match for the grant coming from us, >> right? It comes from the borrow. >> It doesn't come from us. >> No.
>> Comes from Belmar, not from us. But >> not out of our budget. Not out of our budget. >> Okay. >> So the grant is 5,000 5,000. >> No. The grants. So overall it's 20 grand. >> Five. >> Okay. >> Um but the mayor had agreed to that
before we could start. >> Exactly. And confirmed by uh Kevin. Yeah. Um so that was all part of the grant writing process. So we had to commit to that $5,000 match.
>> Um it's from the D. It's for community forestry. So the CFMP D grant. Um so Bill will start that up uh next year because it's not done by December. We had to get a one-year extension from
the state. So I got the letter from the state today. um giving us that one-year uh extension from Brian within uh within D. Um we're also starting our annual reertifications with the D and Tree City
USA. So I'll look to get those in uh before the end of the year. Then we'll hear back from them early uh early next year. I'm also going to set up time with the the mayor at some point between now and the end of January to give him uh an
update on how the budget this year uh an update on um to get his input on what the the five-year plan uh might look like because that's the other part of the grant. So, step one is the inventory. Then once we find out what we
have um what we should do, uh then we also have an opportunity to create that five-year plan. So, what what parts of town do we want to focus on? What did we learn from the inventory that we need to uh address? So, the plan is to get that all done by the end of next year. And I
just want to make sure I have an opportunity to look at the mayor and confirm our budget for next year and >> uh just give him an update in terms of how we did this year. >> What parts of town do you want to uh focus on? >> Well, uh Harold will give an update. I mean, in terms of how we use our budget,
one is just we got more money this year, so we should be planting more trees. So, Main Street and when we met with the mayor last year, that was one of the parts of town that he thought we should be focusing on. Um, so that's step one. Um, but we'll we'll take feedback from
whomever in terms of >> this isn't feedback, it's a question. Um we just have to specify like I don't >> but um >> since all the trees are in the trees there the peeling bark
>> the second wall >> um do are you guys recommending a um replacement for those >> but if your question what so one of the things I'm curious about in the inventory um versus the last one that we did. How
many of those are going to be considered hazardous dead requiring removal? >> Right? Because I I think at some point in time um the proactive removal of the the bulk of the remaining London planes is going to be something that we're going to have to address. That was my
guess. >> Allund years old. >> Yeah. So, one thing and I don't know if there's any lawyers here or whatever. One thing that Bill Brash recommended is our terminology. Yeah, stop calling them hazardous trees. >> I think they're saying at risk trees or high-risisk trees just for obvious
reasons from a >> if you're if you're acknowledging that they're hazardous. Um, so they're at risk. >> But where I where I was going with my question was, is there an aim to have like say eth and ninth have that full canopy look to it again someday as
you're replacing these trees? >> Well, the canopy look is great. I mean, it does. I mean, the London planes do a lot for you. >> Yes, >> they do a lot. You know, the shade, the cool, breaking the wind down. The problem is when they get as old as they are, >> they become hazardous.
>> And there's wires. >> And there's wires. And >> right now, they're not on our preferred tree list. Right. >> I'm not I'm not I'm not um we don't want anybody. >> I'm just wondering if there's if there's a vision. >> They get this they get to this like 80 to 90 year old where they they're just
on the decline and Some of them declined as George will know. George had two trees come down in front of his house and it burst like who was that? >> Boom. Right. You know, and then you can >> But I think what's going to happen is
because of the wires, if you can't plant a tall tree where those wires are, you're not going to have the same canopy. >> I think Joanie Mitchell has something to say about that. So the short the short answer is the short answer is the answer to that in
terms of >> what the broader plan is for the town regarding trees as part of the the updated fiveyear plan that comes out of that. >> Is it does it make sense to consider in this energy plan for the town to look into the possibility of burning some of
these wires because isn't that the problem? Oh, that would be great. >> It's just expensive and something that JCPNL has to do. >> That's not at all a decision that the burrow can make. >> I'm just suggesting that we try to see
>> Oh, everyone agrees. >> Everyone agrees. >> And then what are the implementation funding available not from the town but from >> BPU or whoever. Now, remind me, is there language now where new buildings you can't have the wires going across the street for new new construction?
>> I think they think they put them from the pole on the planting strip to the house. They try to keep it on the same side. >> That's what I'm wondering. Yeah, >> but I am not 100% sure. >> They strongly recommend underground. >> Yeah. No, when I when I did when I did
it, I turned my house down a number of years back and it was a new house and I have wires and they strongly recommend that everything goes >> and JCPL was okay with that. >> They want my my I had to pay for the electrician to do one
pole in the back. >> They ran it to the pole >> from the pole >> up about 15 ft and then JCPNL comes along. You can pull it from a pole in the back, which is even nicer. They have the old poles in the back. But I can tell you when I did my renovation, >> they wanted me to to take it off,
>> but it was close the street down, >> run it under the street, right? >> And the homeowner paying everything. >> See, that's interesting because when I did my renovation, that didn't even come up. >> Did you go to the planning board or the zoning board? Did you do
>> Well, I opted to do it. >> Wow. I even had I don't have electricity excuse me I don't have cable in the back so I ran electricity under the ground to the rear telephone pole and optimum from the front telephone pole and I had
to pay for somebody to >> just run it in the planning strip to the pole so >> it puts everything on the homeowner >> home costly the five-year plan is key didn't really have that vision and >> from my perspective like every
conversation we have should be tied to a five-year plan. So when we get money every year when we have conversations, show the progress that we're making to the five-year plan. So a lot of next year will be spent making sure that we have the right conversations, we get the
right data inputs, and then we create a plan that everyone's aligned to, and then every meeting we have, we can be tying back to that. We don't have that. And kind of specifically to your question, right, it's a do you focus on 8th Avenue, do you focus on 10th Avenue, do you focus on Main Street, do you
focus on the plaza, right? Every one of these things could be a priority. >> So it all has to be in that plan. >> Yeah. And the north end of town has all their um the wires buried because they decided as a association or however they did it years ago, which is beneficial to
their trees, but like >> Oh, I didn't know that. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> There's still an association. >> Oh, yeah. >> Yes. >> Oh, really? >> Yeah. There's even the sign up. I never saw >> Oh, in the terrace. >> Well, don't I was >> Yeah. Okay.
>> In that terrace, they own the street, too. That's what the may have told me once. They own >> If they're an association, I guess maybe that's >> They own the whole street >> and the bulkhead. >> Yeah. >> But right from the street. >> Oh, yeah. We hear about the bulkhead all the time. The wear and tear. >> Yes. >> Um Okay.
>> But that's Yep. That's >> because and the trees on inlet terrace. Every one of them come down. But that's >> You're kidding. Really? >> Look at down the inlet terrace now today. >> We've taken a few down. >> Yeah, >> we got a permit last week for
>> They're all under there's no wires in trees. >> You can plant oaks. >> Yeah. >> So, can I go back? >> Yeah. Yeah. Let's get back to the main I just want to take one step back real quick. Go ahead. Any item about the budget? So, one improvement this year
versus last year. Last year or whenever I joined maybe it was two years ago now, >> all kind of blending together. >> We got to the end of the year and we had the full budget remaining. So, here we are in November. The budget today is $45 is what's remanding in our budget. >> And by the way, there is a budget.
>> So, we've exhausted the budget for this year, >> which is good news. >> That's a good segue into the mayor. It's kind of proactive planning that we're trying to develop. Yeah. >> We're doing we're moving right along with this. >> Did you guys plant trees in any public
spaces this year? >> Main Street Main Street. Main >> Street between uh 10th and 11th. >> 10th and 12th. Yeah. >> They just did that >> a month ago. Was it two weeks ago? >> They did a nice job. >> Very nice. >> Good. Good to hear. >> The red buds.
>> The red buds. >> They're like across the street from the school. >> All right. I'll take a look. And they're a new variety that is a vase shape. >> Oh, really? >> They were very excited about this. >> Yes, they are. >> Because it's, you know, such a good shape for a busy sidewalk area >> and they're it's a new variety.
>> Yeah. So, I mean, maybe I'll just kind of finish the update on that. So, what we did was because of all the work being done on the north side of town, >> we wanted to do Main Street, we couldn't do above 12, above 10th Avenue. So, what we did was we said, let's go from 10th to 12th. There were there's 13 trees
there. We replaced five trees with these eastern red buds, which are nice. They fit under the wires properly. Great. >> Um, they all came in. Firmic did a great job. They planted them. Uh, DPW was a big help. They gave us gator bags. Uh, I got to have some fun. Billy let me use
the gator truck, the water truck. So, I got to fill up the water bags with the gator truck. >> How many? Five again. We've had >> five of them, right? With gator bags. They're all set, ready to go. Um, it was a it was a total success. Um Keith and I have been talking about do we continue
Main Street south now? >> Yeah. >> Um >> we've got open spaces and some some pretty poor trees. So >> yes, we should take another >> So two of the spots that we that we looked at were actually empty and two of the trees um were actually in bad shape.
So DPW helped us there as well. They took out the two bad trees. So we had five open spots which we replaced five new red buds there and that helped us exhaust our budget too. So it was it was all good. It all worked out well. >> And that folks is why we need planning, you know, proactive planning with trees.
You have to have it because we can't let people take down trees and not replant them. >> People want to take and then don't want to replant them. And I mean, >> and we have a list of those people, too. But, you know, people just don't want to plant because it's a bother. They waste
water. They got to pick up the leaves. But that's not environmentally safe, you know, or proper. So that's why it's so important to have a permit process in place. And now we've redefined the permit process where we can, you know, basically track when a
person takes a tree down >> that within a year they got to replant, you know, and people get upset with some of that stuff. But, you know, >> I like to note that my neighbor across the table, Lou, did plant a nice new tree. >> We did it this this fall. Yeah. I mean,
a lot of a lot of people are fine. They want to plant trees, but you know, you get them few people that, you know, want to fight you like a dog over it. You know, they don't care. I mean, they Keith is uh Keith has suffered something in the
>> I kept my dog. >> I I have an add-on though that I need to kind of look at. So there's um I don't have enough for everybody, but for those who want to look in So the trees that we did put in place, we want to
go about um like doing some additional work on there, right? We want to put fertilizer spikes in there. >> We want to get rubber mulch matting to put on there. >> We want to get some spikes to hold the matting down. >> We're at $45 in our budget right now. There's a tree fund that has been
established under the ordinance. >> Right. Keith has been working on trying to figure out how to get access to the funds. >> So, here's what we Yeah. So, we have to It's >> hard to get that money. >> Yeah. We have 100 trees which we want to I'll call we want to spike them. And
that's there's 28 from 10th to 12th. Another 58 no 28 from 16 to 12. Another 58 on south to the bridge. And then there's
additional trees on tent along that corridor where Beckman's is all that into the parking lot. So we've got about a hundred trees we need to spike. So we put together some costs. Now we we don't have money in the budget but we have $5,610
in our tree fund >> and that monies have come from the per. So I think the person that we need to talk to is Bridget because she said I spoke to Lorraine about so Lorraine I asked her how do we acquire that money >> and what she said was there's a freeze
on the budget and my reaction was well that's not budget money that's trust fun money >> but I didn't get an answer from her yet because I just sent an email this afternoon >> but what she said to me is outline what you want to do
some justification >> and You got to put a purchase order together >> that's justified. >> Yeah. So, Bridget's been really helpful. We're kind of working through a process with Bridget. So, so that list that I just passed around >> is what I want to send to Bridget and
she'll actually create the PO for it and she'll make the purchase, right? And then, well, we're trying to figure out how to tie it to the account. So, that's the open question. What I need the committee to do though tonight is is everyone okay with us going forward? >> Take a motion. So, we need a vote. Take a motion to accept. >> Yeah. A motion to accept anyone? Yes.
Motion. >> Second. Well, first second. >> Okay. >> All in favor? >> I. All right. So, then we can go forward now. We have approval here. Bridget wants to know we have approval. >> So, Jody, do we >> We'll go to Bridget, but we still need to get it from you.
>> Approval and have our accounts, our burrow accounts shows that we have this money in there and and Bridgets the purchase order. It should be fine. >> Is that part of the budget freeze? That was the question. I don't know anything about a budget read. >> She had mentioned it.
>> I don't know if there's like an official document that goes out. >> She said in an email there's a >> that's not budgeted money. That's >> right. That's separate. >> Well, then we need clarification on that. We're just asking clarification on that. >> Well, at least we got approval now. So, visually happy. >> That's the next step.
>> Work with the mechanics. So, so that's good. So, we're moving right along. >> What about Did you Did you bring up the blank the map >> the map blankets? >> They're in there. They're included in that. All right. >> Okay, George, you're done, right? So,
longterm planning budgets, uh, George, we did that new Belmont Shri ordinance. We spoke about that already. It's George McIll had it. Turned it over to Kevin Kaine about a month ago, maybe two months ago, and there it is. >> Still on hold.
>> We have no uh new applications for anybody to uh join the commission. If anybody knows anybody who wants to come on our shade tree commission, please let me know. Uh the planning board lays on. >> Yes, I do have something on that. Um so
few months back we uh got an application for the they turned it at the time the mark built project but it's the seport development project >> and we had a um an architectural outline. So we reviewed it and one of
one of the main issues of the thing was there were no trees on the main street whatsoever >> on Main Street >> on Main Street. >> None. >> So we replied >> that's like the fifth to the the bridge >> and I can pass this out if you want but that's along Yeah. along all along Main
Street. No trees. So, we objected to that in an email >> and um I spoke to April the other day because I wanted to take look backward at the Eastport project because that's across the street essentially. So, I got a I
got a picture of that and there were no trees on Main Street on that side. >> So, although it's been approved, we're going to reach out to the developer and make a suggestion that we we plant trees. So,
there's a meeting of a a technical design committee on December 4th for the Seapport development project. And I got >> the Eastport. >> No, not esport. The Seapport development project. That's That's Mark built.
>> Oh, that's Yeah, that it was Mark built. Now it's Seport Development. So, but it's the same thing. So, I got a new blueprint in anticipation of the meeting on the on the 4th of December, and lo and behold,
there's trees on Main Street now. >> Good job. >> So, >> good job. >> Yeah. So, we're going It doesn't say what kind of trees. We originally recommended J the rain trees, but I think we may want to go to the red buds to see keep consistency. >> Yes. >> But I think the environmental commission
should be involved in all of these projects as well. I agree with that. >> All about planting all the same trees saying not to do that, right? >> It should be diversity, >> right? It should be diversity. >> Well, and I asked Bernbrook as well. And
he said the same Kevin if burnrook but you mentioned to me I as we can't have well if you get a a disease or whatever. So you collect the wall. >> Is it possible to have diversity but
have some type of consistency as far as a height and and things like that? So there is some type of >> Yes. >> Yeah. I'm wondering if this is a new project, new building, their wires should all be underground, right? Like that should be beautiful canopy over
there. >> We should make that as pretty as we if we have to deal with this whole redevelopment. We should make it as pretty. >> Is that something we can have happen through technical the technical? >> What you should do is >> suggested we make an ordinance that says
that new buildings. >> That's a good question. Let's do that. Let's put it on the list. >> What I would suggest you do >> is you asking technical design committee. >> We do have a member on that. >> Oh, you do? >> Ed living. He's not here tonight, but he's on that. >> Okay.
I didn't know that. >> Yeah, he's been going back and forth. He reaches out to us, tells us what's going on. Feedback, >> but thank you for the suggestion. >> Yeah. So, if you see him there, talk to he's a great guy. >> I don't know. >> I'm wondering that they have to consult for instance, shade tree about planting
that goes. >> Well, we tried to get that. I did try to get that involved in the um the New Jersey Transit. I said that they had to consult with us about and I suggested the environmental commission as well for planting any kind of shrug and trees in that project and they and Jim Morris was
like, "Oh yeah, I forgot about that." And so that's where I kind of looped us in to being consulted with any projects and grant money and anything that comes even the new 16th Avenue bathroom if there was anything that we can do, you know, grass plantings or anything over
there by the dunes, anything to help save our environment. Oh, we just had a whole conversation about that because right now there is so much sand build up over those dunes and under the boardwalk. The boardwalk apparently was designed to have the water sweep through and go into the drainage, but it's so
clogged with sand, it's not doing that, but the D won't let us remove the sand from it. So, we have this catch 22 where the point where we we are quickly coming to the opinion that it is actually a public safety problem because of these issues. So, it's something
>> and not to mention like the sand covers over the beach fences and everybody just jumps onto the beach for free and not >> without buying a >> and the reverse is also a problem too. If you look at the playground sometimes the sand builds up so much towards the fence that little kids can just not that
I've had this experience exactly walk and sprint down the boardwalk. Okay. >> Um, >> so yeah, it's >> so anyway, I think all of these projects should definitely have some kind of liaison with planning and some kind >> Well, we do that's why we're part of our
technical design committee. >> We we may want I don't know if we use Bill Brash and maybe available money that we're trying to spend with him. $45. >> Well, no, not us, right? But somewhere >> every penny >> if the $3,000 number right where we have
$1,700 left over if you if you want to use it now maybe he starts making recommendations on the >> We don't have 17 >> the trust fund is rolls over. >> No, no, not the trust fund. I'm saying oh well the 1,700 I thought it was it's we're going to start out with 6,000 again. So why bother? >> Yeah, that's next year though.
>> Yeah. >> So then use this year's money. Maybe make him make recommendations for these projects as to which if you want diversity. >> Well, yes. Maybe you have a diversity recommendation. >> What we've done in the past, we used John Rub. >> So Rubble
>> worked with us on these projects. He was our designated agent prior to us getting a arborist and he's very very qualified. >> Very. >> So I I think we need to transition away from John. That's why I'm suggesting >> brush. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Sounds pretty.
>> Yeah. >> We could use the money to find more. >> Yeah, that's true. Maybe we can use this dribble for free and use the money to, >> right? >> And that's part of the why we need this uh survey because to get any money,
>> New Jersey Department of Forestry demands a survey to get any future grant money. So you have to have one like that every five years because people question well why do you do it? Well the reason we do it is you have to have it to get grant money. So uh and that's from New
Jersey Division of Forestry Community Forestry forestry >> part of D. So there's a lot of things that go swing back and forth and sometimes you forget about and like what's the reason why this is happening then you look and then you think what's the reason why you need this to get
that. I mean, I'm just thinking like we already on Main Street have those rain trees on one side of the street, >> but one of the things that we came up with is these rain trees apparently have sucker parts to them, >> which creates DPW work to have to go around and prune them. So, it's like let's pick the tree if we want to have a vision. Let's pick the tree that's the
best option for us. >> I thought the red was >> Yeah, the redwood's Yeah, that's a good approach. >> And there's also there's a couple of our varieties. So maybe if we assort make an assortment of varieties, they won't be so susceptible. >> Yeah, I really like the ones that they
put there to your point with the way they grow shaped. >> They won't they won't overhang the sidewalk and kind of impede anything kind of on the sidewalk side. So they're just going to grow straight up. They look nice. >> And I just want to put out there that um when I was in Atlantic City, they were
talking about a new oak tree that is very, very narrow. The problem that I think is that it also still gets really tall, like 30 feet tall. Maybe you can keep it trimmed, but in some of these places where we don't have a lot of space with the new
construction, it might be an option. So, we can do something there. >> I don't know. Okay. >> All right. >> Okay. We're wrapping it up here. Um, please. >> So, Republican No, the new matters.
Was that bad? >> DPW, >> you don't have anything. >> Nothing at all. >> All I got is uh Are you Are you guys done with the Gator? Can I winterize that and put it away? >> The truck? >> Yeah. >> Can I use it one more time? >> Yeah. >> If I can use it one more time, that's
>> Yeah. Yeah, definitely. I just didn't know if you guys were using it and I could win. >> I have a question. >> Yep. So, if we put if we do a certain number of of mats as a test, >> right, we may have to dig out the the
square in on Main Street. We're going to have some dirt. Do you have a You guys have a place we could put dirt. >> We have a bay. Yeah. In the back where we can put dirt. >> So, we can just throw them in buckets, put them in the gator >> and carry them over there. >> Bring it over there, right? >> Yeah. You see a big mound of dirt in the
back. Otherwise, we're going to be wheelbarrow. >> We don't I don't want to wheelbarrow anything. You can't miss it. >> Yeah, you can't miss it. It's right next to the mulch. >> Okay, >> good. All right. Um Nancy, you have any updates on the conference? Just so we get it. Um
>> um not really. I mean, I loved it. It was great. One of my big takeaways is how poor of a relationship everybody else in New Jersey seems to have with their DPW.
It was astonishing to me how not kind word was said about any DPW. >> You didn't say any kind words. >> I was stunned because we love our DPW. >> You know, we really like our DPW and I
was just stunned and I just want us all to appreciate what a great DPW we have because apparently not everybody else has one. I mean, Billy Buster has been great for us. >> He's been very >> He's been great. >> And Billy's always very open to
communicating with everybody. He's just he's just a nice good guy. >> He's good. >> Well, that's that's a good point, Nancy. Thanks for bringing that up. Um Harold, do you have anything on proposal number one main street? >> We kind of discussed that.
>> Yeah. >> Okay, fine. Anything else? >> The only other thing is when is that New Jersey that's going to start the the MJ transit project? Is that starting this year? >> I'm trying to remember from the >> I think it's starting in 26 like maybe
spring. >> So we should be on top of that with regards to environmental. >> I don't think we're plugged into it. >> Is that a planning board thing or they have to go through the planning board or do they do their own thing? And >> I'm fairly certain. Well, I don't I have to call Jim Morris on that to find out
if I don't think it has to go through planning. It's a grant and they're just coming and doing it. They're basically >> so we don't have any connection. >> No, no, no. We do. I have >> No, I'm saying it's Jere thus far because we we've been talking about this and we keep thinking it's going to show up at the planning board at some point, but >> I'll have to ask Jim how does that work?
>> No one's talked to us, you know. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I can also listen to this one >> because I I have made sure that you guys are involved in that whole, you know, because they're going to basically pull everything out, redo the whole train station, the crosswalks, everything. So,
we should have some say. >> That's not the parking lot though, right? It >> I don't think it goes into the parking lot. No, it's the train station. It's >> both sides of it, too. Both uh the railroad side. >> Both sides of the of the train station. Yeah. >> Jody, I'm sending you Jim's number. Yes,
I I'll reach out to him again. >> I'll call you. >> Um, >> make sure that he knows because I've made it I've made mention to him more than once about it. >> Should he reach out to Jim though? >> I don't know how that works with the planning board when it's a grant coming from the state. >> They really have to go through the process. Do they? Okay.
>> Yeah. I think I saw something at one point that he sketched up, but maybe I'm confusing. >> It's state property. >> It's state property, right? >> Yeah. I'm assuming if it's a state grant dejing to see or NJ
>> you got to figure out how that works. >> Well, that includes what do >> that's the one that also includes trying to move the crosswalk. >> Yes. >> But I just don't want you guys thinking that we're involved in something that we're not plugged in. No, I'm definitely
trying to connect you guys with the right people so that we get involved when the implementation does actually happen. So, I just don't know when that is, but it's coming soon. >> Yeah. >> I think this November is when they're supposed to put the um >> stuff into piano.
So, >> what are they putting piano? >> That doesn't make sense why they would do that in the sense. Something was happening this November remembering from the infrastructure. But then we are this summer we're supposed to be getting the the shades in there and tables.
>> What about the A Streetcape project? >> Mayor talked about that in a meeting. >> We are doing the we're doing the water manes and the and paving if that's what you're thinking of from Ocean. >> I got the impression there was trees and >> the rubber is what they're doing.
They're doing new water manes and paving. Yeah. Abab ocean to >> D. Yeah. Right into does not reach my house. >> Just go one more. >> I thought it was all
>> Well, the water is not necessarily the location. It just stops at the >> Well, I mean, it will be prettier to have a very cave street and not right now. But fifth is finishing right now and then it moves to 14. >> But fifth, they're not going to pave until the spring >> and then Yeah. And 14th is the next one
after >> I think so. Yeah. Yeah, it was nice. >> So, >> okay, that uh finishes the business of the SH. So, I'll take a motion >> motion to adjurnn from uh Keith. >> Motion to second. All second.
>> All in favor? Pray Lord.