on the environmental commission side and the first thing we always do is put forth our minutes for approval from last month. So, can I have a motion for minutes? >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Thank you. >> Okay. So, I'm going to just really quickly give some highlights from our
agenda and then take it over to Lewis who has something he wants to talk about >> and then we'll go on to the shading. Is it? >> So, first of all, >> um the community energy plan, which we've been working on with the burrow, has been posted on the burrow website for community review. So, if you have a chance to take a look,
>> it's a multi-year plan looking at issues of energy conservation. >> Sure. >> Um in the burrow. So, that's that's a global plan. Part of the plan is the energy audit, which is almost completed. They had a little bit of a hiccup with that, but they've been doing walkthroughs in all the municipal buildings to give the burough feedback
about like a costbenefit analysis about the buildings and how they know, you know, electricity used and those kinds of things. So, that's upcoming pretty soon. Um, our new website is connected to the Burough website. So, if you go in there, you can see our very exciting new
website, which Andy Shiovani was kind enough to develop for us. And in there is our new email address. Today, we got a a Belmar.com email address from the commission. So, we're very now open for business. Um, one of the things that we want to post up in there and in some
other formats is a survey of the community um about how people in town feel about using gas powered leaf blowers. So, we want to kind of get a sense from the community as to where people are. In some communities in New Jersey, they passed ordinances with a
seasonal ban or a larger ban. It's something that is done in collaboration with landscaping businesses that operate in the community. But as we go into the summer, it gets a little crowded and it gets a little noisy and we're all kind of talking about let's really see what our neighbors feel about this and if
there's something that people want to do about that, then we'd like to work with people in town to do that. And I know councelor Donan has been talking about this. So, we appreciate that. Um, if you look at the Avon website, the Avon website, they're in the middle of a community survey and it's up on their
website. you could see a neighbor community what kind of questions they're asking people to think about and they're tallying the results. So they've they've been like sort of talking about importance there as well. Uh patchwork for wildlife it's still going on. It's a neighborhood yard recognition program.
If you're interested in having your yard evaluated for its sustainability and as a habitat for nature put your name on our website and we'll come out and take a look at our yard. We do this with John Gibbons from Lake Ko who's a real expert on native plants and sustainable yard
work. Finally, the Silver Lake grants are ongoing. So, we had a couple hiccups with the Army Corps because of the snow. So, the survey took a little longer than they thought, but it's been completed. And now we're in the process of coming into phase four of developing the plan
for Silver Lake, which should be coming the next I would say in the summer hopefully. Um, but party to that, we also were awarded in the federal budget some money to pay for the implementation of the grant. So, the tenant is in receipt to do the paperwork, but we're
going to be in receipt of a million dollars for Silver Lake. So, we're very grateful to the congressman who sponsored this in the budget because it's now been allocated for Belmar for Silver Lake. So that's really exciting after all the work that people have done
to try the neighbors, whole community that uses the park around the lake, looking at the water quality, looking at the wildlife, looking at just the general state of the lake and doing our best to preserve it for the future. So that that's a quick run through. I just wanted to take a smaller amount of time,
but share with the Shadri Commission working on. And finally, I want to give Lewis the floor. He wants to talk about something exciting that's happening at the library. >> Thank you. Thank you, Diane. Uh, good evening everyone. Thank you for your attention. U, so the library is currently in development of a library of
things where we will be loaning out to patrons more than just books. We'll be loaning out items such as kitchen appliances, power tools, uh, games, toys, things like that. Uh, uh, that uh, enables someone to be able to get something, borrow it as opposed to
purchasing it, especially if it's something they only use once in a while. Okay. Reason why I'm bringing it up to you guys is that I'm uh part of the this development is to kind of gate some ideas of what would be good things to have that would be uh meaningful and
something that the the Belmar community would like. You know, like one of the things for example when it comes to power tools um we definitely do not want to have any gasoline powered uh uh equipment or things like that. So, we're going to be focusing on battery operated or otherwise electric powered things,
but um I'm inviting anyone to if they want to, uh throw some ideas as to what items would be ideal to, uh share them now real quick or uh feel free to email me later here at the library and kind of share with your ideas what uh if you
think of something uh later on there. It's pretty exciting. Uh it's something that's it's going to be unique uh to the shore community because I think the only other library in Mammoth County that has a library of things is Redbank. So we will be the second town in uh Mammoth
County to have a library of things. Uh something unique that Belar residents would have that other towns in the district does not have at least for now. So uh real quick what are your thoughts? >> Good idea. >> Good idea. >> We lawn lawn mower.
>> Lawnmowers. Okay. You know what does Redbank have >> exactly? >> Red Bank has uh approximately 65 items in their collection. They have um from cake pans. They have musical instruments like electric guitars and
violins. Uh they have uh weed whackers, head trimmers, although we're kind of hesitant on those even though they are that apparently that's their biggest uh most popular checkouts. Okay. Um but uh they also have uh small items as well uh
like uh like media adapters, they have uh boom boxes, they have um uh DVD players, Blu-ray players, things like that. Um yes, >> is the idea that the library is buying stuff or people are donating it to the library then the library will rent it out?
>> Well, it depends on the library. Uh right now, uh we are considering the uh uh taking donations. Okay. Uh we just have to set up parameters for that you know like for example they should be clean, complete, operational and safe.
Okay. Because part of managing the liability behind this is smart collection management and that part of that is making smart choices as to what to offer. I mean will we offer a chainsaw? No. But a leaf blower would be good. You know that that kind of thing.
You know >> a website would be very helpful library. >> Huh? >> A website would be very helpful. Are you developing somebody developing a website for it or >> Well, we have our own website and on our website we'll have the uh we will uh have a space on the library of things on
the website that everyone can shop and see what we have. >> Okay. >> I have some suggestions. >> Sure. >> I own a wheelbarrow and my neighbors borrow it constantly. >> Uhhuh. >> So if you had a wheelbarrow, it was not a big one, a small one that people could put in their trunks or get in their cars.
>> Okay. Yeah. >> Then they could do that. The other thing is um I call it the refrigerator cart. You know those carts that you use a hand truck >> that people need but they don't >> like say we saw those like those collapsible carts that roll with the big
wheels that you can uh you fold it open. It's like one big rolling cube like a rolling back. >> There is a kind called for a refrigerator cart. >> A refrigerator cart. >> It's it's got it's a toll. >> Oh yeah. An appliance solid, right? >> Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Apply it solid. There
you go. That's a good idea. >> But even the smaller dollars. >> Yeah. This is a smaller hand truck right there. That's a great idea. Yeah. >> Okay. Okay. I mean, one of the more other popular things that Red Bank has is a bunch of cake pans. So, different shaped cake pans with Disney characters
and things like that. They they sent us uh uh check them out as well. >> For this shed, you're going to construct. >> We are going we are we are planning on acquiring a 10x 20 foot shed for the back corner here that will house all
this stuff. >> Okay. So, I'm currently in the process of right now at this stage the the board of trustes hasn't approved going through this yet. We're kind of in development idea and part of my job right now is to determine a cost analysis things like
that. But part of that also is gaining an idea of what the items are that people would want so I could properly generate a good uh initial cost estimate of acquiring some things. So donations is going to be on the table but uh exactly how we'll go about it I'm not
sure yet. So but uh >> what about what about tables because like a lot of times when people are entertaining >> well actually tables is yes we look at tables and a lot of other entertainment items like 50 cup coffee earns you know uh and other service appliances like say
you know those the little multi um those you see those three uh those three container um hot pots >> like a warmer. Yeah, like a warmers, things like that. >> Um, mix, >> huh? >> How about a mix master with a standing mixer? >> Yeah, Kitchen Aid stand mixers. We're
going to look at that. We're going to be getting that. And um, and you know, other and other uh uh uh kitchen appliances that that people would use occasionally. Bread maker, rice cooker, things like that. Fresh. >> To put the list of Redbanks items out on
your website to give people ideas. >> Um, yeah. I may not put the exact list, but I may put uh like I may just list them uh uh on it right there and uh we'll see about uh putting it out there to see if people like check off what they want effect, you know, and then
also a spot for people to cuz us being a beach town, we may have other items in demand that Redbank wouldn't bring, you know. So, I mean, maybe like a one of those beach buggy that kind of thing, you know. Um you know, I know >> stand up paddle board, >> huh? stand up paddle board.
>> Stand up paddle board maybe, you know. Um I saw I saw another town have actually had surfboards. >> Surf boards. Surfboards as well. I don't know if we'll do surfboards, but we'll see. We We're going to we see about that. >> And people would uh borrow them just like they would books. They would >> correct. They would they would at first
sign liability waiverss and things like that uh as part of our liability control. But um but yes, uh they would once they're signed up for the year, sign show us your library card. Boom. and uh off you go. You get it and you get in here for two weeks. Yes.
>> So, have you gotten like lessons learned from the Redback team? Like what they did, what what worked well, what didn't work well at other towns that have done that. >> Well, I'm sure that there's got to be some things. >> There are some things to stay away from. Let's say, and I mentioned one of them is that again, it's a smart collection
management. It's a smart choices to what to buy. So, for example, uh if you're gonna if we're going to offer a 50piece socket wrench set, okay, do we get the Harbor Freight model or do we get Snap-on? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Snap-on's not coming back, >> right?
>> So, we get the Harbor Freight, people who use it, it'll survive any possible use, a painter can put it through and it'll come back mostly complete, you know. So, it's things like that, you know. um jigsaw puzzles. You know, if we're going to do jigsaw puzzles, we're going to be careful about what imagery
that you see in the jigsaw puzzles. Um another thing is to stay away from video game systems, okay? Uh for various reasons. One of one of which being is they're so delicate that even the the CD based systems like Xbox, PlayStation,
they are notorious for breaking down. And that's just for those people buying it once, setting it, setting it once, and playing it, and they still break down. Can you imagine setting it up, packing it away, setting it up again, packing away, travel all the time, and it'll get beat up like crazy. So, we
would stay away from video game systems. Uh, so things like that. Um, smart, what's what's uh durable, what's practical, and what's safe. Okay. >> Okay. Thank you.
So if anyone if anyone has any question idea, feel free give me a call here at the library or uh ask for my email. I'll be happy to give you my email. You can send me ideas now. >> Okay. Thank you for your time. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> So I just want to say finally it's a pleasure to be with the safety
commission. Thank you for joining. It's great to have everybody all together. So I really appreciate it. Now I'm going to turn it over. >> Well, thank you. Okay. So on a quote, I'll open the meeting by saying this meeting is being held in importance of the public meetings act 1086
we have public notice in this municipal calendar and the belar.com website so I call to order a roll call I'm here
>> yeah we have all but Jody >> and we're missing Jod and we're missing Derek supposed to come >> Jody and Derek all So then uh next is uh like to make a motion to approve the minutes meeting.
>> I'll second. >> And then we got a special item this month with Brash. So what we've decided to do is to forego our normal meeting agenda unless there's a critical item that we discuss. I don't think there is
because we didn't see any um response to that comment. So I'd like to make a motion to close our meeting. Second >> and at this point I'd like to introduce our town branch
a little background a forester for a long time 40 years and uh it's my pleasure on issues and bill is very involved
We have plans that have inventories. We're going to have those updated this year and uh we're going to go over that planning process and um and how the inventory ties into that. It's a statewide program which Belmar
is volunteered to uh to be uh included in the program and uh there's a signup sheet. Make sure you sign it there. Okay. Um if you're in a statewide program and you uh decide that you want to go through the process, one of them
is a the plan, community for management plan that you talk about. Um there also is a requirement that uh you have training. Okay, there's core training that you have to have two people in town, one volunteer, one staff
person to do that core training. Then there's continuing education units of which you get credit for the uh this hour town has >> that applicable to environmental as well
>> the residents whether you're on commission or you're on the environmental commission and you take this training gets the credits okay you need a minimum of eight credits and have to be obtained by a minimum two
people. So you already met your goal of your time. So >> you're just saying we're making those same. >> Yeah. >> You're contributing to Belmar's
accreditation. And that accreditation uh makes Belmar eligible for the grants. Okay. $5,000 for the plan, $15,000 for the inventory. There's another grant for maintenance. That's $25,000 that's being
applied for I think tomorrow at 5:00 is the deadline. And so you're eligible for those grants. In addition to that, um you you get claims liability. There's a slip wall on a sidewalk that's
been uplifted as open tree. branch comes down and hits somebody or hits a infrastructure, a car, whatever it is, there's a blank claim protection for long.
So there's an incentive and that's blanket for the whole commission for the whole for the shy commission because you're the ones that are how does that relate to um the court training where the individuals have
um everyone on the ship. And how it works usually for the attorneys that might represent somebody that would want to sue the town, they will determine whether or not they're credited because smart about that and they will find out if you're credited
and it's probably not worth. >> So the truth falls on individual code. >> That is correct. As long as the town is accredited. >> Okay. >> Yes. So you have to maintain those cus you have to have your plan up to date and
you have to have two people trained one page staff person in town. >> So you have a staff person go over the planning process. It was just redone by the state and uh they changed it a little bit. It's a lot more
involved. Um but you I think you'll see as we go through this that it's uh was well thought out in terms of uh requirement. So there what's the background? The background on this is it's been I think
the law was changed in the '9s. They created this this program and it was designed when shry commission started to become disbanded through liability suits. The state said, "Oh, this is crazy. There's no shade commission. Nobody can manage the property. It's
just going to get worse." Okay? So we need to protect these people and and increase the creation shave tree commission so that actually the risk would go down and um and the folks that that volunteer to do that would be
protected. So they passed the law I think in the mid '9s and um and they created the plan guidelines and then they just redid those plan guidelines and that's what we're talking about now. And what has changed? What's
changed mostly is the fact that it's become a little more sophisticated, a little more directed. And um there's an inventory now that's required. And there's a scientific reason for that. As a forester, I was trained classically as
a third forester person who goes out and marks trees for wood government for for companies to cut down furniture whatever they're going to turn it into. And uh
and so as a forester we used for science to generate those numbers. Okay? And so the community forestry folks said, "You know what? We can't make a decision on how to manage the forest without getting
some data. So the community forest, we need to get some data so that the shade tree commissions can take that data and make their decisions based on that. Okay. So that was the big change. And after it's over, if there's any
questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Okay. So in 2018 they decided to change the guidelines because it was insufficient. It was a great plan and it went on somebody's shelf and it stayed
there. Okay. So it didn't get used. Um they had some grants to plant trees but they didn't really have any maintenance grants to do uh you know risk reduction to prune or to do removals. So they decided to change it. In
addition to that, they the state figured that one one thing we could do to prevent this from going on a shelf and forget about it is they wanted to make sure that the plan and the funding would put the towns in contact direct contact
with a forester or an arborist that could help them so that it doesn't sit on the shelf for every five years. Each plan good for five years. They want the towns to pick up the phone and call a forester and an arborist if they have a question. Somebody says, "I have a tree
in front of my house and I'm concerned about it. I don't think uh it's going to last. The branch came down at my car. Is is it safe or is that going to continue to happen?" So they much like a township engineer, a burrow engineer, they wanted
the towns to to have that connection to a a a forester or an arborist to help them with those decisions. So that was the main part of it. So there's so it took an nothing moves
quickly at the state, okay? Very deliberate uh in how they do things. So in 2018 they started this process and they finished it in January of 2024 2024.
Um but it's done and they did a pretty good job and uh and so now there's all this funding for all these towns to get caught up because for what's that eight years it's a fiveyear plan. They just extended all those plans and said
they're still good. And then when they got the guidelines out, they said, "Okay, here's the towns that are eligible for this first year. Let's get the money out there. Let's get started on this." And um so that's the process that we're in now, the stage of the
process that we're in. So what was the need for these um these? We talked about that data driven management. You need data. You need scientifically derived data to make your management decisions.
inventories are required. Those inventories are going to drive your decision making. So we'll go over exactly what's required by the state to be included in that in that inventory. And there it is designed to encourage
that relationship with a professional. Okay. So there's there's the guideline section says and I'll pass this around. I I finished about four of these so far. I'll pass one around so you get a look at it. That's Spring Lakes
Community Forestry Management Plan that's completed under these guidelines. Okay? So, if you want to take a look at it, at least you'll know there's got to be an introduction and background. There's program capacity. Do you have a shade tree commission? Do you have a
committee? Some pe some towns don't like commissions because they have specific regulatory um statutory requirements that they they can do some want a committee. That way it's easier to control by the bureau um or the township
officials. Okay. So what is your capacity? What's your DPW or your Department of Public Works capacity? Do they have a bucket truck? Do they have chainsaws? Do they have training for their their uh staff to make sure that they're safe? Okay. Or do they have to
contract all that work out to someone? Okay. So, they want that in the plan. Okay. >> Bill. >> Yes. >> Are you going to share this presentation with us? >> Sure. >> All right. This way. I don't have to feverly write down notes on all the stuff. Okay. No. >> You don't have to fever. I
>> think he's going to send it out to >> I can send it out to anybody. >> Okay. Give me your email address and I'll send it out. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> Community engagement and well-being. How connected is the community to the tree resource? Some towns are very connected.
Some are not as well connected as they probably should be. And that should come out in the plan or at least give give the towns um the ability to understand where they should what direction they should be going if they're lacking any of these
things. >> Okay. And then the implementation of it. It's a five-year plan and there's a yearby-year implementation based on what the Shade Tree Commission or whoever their man their volunteer agency is
that's that's doing this. Okay. What they're going to do first, that's their priority. What they're going to do the second year, third year, and based on the goals. You set a goal, then you have these objectives. You may have two or three objectives to help you get to that goal. And then there's action
items. This is specifically what we're going to do to get to that goal. Yeah. >> Is this in any way related for part of MS4, the Municipal Storm Water
Management? >> It's not. It's not. >> It is not. Okay. That's u that's a section of D, the stormware management post. Totally different. There's two branches of D. There's the regulatory end which is the MS4 stormware
management people and then there's the natural resource side. Okay. The natural resource side is fish and wildlife forest service forest fire service and the office of natural lands.
So as a matter of fact when the MS4 rule came out the guidelines came out they never even spoke to forestry about it. Yeah, that was a big bonus attention. >> I have a question. So, >> yes, >> you said before that you plan inventory
>> and cus maintain >> Yes. >> your >> accreditation, >> right? Do you have to actually implement anything? >> Yes. >> All right. Good. >> I just wanted to make sure that you you know that part's in there. And that's a really good point because that's that's
the fourth leg of the school and that's the annual uh accomplishment. You don't submit that to tell this the state what we've done. >> Okay. Then you're not a credit. >> Yeah. And Gary, that's what I submit over here.
>> Yeah. So we we collect um what it is that we did during the year and then it goes into the state >> and you're going to compare that with what is in the plan. And you can go on a website and look at every single municipality in the state and determine if that municipality is accredited and
if they're not where they're lacking. Is it CUS? Is it train or is it accomplishment report? And that report is usually the big stickler because somebody forgets about it and they don't submit it. Okay. So there's an introduction and
background. It's very close to what it used to be. Okay. There's a mission statement. There's a liability statement, which is really important. The state wants you to to be locked in on that. Part of this plan is to manage the trees, but it's also to reduce the
risk to the residents. Okay? You want to maintain your trees. You want to prune them. You want to take them down removals if they're at risk or increased risk for a failure. Okay? So, the state wants you locked in on that on your role
as uh as the stewards of the forest got to be safe. Okay, there's a community overview. You know what's Belmar? It's a short community. All right, it has a tree resource of 1,500 trees or
whatever it is. It's this age, it's this species, it's that kind of thing. And the inventory is what gives you that data. What's the structure? Uh I have a I have a town that I'm working with out in Mercer County, Robbinsville Township.
Okay. And it's an old farming community, but it's a new suburban community. So, all their trees are really young. They're for it's wonderful. I don't have to take out a big D tape and take diameter of a 40 inch diameter tree or 30 inch diameter tree. I just take a
caliper because they're all four or five inches in diameter. Totally different than free throw. which has a tremendous amount of old trees all all planted around World War One. That's when those trees are going
off date back to World War I, 2018 or so. >> And then what your goals are. What is it that you want to accomplish and how does that connect to the plan? and what your other considerations may be. Okay. Then we get into the
administration. If um if a resident has a concern about trees, how does he or she contact the town and say, "I have an issue here." Okay. How does that process work? Do they call? Do they have to fill
something out? Is there something you do on a website? How does that work? And then once they do that, what's the response? So that's part of the plan as well. You have partnerships, you know, um I
did intro agencies and they have the DOA commission. So they work with the DOA commission as well. And every town's different. They have all kinds of partners uh in free burrow. It's um late Tony Commission that they they work with a
lot. There's the training requirement and then what the expertise is intent whether it's volunteer expertise or it's paid staff works and then what your equipment is. It's
all got to get listed on a plan. You have a bucket truck. You have a client, you have uh chainsaws, you have training there engagement and wellbeing. How do you engage with the community?
State wants the folks that are managing the resource to be danger. And we're talking about safety. Of course, you want trees that are healthy, that kind of thing. Yeah, I'll take care of it. I'll head
on. >> Okay. How will the plan behind website want? They also want expansion on the trees. Okay. They're also one of the this new guidelines was
equitable distribution of trees. Is there is there some areas where trees haven't been planted over the years where there not as many trees in some areas of town as there are members. So they want those areas
designated. And how do they do it? There's maps. The D has maps and and if you look at that plan, you can see there's at least a half dozen maps and they have the data and it's going to be put on that
plan as to where the trees are in town, what the land use is, where the land cover is, is it commercial, is it residential? And so that's where it's going to be. So then it's broken down into goals, elements, objectives, and action items.
We talked about that. Okay. The action items are those specific tasks that you're doing to help you meet your objectives and get to your goals. It's pretty simple, but that's the things that we're going to be talking about as
part of the planning process. And then there's an activity schedule. How you implement those. How do you get to your goals? What action items are going to be done. Your one, your two, your three, your four, your five. Okay? But it's based on what
your priorities are. And you're not going to know what your priorities are. You may have some idea what they are now, but once you have your inventory, they'll tell you, you know, what the conditions of the trees are, where the where the trees, you probably need work
on where your vacancies are, where you need to get things done. Okay, that gets identified in the plan. And then when funding becomes available from the state, you can apply for it. It's in your plan. They're going to go back and look at that plan and say, "Oh, here it
is right here. We want to play in Silver Lake. We want to play in East Street, you know, because we got problems. Utility companies came and all the trees so bad that we need to replace
that kind of get up in the land. It's there. One of the nice things about working with the bar service is they they're really easy to work with. They're available. They're
responsive with George. You can see they're we've had a couple of questions going through this grant process and they're very responsive. They understand how things go and it's not that technical. They try to make an
possibly and that's why I really like working as well. But so you can see here's an existing condition. There's the downtown. It's devoid of trees. So if that's identified
in the plan, okay? So look, we don't want a town to look like this. Okay? There's no trees there. We want nobody's visiting our downtown because it's not suitable. It's not a welcoming area. So we want to plant trees
and that should be part of our plan. So that's our goal. Free old burrow went through that. They just they planted their downtown because they lost a lot of their old trees. So they went through this process downtown.
They're all they're trees. They're a little bit smaller than that because they were just recently they grow. >> Yeah, they will grow. You know that um the Springsteen film that came out uh just recently.
>> It's a it's funny. I got to tell you the story. So, I've been the forester for about 20 years. And so, the guy I work with, my liaison sends me a picture. He says, "What kind of tree is this?" He said, "Uh, they're down here filming
this spring thing and and it was in the winter time and they wanted to they wanted it to look like it was spring or summer." So they I said he pointed to the you know he had a picture of the tree and I said it's a Japanese tree lilac. Then he showed me the leaf
that it was a maple. They were taping leaves. I said you got Okay, so here's the major changes. There's an inventory required. Here's the data what it looks like on the inventory. There's
tree species, what the condition is, what the diameter is, what the height is, and what the future height is going to be. We want that as well. I don't know why I think projection models using because all this data has
to state. So they're kind of your town. They're also paying resource and and then the the beds US Forest Service does does inventory every 10 years
of the forest as a whole. And now they're going to incorporate information as well. And then back So this is what's required. Okay, this is what the state requires. We got our
species diameter breast height diameter 4 and 1/2 ft above the ground up side. Current height potential height small, medium, and large. What the condition is. Okay.
Location. It's a street address on the rightway. That's what they want. It's going to park. They want latitude and longitude. You have any notes? This tree's got to come down. Don't park under the tree. That kind of thing.
Vacancies. Okay. Or where there's planting that could be done is encouraged but is not required. Okay. Your inventory will have vacancy. I don't see why I should do this inventory the only way
especially if you want >> question yes so in Belar we have a number of trees that are viable but have dead branches are you going to notate that in some way >> not just as poor or very poor you'll
notate >> xyz address has a dead has And it'll be pri if there's something that needs to be pruned because it's uh not a hazard but it's an increased risk. >> It'll be uh priority one or priority two
proving. >> What about stumps? We eliminated many stumps. The rest of those are they notated any >> No, they're not. >> I mean I can I can do it. >> They're hazardous.
I can do it now if you want. It wasn't it wasn't on the original design of the inventory. But if you want us to know where the stumps are, we can >> Yeah. Well, I can do it. Just let me know. Okay. If you want it, I I'll tell
Jacob to start to start collecting them not. >> We've got them pretty pretty. >> Might as well. There's not that many, but it's good to >> count. Tell Jacob. >> Okay.
>> He's gotten about 700 and there's three cut inventories. They're complete inventory, which is what you're doing in terms of right away. Okay.
Okay, the absolute parties do. It's not a partial and it's not going to be the same. I don't understand why they question how do you address sight triangle because I understand it's 30 ft
are so tight. >> Well, clear what I'm asking. >> Yes. So, you know, if it's a if it's a a tree too close to the corner where the site trianged, okay, if for some reason there was a
tree that was recommended to be planted there and you go out there and say it doesn't, you know, doesn't need to be here, put it there. Okay. I hope that's the case. Why you do? This is some of the information you get out of that whether
it's mature or greater than 24 in. Okay, that's fair. Maturing trees, you can see where some are fair, some are really good, some are poor again. So that'll give you an example of what the condition of the trees are and what the
diameters are. So in this case, nothing over 24 in is any better than bear. So that that would tell you right there. And then you can see the young trees that are
8 in or less. There's not a lot of dead trees, but this is a nice subway. It was the 10 2030 rule. Anybody ever heard of this rule before? It's a diversity.
when uh emerald ash cor started to wipe out everybody's ash trees. Okay, towns that had a lot of ash trees got really had a big ticket expense because they had to have all those trees removed, right? The ash trees were the replacement for
the most part of the elms. So, I don't know what they're going to use to replace the ash trees, but whatever it is, make sure you don't plant the ashes. Okay?
No more than 10% of anyone species. No more than 20% of any genus. Okay? Some of these insects are genus based insects. Anything that's an ash. Okay. Okay. That's the genus.
whatever. Okay. No more than 30% of anyone. That's a tough one. I mean, nobody's dealing with families. That's that's so large. You know, it's there's probably only about 10 families.
So that would be crazy. >> I guess but the 10 to 20%. >> Yes. Um Spring Lake has about 35% of their and you know that's one tree they either you either hate it or you love it.
There's no in between. And uh it does really well down the shore. It looks great. It really contributes to the neighborhood. It provides character. But if there's ever some disease like EAB or insect that
goes after London planes, you guys can hurt. So yeah, that's why that was there. So we'll take a look at that. have there's a ton of matters
uh overburden and environmental justice communities that's new. Okay. And that's where there's uh poor sections of town that may not have been planted over the years. That one picture you saw that that downtown area. Okay.
New Jersey DP's mapped on that. So that'll be included in part of the town if you have any of those sections has to meet a certain economic criteria. >> Is there any on the municipal level or like down to the neighborhood level?
>> Yes, it they do it by town but it gets down to >> I think Bradley discussion. >> They do. >> Yeah. We used to not be we actually just shifted really recently because there's
qualify for we do have sections of town >> I'll check I don't I don't know whether or not Belmore has anything that qualifies for this >> but it has land use and land cover
residential um where your parks are, where uh where the commercial districts are, all that services, that kind of stuff. And what I'll have your canopy too, but what the existing canopy is, I'll do a
I'll do it an eye tree cover analysis, too. There's this map here from Ruckers, New Jersey with that map. That'll be in there, too. I'm going to compare it to that 2016
data, but I'll do the IR one. I think their map is 2020. So, we'll see. They usually cover I like maps usually it's required and then implementation we talked about
this they they have it all structured so it's it's easy you're not saying oh how am I going to make this the best tree canopy town In the short, you got to break down your action items. Your
action items, your objectives, your components matter. Goals. Next thing you know, we got the greatest tree. So, this is an exact example. which is not uh not unusual for what was
this fits right in this room. Maybe it was here. And here's your additional resources. When I go through the when I go through the planning process, they have guidance
for how to do it as well as step by step. So sometimes I have to refer to it. When the plan's done, it's signed by the mayor so they can state for their review. Maybe have a pretty detailed checklist.
Usually it's just at least for response send back and state Mar and that's really what it's for. It's for to give you a a blueprint on how you're going to manage your cars. And you're not going to get that blueprint
until you have your code. So it's it's pretty straight. Any questions? >> I'm sorry. I just like my >> question. >> It's a terrific event. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah, but it doesn't have vacancies. >> Well, we did return in 2022.
>> Yeah, please. >> What was the what was the requirement and what was the end result aside from us knowing what we had? >> It was quite that I'm not sure what you're saying, Keith. >> What was the requirement for us to do
the 2022 inventory, which we have, >> right? >> And what was the end result aside from us knowing what we have? >> Was there any report or anything like that? I mean the basic foundation of doing a survey is for the GR any grant processor. You have to have that's the
basic thing you have to have. So that's why we did it. I mean that's Keith Keith here's my guess. I wasn't here. >> Right. >> Right. But the plan the plan hasn't been our plan hasn't been updated since 2016. So one of the most frustrating things
for me going to every single commission meeting. Right. >> Is we're just addressing stuff tactically. >> Correct. One of the reasons now I know like one of the reasons we're so tactical is because we haven't done a plan in a decade. So this gives us an opportunity to actually be more
connected with town administration. You know our own input in terms of what we see what we foresee for the next 5 years in terms of beautifying Belmar. The 2022 inventory wasn't done in connection with a new plan. And what I
what I saw us do and it might have been prior to your time, I don't know, but what I saw us use it for was remediation. >> Yes. >> Right. So stumps, hazardous trees, um improving the permitting process. Right. It gave us uh you know that insight
>> in a refreshed manner versus the prior inventory which again was five or six years before that and a lot of stuff changes. >> So are you doing >> Yeah, sorry. >> He's doing the inventory for us right now. We received the funding. Okay, >> we received the funding for Bill to help us with the plan. Um, and then we've got
a grant submission going in on Friday that allow us to actually start execution of the year one part of the plan which includes recruiting and removal and maintenance. >> Does the plan or does the inventory rather know changes over time?
>> Um, well, yeah, it does. Okay. If and that's where it comes to capacity as well. Does the town happy? >> I don't know what that is. >> I can answer anything. >> Okay. >> In 2022, we didn't approve
>> and that was fixed. >> At this address, there's this tree. At this tree, this reference. What we did moving forward from that was we built a system in Excel spreadsheet where every
time someone in sent in a permit to record the tree being removed requirement to replant which in the ordinance is 12 months. We actually went out and did a stump survey I guess about a year and a half or two years ago and we identified maybe 35 stumps and we
initiated a plan to notify the homeowners. I think we got about 30 So that spreadsheet we we've kept it up to date and it's very current. So anything changes we keep it on that
spreadsheet. At times people do things without notifying us and if we notify it we'll try to interdict. Um, so what we have is a current current I'll call it in personal inventory within the commission
and he's doing the current inventory and we'll kind of look at both but his will be very current. >> So you'll be able to tell me generally how Belar Street can change the last 10 years. >> Um, I can tell how it's changed since 2022.
>> Okay. Yeah, >> because we had to have one to to to know to begin with >> and and when the grant the grant application for um for the pruning and and removals, I went through all the
pruning and removal recommendations from the 2022. I got what removals and what pruning you had done and I highlighted all those so you know what has been done since 2022
and obviously what still needs to be done which is closing >> right and that's I I think the new plan gives us an opportunity to target what we want it to look like over the next 5 years and then actually hold ourselves accountable yearbyear to make sure that we achieve that like that's not what's
happening right you know, but that's that's makes me excited is to actually have something where and again the connection with the town super important. Like it helps for input in terms of annual budgeting like what do we expect to get from the grants? what is what are we expecting to provide from
a a township perspective? All that's been ad hoc and finally having a plan um that we're working on together will give us an opportunity to really change and accelerate I think how we actually manage the canopy of Belmont. Can you also factor in um anything you do
partner with utility companies because they come in and you know just do a whole street and do you factor any of that in or can is there a way that you can offset some budget of of having to prune the trees when they're coming anyway and doing it? >> Yes. Um
there's JCPNL has a var and um if there's a resident that calls and says that he or she has a hazard tree from their house and u and it looks like it's it's not a hazard tree it's at increased risk
increased risk for failure JCP now could come out and take a look at that tree if it looks like they're going to have a service interruption as a result of that tree before their cycle pruding. They will come in and prove it. They may only take it down below the wires, but they will do that. So,
there's a way for the town to work with JCP now, and it'll be in the plan because I'll have the forester's name on it, who the contact person is. And to give you an example, when I did Freehold's second inventory in 2017 on
Center Street, there was 45 big ash, 30 35 inches in diameter, and they were all falling apart. And um and so I I spoke to the business administrator and I said, "Joe, hope you're sitting down, but I got to tell you, this is what you got here." And he was like, "It's going
to cost $100,000 to do this work." I said, "Call JCPL." JCPL, he called them. Fortunately, they had allocated money for ash. And they came in and they struck a deal with the burrow. They took
the trees down below their wires and the burrow took the stumps and got rid of and the sticks that were left. So, that saved them a ton of money. But that's how they implemented it. it was located, you know, it was noted on the plan that
these trees need to come down. So, that was one of the first things they did. >> Well, like in our street, they came and I'm sure they did another two that they just made a determination like one of us called and they just came in one day and just >> I think it's you're on a four-year cycle. I think
>> they did the whole town last year. They started in January and they went through and we had a conference call with them, but they they were very clear. We're only >> Yeah. >> cutting Yeah. break through >> for the wires and everything. That's why you've got trees that are growing like this.
So, I have a couple of points, judge. The one of the things that I was walking down Main Street that you guys should take credit for Main Street looks a lot better with the trees have been planted. George, what do you think, Jim? Over the last what, 10 years that we've been planting trees along there. if you start I mean I didn't think it was going to
happen but I actually noticed it today and that making people be aware of that type of thing and the impact it's going to start to have you know comparing it to that that's that's a really good thing. The second one is uh coordinating with us on the environmental commission a million dollars. Uh part of that is
going to go building shorelines and plantings around the lake that should be coordinated as we've talked before Jim very closely you also have a future project where we want to work on mccclary park and this is you know Jim and I have talked about that before about the challenges and what the work that was done in mccclary park before
and what needs to be done. So when you know there's aspects of the the green what we call the green spaces of our town or the jewels of our town. How can we work together with the environmental commission which is heavily focused in those with you guys and if we can take on if we get money in the funding for
those type of places and you guys can get the funding you know for the street trees you know that have an impact on the residents and reduce their reduce the impact on them. This is something that we could probably do for >> if if we have if we have aligned objectives makes a lot easier. So as as
we pull together the updated plan what I'll do is I'll circulate for peer review a draft to the environmental commission >> and then and then you'll see you know kind of what our draft objectives are. You can say hey we have a similar one let's use common wording that'll help
for grant applications. It'll help for conversations with the town government too in terms of funding. So that's a good idea. Yeah. >> Yeah. And we can build on the successes. Correct. >> You know, you have the great success in Main Street. You get success of building things around the lake with that and build on. I think it's a I think your plan is going to
>> Yeah. >> I I'm looking forward to presenting that at >> meetings. Me, too. >> I have a question. >> So, I live on River Road um 35 and there's a lot of dead trees on um in
front of the Shark River, >> right? Closest. >> Sorry. on a west west >> like our you know I'm we're we're kind of interested in beautifying our area too. I mean as homeowners we have beautified it but we have to look at
those dead branches and the weeds and and I've said it before that's the entrance to and it doesn't look like a good entrance. >> It's always been this well I want to pay attention. Is it town property or is it >> Well, no it's town property. It's
definitely we know >> all that land has been deed to the town >> 10 years ago by the state. I mean I've gone round and round with DPW >> various administrations but I got I have all the um
>> all the paperwork to prove that that's our >> Can you share that with me? >> Yeahies of it. >> We have um one of our neighbors. We we have a very tight community on road. Believe it or not, we love this town and we feel like we're part of it and we want to be part of it, but we want to be
as beautiful as the rest of Delmare. And one of a car ran into her house >> right under the road. And that's not like that's not the only thing that's happened. I don't want to bore you guys, but it's constant. And and I don't think, you know, I think I wish at least
that we could put some uh attention to that area of town and including because that's a beautiful park and it's to me it's neglected as well. >> So we agree? >> No, I think none of us would disagree.
>> It's just being happen and I want to be part of whatever it is. We we you know I've met with various neighbors you know through the years and >> without getting into the politics of it it's fell on death years you know because to be quite frankly to remediate
all that property it's very very expensive >> right but that's the Shark River and if we're an environmental uh state that cares about our environment we should be caring about that in the morning when I see those beautiful birds and and ducks and swans
and all that and I see them in the garbage that goes in there. It's heartbreaking. Like literally heart because it's so beautiful in the screen to see it and then you know what's going into it. So like to me that's important. >> I just say it's the entrance to Belmar.
>> Yeah. And we have an island that's overgrown. Not we have a and I'm sorry I don't want this is the only thing I'm going to say uh we have a welcome to Belmar sign in front of a florist but not in front of where you actually come into Belmore put
>> and I talked to you about that a little bit I I we commission the arts >> the only issue is figuring out where we're allowed to put it and then the size of it. >> Okay, >> which but like steam ahead. Yeah, >> but I'm just saying like I you know
>> No, and I think it's a quite well made and well taken. >> Yeah, but this is you know like you guys are environmental commission so I'm like maybe I to you guys like let's help that sharp river is such a beautiful place and it looks gorgeous but it's it is neglected.
>> I live there. I know. >> I would say point point well taken. Thank you. >> Again, I'll circulate our five-year plan for peer review to the environmental commission. All ideas are Welcome. >> And we have so many people that would help. >> The the other thing is two other things.
One is we've been as part of this talking about surveying opportunities and how do we best get input from uh the people that live in Belmar for the areas that they feel they want to see um beautifification happen? Uh how do we
best do that? You know, is it online through a website? Is it is it doortodoor? Is it at functions etc. But as part of developing a plan, we're also going to be talking about how do we get input from the people that actually live in
Belmar. Uh and then my own kind of personal desire, and we've talked about this as a commission, too, is h how willing are people to chip in from a taxbased perspective? because, you know, just $5 a household or $10 a household
provides a lot more funding to do the kinds of things we're talking about doing. And I feel like if if we partner up from a surveying perspective, talking to our neighbors, building support, that also goes a long way, right? so that we
have uh more capability both from an internal funding perspective and then as we go to the state um for grants, we know exactly which parts of town we're targeting. We know we've gotten feedback from the people that live in the town. We know we've gotten their input on how
much, you know, they feel is a complete no-brainer, like they're not even going to notice it in their in their tax bill. Like there's so much more we could be doing. It's just we haven't had the structure and the plan and the input needed in order to actually execute on it. And this gives us the opportunity to do that.
>> That plan will help in the county of the trees. We need a much more detailed plan for actually clearing park work that we've talked about before which is is a that's almost the same type of effort that we did for the lake >> to have to do something in that area. It's a it's a big job there. Right.
>> It is a big job and that's why I've been staying a little bit quiet. Not because I don't want to do it. I just think it's a matter of timing and under which office it falls. Like if we do a clear subcommittee, is it under environmental commission? Is it under shade tree? Is
it a joint subcommittee? Who's on it? How many residents? Um, everyone is very at capacity right now with Silver Lake potentially, you know, but but that's moving along quickly enough that we could potentially pivot once we get through this summer and we know where we are professionally
with the implementation of that plan. Um, I hear your passion and I see it all the time. If that's something that maybe I don't know what Gary's capacity is, if you want to take a first step, >> you know, you know, I've wanted to do this for a while just waiting for someone to ask me. Why don't you take a first stab at a proposal?
>> All right. >> What the what the subcommittee would look like, where it would fall, all of those things. >> Great. >> We're doing a thing. >> Great. I don't know what I'm doing, but >> that's right. >> I don't know what I was I didn't know what I was doing. I figured out right
there. >> You too. You're in >> I think you have I think I think the traditional term is volunt. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions for Bill? >> You know that we've talked about
partnerships and this is exact I don't know whose idea was to get the two together. Environmental commission commission was an outstanding uh decision to make and something's coming out of that. This is exactly what these plans are trying to make happen.
Get that information from the residents, other people that are affected, environmental commission, sh commission. It's a good job. >> One of the things I'd also love to talk to you guys about, and this might not, but there is a green carbon. Have you seen this?
>> A what? >> A green carbon grant that the state does. It can be pretty large. Um, and I I think it's something it may take some time to put together. I think we might have to partner with Montlair State or somebody else to do it, but um looking
at past recipients there, it is often awarded to towns specifically who want to expand their shape their shape funding. Um, and I think not only should we be thinking very strategically about when we apply and how, not if, but also
whether or not we would partner with like a combo to make that application work for you or not. >> And who would apply for that, Keith? Like how >> the bur the bur >> like through millennial strategies or like how would we >> It depends. It just depends. We'd have
to take a look at it. I think when we were looking at it for a blue carbon grant, they had blue carbon and green carbon. We were working with Millennium and Montair and it kind of died out just because of I think it quite the timing uh wasn't quite right for us
basically, >> you know, uh but the green carbon one was a much more obvious fit I think when we're talking about it. So um but like I said I I think it was something where the shade tree working on it with they
call it wasn't fledged shade tree they just made it. Um but then with a partner university and um all together probably the strongest way to go forward with it. >> My question and we discussed this at one
of our meetings. We need a new list of recommended trees. Um, and I know that you work with numerous communities along the shore and it's a unique place to be. Um, if we
want diversity, we're going to need we need some suggestions. Sure. Basically, >> we just sent his our preferred tree list and review it back. >> Right. And we want, you know, because we want the preferred tree list to be as big as possible. Well, and I it'll be
advised by the inventories, right? So, based on the 10 2030 plan, we'll see what our current inventory is. >> There may be trees that grow well here, but we should also know what we have already from a 10 2030 perspective. We not we may not want to put it on the
list because we may say we've got enough of those already. I mean, reality is with Main Street, we struggle because when you start taking into effect, you need you have gas lines, you have overhead wire, there's only a couple different species that we could pick from to put on Main Street and we're kind of tapped out there.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. If you could because we use Bern he's terrific. >> I know. But if you could look at their inventory and suggest because we want to put some more on Main Street, >> that would be We did some red buds.
>> Um I know a rep recommending red blood service, >> but even something like that might go on river. Are >> we maybe I don't know. >> Are we limited to what they offer twice a year or do they have because they have a whole nursery? Could we go to them and
say we want an XYZ tree? >> We've done that. >> Yes. Um we can. It depends on their picking schedule and how big they are. And >> I think it's what we offer in our your program, >> right? >> Based on what they have, but if if a if
someone says we'd like this type of tree, if it's on our preferred list and they provide >> people, we don't have necessarily cherries because we have an abundance of cherries, >> but people want cherries. So, I called I said, "Can we get cherries?" Yes, we'll
get cherries. I'll send you take a look at it at least in the interum. >> Bill, when's the inventory do roughly? When are we targeted to have that? >> Uh, it'll be done >> done for like initial review for us. >> It'll be done before the end of the summer.
>> Okay. >> And we'll have the plan done before the end of the year. >> Right. >> That's a timeline. >> Okay. >> I had a question. >> You know, one thing about cherries, and I love cherries, too. Um, they have disease problems. had a lot of dye back on a lot.
>> Yeah. Uh you have brown rot in town, too. You see, I'm sure you've seen the the cherries with the brown leaves just kind of fall off. Um it seems like it's hit the shore a lot and pretty bad lasting two years. The other thing with cherries, if you want to plant them,
when they they flower early, when they flower, you can't take them back. Once they flower, they're done. So they have a very very narrow and because they're cherries they can't be together. So that's one of the things you need to consider. Yeah,
>> I have a question about um and I'm fairly new to shade tree so this may be simplistic question but when you're developing the preferred tree lists and all what if any consideration is given to this big the large movement now towards
native plants but towards native trees to be kind of um prioritized for >> that's why that's a huge part of >> from my own perspective That's what the list is about. >> Yeah, we do use >> that's like the main
>> Yeah. >> Okay. >> About two years ago, we we did a we did a study and we had a member who was amazing tree trees, John, and he came up with that list >> included
soft tolerant trees, native trees, the trees that are preferred under wires or overwires depending on the height. I think we should look at updating it. >> Sure. >> Is it on your website? >> It is. >> Take a look at it.
>> And then I would just as Billy wraps up, Bill's only been working with us for now the second year. So I we we added that to our budget last year and it's super helpful to have someone that can answer our questions. Uh he's partnering with
our grant writers on the submissions. U continue education program. So, just a plug for Bill uh and continued funding for Bill because I think it's whether it's whether it's whether it's Bill or anybody else, I think >> agree with that >> because I know Bill's going to look to
retire, but I I think it's, you know, in connection with the plan, if we're going to be serious about how we're going to maintain our canopy, it only makes sense to have somebody on retainer that can help us provide advice. he's been super helpful connecting into the state
agencies rather than us doing it uh you know directly on our uh on our own. So happy to have you around and and look forward to continue partnership. >> I like pleasure working. >> Thank you. Thank you.
>> Yeah, I guess we should motion to >> public comment or anything. >> Public comment. Oh, I I I'm sorry. I did not I already environmental commission. >> There's two commissions. >> Okay. Yeah. I I just want to be part of
anything that's going on that makes more beautiful. I'm in. So, >> guys, guys, we still have public comment. Yes, Kaitlyn. Thank you. >> Maybe everyone doesn't know me and you don't know how to access my videos. This
video is available. So, see me before you leave. And you are. >> My name is Sandy Caputo. I publish a local blog, but this is going to be on a local Facebook group. It'll be on YouTube. >> Okay. All right.
>> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for doing >> you know all the things I just found your