Testing. Please, where's my In accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act of 1975, adequate notice of this meeting has been provided and advertised. Would everyone please rise
for the pledge of allegiance? I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. I don't have my gavvel this time.
Gavl. Karen didn't bring it. All right, Carol, would you take roll call, please? Sure. Uh Jay, is he excused? Excused. Uh Shane here.
Um George A here. Carol, Carol Sick here. Barbara here. George W here. Joelle here. Jim here. Tracy here.
Frank here. And I see Ron here. Okay, next is the approval of minutes. I'm sure we most of us have reviewed them. We'll take an extra minute to go over and look for any changes that need
to be made. All right. I'd like to make a motion to approve the minutes unless there are corrections that anyone has. I second. Okay. I make the motion. I'll second. Okay.
Okay. George A. Yes. Uh Carol Sick. Yes. Carol York. Yes. Barb. I'm sorry. Barbara, you're approving the minutes. Approving the minutes. Oh, I was not here.
Oh, she was not here. Okay. Oh, she wasn't here. That's not That's an abstension. Yeah. Yep. Got it. George W. Yes. Joel, yes. Jim, yes. And Tracy was not here. Right.
Okay. Another call. Okay. City manager is not here. So, we will go on to um guests and members of the public. Um let's see.
We can I'll try to go in order. We have this is for appeals. Uh Robert Drake of 17 Broadway. Would you please come up and turn the microphones on? State your names. Yes. Hi. Mary Beth Drake and my husband Robert Drake.
Okay. And you're here to appeal the decision on the the Holly tree in your garden. We are. Yes. Okay. That's my district. I looked at that tree. I mean, we we go by the health and sturdiness of a tree and the the tree does not appear
to be in any sort of decline whatsoever. It's a nice single trunky tree and uh very healthy. Yeah. Yeah. And we we appreciated and recognized your your appeal. Um what happened since then or during the appeal process is we are we're in the process
of moving down full-time. So we were doing construction. We have fenced in the yard for safety of our pets. And in the course of this process, our dogs, our dog, we unfortunately just put one down, but our dog was let loose in the
yard and ate one of the holly tree leaves and proceeded to get violently ill. So with the vet and the ASPA ASPCA, I was informed that holly tree leaves are toxic for pets. So that was the I then sent a another email just and that's why I said I would
like to follow up and they said to please come here in person, but at this point the the data point of of the appeal is different than the original request and that's that my dog needs to stay safe. So we we fenced in the yard. it. She She neither of our dogs had been out there because it was
an open space before and we have since then fenced it in to make it safe for her because we are now going to be living. I'm surprised she I'm not questioning that she ate this that leaf, but they're so pinchy. I mean, this dog will eat any. It's a Labrador. I don't know if anybody has a Labrador, but I have to stop it from eating deer
droppings, rabbit droppings, sticks full. Like, she will chew an entire stick to its end. Like, labs are just very mouth fetish. Mhm. dogs. Unfortunately, she only ate two because I did call the vet. She had vomited a couple times. Diarrhea, I won't get into
the detail, but the diarrhea was for a number of days. The vomiting, they said if it subsided 24 hours, you don't have to take it to urgent care. So, fortunately, she was not that poisoned that I had to have her stomach pumped. But, but since then, we just have not allowed to let her out, which you can imagine being there. And then being in the yard
and her just barking at my backyard, my back door. She can't be allowed in her own yard is Mhm. has been a little heartbreaking. Did I I'm sorry. Did you say you're going to be doing construction? We are doing construction. We just built a garage which has now narrowed our uh
our our our yard space, our open space for the dog. But that's where the holly tree is. Um and we actually we just got approved also to do some inter internal interior renovation. A quick question. Sure, please. with your lab. Do you know if she's eating
the uh is she eating the berries coming off of the holly? To our knowledge, there are no berries. Yeah, it's the leaves. There are no berries. The leaves to my understanding. Yeah, the the berries actually can poison them immediately. The to the the leaves are more toxic. I only asked that question because if
she was eating the berries, there might be a pl way to be able to like Yeah. put a net or something. I don't know. There we we've never seen berry dropping. Almost impossible. Not to my knowledge. It was only leaves. You guys have a picture of this tree? I do. Yeah.
It's 17 South Broadway. It's right right on the main road. Thank you. Um I'm learning more about trees during this construction than I ever knew. He knows a lot I don't. So So thank you if nothing else for the education. Sure.
So this tree and there's a structure next to it. It's now there's now a garage next to it. Yeah. Which didn't ex didn't exist several months ago. We just built it. So if you would put a fence, you could fence there. Did you ever think of of putting a small
fence? We've already put the fence up. The fence is around the tree. Around the tree. It's not going to stop the leaves from dropping. And and I it's not not as much to stop the leaves from dropping, but where where the canopy, if you could perhaps consider putting a
fence around the perimeter of the canopy, the leaves would drop within the fenced area and the dog couldn't eat the leaves where the branches the leaves everywhere. Yeah, those leaves the leaves go everywhere. I mean, I it's in my driveway. It's everywhere. I just blow and clean up now more
diligently. We're we're on we're on Broadway. We're at beach. So if if there's even a hint of a storm, the wind blows like it leaves are everywhere. So yeah, I don't know how I would prevent the leaves from dropping into that small area of our yard.
I left the back two panels off the fence intentionally because the tree is in play and until Dennisville can come back and finish my fence. Yeah, those panels are open. So, you mean the tree is in the way of the fence? No, it's just right on the edge. We're
just waiting until maybe two, three, I'm going to say Well, the fence is set back on the property line. The tree is probably about 2 and 1/2 ft. Four feet. Yeah. Right there to the right of it.
Yeah, I I'm familiar with this. I know. I have that picture. Here's a picture with the fence. It's Oh, they have a picture, doesn't it? Oh, with the fence. Sorry. Okay. Yeah. So
this is your yard here, correct? Mhm. And where is the tree then? Is the tree on the property line too? The tree it's very close to it. Yeah, very close. So we the fence is yet to be finished.
If you see this, the tree looks How far onto your property line is that fence? I'm asking because we've run into a couple situations where we've had people come in and they want to take a tree down and then we find out that the tree is on the property line. So, you have to have consent. The tree is not on the propert.
The fence is on the property line. We're Yeah. With the zone. It's right on the Yeah. With the zoning permit. The correct permit. Can you can some other members see that? I'm maybe I'm misunderstanding that photo, but it looks like it's on the other side of the On the other side of the fence. This is my line. The fence is the line
and the tree is No, I'm saying the tree is to the right of the of the fence, which is our property, but the lawn is off to the left of the fence. Is that your lawn? That's No, no, that's the other property. Yeah. No, the fence to the right of the fence where the tree is is our property. The
other is the other neighbor's property on that side. You'll see the post in the very back. Yeah, it's it's definitely on our property. The rest of the fence. Okay. So, that's the property line. Okay. Oh, I see right there. Correct. Okay. That rest of that fence is not installed
yet. Okay. Thank you. That post is there. That's the finished. Okay. Okay. Yeah. The tree is clearly on our property. It's not that it's on the line because we put the fence on the property
line. So, there's no question as to the with the right permits. Well, that's correct. Well, does anybody else have any comments on this situation to say? I mean, we're willing to put two flowering
two others. We have which will be more native trees. Well, the dogwoods aren't going to do that well if you're that close to the ocean. That's the problem. We're willing to take recommendations, but we can't have a tree with toxic leaves. That's that's our issue. So, I mean, if you wanted if you have any other I you know, it's unfortunate, but a lot
of trees have toxic elements to them. If it's not the fruit that's toxic, it's the leaves. If it's not the leaves, it's the bark. And um yeah, that's just the nature of trees. So, I'm um you know, I I would not like to see a healthy tree
taken down, but I will put this up for a vote. Once again, I'll make a motion to approve the removal of this holly tree at 17 South Broadway with the condition of replacement of two trees. Yep. At the recommendation of the shade
commission on our approved list. Do I have a second? I'll second it. Sure. So, a yes vote. A yes vote means the tree comes down. A no vote means the tree remains. This is the last opportunity for discussion. Any other comments?
questions. Carol, would you do a roll call, please? George A. No. What was that? No. No. Uh, Carol Sick. No. Carol, no. George W. No. Joelle,
no. Jim, no. Uh, Tracy, no. Tree stays. Okay. Well, we will be back with other resources including the ASPCA. Oh, Barbara. I guess have to go with no with everybody else. I'm sorry.
Yeah, this this cannot you cannot you cannot put a family member of mine at home. I'd like to add before you do this, I would add another comment though. Is there any way at all possible when you're letting the lab outside that you
could put something over her mouth? No, absolutely not. She's a family member. She is a pet. She and we're living there. Noution. Listen, I I appreciate all your comments and your love of trees. My animal is more important than your tree. I love very much. And we will be back with the ASPCA and
other resources, and we will have it. And I will be coming after the city, not just the shade tree. Thank you for coming. No. Well, thank you, but I'm very sorry. No. Well, listen, it's a waste of my time, but we'll be back with the resources and money, and that tree will come down.
Bad about it. Okay, next appeal. Um, Elizabeth Bree. Could you state your name for the rest of the members who have not met you yet? Uh, Elizabeth Bree and your address, please. 11:35 Washington Street, Kate May. Okay. New
Jersey. Would you like to explain a little bit why you're here? Yes. Um, I've had my house I think it's since 2014 and there's a tree that is blocking a quarter of my driveway. So, basically,
um, there's my driveway, my neighbor's driveway, my neighbor's house, and then my house. And our driveways are very narrow and about a quarter of my driveway is blocked by roots, the curb,
and the tree. And since I've been there, the tree has gotten a little bigger. Um, but the house next to me was was I don't know if it was owned, but there's four siblings that are older that uh are
taking care of the house. But now that the older um owners have slowly passed away, I think there's only two siblings left instead of four. Um the grandchildren and the children are staying at the house more. So they're
parking in the driveway next to me. And so when they're parked in my driveway, I have to go diagonal to get past my um the tree behind me. So when I go diagonal, I can hit one of their cars. I
can't get out or I could hit my house or I could hit the tree. And actually a couple weeks ago, my niece was coming to visit and she almost hit the tree twice because it does take up a quarter of my driveway. And how the driveways come
together, you I have to go into my neighbor's driveway to back up. Um, and I'm in the same situation as the people that were just here. I want to move here full-time. And last summer was the first summer I worked here and I ran into the
issue of not being able to get out of my driveway. Um, I worked at the florist here for the summer, but I'm also a part-time nurse. And when I do nursing, I don't want to be trying to get out of my driveway, calling cops to try to get
out of my driveway. Um because there's so many different relatives staying at the house, they aren't always there so that they could pull up their car. Sometimes they're at the beach or they're out. Um I have talked to my neighbors. I have asked them to pull up their car and if they're there, they'll
pull up their car so I can get out. But if they're not there, I'm stuck. And as a nurse, um I need to get to my work. Um, and uh, I really like the shade. I'm a red
head. I burn. So, I like the tree. I like the shade. I've been there for a while. It's a beautiful tree, but it's blocking access to my house now that my neighbors are there more. The tree has gotten bigger. Um, also in front of my house, they took
away my parking in front of my house when they put lines in the street. Uh they have it's a no parking zone in front of my house now because there's cake street and cake street you have to make a turn and the trucks can't get in with the trash. I know
if you know if they would make Cake Street a right turn only. No, we could save the tree this one. I know. But I mean we'd have an extra parking space and we wouldn't have to lose the tree. Yeah. So I lost parking because they put lines and there weren't lines there
before. And then my neighbor next to me shares a driveway and they were having an issue with sharing the driveway. So they put in permanent uh permit parking there and then permit parking for the next neighbor. And then on the other side it's a fire hydrant and I've had a
sick dog also with CHF. I have a Cavalere and I just had a knee knee surgery and I'm going to have another knee surgery. So I really don't want to be parking like three or four spots down the street trying to get in and out of my house. But my main thing is if there's an emergency and I can't get out
of my driveway or if I'm late for work or I can't get to work. Um, what would you like to do, miss? I would like to remove the tree. If you unless you have any other solution because I am no no trimming here.
You want to see a picture? I know Joelle saw the um you went to visit the tree. Yeah. So, there were two things that they requested. First it was remove the tree and or also remove around the branches were around the the roof of
the house and of course that was that was that was a bother and so I approved the removal of some the branches but the removal of the trunk of the tree itself um I did exercise it's probably best if they exercise caution
because it it doesn't seem like the appropriate reason to remove the tree completely and if I can't get out of my driveway or get access to my property. Beth, I think Oh, wait. Um, I live on Cape Street.
Everybody up and down that Washington Street there's the same situation. All those big trees Yeah. are near every driveway. I don't Well, I think they were probably planted before there were driveways. But I I'm I'm just going to comment because I did visit uh with Beth the other day and uh
took a look at this tree and it's a beautiful tree. There may be a possibility of shaving down the roots and um I know at just one portion of it to try to save it. My question though after I left there, I began to think about the situation with your neighbors
parking. Are they allowed to park that many cars in that driveway? because stacked parking is not something that's typically goes three and four cars deep. So I think what we're what I would suggest we do as a commission is I actually went there pulled in the
driveway backed out and you definitely have to go over if and I came out straight but you're going to go over those tree trunk the roots and the trunk has a bump a burl on it. Yes. And that comes a little close to the car. So you really have to be careful. So, I understand all
that, but what I think we should do whenever it comes to a street tree, and I think I explained this to you, we ask all commission members to take a look at it and weigh in on it. So, before a removal is ever granted. And in this case, I think we're also going to have
to ask um just who how we would know how many cars are able to be parked there because if there's not that many cars parked there, then it shouldn't be as much of an issue. Do you understand what I'm saying? My my issue was if it was one family,
but because it was four siblings, you're talking grandparents, children, and grandkids of four sets. I understand that. Yeah. So, I have asked them to pull forward and sometimes they pull forward, sometimes they park on the street,
but trying to work there last summer was difficult, especially when I couldn't even get out of my driveway because if they park over too far on their side, then I can't do the diagonal to get out. And if I'm going to be working as a nurse, um, and I have to commute and I'm
waiting to get out of my driveway. Um, one thing though is that if you could shave the roots and there is like where there used to be a branch. So if that could be smoothed if you adjusted the curb. See I I don't that curb isn't right either. The commission doesn't have control of
the curb. No, but if they graded the curb gradually down and gradually down, you wouldn't hit the curb and then hit the roots because you kind of when you pulled in because anybody is welcome to pull in my driveway and back out. Back out is a nightmare. You just pulled in. But if
you back out, it's a nightmare. And even with no one there, um because if you if you misjudge the diagonal, you still kind of can shave your car and damage your car. Um but you're welcome to to try that. But if we shaved it and adjust the curb, it
might be a little less damage to people's cars when they're trying to pack for me now to make a statement about that. Yeah. dealing with Ron because Ron it's a street tree and we you and I in the past have had a situation of a similar type of thing how you know how to take a
root of a tree that's what I was just going to suggest that would be my suggestion to have come up with a solution that he might be able to help that without having to remove the tree yeah because if we adjusted the curve
and the roots in the side a little bit because it's we're only so I mean It blocks a quarter of my driveway. If I shimmy over to the side of my driveway, it's just a little bit that shears off on the side. So, I just have to turn into my neighbor's driveway a little bit. But I just can't live like that all the
time every day. It's nerve-wracking to run to take a look at that because he does know how to shave roots and so forth and make it more right. Well, I might help before we make a decision. Um, Beth, I have I have another
suggestion, but this involves a little money. There's people near you who have paid to have their own spot out on Washington Street. And I don't know how much that is, but they park their car out on Washington Street. They have a designated spot. Well, that's what I was saying. My two
neighbors next to me each have a designated spot. and I can't park in front of my house and then there's a hydrant. But I'm having knee surgery and I just had knee surgery and I have two dogs and trying to park all the way down the street like you know couple spots away and you're bringing your dogs up
and you just had knee surgery. I don't know if there was a closer. No, because there's no parking in front of my house. There's a fire hydrant here so I can't park there. And then there's two permit parkings for my neighbors so I can't park there. So, we're getting further and further away from my front
door and after having knee surgery and having I have two dogs. I have a Shih Tzu and a Cavalere and trying to get up the steps and everything with my knee and back. It's It's a lot. If you get a uh a temporary handicap uh placard, the city will give you a temporary handicap parking spot in front
of your house. Even though it's But I there's lines there. There's no parking. Oh, there's no parking. Yeah, that's Beth. When were those lines put in? The lines were just put there recently that I can't mark there. Been there. The lines always been there. And no, no, it's new. And no, there's not. You go back and
Google and everything like that. They always been there. I've been there for 15 years. They've been there. And number two, the sidewalk. We're not going to change the curbing on the sidewalk. That sidewalk's been that way for years. If we're at the reconstruction that old road and the road just got reconstruction and if there's a hydrant there, they're not going to park in front of hydrant. You
can go upstairs to Aaron's office, the clerk's office. They do on street parking permits so they can get you close. They might not get you right in your house because your neighbors already have it, but it might be the house next to it or the house up front of so forth down that way. Well, I've been there nine years and I never noticed the lines in front of my
house until I repainted that. You said you used to park there, didn't you? I did. I used to park there. Right across the street there where the building is there. There's always been lines there. Right in front of her house. No, in front of my house. They just in front of your house. I thought you said I thought it was No, in front of the house they just painted the lines there. And up until
recently, I parked in front of my house. Can they get rid of the line? Can they get I don't know, Shane. They might You might be able to lines see the lines here. Where? On the other side where the hydrant is located. You said
See, there are no lines on this picture. Right now, there's lines right here. Where people have signs are allowed to park at certain places. How about on the other side of the hydrant going down cake street? So, she can't park. That's a driveway. on the photo here, there are no lines in front of your house on the Google Maps,
right? There's no lines. They just put them in. And that's been an issue because my neighbors just in the past couple years, my neighbors both got permits, right, for their parking. There was no lines in front of my house. So, I was able to park in front of my house and then there's a fire hydrant and then there's
another driveway and then there's another house. They were getting further and further away from my front door. How much farther would it be though next to the where the driveway is located on that other side to get a per get a view whatever they call well I can't park in front of my house
and two spots so I'm four four spots down on the one side and then there's a driveway a house a driveway and then another I I recommend I'm going to recommend for that right there you can actually set up an appointment with the city manager to
ask what why lines were there and they'll he'll have the answer Because of cake street, they told me this because the cake street then that's the reason why cake street cuz cake street they put the lines in front of my house so you can turn onto cake street cuz if there's a moving
a moving truck a trash truck they don't want to hit the car to make a turn into street. That's New Jersey statute code. That's the reason why that's by code by saying New Jersey. But what if we made that but then I can't park close to my front door and I'm having knee surgery. But the
construction I mean why not require any construction trucks right turn only on to cake street. Would you like to come drive right truck and make a rightand turn last street for me please? What's that? Because you can't. Well, how did they do it all those years without that being blocked off and then parking? They've always done it that way. They've
always But how did they make the turn a lefthand turn if there was a car parked there? City manager is not going to make that right hand turn only. How how uh because we don't see the lines. How much in front of the house is the line? Are the lines completely?
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. What happened was it looked like you could park three cars there and then um they put the lines right in the middle so you don't have enough space to park on either end of the lines. Does that make sense?
Oh, it makes sense cuz I saw it. Yeah, it does. I'm not sure why the lines are there now. If they were making the left hand or right hand turned all those years without the lines, why do they have to have the lines? Yeah. I don't know why they took away the parking now. And obviously you were when I had my knee surgery, right? Perfect timing.
And I mean, you were they were able to make the turns with the lines with your car possibly parked there. Oh, they have. I've seen trucks and trucks back in properties that way and so forth. And that's why they came out with that that I've seen trucks make that turn with cars parked. I've pickup trucks in front like I don't have a pickup truck, but my
neighbor across the street used to park in a pickup truck and I've seen trucks make turns with the pickup truck there. You just have to be really careful. Yeah. And then when you're driving a 30 ton trash truck back in that street there and try to make a turn even tighter and you hit your property, what happens then? That's why they put the lines there for safety reasons.
Yeah. Well, also that tree, it blocks traffic. So, I mean, I have the street across across from me, Cake Street, but when I'm backing out, not only do I have to watch that I'm not hitting the tree or the roots, I have to watch that I'm not hit from behind because the tree is
blocking my vision. So it's I well as I said I'm on Cape Street and when I come out to make a right that tree is there but of course I accommodate myself and make sure I pull out a little and make sure no traffic is coming either way. I mean that street Washington street cake all of that end
of town was not built originally for what's going on construction more people people staying here full-time so now they want all of this done but I I wish there was something we could do without removing a tree. Yeah, it's it makes it hard to to live there with the tree the
way it is. And I've I was here before CO. The house was really run down. I put on cedar roof, cedar siding. I tried I made a lot of friends. I tried to do what the community asked me. They were really happy. I did handsplit cedar. It was like over $70,000.
Um I've been trying trying to be a good community member of Kate May. I would like to live there. Um, but it's just this tree is interfering with me uh being able to get to work and get out in an emergency. And uh I would
like to be able to live there and have peace of mind that I can get to work and if there's an emergency, I could get out of my driveway. If my dog's sick, I have to take it to the vet. Or my mom has endstage cancer. If I have surgery, I don't want to be worrying about hitting a tree. If you if the lines were not
there, could you then park? I mean, that would be that would make my life a lot easier if I could park right in front of my house and then I could go right up the steps with my dogs and if I have knee surgery, I could go right up. We can do anything about this thing. But we can look into it. That that that's what I did before, but
now that I can't park there. Well, I'll tell you what I think we're going to need to do. First of all, like I said, it's a street tree, so we like all commission members to weigh in on it. And I would suggest you actually go there and pull into and out of that driveway. Yeah, it is a little it can be a little tricky. I mean, I did
it, but and then I I was perfectly fine and the next day I hit the parking things in the in a parking lot where they put the carts. But anyway, um the but it's I think you know you're willing to work with us to a point to maintain
that tree because we try to preserve the trees and you've also suggested if the if the you know the roots were shaved a little bit I don't know whether or not that's going to do a lot of damage to the tree but we're going to have to try to look into a couple different venues to preserve that tree as much as we can.
So, we'll take a look at it, everyone. And I think, you know, we'll have to weigh in after that and we pursue a couple other venues, including how many cars are legally allowed to park in in the other parking space because sometimes people park on lawns and everything else, you know, that they're not really supposed to be doing.
See, the one thing though about that is I try to be good neighbors with my neighbors and we got along pretty well. Um, also because it's so tight between, sometimes they stagger, so you can open up your door and you're not whacking their car with their door or my house.
So, yeah. Um, that's another thing. Even if it's two cars and they stagger them and I'm in the middle of their two cars, if I have one car in the middle and they're on the two ends, then I can't get out. So, even if you restrict it to two cars, I might have the same issue.
Yeah. Is this is this as easy We cut everything out of opening up the space in front of our home. That's a that's a lot easier. What do you mean get rid of the lines? Right. Get rid of the lines and
we ask the city manager. I think we're going to have to absolutely. I think that's what I think we should we should table this for the next meeting if you can come to the next meeting. If you not here, we can still vote on it, but um I think we should ask the city manager. We can do something about that. Get rid of the lines. Yeah.
Ask the city manager if we can remove. I agree. Right. We remove the lines and maybe adjust the curb because I think you hit the curb then you hit the root. The curb is raised. Yeah. Going back to that curb there. That's actually not even part of the ordinance for a driveway cut there. So legally
it's not even a driveway per the ordinance. It's supposed to be 16 foot. That'sing driveways. So well no I'm just saying no. I mean we're going to be opening up another can here. So, just letting you know that, Neil. So, we'll we'll reconvene on this matter
next month after the rest of the commission members take a look at it. Okay. All right. So, you're going to take away my driveway and my parking spot? No. No. Thank you. Okay. Thanks for your time. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you for your time information. I think that gives us a lot
to think about. Yeah. because I I like the tree and I understand where you're coming from, but I also would like to live here. I say to myself that that tree also could even be a hazard. When you describe going around the cake street with the where the tree is, I mean, who
knows? Eventually, somebody could hit that tree. I mean, if it's like in the in the way of the of your getting out and so forth and the trucks coming around, we never know. Yeah. Well, that that was my only question is if people hit the tree coming in and out of my driveway,
but it could even be possibly be a hazard. That's just my opinion. Your conversation of everything that's going on in your area. You got a lot to deal with. Thank you. I know. Um, when will I know when the next meeting is? It's at It's the second Tuesday of every
month. Second Tuesday of every month. Okay. And around the same time. Yeah. So, it's uh the 10th. Okay. Okay. September 10th. Okay. Yeah. If I got their parking spot out front, that would help a lot. Okay. All right. Thank you for your time. We appreciate it. We have other uh community members here.
Would you like to come next? Yeah. I'm Glenn Madden. Uh 603 Columbia Avenue. Nice to meet you, ladies and gentlemen. Um I spoke with William Miller on the phone a couple times. Is he here or he's not here in attendance, unfortunately. I was hoping he was going to be here.
Um, I'm the one that uh I took the tree down. Uh, are you guys familiar with my situation? Okay, then. Um, I'm sorry. Okay. I'm hard of hearing. So, uh, I was shocked to find I'm getting almost $10,000 fine for uh taking down a tree
that's literally been dead for a long time. Um, I live in Florida. I I do uh industrial water treatment and design and engineering. I I literally flew back uh this morning and drove down here just to see if I can resolve this. say it was the trouble of going to court. Um, I
gave Bill uh uh about a dozen pictures which apparently he had printed out and you guys reviewed. But those pictures um unfortunately looking at a printed out picture, you can't see what I can see if if I zoom in on a phone or I was even
hoping if uh I have a USB with the pictures, if I could put them on the TV or if I can mirror image to the TV. If you guys saw some I have the I have the photos here, but I think I'm the only one that has them. The the the photos aren't going to help you. If uh you saw one or two of these
pictures zoomed in, you'll realize that this tree is the photos. Yeah. Did all of you see these photos? I mean, I guess she emailed them. Do you have any idea, Connie, if Bill's available? because we I wasn't aware that that there was going to be an appeal on
anything with this decision. So, that was his Well, I'll just give you the quick gesture and we'll figure out how to Okay. I don't I don't know if this the commission has any authority to change the city code.
Yeah. We're an advisory board more than anything. I think this is out of our hands right now. Well, he I don't think he's even written the uh um the summons. He said, "Uh, let's see what happens with this meeting and then if if if you guys don't
agree, then we'll go to court here. We'll give me the summons. We'll go to court next, you know, whenever the next court date." The the only people that the only person that's above us is a city manager. I I I would suggest going to him and appealing with him uh the decision.
um because he's he's the only he's the executive authority of the city and only he can he's going to make the ultimate decision anyway. So So is it that fact that um I'm asking to reverse your decision from the last meeting. Is that why um we're already
Well, because that decision was already made and code enforcement was informed and you already sent the letter. So that Yeah, I'm in Florida. He sent it to New Jersey. I never even got it. Okay. He said he called me he finally tracked me down somehow and called me up. Beware that you got a summon for a tree.
Well, you can see. I don't know if Paul's available. No, Paul. I texted him earlier. I don't think he texted me back. I don't know if the city manager is here yet. Well, in the meantime, can I at least just zoom in on one of these pictures and hand my phone around or because uh this tree was hit by
lightning about 10 years ago. Um I've been trying to save it ever since. It's been dying every year. I got to cut more dead stuff off of it, otherwise it falls on my house and neighbors cars. Um, I even hired a tree surgeon. I'm hoping one of you guys might know him. I don't have the receipt, but his name was
Mitch. Uh, he was a Kate May guy. He was a that's what he did. He came out, tried to cut all the cancer off of it and nobody knows that name. Okay. Um, so I've been trying to preserve it and uh it just get it's gotten worse and for the past several years it's been completely dead. I thought I was going
to get in trouble for not addressing it and I thought I didn't realize it was a trade shade tree commission. I'm surprised that you guys aren't aware of a dead tree right in the heart of Kate May. It's the the most touristy part of Kate May. There's a number of dead trees on Columbia Avenue in private properties.
Yeah. Okay. And bed and breakfast is right there in the middle of the yard. It looks awful. And I keep my my house like a postcard. Um it's the nicest house on the street even though it's the smallest house. It used to be a servant's quarters. So the place I keep immaculate. I know. Uh I I reviewed the
meeting. Bill's Bill gave me the minutes and I watched the meeting and some of you guys thought I was trying to hide evidence by putting a flower pot on there, but if you see my house, you'll realize that it I'm I'm really anal about how the place looks. I would never leave a stump, you know, uh it would
just ruin uh all the mahogany and the beautiful work I have on the house. So, having said that, I was not trying to hide evidence. was not aware that you guys recently changed these codes where you need to get a permit to remove a dead tree. Apparently, I'm the first
person to ever receive this this ridic, you know, this large fine. So, uh I wasn't I wasn't given the opportunity to be here last time. Um I was just hoping we can save ourselves some trouble by not going to court. Um if you looked at a couple of these pictures, I think you
guys would agree that this tree has it literally uh when I cut it down, I cut it down myself. Um, I could scoop um termites and mud out of the middle of the tree. It's been dead for ages and you'll see that in the pictures. Um, so I'm actually surprised that we're at
this point, but um I don't know. So this is the tree, right? That's where the when I cut the uh that well isn't the point that the tree was cut down without a
permit that's the bottom line and it doesn't matter whether it's dead or not right exactly that's I can't imagine 100% dead but I mean it can be appealed to Paul whatever decision we would make
does not sick you're not supposed to cut a tree down on the you guys send out some kind of fly or that's been a long time. Yeah. I mean we're a shade tree city. So 40 years 40 years or you know I know ignorance of
the law no excuse. So no I was not aware I think that's the bottom line we're having a little issue with here that the tree I love I love trees. This house has been my family over 60 years. So you might have known that.
How would I know? I don't live in Florida. Right. So, that's uh that's what I was trying to point out. That shows that this tree was clearly scarred by lightning and rotting out. Our hands are tight. No. Well, that's that's not up there.
Isn't there And it's been like that several years. Also, um, if anybody, uh, would go to Google Maps, you know how we have street view? Mhm. I found two images. One from, uh, 2023,
that's a block, one house away from mine. And you can see the trees completely dead next to the other trees that are still alive. And then if you go down the street right to um right to the tree and you look left on street view, there's a brand new image from 2025,
probably six months ago or so, and it shows the exact same thing. A live tree next to it and no growth, nothing on this tree. So it's on Google Maps. It's stamped forever. Well, at this point, I think it's the only the only recourse is to appeal
through the city manager because we can't reverse that decision and it's still an ordinance. I I mean, that's my take on it, right? We we have no authority over the code and it's now
and that code enforcement office the city manager. I don't know if he wrote the summons yet. I I last time I talked to him about a week or two ago, he said, "Today's a meeting. If you want to come, um I'm going to wait to give the summons depending on the outcome of that." So,
does that make any difference if the summons actually wasn't written yet? I don't know enough about that. I don't like once it's out of our hands, I don't get into that legal procedure with that. So, I I wouldn't I would contact the city manager's office. Should I just wait to go to court
whenever the next court date is? I I don't think they'll they'll take you unless you're on the docket. It's not I don't think it's on a docket yet. William Bill said Well, so then maybe talk to the prosecutor. I I I really don't
I I'll start with the city manager. Um can somebody write his name? Sure. His name's Paul Dietrich. Okay. Borrow a pen. His office is right there if you want to see his secretary. You Oh, maybe on the way out I should go up there. Yeah, I would. It's at the center office at the on the second floor.
Paul Dri. Yep. So, he might have the authority, if I can convince him that this probably isn't reasonable, he might have the authority to throw it out before it goes to court, right? He has he has the final say. Now, if he says no, um, did you say I
can't appeal it in court? Is that Oh, you can appeal it in court. Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. I can only answer a couple things because I have dealt with Paul on certain issues and sometimes you can he's a city manager and sometimes you actually when I've spoken to him about certain things with
my property, he told me to speak with Bill Miller. Okay. The code enforcement man. And he may be the man you may may really need to have a meeting with and speak with. Well, I have spoken with Bill a couple times and he's been great. Um he it sounds like it's out of his hands
though. He when when you guys had your last meeting a month ago, he did present my argument that I just presented. But unfortunately, he didn't if you had saw seen the images up close zoomed in, which is why I asked Bill to do. Um I don't think we'd be here today, but here
we are. If you had came to us about that tree, in my opinion, permit, we would we would we would have asked we would have probably let you take it down, but we would have also had you replace it with two trees, right? Placed with two trees and two trees replace one. Well, what I had
offered to uh Bill when I was in um Florida uh about a month ago, I said, "Look, how would I donate $1,000 to the Sha Tree Commission and you guys can plant, you know, several trees with that money?" And uh it would save me the cost of coming up to New Jersey and the aggravation and just everybody, it seems
like a win-win. And uh apparently he presented that at the last meeting and and you guys I don't remember that being I don't remember. I don't remember that discussion. I don't I don't think that's a bad gesture to the city manager. He seemed to think that was a great idea, but apparently the meeting that he had with you guys didn't No, we I don't remember that.
Maybe he didn't mention it. I watched it. I don't I think I think where we are now is it's it's really it's really not our decision anymore. Okay. Up to the top stairs. Okay. And the city. It's above our pay grade at this point. And then see where it goes. Okay. We'll do. But thank you.
All right. So, uh who's this secretary? Uh right up here. Okay. Never been to this building before. Okay. Yeah, there's a on each side here. All right. Thank you for your time. Thank you. I see a familiar face in the audience.
Would you come forward, please? Well, I uh I'm glad you haven't forgotten me. I was here a few months ago. um mistakenly thinking. Could you just for the record restate your name? Uh Mark Fink. I live at 1309 Maryland
Avenue. I'm actually here speaking on behalf of my neighbor Jason Fonio at 1308 Idaho cuz you know because I can attend the meeting and he's he works. Um, so I'm speaking on behalf of him
because what we found out after the last time I was here, uh, with Jim's help is that it turns out that these trees were not on my property, they were on Jason's property. Um, and, uh, and in fact, they were so
immersed in ivy, we couldn't even tell how many trees there were. So now we've had the tree barber come and remove the ivy. Um I don't know Jim whether you've been out since then. Okay. So um so now we can see there's there's eight trees in a row.
Wow. There are eight dead trees. Um, in fact, you know, and the measurement of those trees, as best I could tell, I don't have like a caliber, but based on my tape measure, um, it it appears that
six of those eight trees are under 4 in, which I understand is the new standard, and then the other two are four and a half to, you know, under five, right? Um and uh I so
I Oh, by the way, I did lay this out. I I don't know whether you have the um that email. Yes, I have the email here. Yeah. So, that kind of I again I I don't want to be too redundant, but we have been uh the location of these trees is
in the is in the back corner of four properties. Pass them down. So if there's no shade coming from these trees, right? Right. They're dead. But even still, they're like they're like wedged in between four sheds.
Um and uh you know what they've been basically is a nuisance. Again, my neighbor Jason, whose property it is, didn't even know they were his because of you know, his feds and what have you. So now that we know that, I mean, again, he he signed the updated
application. Um and uh you know again what we're asking is to remove these trees because they're they're dead as far as and that's the diagnosis from the tree barber. Also it's important that this ivy which is destructive. We need
to do some things to prevent the ivy from reemerging because it's already threatening some very healthy trees of of my other neighbor. Um, and in order to do that, my understanding is the best way to keep that ivy at bay is like
cedar chips or wood chips to uh um to suppress the uh the ivy. But the problem is is that would also we don't want to have the situation where we tried to remediate the ivy and then you know the tree commission looked
at it and said oh well you killed the trees. So, uh, you know, we want just want to make sure before we do anything. Um, and and correct me if I'm wrong, but of the eight trees in scope, assuming my measurements are correct, there's only
two that are in scope for your oversight, right? The other six we could remove without a permit. Technically, if they're subject to two for one. Yeah. Which ones would
the the larger two? Oh, the other two. Yes. Well, you know, Jim, you looked at this site, didn't you? Yeah. I I will tell you this. Um, I had made a recommendation to the commission based on what I saw live and in person
and the photo documentation you provided. Uhhuh. It's a shame that um that Ivy really I mean this Ivy had a life of its own. It's decades. I mean just decades. Uh-huh. It It was like cousin it from the Adams
family. Really? Thank you, J. I'm adding some levity. Um, but the trees are dead and they have no viable use to you, Jason,
or the city of Cape May at this juncture. Again, I made a recommendation and I also considered the recompense. However, given new information about the dimensions of the tree that will likely
change. So, um, but I did make a recommendation. I'll say it right out now. Uh, I recommended that, uh, you have the ability to remove those trees. Now, again, we work as a team, as a unit.
So, I I'm my voice is one of of many. Understood. Okay. I but I but I appreciate that and I also understand that you know I look I I don't know what um uh flexibility there is on that front. These trees are
dead and have been dead for a long time. Frankly, if the requirement is to plant two trees each or for each so four trees, Jason's going to say, you know what, I'll just leave these dead stumps sticking out of the ground and we'll
just leave them there. We'll cut down the other six. We'll leave the other two and they'll just sit there and that's what we'll do. Why Why Mark would you um offer that? Well, I I'm speaking again. I I it's difficult for me to speak on behalf of
Jason, but my understanding is he doesn't have the uh desire aesthetically or otherwise to put four new trees on his property. Has limited space. We all do in this town. and he I
don't believe that he sees that as a worthwhile use of his money and and and uh property. Now, there is another viable option and we're still investigating that before I actually put that out there, but we are
you heard the tree bank um situation. So, that could be a viable option. I would hope that either a two for one tree replacement or the tree bank um
option um over leaving two 5 in dead stumps because that that's just you know that's um you know that's just going like this like a revolution you know. Well, well, well, no. It frankly, it is. I think it also is a matter of,
and again, my recollection, tell me if I'm wrong, but it's $500 per tree. Is that what the fund is that fund? We have you haven't landed on. We have not We have Oh, got it. Okay. I I know there was some discussion, but whatever that number is, I mean, I think is it fair to
say though, and again, I'm I'm speaking on behalf of Jason, and I want to be able to give him an update on where things stand. But is it fair to say that he has, as the homeowner, he has a choice? He can leave those two trees, which are in between three sheds. Nobody
nobody can even see these trees because they're they're shrouded by uh by other things on the properties. So, does he, you know, his choice is, correct me if I'm wrong, is plant four trees,
pay the uh fund, whatever money that is. So, it's a financial consideration, or do nothing. He has the option to do nothing. Yes. Right. I think I think there's another option. I think he also can appeal the
decision to plant four trees if there's a hardship reason or some financial constraint or something like that. Okay. No, that's that's helpful enough also. Thanks. That's that's good. I I hadn't thought of that.
Yeah. And ultimately it's his call, right? It's Jason's call. Um, you know, as I talked to Edwin, the tree barber, I mean, he basically cleaned that stuff out and he said, "All right, let's wait and see what happens." And because he's not going to take anything without, you
know, the proper documentation. Um, so at this point, I um I guess the the question really becomes what do we do with the other two trees that are, you know, slightly above the 4 inch threshold? Well, I did not look at these trees. Are
we sure they're completely dead? Yes. There's no life in them at all. There's no life in the middle. Dead. By the way, the measurements on them and Jim, I don't know whether you um like my measurements were imprecise. And the trees have huge vine,
you know, vines fused fused to it. So, it's kind of hard to get an accurate measurement, but that's the condition of these trees. I mean, literally, they have been wrapped around for years. The the vine the vines are this thick. Wow. Around the tree.
So, anyway, Mark, uh, I will say this for Jason's purposes and you representing him, this is a two-step process. So, it's the what is going to happen
with the proposed removal of the tree one. What's going to happen with the recompense for the removal of the tree? Okay. Yep. Right. Got it. Okay.
Um, as far as the measurements, are there like formal measurements like that you've taken or or that I need to take? Just I concur with your measurements. Okay. All right. Then
so of those two what do I do next or what does Jason do? You want to make a So what's your recommendation to the commission to remove the trees? Okay. You can always do that to take that up to you guys
recommendation. But the thing of it is we've had in the past if the trees are absolutely dead there's no thing we don't have the removal I mean the I'm sorry the replacement clause does not count. So I'm just going to go with Jim's right
you know saying that they're completely dead and I don't think we have to follow through with the replacement clause in that case. replacement clause comes in play when when a person wants to take down a healthy tree and um then they'd have they'd have the requirement of replacing it two for one.
We had a tree on uh Delaware Avenue that was dead and we said they had to replace the trees. Which one was that? Uh it was 13 something. It was in the backyard. It was a pine tree that was surrounded by other trees.
And I asked whether There was a replacement requirement for a dead tree. Did they ever replace them? It only happened last month. No, we t in the past. There's emails that I asked and I was told that there is a replacement fee.
But if there isn't, that's good because I don't think there should be. Not for a tree. If the trees are dead, for a dead tree, not for a tree that's dead. No, it's for viable trees. So, I don't think we have that we have that right right now to have that
replacement. So all the trees are dead. Yes. All the trees for decades. Yeah. It's So the vines were holding them up. I have no I have no skin in the game. You couldn't tell there was so many vines. There are actually that some of the trees are hanging at like a 45 degree
angle. Drag down because you're in the commission and that's your district and you have the right to be able to report that. Okay. Yeah. And that's what everybody else has heard. Saying that they're all dead. Saying that they're all dead. I think we would look at the and then we'll just email you that
my fellow commissioners. But it'll Yeah, I think that's good suggestion and that way it um I appreciate that and I know Edwin is um uh has already made that statement. So I think they'll be So if he'll just submit it in writing to us and then we'll go with it with that.
Awesome. All right. Thank you very much. Thank all of you. Appreciate it. Good time this off. Yeah, for one. Okay. 1155 Washington Street. Joelle, that's your district. Now we're on the consent agenda.
Yeah. Yes. That's the only one on it. Okay. Or should we go through with the removals, too, Shane? Can we or uh you can do whatever you want. You can do it separately. You can do it all together. Well, that's a street tree.
Okay. So, I'd like to talk about that. Okay. So, let's take that off the Okay. We'll take that off of the consent agenda. Okay. Madison Avenue 704A. But that's going to have to be that will
fall under the replacement clause if they take that down because that that tree is healthy. Okay. And then 1217A has now that we have the public
um vacated portion. Right. I I I would like to we did discuss this about recompense recompense for the trees whether they were dead or being just being removed. And I
believe the last template that Connie did up includes replacement for the removal of trees. Now again I use this I use this phrase
If you leave vines on trees, it's a self-fulfilling prophecy. Said they're dead. But what did the homeowner do to prevent the tree from dying? Overp pruning, underp pruning, let the
ivy grow. Those things right there. And that's the reason why I actually push for the slippery slope there. Yes. I I not try I'm not trying to create a can of worms. I'm just saying it's already a cannibalize, but you know, most homeowners think that
the ivy on trees is attractive. Oh, yeah. Yes. And like I said last last meeting, Shane said casebycase basis. And I said,
but that's how the appeals process plays out. So when I said compensation, I wanted compensation and and I'm I'm I'll be the first one to say that. Um because again, was that Ivy
neglected to create a self-fulfilling prophecy? I'm not certain. And the way he was talking about that homeowner sounds like that could have been the case. Yes. You know, he doesn't care about anything like that, right? He doesn't care about putting trees in.
So obviously might not have cared about those trees that the ivy grow. Yeah. So I, you know, again, as I told him and as I know I'm just one voice, but you know where I stand, right? My recommendation
and that's what we're here for. I mean, we do have Longhorn beetles. We do have the lantern flies. I mean, they do kill trees and it seems a shame to, you know, find people for Well, that's not technically neglect, you know, when you
Right. Right. I understand the neglect. And I can be that. I just cut down lots and lots of vines, so I get it. Yeah. So, I'm not sure where we're going with this one now. No, I don't know either. You guys have your uh July that scenario in your July In your July packet, you
guys talked about that whole dead tree in July packet. What's that about dead trees? You guys have it on record what you guys are supposed to do. By the way, what dead trees do? Well, you guys were just talking about dead trees. Yeah. So, you guys have it on record that you're supposed to uh where am I at
here? If you read on a new business number 14, number two, I mean, you guys already answered your own questions there. what your steps are supposed to be. You guys are like second guess yourself. Should we allow dead trees? Should we approve dead trees two for one?
That was on the Yeah, I don't I mean Carol, it says right there. Carol question if the two for one tree replacement requires appealed when the tree is dead. The requirement did not discuss the commission decided that it
does apply. that homeowners can appeal the requirement, right? If concerned, right? So, it would still come down to an appeal. That's what I thought. So, he can appeal the decision, but he should Okay. He should be paying for the two two
Yeah. bigger trees. Okay. That guy's going to be he's going to be the next commissioner. He's here so often. I can think of today. Okay. So, let's go on with this. Let's do the street tree removal first.
Let's move the agenda. Okay, we'll get back. Joelle, that's your district, the 1155 Washington Street. Yeah. So, I was I was actually looking over my emails and trying to just to review the stuff I uh
was sent. Um it looks like this was uh sent to me around like June 22nd. And unfortunately, I'm I did forget about it. Okay. Okay. I did look at that tree. Oh, you did? Okay. I didn't respond to Connie or do Okay. I wasn't.
It's okay. Yeah. I just looked at it. So, I looked at that tree. It's a silver maple. Um, which we don't use really anymore as a street tree, but it's not completely dead and I It has a lot of vines which should be
removed. Um, but at this point, I don't see a need to take that tree down. Is that this tree? I agree. It's kind of hollow. Not the nicest looking, but it's alive. George, I looked at the tree also, and it seemed to me it could be a healthy
tree, but we don't know because it's got so many vines on it. So, if we could get the vines off, maybe we'd have a better picture of the health of the tree. It's got some dead spots in it, right? It looks like it's been pruned. I'm sure it's been it looks like it's
been excessively pruned over the years, but Yeah. But as far as it being take cause for it to be taken out at this time, again, it's a street tree, so we're all supposed to take a look at street trees and uh come back with that decision next month. But I don't see a need to remove
it at this point. So now, as far as the tree removal permit applications, is there any that anyone would like to take off of that consent agenda there? If not, then I'll make a motion to approve the uh tree removal permit applications on the consent agenda. Do I
have a second? I'll second that, Carol. Roll call, please. Um, George A. Yes. Carol York. Yes. Carol Sick, yes. Barbara Premier,
George W. Yes. Joel, yes. Jim, yes. Tracy, yes. Okay. Three stays. Okay. Well, that's for the that's for the removals that we just voted for the removals.
That was for the consent agenda for the for the three. So, they're not going to stay. But, but the condition on that 11 we have to have on record. The condition at 704 Madison is the two for one replacement
clause does have to be in effect. 704A 704A gets a two for one. Yes. Absolutely. Yeah. Okay. Any old business? Old business. Anybody have anything on
under old business? I guess not. Should Should I bring up my suggestion under old business or new business? What's your suggestion? Which suggestion? This one. Or you want to let it die?
I think that's going to end up at in Paul Dietrich's hands. Okay. Okay. I think that's going to end up in his hands. That's my opinion, too. That's fine. So, I'm okay with that. Okay. Subcommittee report. Um at our subcommittee meeting the city
solicitor attended we discussed the creation of the tree bank viability of it collect this some of the items we discussed were cash donations how the cash donations
will be used is going to draft up a an ordinance. We should have it for the next meeting to review and we'll be able to put uh additions, deletions, whatever the commission would like to see in that ordinance and then we'll take a shame to
carry it to his colleagues. And then we also discussed the uh monument monumental trees, landmark trees and he was going to look into awarding of that too. Yes, he was going to look into that too to to give an extra layer of protection. Okay. Under
new business, tree tagging. Everybody gets a take-home gift today. So, because we had some issues with not being identifying the the correct trees for tree trimming on some of our recent
um trimming and removal situations. The green trees will be for if you have a tree in your district that needs that you okay to be pruned. A green ribbon is for pruning. The pink ribbon is for takedowns.
So if a tree is dead so question like there's a tree on um corner of Lafayette and I don't know if that's Elmyra. It's filled it's a street tree. It's filled with ivy. So that would be green. So they'll they will actually coming down. Is it coming down? Okay. heaven
on talking about the bike shop. Yeah, the one across the street from the bike shop next to That's a tree of heaven. That huge tremendous tree. It's huge. Yeah. Next, I was standing out there and it dawned on me what I was looking at cuz if you see the the the bottom, you see the
coming up there. It's going to be coming down this fall. I didn't even recognize it. It's so filled with ivy. Pink. Okay. So that gets a green if it needs even if it's ivy or any kind of trimming that needs attention. Yeah. Green and the pink. There's no yellow ribbons being
tied around any trees this time. So So what happens after the pink one up already? What happens after you put the ribbon on the tree? Well, you you you would have to email Connie and tell her, you know, that you approve. Here's another thing that I'd like to get to before we go forward with
this. What question? Yes. When within the process a person puts an application to remove the board votes on
it's ribbon then yes after that okay so so this is to ensure that there's no there's no mistake as to what tree is supposed to be trimmed what tree is supposed to come down I can buy the other situation is though and I've
done this with several trees that I emailed Connie about if there's a tree that's obviously dead. Like it's and most of them are small trees that never really took off and became anything significant. I've gone around and placed pink ribbons and sent the list of
addresses to Connie, emailed her, and uh they're all small enough that public works could take them down. If I had a saw that was battery powered, I could take it down in no time. Pink. Pink means it's gone. Yeah. Okay. And uh green has been voted on. Or if
you see it small enough and like there's one on I saw a pink ribbon on Washington Street. Yeah. I put that on. Oh, it's right in front of my girlfriend's house. I was like, "Oh, there's a ribbon." Because there's three trees. I'm pretty sure it's the tree line. There's three trees and two of them are fine and the third one is dead. Yeah. And it's right next to the other tree. It didn't have a chance. Okay.
So, but we can't until it's been approved. Well, unless it's unless it's a little tree. A little tree that's absolutely dead. Yes. And I mean, we pretty much should know a dead tree at this time of year. I mean, if if you go in the winter time and say, "I think that tree is dead
because there's no leaves." Don't do that because it may be alive. So, that's that. The other thing is um this is just my opinion, but I think on street trees when it comes to pruning, unless there's a safety issue that we
that's a blatant safety issue for pedestrians or whatever, I don't really think we should be putting in work orders for pruning of trees, unless the homeowner requests it. Because sometimes I have homeowners that, you know, in the past, I'm not saying recently, but they'll say, "Oh, I wish they wouldn't
have trimmed that tree. it took so much of my shade off my porch. You know, I didn't I didn't tell them to. Why did they do it? So, I don't like to just say, you know, do this block. I think we have to go case by case. And I think sometimes, like I said, unless it's a safety issue
where somebody the pedestrians are going to hit their heads or, you know, the branches laying on the person's roof, inform the homeowner first and say, "We're going to be trimming this tree." But otherwise, I I really don't think we should put in work orders for trimming because it's a large portion of our budget, honestly. And unless there
where would that be coming from? Would you be telling talking about the fact that the city going around looking at the trees thinking they need to be pruned? Well, a lot of times commissioners will say, I think, you know, we need to get these trees pruned. But if unless it's like a safe issue,
I've had two that I was going to put in one on Avenue and one on Maryland. But what but well this is a discussion. I mean what do you what is the what are anybody's opinions on that? That's my opinion. I will tell you that last last month I
had a barrage of trees Trenton, New York and I went out Philadelphia and I went out to these trees and these the homeowners that zeroed in on
these trees and I'm like the ones that I saw were so much worse. Yeah. Yeah, but but I'm not going to call in work to have the DPW or Ron be busy. I just stayed with the um with the
project at hand, stayed in my lane. So, whatever those ones were. But again, just having half a brain going out there, it's like saying, "Hey, this is the one I'm supposed to be focused on, but man, this one is like ridiculous." Well, that's that's exactly what what
brought this to my my attention because I had a a person who in my district requested the tree be trimmed away from the house when I tell you literally it was overlapping their house by about 3 and 1/2 in and across the street the tree branches are up against the house and the ladies like oh I love it like
this. So um that's why I don't you know I'm kind of with you that just stay with whoever requests it unless we see something that's actually a danger to the public in some way. That's my opinion. So, you're saying wait till the homeowner requests request? What do you What is your opinion on
that? That's great. Okay. And this is for callins. If you call in and say, "Oh, I I approve this or whatever." Let's put everything in an email for Conniey's sake that we have everything on record. This way, it's in writing. It's on file.
And um I think that's it with that. So, Councilman's report. I don't have too much to say. Um, finally got a hold of one of the uh people that have a tree of heaven in their yard. They're, you know, happy to have it removed and uh I'll be having
them poisoned before the end of summer. Okay. And Shane removed after tourist season, late October. Probably October. Yeah. Similar to what we did on the operating DPW, anything? Um going back through
some of your work orders that we did receive, see what's done. Um some new workers, work orders we just got in we have not tackled yet because we are just so far behind. Mhm. Anything with poison ivy on it? I can tell right now public works will not be touching it. It will be contracted out. Okay.
Ivy and poison ivy we will not be touching. And will you submit those that are removed to Connie then when you get them up? Go that list. I just haven't got two minutes to breathe and look through them yet. A lot of pinks uh trees with the pink I did see out there. had noticed that also public works some vehicles can't get in there because cars and
power reasons. Okay, public comments. I think we had a full amount of those. Anything else? Anyone else have anything to bring up, Jim? Just real brief. Um my email blew up
yesterday of 1317 New York Avenue. Oh yes. Um I I contacted Bill Miller. He went out and met with the homeowner, Paul Havland.
I also met up with him this morning. Um he he uh states that he believed the um architect forwarded the paperwork for the plans for HPC, STC, and
environmental, but did but he found out that was not the case. and we have no permit applications uh to date. He realizes that it's really not in our hands right now and there that there may be some monetary or
indemnification and some type of repercussion. Um they took down two large trees. Yeah. uh in in anticip in the back um large trees in anticipation of a construction
addition behind 1317 New York. Yeah. Yep. I have the pictures. I'll show them to you later. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Um, George, do we need to uh
vote on the street tree removal consent request that we deferred the 1155? Yes. Well, it's on the agenda. If nobody uh does anybody feel that that tree should come down, I think we all need to look at it,
right? And we'll revisit that next. Yeah, we deferred it, but we didn't vote to defer it. So, I don't know whether we have to do that. Uh, you could either we could table it. I don't mean table it. Yeah, we'll table 1155 Washington Street. It would be helpful if the ivy was moved
off of it so we could see because there is a large hole right in the middle towards the ground. It's hollow. So, I think and that's just English ivy. That's not poison ivy. No, it's just English. Do we want to get a work order or not? What do you mean? No, they can't move that.
We won't we don't have time to move that right now. We're probably about three weeks out before we get to work right now. It's summertime. Well, that'll still be before the next meeting. I still can't promise nothing because it's just round about right now because we do have work orders ahead of you guys right now.
All right. Anything else? If not, then I'll make a motion that to adjourn today's meeting. Second, anybody? Carol. Carol sick. Roll call. Do we have time call? Sure. Roll call. Okay. We don't have roll call.
All those in favor? I I No, let's stay.