testing. You're going to judge. Lisa is sitting here. Turn on the mic. This is the beautiful. So we use Thank you. All right. You're welcome. 10 104
1024. Yeah, that's that's what Y I took pictures of the request. often All weapons. Yeah. Yeah. How are you, bud?
Hey Shane, how are you? All right, bud. You still make everybody repeat. So we can reverse carot. Yes. Sit anywhere. We don't have No, she's she's not coming.
She she's preparing her property for a rental. Not coming. Yes, sir. I think perfect. There we go. There we go. My pleasure. It was my pleasure. Yeah. Um, like I said, going through Adrian's
house when that was one of the contingencies, buying the house and helping out and uh, and I came across that and I said, I'm just going to hold on to this until I find the right target. So, you got it. So
these Will you be here? So this is the tree. The tree flower tree. Did you get pictures? I mean, okay. I have here I feel like I'm in the hot seat.
Okay, sure. Good afternoon everybody. Uh, Chairman Shatz is unable to attend today, so I will um as vice chairman be leading the meeting. Would you all please rise? Oh, I'm sorry. In accordance with the Open Public Meeting Act of 1975, adequate
notice of this meeting has been provided and advertised. Would you all please rise for the pledge of allegiance? I pledge allegiance 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. Okay, I think we all received the uh minutes from last month's meeting. Are there any questions, changes? Oh, I'm sorry. Uh, roll call. That's you, Carol.
Yep. Uh, Jay is excused. Excused. Sean is Shane is here. Here. George A is here. Here. Carol York is here. Carol Sick is here. here. Uh Barber, I believe, is excused.
Excused. Right. Yes. Uh George W. He's here. He's here. Joelle here. Is here. Yes. Uh Jim is here.
Uh Tracy is excused. And Frank is absent. Absent. Now you can make a motion for Okay. If you've Are there any changes, corrections, or questions about the
minutes from last month's meeting? If not, I'll make a motion to approve the minutes from last month's meeting. I'll second it. Roll call. Do I have to do a roll call for it? I don't know. We usually do.
All right. Oh, so Jay is not here. George A. Yes. Carol is okay. Carol Sikchange. Harbor is not here. George W. Yes.
Jim. Yes. Uh Joelle. Nope. Here. Nope. You abain. You were not here last. And Tracy is not here. Okay. Wasn't here either.
All right. Before we get started with the guests in the public today, um Carol, you wanted to discuss day. Yes. Um, for Arbor Day, I contacted the head of children's services at the um,
Kate May courthouse library and we bought two books to be placed in the library here in the city of Kate May uh, donated by us. So, I thought you just might there's a plaque in the front. You might want to look at that. Just take a glance at the books before I return them
to the library and you know they're there. Yeah, I'll start with Joel. Why don't we just throw them up front there and then at the end of the meeting? Well, I don't know if anybody's going to look at them then. It's okay. I know you don't. It's not high on your priority list, but they'll they'll be in
the library here in the city uh for people to check out. They're cute. The art's very nice. Where did you get the uh the book plates? I asked for them to put a book plate in it. Who did? I asked for them the library did it.
They processed the books and I said, "Would you please put a plate in front of it so we get the full credit for donating?" That's very nice. I think they're great titles, too. If I were a tree and be thankful for I know. I asked her for recommendations. I asked Olivia Bruno for recommendations because they're up on Fabulous.
Yes. Wow. That's really nice. Great one. They're cute. Really nice. Really? I guess lower elementary. Yeah. But um good job. Just nice to have our name out there. Thank you for doing that, Carol. Well done. That is that's very classy that
inside page with a book plate. Yeah, we've done that before but not this professional. I think I might have done the book plate before but the library did it this time so it's very nice more official. Yeah, it's well done. Name tags, book plates.
Yeah. All right. We should ask Miss Anita to read one of these to the kids. Yeah. I don't She's there. I don't know when she's there. I could make that suggestion when I return them. I can I can I can reach out to her. I have her contact. Yeah, she can say they're from us and then that way I can like go there
and take a picture of her reading it for that'd be nice. Yeah, I too would be very I would like to participate in that if like how you said book reading or whatever. Cool. That'd be really cool with the kids. Yeah, it's nice. Makes you feel good to do. Yeah. All right. Well, Paul is not here
right now and and Bill is not here. So, Ron, do you have anything to report the takedowns that you did within the city? Uh, no. I did take several trees down and uh did a lot of trimming. I still have some to do uh which we're hopefully
going to get to in the next week or two. Okay. All right. I guess we'll move and see um to guest. Um, Lisa, yeah. Would you like to come forward and did you want to make a presentation or No, I just want to hear what's gonna
happen. Okay. Okay. Okay. And and you are excuse me. Lisa. Okay. And I was here for the tree of heaven. Can you spell your last name, please? Victor. Okay.
A s. Got it. Thank you. And that's 11:09. It's Stockton Avenue. Tree of Heaven. It's We've uh we've uh know George, I've seen it. Councilman Meyer's been
out there. Um it's a street tree. Um a tall street tree that's thoroughly infested and it'll be one of the ones will be taken down with state grant. And there's another one a little bit up the road from there. Do you know that
address Stockton? Yeah. I think you saw another one. Uh 901903. There's also one on Cape May Avenue that we looked at. Really? It's not a huge one though, but there's a tree. How big What's the caliper? Like something like this?
No, no, no. It's about a I would say about a 10-in caliper there, too. Do you know the block? It's in the 1300 block. 1300 block. Okay. Yeah. I don't have But I really did. We didn't notice many on there of the lantern flags. And then there's another one. I'm sorry. Go ahead. No, no, that's it.
And then there's another one at the corner of uh Lafayette and Elmyra which is huge. These are four street trees that we notice are tree of heaven. And we have about three on private properties. Uh we're going to be taking the grant and we're going to be uh with your permission. Oh, it's not on your
property, but we're going to be asking permission from the property owners that do have it on their property. So, we're going to uh inject it with an herbicide to kill the tree. And then a month later, we're going to have somebody remove the tree so that way it's dead before they remove it. Is there any chance that like it's a
really big like how could like there's been a lot of bad storms like where a tree would come down or something? We we have to uh we're told the windows a month after we poison it, we have to take start taking it down. Okay. Because we don't want to leave it up
there too long, too dead just for the reasons that you brought up. Yeah. Okay. And if you give us your contact information, we can let you know when it's happening. Yeah, we we we haven't changed. Oh, we do? Okay. Well, then we won't share that out in public. Thank you.
And vice chairman of tour is going to work with uh Lisa and for a tree replacement. Yes. Whenever we can get it enough space there to get one in. Yeah. So, will that take will you be taking the um stuff? um the like the stump all the way down
like you'll be removing the whole part of that. For the public's knowledge, the question was will we will we be removing the entire tree down to the stump? And the question the answer is yes. We're going to we're going to kill the thing and then we're going to take everything that we can out of the ground. Usually when we usually when we grind
the stumps, we grind them to about seven or eight inches below the ground level. That way you can put dirt over top of it and plant grass seed. And and what is your anticipation about planting another tree after that kind of process? Does it take You just can't do it right on the same
spot. Okay. I mean, we're only grinding about seven inches below the ground. Some of the root systems go down three feet. I mean, it's just If you want another street tree in your area, we might have to move it a couple feet away from that location. Okay.
Yeah, that sounds good. Thank you. Um, would you like to make a presentation? If you want coming forward and sorry. No, that's okay. We're trying to work with everybody. Yeah. And if you would just turn the microphone on. Just push the button and
it'll light up green. Thank you. Okay. So, my name's Jen and this is Kayla. She's our intern. I work for Icona. Um Iona. Iona. Oh, and what is your last name, please? Ramirez. R A M I R E Z.
R I R E Z Z RIZ. So I'm taking over the projects in Kate May. Mark Robbins was previously involved.
I don't know if anyone knows him. So I have a tree and I know that we need to get approval for anything basically that happens in Kate May, right? Um, it's the corner of Beach and Stockton.
Is this at 701 Beach Avenue? 7:15. 7:15 behind the Stockton ery in the parking lot. I took a picture, but my apologies. I did not bring a print. That's 7:15 Beach. Yeah, it's the corner of Beach
and Stockton behind the buildings in the parking lot. That's I think that's the 701. It's the shops and it's the It's at the end of a parking lot. Yes. Yeah. Mr. Ramirez, have you filled out an application?
I have not. I emailed last week and then I didn't hear back. I I imagine the holiday. I'm wondering if we have the same tree in mind because we have a we have 701, right? It says 701 Beach Avenue. Would that encompass the same block? There was
some work done in prior years that I don't have records of. So I'm kind of Well, this is just recent last month's meeting. It came up, right? Would it be It was on Barbara Premier's right in her district. Would that be in that packet, George? Right there. Maybe
this one. Yes, it should be. Is 7:15 Stockton or Beach A? Beach A. It's It's But it's behind the building. Yeah. Yeah. So it's on Stockton Avenue. Yeah. Behind it. Yes. The 700 block of Stockton. Yes.
This is it. It's a 701 Iona. Okay. Mark Robins. Okay. And it's just saying reason for removal is invasive vines. Is that what you It's poison ivy. We had a landscaper look at it and they said it was too far
gone to remove the poison ivy and then it had to come down. So, here I am. Has anyone I don't Is this This is behind the old beach theater. Yeah. Where the shops are. Yeah. I looked I see the picture of it. Sip this down
here. Yeah, sure. Did you see this tree? I mean, I looked at the tree, but it's like you said, it's covered with vine, so it's hard to assess what the actual tree looks like. What type of tree is it? Pardon me? I think it's a hackberry, but I'm not
sure. I have to I'll look at it again. Thank you. I only saw we don't encourage vines to be grown on trees because it kills a tree. Yeah. You know, we're here to protect the trees, right? So, have you spoken to the landscaper about removing the vines? He said he can't remove the vines.
I said no. I've never heard of that. Suggestion. It doesn't seem like many of the commissioners are aware of this. They do. They do sell a and you can buy it right at Lowe's. They do sell it called poison
ivy killer that just kills the poison ivy. It doesn't kill anything else. You can spray it wherever the leaves of the poison ivy are. And uh so is it poison ivy or just I've several I think we need to look at this tree.
May I make a suggestion that we u table it and uh ask your indulgence to come back next month after we have a chance to look at it. So what what it looks like is that you're appealing it right now. our decision because we denied that, right? I have no idea. I I honest I don't have backtory yet.
I don't see I don't think I don't remember this one. No, this is this is still on the permit. Oh, this is this is on our agenda for today. Yes. Yes. Yeah. Okay. Well, thank you for coming for that. Of course. Yeah. It'll give the commission members uh an extra amount of time to go and take a
look at the tree and come back with a more informed decision for next month. Okay. All right. But I would recommend that you're as a business owner that you try to take care of the poison ivy for the sake of your employees. Oh, absolutely. Yeah. It's it's overgrown and you have to walk through
and I'm allergic, too. So Oh, I'm crazy allergic. Yeah. Um so that's okay to go to Lowe's and just do that and try that first. You can spray it and it'll it goes the stomach goes through the leaves down into the root system and kills the whole
thing. So just Okay. Yeah, but we we will still look at it in a month if you want to come back in a month and we'll have a decision for you officially. That way all the board members can uh see it and give a uh an informed vote. Okay.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for your time. Thanks for a question. Could you could you let us know after you spray the leaves so we know when to go back and look to see if they're dying so we have a better way to assess what's left. Email us. Mhm.
And next time you come in a month from now, take a photograph and of the progress. Okay. It'll only you it'll only take about a week for it to to die. Oh wow. To die. It's very quickly. Hopefully that works because to me that
seems like the best and easiest way. Yeah. And cheapest way too is the cheapest way. Yeah. Okay. All right. Also, when we uh approve tree removals, we ask for a two for one replacement. Yes. And I know that, you know, you don't have much space in that location,
right? And I don't I don't know what your future plans for that location is to put those trees in. So that's just another food for thought. Well, this could be a candidate for the uh tree bank. That's right. What's that? The tree bank, you know, for the two for one, if you don't have the space or or
the means to plant a tree or two trees, you'll pay $500 uh to our bank for us to plant trees somewhere else in Gate May. Okay. And that's about how much it costs to plant a tree and to water it. Purchase and plant. Yes, sure. Sounds good. Okay. All right. So, this is probably you probably save
yourself $1,000 by doing spray. Make the boss happy for sure. Yeah. All right. I'm going to Home Depot. I'll email you pictures of progress and then I will see you. You buy a little cheap onegon sprayer and just spray all the leaves of the
poison ivy. It doesn't matter if you spray any of the leaves on the tree. It won't hurt the tree. Okay. All right. Sounds all right. Thank you for your time. But we anticipate seeing you in a month if that's okay. Yes, absolutely. You're going to see a lot of me and when Kayla goes back to school, just me. Okay. Great.
Well, it's nice meeting. Thank you again. Bill, you weren't here before on the agenda. Do you have something to report? So you guys microphone your microphone. Thank you. How are you? So you guys saw the pictures. Yeah. Yes.
Um that was the response. Took me a while to get a hold of the guy. He's um living in Pennsylvania and Florida. Owns the home here, inherited. He said that he did various things to try to save the tree. You can see he cut there's been branches cut off it. He did send me
those pictures. He said he had reports from a tree person, but he claims he cut down the tree himself. We actually have pictures of him cutting down the tree. Okay. Or not him, but somebody had cut down the tree. So, long story short, he said it's a the tree was dying. It was dead. It was
diseased. That's what he gave me. I just wanted to get a consensus from you guys how to how to go after because it was um tree was valued at $8,448. So, you know, before I write the summons and before I do that,
just wanted to submit that and see there's he he was a number of questions. He was aware that there was a procedure that he did not follow. No, no, he he was not aware of that. Like I said, he inherited the house, been back and forth. Apparently, they love the tree. They wanted to save the
tree. He spent money on trying to keep the tree. Did he Did he get permits to trim the tree the way he did? He did not. nothing because the tree looks terrible in the past. But it still looks alive in the in the past. I don't know if he got permits. Not to my knowledge that he
did anything the right way. And I think if he did, he probably would have known that he couldn't just cut down a tree without running it by somebody. So, we don't know who cut it down. He says he had it cut down. He cut it down. So, does he does he want to give us the number to share the responsibility of who's who's going to pay for the fine?
So, I mean, he I'm he took responsibility for it. He didn't say, you know, some tree company came and he This is the one where they put the flower pot. Yes. The stump of the stump. Right. And here's And here's the other thing. We can't measure at 4t high height because it doesn't exist anymore.
Right. Yeah. Something I would make. I think we did a pretty good job estimating it. I mean, it was I think so, too. And the fact that he says it's in decline, I mean, but that's really not an assessment that we can just let the homeowner necessarily make. No, that's so I
you know I think we stand by our decision to u go forward with with what the valuation is. I just wanted to run by because in the past and again the past is the past. You have a new ordinance. I'm all for doing things the way we talk about doing them.
But in the past we've had guys who we asked if they can cut that they ask if they can cut down a tree. We say no you're denied and then they cut them down. We've charged them $75. Well, even if the trees still existed and it was and we noticed that it was trimmed terribly, I mean, uh, evasively,
we would also find them for that, too. But I I would make a recommendation once the discussion is is done that you take it to a motion and a vote. I would agree, chairman. And his claim was that the branches that are cut off there were because they had some kind of fungus on them and he had
them had them cut off. It's neither here nor there. just submitting the pictures and telling you what he said. I mean, this is the first, I think, application of a fine under this new ordinance. Um, well, we got another one coming up and it's
and it is the law. Yeah. And it is a task that we're charged to follow. Yeah. And here's another side of it. Unfortunately, you know, this person is going to have a a financial burden, but it's going to benefit the city of Kate May. We're going to be able to plant more trees with this money with the tree
bank and hopefully if we have enough money get a tree inventory. Yeah, we need that for sure. Well, I'd like to make a motion that we go forward with the fine. Okay. And follow through with the ordinance. Do we make a re, you know, as a as a a
body, do we have to make some kind of statement for the judge? Um, I mean, is a judge going to hear what we're saying right now or the prosecutor? summons is written. I'm sure we can have somebody from the
commission come in also with me so that you know you can say we voted on this as a body and give all that information. Obviously if somebody was trying to find me $8,500 I'd want my day in court and I express that to them. I'm like, listen, I'm not, you know,
normally if it was a smaller amount, I just go, hey, Shade Tree Commission wants this much and some people just bust you a check, you know, but I'm sure he wants to stay in court and and if need be, one of you guys can go in there and speak to the judge as well. I won't, but absolutely we can get
somebody to do that, right? Well, it's and Jay's always offered that too in the past on situations. We're talking about enforcing a law. Yeah, I second an ordinance that was was passed to benefit the city. And you know, we're sympathetic to the
person. You know, it's we we understand that people don't know everything, but um this is the cost of doing business, I guess. Well, again, the judge is going to hear what you have to say, what he has to say, what I have to say. He's going to know what the ordinance is. He's going to read the ordinance of that.
And he he has the judge. He's the judge. So, he can actually meet anywhere between that fee and the $75 permit. Maybe he can he can interpret it. He can do that. Just like with mercantile licenses, the maximum fine is $1,200. I can ask for that, but
he may decide it's $500 is fair. So, right. Give them their day in court. I'm not in disagreement with But here's here's the other thing. I think um this person may may claim ignorance, which is fine, but there was a flower pot put over that the base of
that trunk. And uh if that was not a um hiding yes hiding something that I don't know if you know the story but I actually went out and said there's no tree here because we we thought it was a street tree and I'm like the street tree is
still there but we didn't see that the first time we went out because it was on top right they hit the uh evidence. Um, so I think that should be my point is Excuse me. I'm sorry. My point is that I think that photograph of that flower pot should be part of the evidence for the judge to make his claim. Sure.
Sure. That's fair. And and like I said, I I gave this is all he submitted to me. I said, "Hey, if you can find reports or you have somebody who I mean, you're going to get your day in court." I just wanted to run it by everybody here and
before we went that way. And it just so happened that um I stumbled on something. Somebody came in and spoke to Connie about this another situation about removing a bunch of trees. He said they're my neighbor did something to them. Now they're leaning. Um I reached
out to Jim because Connie told me that was his area and basically they're very tall arborvites that were so extremely pr pruned on the one side that they're now failing and they're falling and they're dying.
So this the person who wanted to remove the trees didn't do anything to the trees. The neighbor did. Oh. So I wasn't sure how to proceed with that because that neighbor I'm sorry. These are the pictures. Okay. Oh, and Jim, is this the property that we have? I come before Before we do that, we have a motion on
the table. And I have another question about the the last conversation. You go ahead, Carol. First. No, I just had something to interject here. Sorry, Bill. There's so many people that are only down here part-time and they don't know exactly what's going on. Is
there any way we have of giving them some kind of information as to of the trees in this city? Like if you have trees on your yard, here's what you need to do or contact city hall before you blankety blank. So they can't say well
not everybody reads the newspaper. Um so they can't say well I didn't know what was going on on the website. So, what what if I uh would come up with a a um a draft of some kind of information uh flyer about the dos and don'ts and maybe
ask some of the recommended trees or if you're going to do anything to a tree, contact Connie at city hall. Contact the shade tree commission before you cut, trim, take away a tree, whatever you're going to do. For instance, the last year we had a lot of situations where people are trimming and they probably were for years trimming
street trees and we had a lot of situations where sometimes people hacked them and they're like, "I had no idea I I couldn't trim." Well, now they it's been out there. They should know now. So, you're you're suggesting like a flyer like we did for this lantern. Yeah. Would you write that down, George,
for our next subcommittee meeting for me to make a flyer about the dos and don'ts and u and you have to go in with the tax bill or what? The next Texas water. You know what else, Shane? I don't know if this is possible. People go in to buy a house. Should the realators have something they can or is that not There's supposed to be a supposed to be
a packet that realtors hand out. Like if you're moving at least it was in the past that this is a shade tree community. Be careful of the trees in your yard. Be careful of the street trees. This is what you need to do. That is just as as important to know what zone you're in and what you're allowed to do in that zone as well. Right. Yeah. Also, if like this this one
tree that was removed, if that guy hired somebody to remove that tree over a certain diameter and I think it's like 6 in or even trimming above 15 feet high, you have to be a New Jersey state
licensed arborist. Which is why my my when I called him, my first question was who actually cut the tree down? Yeah. Yeah. And you know, I I will I still will investigate that because if somebody did that, they should know the rules in Cape May, right? Yes.
You're somebody who normally if you're a liced ars provided for us, it's a state database that every tree that's an LTC, it's on there. Yeah. That there's two. There's LTC and licensed tree expert LTC. Yeah. But there's two different
certifications, but they're both state licenses that they should know, you know, but a lot of times people just hire a landscaper to cut down a tree, right? They're not even supposed to be on a ladder cutting a tree down, right? Supposed to be a licensed tree expert and be be registered with the state. Yeah.
So that that's another thing that I don't know that that's true. Tough thing to include. And here's the other thing. uh talking with Wayne Hoffman today from the Shade Tree Commission of Westgate May. Um he discussed that when a when this particular uh situation happens over there, both the homeowner or property
owner and the tree expert is on the hook for that fine. That's correct. You know, to me, I I'd rather just have the information that who it is. That way they have the strike one of our three strike rule because if they get the three strikes, they're not allowed to work in Kman anymore, right? Yeah.
So, you know, to me, I think it's important. I'd like to see the judge try to get that out of the person, uh, just for our sake. Not that I want to reduce the fine to get that information, but I think it's important for us, you know, and I I'll work on on getting a flyer to
everybody at the next important all these homeowners that don't don't live here. They're coming in from Pennsylvania and New York and they just go to their lawn and and then they say, "Oh, I didn't know about whatever." Well, just just for the record, the last city manager
looked me in the eye and went, "You can't tell somebody not to cut down a tree on their own property." Not because he he was a smart man. He's an educated man. But that's not No, this is this is a city normal situation. Unless you're a shade tree,
right town. So, we have to get the information out there, right? Yes. It's a foreign thing to a lot of people. So, uh, Vice Chairman, did you want to make ask for a motion and a second? I did. I made There is a motion on the table. Motion and I second. I made the motion in here. I'll second it that we proceed with the uh
if if anybody doesn't want to have any more conversations, I think you should go to roll call. Yes. Okay. About this particular case on uh here. Now, now this is whether to proceed with a follow the summons. With the summons, writing. Yes.
On Washington Street. No, Hughes. Hugh Street. Yeah. But we'll get to Washington Street. It's on Hugh Street, right? 633. Is that one? What is the address on 603? 63.
Oh, 03. Oh, 6. All right. So, proceed with the summons on 603 Hugh Street. Uh Jay is abstained. Um Shane, you don't get to vote. George A. Yes.
Carol, yes. Carol Sick, yes. Barbara is not here. George W. Yes. Joelle, yes. Jim, yes. Tracy is not here. Frank is here. Motion carries.
Okay. All right. the next that right what you mentioned um so that these these trees this next issue was um Maryland Avenue between these trees were between two properties the home home owner who came in and
asked for permission to cut the trees down was like maybe you should go take a look at it so I did and I mean you could see from the pictures they were just hacked on the one side right so now they're leaning the lady wants to remove them but the thing is the neighbor did the damage So,
Bill, before she's only here till till July 12th. So, I I'll perfect because we're going to have this meeting and then we'll I I'll get a consensus of how to proceed because they damaged those trees pretty severely. Bill, whose property were those trees
are those trees on? That's the thing. They're right on the property line and this and and and they're growing both into like the lady pretty much showed me where the property line, but it's obvious if you if you go there and check it out what exactly happened. The one
homeowner just cut everything that was on their side. And even it even if it was encroaching on their property, that's not the right way to do it. So, I mean I sounds like a civil ser civil court case. Yeah. Jim, is this the property where we
had the uh but they but the whole thing is to make a make a decision of whether or not those trees have been damaged beyond Well, see, this is my approach at it. I would first find the person that trimmed the trees illegally. And then if the person wants to remove the trees, we're
going to have to charge her for it, and then she's gonna have to pay the the two for one rule. And why would she want to pay for that when she's not the one that killed them? That's that was the conund conundrum. So I I think uh because she she wants the trees. She liked the trees. She's got kids that play whiffle ball in the backyard. They
were very they're beautiful trees. They were leaning a little bit, but not like that. Nothing like that. And and these trees are right on the property line. Right on the property. I would say instead of finding the person that killed these trees, force them to pay for to replace them for the
neighbor. Can we do that in in place of a fine? I don't know. The first thing seems like an exception whether we have the authority to do a tree expert not a tree worker like myself tree company but a tree expert to
come down and evaluate whether what they did is detrimental to the tree which means it's killing the tree there's nothing that doesn't say that this won't start growing back you're going to have to have a tree expert come down and give his expert
opinion on like Mickey Rig come down his Well, who's going to pay for it? We shouldn't have to pay for it. Well, whoever trimmed those trees should have to pay for it, honestly. That's my opinion. But the thing of it is too with
the I mean, I haven't seen these trees in person. But just looking at the photo, they've got to be topheavy. And you get a storm coming through there with that wind. I can't imagine that they're not going to fall onto this woman's property. That's what her concern was cuz they're whether or not they were leaning that much before.
Yeah. you know, really leaning now. And she said, if you saw the one in the back, Jim, there was one that wasn't severely pruned that was more on his property. I see that in the picture. I think right. Yes. And that tree, she's like, they were they were like that. She said they weren't severely
and she's she just had a bunch of work done on the house and she's, you know, she had additions done, new stuff done and she was will, you know, willing to remove the trees. But when the when the tree guy came out, I think it was Larry's trees came out, he was like, "Yeah, you're looking a lot."
What's the street number on the remove the trees, remove the stumps, and then replant because the city's going to make you replant. So, yeah, it's like 73. 713. I thought at first this was the property where that guy came in and he was trying to get the permit, then we refunded his
money. That was a situation. Different situation. Yes. What is the address? Oh, I appreciate. What is the address? What? What? Maryland. What is 7 713 713 76. Should this be a question brought up to our solicitor?
Maryland Shane, I was just about to bring that up that I saw in your face. No, there's no 73. It's um before I went out really did it quick.
I think Shane that perhaps before we take this too much farther that Um, you could ask Chris Gillan Schwarz, give him a perhap you and Bill could give him a a briefing of what this entails because to me this has a little
bit of Yeah. civil Yeah. law to it that maybe out of our jurisdiction. Yeah, my apolog going into that meeting. Would you like to pursue finding the individual that
trimmed these trees or or just to open a whole can of worms and let him sort it out? Excuse me, folks. I'm sorry. Excuse me. Can I just interject? It's 11:26 to 11:30 Maryland, right? Yes. Thank you. So, not 7:30,
Shane. I I think we would be direct. We could follow Chris's lead on what he would suggest would be the best course of action, but we would like to see some kind of action. Absolutely. Oh, yes. Yes. I mean, I think I think again what what Ron said, we have to decide whether or not what
they did to is is not repairable. It's not going to fix itself. Allowed to trim back, right? Because normally if you stop if I stop a tree, I mean, hey, what are you doing? You cutting that? Oh, we're just trimming. They're allowed to. But there is does mention in the ordinance extreme pruning and pruning that damages the
trees and that I think falls in that category and that's why I was like do do we just I mean that's a lot of trees that's a lot of money and it's going to you're going to have to grind those stumps out before you replace those and there's time sensitivity to this. Um her only time sensitivity to be
honest with you is she's only down till the 12th. So before she came in and paid $75 a tree, I wanted to just see what because it's probably 10 or 12 trees. Yeah. Yeah. That's going to And each tree dollar value on them. It's a lot of
money if we want if we had to go that way and treat it like we're treating the other one where actually, you know, you didn't cut a tree down, but you killed the tree. I mean, Ron brings up a good point about trimming to the property line, but when you're trimming to a property line, I can't imagine the law
is sympathetic to killing those trees. Um, and that's where I think Chris would have to come with me. With me and my license, I can follow the letter of the law about cutting back to the property line, but I can't do anything that's detrimental to
a tree. So, I can't prune a tree to kill a tree, but we have to determine if that is 100% detrimental to the tree. Yes. Me looking at it, I you know, I have my suspicions, but I'm not a tree expert. So, yeah. Yeah. You know, I I was out there on the fifth
and uh took the pictures. I'm here to tell you that it wasn't pruning. It's like it was they were shaved. They were shaved. That's how I was thinking. shaved and it's um I doubt these these trees on that side is going to come back because the bark
was severely damaged. And again, I use that phrase that almost I'm using every meeting now and I apologize, but it's a self-fulfilling prophecy. You do this, this happens, right?
And uh and the end result of I mean that's the last question. End result we want to try to maintain what exists even if we had to replace it. Well, I think the homeowner wants to have privacy screening. The the homeowner came in totally
willing to find out what she had to do to replace those trees. At the same time, when she got when she really got a full idea of what it was going to take, she was like, "Wow, what do I do here?" Yeah, they just spent a lot of money redoing their house and she didn't understand how much of an
investment that would be to replace their also if you have the tree expert come in and evaluate the the condition of the trees, he can also give you a value of the trees too, which if it's the guy trimmed it to where it's detrimental to the tree, you can go after the value of
the trees to offset the lady's cost to replace them. Absolutely. Yeah. She shouldn't have to put replace anything out of her own pocket for shouldn't he? That's why I told her to wait and after this meeting I said I'll get back to you. You know I I almost wanted to bring her
here to explain the situation but she's on vacation so she I think I think we're all sympathetic for her. Let's get some guidance from Chris Chris and the city manager and and if worst comes to worse we might have to push the the cost on one side and wave the fees to have them replaced.
That's just a thought, you know. Let's see what Chris says first. Let's see. Yeah, nice. This is very uh unfortunate. Good going, Bill. Thanks. So, she did she didn't put the application in? So, my question to you is, should I advise her while she's here? I mean, we
could always, like you said, wave the fees just to do it while she's in town. Is there anything we want her to do? She can. I mean, there really nobody we have pictures. I I was so taken back by it. I was like, "Jim, can you go look at these trees?" Cuz I I Yeah.
I didn't know what to make of it. It was pretty pretty intense. So, I mean I mean, we could take a preliminary motion. she wanted to replace the trees on her own, we could approve it and wave the fees, but if she wants to be, you know, to be refunded for that,
she wasn't really sure how to, you know, and and again, I didn't want to make contact with that person until I knew till, you know, normally I would reach out to Chris and talk to him about re reach out to her, have her listen to the meeting, tell her it's about 40 minutes, you know, 30 minutes into the meeting
and uh to reach out to us. If she wants to call me, I'll be in contact with the city manager and the uh gosh and the city solicitor and uh and we'll try and who knows, maybe the city solicitor and the city manager might
take it upon themselves to to solve the situation without us. No, she hasn't filed a complaint. She hasn't. She just she just came in find out how she going to remove the trees. And because when she called out the tree company, they kind of gave her a rundown of,
hey, you know, you have to pull permits for each one of these trees. I'm going to have to cut them. I'm going to have to grind them. And that's when Connie sent her down to us and I went out and checked out. This might this might be a city administration uh decision to be honest with you. Might be the city manager. And again, because the trees are right
on the even though they're right on the on the property line, different. You can't you can't just hack a tree like that when there's a property line when there's a property line tree that that guy really actually wasn't even supposed
to trim on his side of it because the trees owned by both property owners. Surely it don't trim all the way to the bark. Yeah. I mean what what we what we what you saw is there there's branches that were this big coming off them that are just cut right to the bark.
Wow. Well, I think the, you know, the ultimate benefit to this is we needed some kind of a a policy because we had another application where a homeowner property owner wanted to pave to cut down the trees of another property owner neighboring.
So, you know, I think there's some kind of room to make some case law here of how to make these decisions and hopefully we won't have to go to a civil court or to a solicitor. Yeah. As long as they give us guidance. Yeah. I don't know. It just seems awfully evident that if that neighbor
did that to those trees, he basically killed them that he should be responsible. I I don't But I mean, I'm not I don't know what's going to happen to the homeowners. Decide what course of action she wants to follow, right? You just tell her to watch the video 30
minutes into it to understand where our conversation is and then we'll be working behind the scenes and we should have a decision by the next month. Now, the homeowner could also contact the tree expert. Oh. And have him come down and evaluate. I mean, she would have to pay for it, but
as going to court with this person, she could probably reclaim that if it's do that. That would be definitely be good investment for her compared to just removing the trees and paying to have them replaced. Do you guys support that suggestion? Sure. Bill to give to this person.
Sure. Yes. Yes. So, I'll recommend that she get somebody out there to look at it. Tree expert. Matter of fact, I'll recommend my name. Okay. You know, I'll get that and then we'll proceed from there. Find out uh from Mr. Gillards direction to go. Yeah.
Good. Thank you. Sounds good. Yep. Yeah. One more thing. Thanks for the brain teaser. Yeah. on 1015 Washington Street. I believe I emailed you about that and we had um Atlantic City Electric here at last month's meeting and um they said that there was another person working in
the city at the same time who was working on trees on Washington Street and they just gave the name and and such. Did Did you look into any of that? I will have to look to be honest with you. I was just wondering if there was any Fox was the Yes, that one. Yeah, that's
Yeah, my partner handled that. So, okay. I I'll have to look, but um that was the only one she said if it's the same incident. There's actually been a couple there and there's a zoning issue right now with a tree. I think they sold the property. Yes, I know.
They just sold the property. There was a branch she claimed fell and broke her sign off the tree and then her husband and her just cut it up. Well, this isn't one branch. This is But that was one, right? And and the claim was that oh no, Atlantic City Electric did that. Yeah. So whether or not
I mean I I have doubts. Yeah. Yes. That's not the typical way, but there were other areas and I heard you guys discuss there were other areas that we were like, whoa, what happened? So but that's three trees in a row at that property and they're huge boughs that are I'm not really sure how to proceed because I'm pretty sure that's either
being sold or sold as of right now, but I'll definitely get back to you on that. Okay. And when I reach out, I'll let Connie know about that as well. Okay. And tell you how that goes. Well, the the head of the tree training for Atlantic City Electric was adamant that they were not part of that. So,
unfortunately, it becomes, you know, a hearsay situation and it might be something that we might not be able to pursue, but we want to, right? Yeah. Be worth looking into, I think. Yeah. Sure. Because if they've been doing work in the city, they should know that the city trees can't be touched on public right
away. We want them on your radar, you know. I mean, normally something like that would happen. A tree branch would fall. You know, if they called me, I would have had public works cut it up. So, it's kind of I think she probably knew that.
So, well, these are three trees and like I said, they're they're huge. But anyway, well, thanks. Yeah, keep us informed. Keep up the good work. Thank you, Bill. Thanks, Bill. Thank you. And we'll be in contact about the other situation. I see Mr. and Mrs. Wadley in the
audience. Would you like to come up and talk to us today? Oh, oh, that's okay. If you would just Oh, if you would just turn the microphone on, please, till lights up green. Thank you. Yeah, sure. Thanks, Bill.
Um, I came today to appeal the denial of the removal of my red cherry tree in the back of my yard. Um, I've brought some pictures and um, shortly after the denial last month, a couple of commissioners came to the house and
viewed viewed the tree. Um, I've tried my very best to save this tree. It's it's it was a really very pretty pretty tree, but unfortunately it is full of borers according to the tree doctor and he even declined to service it because
he said it wouldn't live. So, I'm calling I'm here again to appeal this to see if I can remove the tree. I'd like to replace it. I mean, it's a beautiful tree in the backyard, and I'd like to continue to have a tree in that spot, but I need your approval to take it down. Okay. Well, Commissioner Warner and I
did revisit that tree. Yes. When we looked at it earlier in the spring, it had leafed out on almost all of the main bow. Yeah. On the return visit, about a fourth of that canopy has died since. the leaves are just dead on it. First of all, it's
a purple leaf plum and they're not the sturdiest of uh species. They tend to get they're prone to bores. They're prone to other diseases and they're not a really long lived tree. You get maybe 25 years out of it. And I'm sure yours is there probably about 20 years close to
but um it is definitely in decline. Um the uh trunk is oozing all kind of sap and sticky. The second picture shows the the sap oozing from the tree. And at this point, I think you're we're you know, you're chasing after something that's not going to survive anyway, even
if you treat it or whatever. So, I would uh I would make a motion to approve that removal at this time. I'll second it. What conditions? Well, because it's dying, I don't think we have to have the replacement in in place. And she and and this is why
I will replace it. I intend to replace it and I would ask the commission for a list of recommended trees that I can consider. Definitely want to replace it. Okay, Shane, I went out there with George and um it u it was a market difference in the tree
from when we were out there earlier um several months back to when we were there, two weeks ago, week ago. and um it get uh very cooperative homeowner homeowners willing to make a replacement. um let's
support that and uh get it done as soon as we can and let's uh let's let's uh but my question of the conditions were you know the two for one two for one as well as the uh because it is a dead or dying tree do you want to charge the extra $75 for the
well usually if a tree is in that severe of decline we don't charge the extra $75 that's why and also I don't know in the circumstances where there's where it's a dying three. Do we still stick to the two for one replacement?
I I I just said you made the motion. You you make the motion the way you think it should be made with the uh conditions that you suggest. Okay. I I think the the most prudent way to follow here is that we uh you amend your
motion that uh we uphold the request to remove the tree uh with no conditions attached to include a $75 replacement fee or conditions attached. No replacement fee.
No. Did you want to make that motion? Sure. I'll make a motion that we can that you can take the tree down in question at um 1023 Washington Street, the Purple Leaf Plum. We will wave the $75 fee as the tree is in severe decline.
It will be replaced. But it will be replaced. Yes, absolutely. with $75 will go to my new tree. Okay, good. Thank you very much. Oh, okay. There's a motion. Is there a second on that motion? There's a second. Second. Oh, okay. Well, let's go.
Roll call. Okay. Yep. I'll get there. Uh Jay is not here. Shane does not vote. Uh George A. Yes. Carol York. Yes. Carol Sick. Yes. Barbara is not here. George W.
Yes. Joel, yes. Jim, yes. Tracy is not here. Okay. Motion carries. There's suggestions in there. If you if you want to any more, just email us and our expert will get to back to you. We'll do. Thank you very much.
Thank you for your time. And I apologize for not being here early. Oh, that's okay. You're right on time. You're fine. Thank you. Now, we have a bunch of other appeals, but there's no one here in the audience. We'll just call them out to see if they're What about what about the uh 205 Howard Street? We aren't we going to try
to uh let let's go through the appeals first and then we'll go on to that one. Dave Schulz, the architect for an Cleveland at 1040 New York Avenue has an appeal, but he's not. He's not here. Are we going to act on it? I think we should. I think so. I think we should get them done with So
1040 New York Avenue is the large um malberry tree in the back. And I think at last month's meeting, Ron, you had said you might be able to take a look at it. I don't know if you did or not. No, I didn't look mentioned that, but that's your district, Jim. Yeah, I I did go back out there. Um it's
still um a glorious tree. I wish that um Mr. Schultz was here because I'd like to know the square footage of the construction project and if there is a direct conflict to the
construction project and this tree because what I gleaned from the last meeting was that it wasn't a direct conflict but an indirect aesthetic conflict. New construction tree that's a little
too interesting. Yeah. You know. Yeah. So, I I wish it was here, but I looked at the tree and I support what Jim said. And Jim, your recommendation? Uh, deny.
Can I make a suggestion before we make a motion? Uh, you said there will be some kind of construction being done there. Yes. Well, the whole lot is going to be constructed. I mean, it's going to be a a house and possibly a garage, but I don't think that's written in stone at this point. Well, I would ask that in in the motion
to approve or deny deny this application that to add a condition to make sure that they protect all trees in this location with the barrier according to code. Okay. And there are several trees in the front which I brought up at last month's meeting. There are two pine
trees that are probably not going to last very long. They're in decline. So, they'll be losing those trees in the front of that property. But, I don't see a reason to remove that malberry barrier this time. that address. Will they be replacing those trees in the front? 10fold. If they're dead, I don't they won't have to. The dying ones.
Okay. Oh, yeah. And if they're in the footprint of the building plan, they won't have to either. But um at this point, I'm going to make a motion that uh to approve the removal of that tree at 1040 Washington Street.
To approve the removal. Look at this. That's correct. Yes. I I Yes. So, I I make a motion to approve the removal of that tree at 1040 Washington Street, the Malberry tree at the rear of the property. Do I have a second for that motion?
I'll second it. A yes vote is approving the application. A no vote is denying the application. Right. Uh do you want to add the caveat that all trees will be to be protected? During construction at this site, I make a motion that all trees be protected with the appropriate barriers as
mentioned in the code. That's part of the vote. Yes, that's part of the vote. So, will you second that motion, Carol? Yes, I as amended. I will I will second the motion as amended. Okay. So, roll call Jay is not here. Shane doesn't vote. George A.
No. Carol York. No. Carol Sick. No. Dark is not here. Uh George W. No. Joelle. No. Jim, no.
Tracy is not here. Okay. Okay. Roger Midkiff, 1024 Idaho Avenue, also my district. Yes. Um, I went out again for a total of four times. I think the first time I was out
there, it was two days out of the hospital and it looked like there was a canopy that was beginning to form, much like two, three trees ago. Um there was a mention that what looked healthy was starting to degrade right in front
of you within two months time. This is what I'm seeing at um the one tree at closest to the house and I'll I'll pass this around. Um, it's
um it it looks sick and and Ron has gone out. When was this photo taken, Jim? I'm sorry. When was this photo taken? That was that was the initial inspection. That was, I believe, March or early April. This is the one that Ron But what I'm
just get to the meat of the matter. I would like to rescend my previous um recommendation for that tree and that tree alone, secure the removal fee and request two like kind quality trees as a
replacement. Okay. I did go out by the request from the shade tree and took pictures of the holes in the tree. I do have them on my phone. I send them to Connie, but of course she's on vacation, so she couldn't I was hoping she would be able
to email them to each commissioner. Uh there are two of the three there are large cavity holes that go proceed way down inside of them. And actually, they're not the most dangerous. The most dangerous is the third one. You can see from that
picture, there's a little rod on the back side, right? Uh my picture I show a crack. Actually, it's starting to crack there. Yeah. And that's that's the whole top of that branch is just full of leaf and it's very heavy going right towards the guy's
back porch. So, when it does snap, and it's not a if, it's a when it does snap eventually, it's going to do a lot of damage to the guy's house. So, the other tree that's concerning on that property is the one in the front yard, which I mentioned at last month's
meeting. I mean, that's Yes, that's a large tree in decline, too. Yeah, there's only about a third of the leafage left on that tree. And there's a about a 6 inch round diameter branch that's hung up right over top of the driveway.
I don't know why the guy never applied for a permit for that tree. But yeah, the reason why I didn't bring that up is because of the lack of the permit. So, I really didn't want to go fishing beyond our scope and stay in my lane. Yeah.
All right. In lie of the changes in the in the uh condition of this tree, I'll make a motion to approve the removal of that tree at 1024 Idaho Avenue with Oh, with with the two with the two
tree replacement in place. Two two for two for one. Yes. Two for one. Second. Roll call. Yes. Uh George A. Yes. Carol, yes. Carol Sick,
yes. George W. Yes. Joel, yes. Jim, yes. Okay. Three is removed. All right. Let's move on to Appeal approved. Yes. Uh 205 Howard Street. It's Keith
and Kim Rezen representing Marilyn Aquino. Um that tree we've looked at several times this this year and it is continuing to decline. There's about it's continuing to decline. There's
probably about 80% of the canopy is now dead. And uh we've since the last meeting received photos of a huge bow that had broken off and done considerable damage to property at that address. So in light of that, I'm going
to uh make a motion that we approve that removal of that large tree. I'll second it. Vote. George A. Yes. Carol York, yes. Carol Sick,
yes. George W. Yes. Joel, yes. Jim, yes. Okay. Tree is removed. All right. The next appeal we have is for Thomas Curr, 633 Hugh Street. He's
appealing the removal of the street tree. of the street tree. And um I looked at that tree again. The tree is leaning. It didn't just start leaning in my opinion. It's it's been leaning been leaning.
And I did say that a crown reduction should be done on that tree. Um but it's in full leaf even though the tree has some structural issues, but it certainly does not seem to be in in imminent danger of falling. I don't know if anybody else has any
observations that they made with that. I would agree with George. Uh we we spent considerable amount of time at at that property and uh the tree didn't start leaning last week or last year or the year before that it's been leaning. Sometimes trees don't grow straight all
the time and uh there's no reason at this time to uh remove that tree. In my opinion, I would have to agree. I think 50% of the trees in Cape May lean. Yes. Exactly. So, looks extremely healthy.
Just look at all the metal on Lafayette Street. I know. I know. All right. I'll make a motion to approve the removal of the street tree at 633 Hugh Street. To do it in a positive way. Yes. Right. Okay.
And I will second it. All right. And so so a a no vote a no vote means denial that it's a denial and a yes vote means an approval to remove. Thank you. Mr. Chair George A. No. Carol York. No. Carol Sick.
No. Uh George W. No. Joelle. No. Jim. No. Okay. Tree stays. All right. We go to consent agenda now. Uh these
are all trees that we just discussed. I believe where is with the exception, Mr. Chairman, of number seven uh under uh 704 Madison. Yes. I
that's removed. I I I would like to move that to next month. Okay. Thank you. You'd like to table that to the next meeting? Yes, sir. Okay. You should make the motion to do that. I'll make the motion to table the decision at 704A Madison Avenue.
And what about uh 701 and 701 Beach Avenue also? That those two items be removed from the the agenda. That's item number two and item number seven to be table next. Yes. Yes. So number two and number seven
on the consent agenda. Do we not have enough information for those properties or like I think the commissioner is just using their discretion. They want more time to look at Yeah. Because we really didn't all take a look at the one at at Beach Avenue. So on that I think I also want to remove
1202 Illinois Avenue to be Oh yes to be remove agenda or to be tabled for the next meeting? No, just to remove it from the I would think just to remove it from the consent agenda. Right. Yes. remove it from the consent agenda. Well, we have a motion on the table to
table number two and number seven. Those are those are being moved to next month and number five will be voted on at this meeting. So, there needs to be a motion to table those two for the next meeting to be a vote. All right.
I'll make a motion to table the two item number two on the tree removal permit and item number seven until next month. Seconded. Okay. Now, a second. I have a question for discussion. Uh do you suggest all uh commissioners to go out to these locations? Yes, this is the one that we just
discussed by um on Beach Avenue 701 to 7:15 the Icona at the Icona property. Yes. That that I would recommend that as many commissioners as possible take a look at that tree and also the same situation on 704A Madison Avenue.
Thank you. You're welcome. You need to vote on this? Yes. Yes. Um, since they're both the same, can we just do one vote for both trees? Oh, I would think so. Yes. They're both to be tabled till next month.
Yeah. Okay. George A. Yes. Carol York. Yes. Carol Sick. Yes. Uh, George W. Yes. Joel, yes. Jim, yes. Okay.
The other item number five, 1202 Illinois Avenue. I make a motion that we vote on that this afternoon, then we remove it from the consent agenda. That does not have to be voted on. That doesn't have to be. Okay, good. So, next motion will be to approve the rest of the consent.
Let's just go back to 12:02. I denied it and and I think it stays denied. Well, we're not that's not the discussion yet. We're still on the It's on the consent agenda and then once we got to go back because we have to take it off
the consent agenda, right? So, we took it off the consent agenda. Okay. So, we got to go back and do the consent, right? Okay. We've got three, which is 633 Hugh Street, and that's the rear garden of that same
property. That should be removed from the consent agenda, too. That's your right to make that recommendation. That's different than the street tree. Oh yes. Tree in the backyard. Okay. So that's removed. We'll vote on number three separately. Yes.
So now the consent agenda consists of number four 1321 Delaware and number six 1341A Virginia. Yes. I'll make a motion that both those trees at number four both items four and six
be approved for removal. Number four and number six. I'll second that. A yes vote is for removal. A no vote is for keeping these trees. Right. Is there any discussion needed on
these trees? No. They're both in favor. Yeah. All right. So, I'll make that motion. So, and Okay. And I'll second it. So, a yes vote is to remove the trees. The trees. Okay.
Item number four and six. Yep. George. Yes. Yes. Carol York. Yes. Carol Sick. Yes. George W. Yes. Joel. Yes. Jim. Yes. All right. Item number five is 1202
Illinois Avenue. Carol, that's your district. Excuse me. Did we do 234 Perry Street? No, we went down to the the agenda. Oh, you went. Okay, if we could finish that. All right. So, we did the other one. All right. I'm sorry. Go ahead. No, that's your district, Carol. 122
Illinois. 1202 Illinois. It's a large tree in front of a twin and it's a beautiful tree and I don't see any reason to take it down. It's a large silver maple. It has been pruned in the past. Um, and they certainly can prune it again. I saw one
branch on there that had some issues and it does have a lot of ivy up growing up through the uh through the tree which should be removed but the tree is in full leaf. It's a large um canopy. It's actually right on the property line if you look at that tree right in the
center of that twin. So it's kind of up for debate as to who exactly whose tree that is. So, at this point, um, I don't see any reason to remove that tree, but we have that on the table. So, I'll make a motion that the, uh, tree at 1321, I'm
sorry, 1202 Illinois Avenue be removed. Okay, I'll second that. Uh, George, no. Carol, no. Carol Sick, no. George W. No
Joelle. No Jim. No tree stays. All right, moving back up to the street tree removal request. I put in a request for 234 Perry Street. That is a large
sweet gum that was pruned quite a bit because of construction issues. Uh when that house was redone, I believe that did extra damage to that tree and it's basically dead. Is that that one? Is that true? That's That's what it used to look like. Oh, wow. It doesn't look anything like that now.
It's got about seven leaves on it that are curling up on one branch. I think two of them fell this way. Really? There were few. I mean, I don't know if anybody took a look at that tree. I did. Okay. Yeah. It's sad. It's It's a shame, but it's unfortunate.
So, um I'll make a motion to have that street tree removed at 234 Perry Street. I'll second that motion. George A. Yes. Carol York. Yes. Carol Sick. Yes. And I go ahead. Thank you.
W. Yes. Joel. Yes. Jim. Yes. Is this tree considered detrimental to falling in the next month or two months? I don't think so. I don't think it's a a
fall risk. Could I make a suggestion that Yeah, you worked on that tree before. Yeah. Could I make a suggestion that you uh tell Connie to hold it off till the fall till after Labor Day? Oh, because so we don't have to block Perry Street
in the middle of the traffic if it's not hazardous to falling in the next. It's a good idea. Yeah, we can do that. No problem. Well done. We took that off the agenda. We didn't vote on it. We have to go back to that.
Okay. You got Sorry. We have to go back to 633 Hugh Street. Number three. Yes. Number three on the consent agenda. And that is a large maple tree at the rear of the property in the backyard. Um I looked at that tree.
I don't know who whose district Oh, that's Barbara's. I don't know what her take was, but um did you look at that tree? I did not look at that tree. I thought it I thought it was a duplicate of the one. No, there it's a removable one. Carol, you looked at that one. I did. I didn't go away in the backyard,
but I kind of went up the side. Just I don't know. I couldn't Looks like maybe it could be trimmed, but I I mean, there is some hollowing to it. It's a It's a large maple tree, and it does have some hollow uh in the trunk, which we could see on the photos that were submitted, too. Um, but at this
point, I mean, it's it's been hollow, I'm sure, for quite some time. And I would think you that doesn't look like a tree. Family pictures at this point. I would recommend
reducing the canopy on the tree. Is this That's what I could see. I don't know if that's it. I don't know. No, that didn't look like that to me. No, it didn't look like that to me. I didn't see any other tree that
George finish your thought. I I would say I would suggest reducing the crown at this time and and letting the tree remain at this point um rather than approving any removal. I I would agree with that analysis. Yep. All right. So, I'll make a motion to
approve the removal of the tree at 633 Hugh Street in the rear garden. And I'll second that motion. Uh George A. No Carol York. No Carol Sick. No George W. No
Joel. No Jim. No Tree Stays. All right. Old business we already took care of with the uh code enforcement report. Um the HPC project review for
359 Congress Street. It's difficult to tell which of the trees are going to be in it. I thought that I thought that was Hughes, not Columbia. No, it is Columbia Avenue where the tree was taken down. Did we say with the with the flower pie?
Yeah, that is Columbia. Yeah. Did we say Hughes before? We I think we did by accident. Yeah. 603 Columbia. 6 Oh, okay. So, I think I might have started that problem. Well, none of us corrected yourself.
Okay. Sorry, Senator. All right, Columbia, the HPC project review of 359 Congress Street. There's a very large malberry tree there, which is actually quite an interesting tree. Um, it's a beautiful big tree and it's not on the sidewalk,
but it's near the corner of Park Boulevard and Congress Street. And I would like to see that tree remain. I think that tree should remain. This is in my district and that's my recommendation. Um, so I think with their building plans, I know they want
to put a a driveway somewhere on on uh Congress Street, but perhaps they can move it or relocate. I don't even know exactly where the driveway is going to go if that would impede impact that tree. This is this is a I'll I'll address this comment if I can to the city manager.
This is um probably the first case we're going to have, sir, over um coordinating our efforts with the HPC. Um we in the past we uh those efforts uh have caused for the
removal of some trees. Now there's a new relationship there. Uh 359 Congress. 359 Congress. It's a corner lot. Congress Park. Yeah. And it's a and it's a gorgeous mulberry.
Unfortunately, right now it's covered in poison ivy. It has to be removed. But we don't have many of this size mulberry left in the city of Kate May. And it would be a a shame to remove it, especially since at least the plans that
George and I were able to review. Um it doesn't seem that it would be an undue hardship to change the location of a driveway to retain this tree for the community benefit.
And that's and what they want is to put a driveway on Congress and not on the park. Yeah. There's already a driveway going into this property. They just want to put another There is a curtain there. Yeah. Yeah. That's on Park Boulevard, though. Park Boulevard. Yeah. Yeah. Good point, Shane.
And I think the defense opens up that right there, too. Yes. I don't think we have to make a motion on this, though, because it's not really up for a vote yet. Well, you you can always make a recommendation to the HBC. Yeah, that's what I that's what I by by making a motion by doing a motion. Okay,
good. All right. Well, I'll put forth a motion to the HPC then that the tree at uh 359 Congress, the large Malberry tree, that that be preserved um during construction and that proper barriers be put in place. Would you add to that motion that they
should have the driveway where it currently exists? Well, I'm Yeah. Yeah. driveway should can be put on um Park Boulevard, but even even if they did put it on Congress Street, they can certainly work around the uh existing tree so that that tree is preserved.
So, I'll put forth the motion to preserve that tree, the large malberry at 359 Congress and recommend that to the HPC. I'll second. Okay, Joe. Uh George A. Yes. Carol York. Yes. Carol Sick,
yes. George W. Yes. Joel, yes. Jim, yes. Have we ask Connie to write that recommendation to the HBC representative? Yeah, we'll have to we'll have to put that in a an email.
All right, Commissioner Warner, the uh subcommittee report. subcommittee. Um uh two two items that uh like to report on. The first is a an update on the tree bank. As you know, Commissioner Atur
made a suggestion earlier this year that we um since there are properties where the two for one um is not practical, but the the code is in effect and we could use the tree bank to take an excess tree
or or a cash payment and create a fund that would allow us to purchase additional trees um for the benefit of the city. So, um Commissioner Meyer is going to talk to uh U councelor Gillan Schwarz and start the process to to get
that put into ordinance. Um if if we need an ordinance, we would be accepting cash or or trees or you know property, let's call it. Yes. Um secondly, we um um had uh as our
guest the uh uh the director of the West Cape May Tree Commission, Wayne Hoffman, and we had a discussion regarding coordinating our efforts on the lantern fly. Um Wayne gave us some good ideas that that we were looking at that we
could use and we'll continue working with him. They have a very aggressive spraying um activity going on now. I don't think we'll be going in that direction. However, we are continually he's doing some research and we share our research
with him with him. Shane, do you have anything to add on that one? Uh, the mayor so far is in support of our tree bank. Good. Thank you. All right. Council report. Um, I don't have too much to say, but
you know, within the last month, we did find more tree of heaven. So, we're going to pull the trigger on that and get them poisoned and then uh line up a tree expert to cut them down for us. Uh, there's three trees as we mentioned. Um,
um, Miss Miss Lisa over here, 901 Stockton, 903 Stockton, 1300 of Kate May Avenue, and a Lafayette Street park or Lafayette Street in Myra. And we have three more trees around uh the Perry uh sorry, Washington Lafayette Street
corridor. They're not street trees though. They're not street trees, but we're going to help them take it down. Okay. Because it's just they're too evasive. And the problem right now currently is uh I was just there today trying to, you know, get my bearings again. And I just I actually need a tax map to realize who
am I going after to get permission to go into their yard. I was just there today and I was I I guess I second guessed myself that I didn't realize a tree was in this one yard and not another. So, yeah, it is deceiving though when you go to some of those properties because there's little alleyways that you don't even realize are there unless you take a
walk around the block and take a look, right? And sometimes a fence pokes in one more than on one property than the other, so you don't really know what the property line is. Yeah. If I could if I could add, going back to the lantern fly, um as a result of uh council person Meyer's uh handout
or enclosure that was in the tax and water bills, some of my neighbors have been going on expeditions. looking for the uh lantern fly. And uh several of the young um young men from Perry Street went down the railroad
tracks um going towards the canal and literally they took pictures and if you I can share them with you of of acres of a tree of heaven covered with lantern
fly. Now that's they're not in Kate May. They're in lower township. Oh my gosh. Wow. But like here. Not here. Um but it's it's uh humbling to look at the extent of how but I don't I don't know if Lower Township has anything in place to deal
with. That's not West Kate May, correct? That's different. And uh it it kind of puts our efforts when you think of what we're trying to do. Um we can't stop doing it. Yeah,
but it would be awful nice to see other communities at least take up an effort to try to have some type of eradication. Yeah, thank you. And I've spotted I've actually spotted lantern flies on ash trees. No, I haven't seen them trees have enough
damage to them. They were I spotted them actually on them and killed them. But uh I did actually spot them on the trunks of the trees. So I don't know whether they're doing anything with them or not yet. I haven't seen any evidence of where they they started destroying the tree, but I
haven't seen them on. And years and years ago, back when gypsy moth caterpillars were a big thing, they weren't supposed to go on pine trees and we went into a gravel pit where they had killed all the oak trees and they were actually I actually sat there and
watched them eating the needles off the pine trees. Wow. I mean, if if if they don't have their host tree, they'll find some way they can help it, you know. So, but the ash trees here so far, the emerald ashbor doesn't seem to be as much of an issue, thankfully.
But I actually saw lantern flies on on these. I know there was one in my backyard today, too. All right. I just want to add on my my council member report. Um, so we're going to be having a subcommittee on August 5th. So, we're
going to ask uh the city solicitor to be there to talk about the tree bank um and the legitimacy of how we can do that. And then also this neighborly dispute that we're dealing with those uh arborites. So,
and what about the um monument trees, the landmark trees? Is that something we'll be discussing here? I'm totally in support. As long as we come up with a um some kind of description of what we're trying to do here, I'm willing to put in the city council's hands and uh
you know, I'm all for it, but there's no rushing it. No, you know, I think we But I mean, is that something we can discuss with the solicitor? Don't we really need him for that? Yeah, I guess we can talk about that as well. You write that down, George? I'll put that on the agenda. And then and finally, um I have a person in Kate
May that has a and this is probably a hundred uh similar situations around Kate May. They have a maple that's growing in the uh the property line of their yard. Yeah. Which is where their fence is, their back fence. Their suggestion was,
you know, instead of going through the shade tree commission to have it approval to remove it and have go through the whole process to replace it, the tree is only maybe an inch and a half in in diameter. Uh would the shade tree commission be interested if we had
the money to replant trees from people's yards to the street? I mean, the cost would be to remove and replace or remove and replant, but we wouldn't have to pay for the trees. You want the trees on their property, not in the street. On the properties.
Yeah. Because on the property, they're going to have more room to grow compared to the little sidewalk path. These this particular uh tree is growing right next to the fence of a property line. So, at some point it's going to be it's going to be an issue, you know. So,
but then it's going to be an issue for the curbs and sidewalk. A a tree that's bought from a nursery, the root system is pruned on that tree about every six months. Oh, that makes sense. And that makes the ball. Okay. A tree that's just growing in the wild
might have one root coming this way, which is a a main route and one going So to try to transplant them, it's not worth it. It's not worth it. Most of the time they will not live. Well, that's good. I'm glad I brought it up because it's something I just learned. But I mean, if somebody has a
tree that's an inch in diameter that's in the property line, are we going to help them with removing it or are we going to maintain the same three inches? They can Yeah, they can remove it if it's not it's not up to size yet. All right, then I'll make that recommendation people. Yeah, I would suggest they do that when
it's still small because they don't stop growing. They they tend to love to grow on property lines, right? Yeah. Do they need those defenses? Do they should they still tell us that they're removing it even though it's if it's if it's a small enough caliper, they don't really have to. Okay.
You know, according to our ordinance anyway, that's the way our ordinance is written. So, thank you. Sure. Okay. So, can I do my new business? Sure. Well, wait a second. Wait. Yeah. Well, I just want to update about the memorial tree program. So, we've already worked with Shade Tree Subcommittee on
that. uh that'll be put forth in a ordinance coming up in the fall uh because it's going to be included with the memorial bench program. So when council tackles uh and the memorial bench program, the memorial tree program will be incorporated into one memorial
program for the city. Would we would the commission be able to see that before council votes on it? Sure. Just if but it's based on but it's based on what the subcommittee had worked on. But yeah, obviously we'll send it over to Thank you very much.
Thank you, sir. Commissioner York, you have Carol have something. I just had a couple things I wanted to bring up. Um, I thought about asking Connie to add the tree company's license number onto the tree removal
application, and I didn't want to do that without saying it to everybody on the commission to see if they were in agreement that that piece of information should be captured. I think that's a good idea. If you agree, then I will send Westgate May that they asked for that on
their applications. I'm surprised it's not on ours. Yeah. Yeah. That's one thing. Okay, that's good. I think I think the other three items are things that I encountered when I spoke to people about trees and I'm not sure if they are all covered underneath
the tree bank or an exception to the requirement to plant trees. So, I had one homeowner who um I approved to have the tree removed and he needs to plant two replacement trees and he wanted to
plant one tree on that location and he has another house in Kate May and he wanted to plant the second tree on the other location and I didn't see any reason why you couldn't spread it across properties but I didn't know whether that should be somewhere in the or
ordinance that it's okay to do that. Would you pref would it be okay to do a case by case basis? Yeah, I don't think you have to put that in code. That's that's something we But you do agree that it's okay for them to do that specifically. All right. So,
well, we don't specifically say that, but so I didn't want to. Um, the other one is if a tree is dead, do homeowners still have to plant two replacement trees? I don't believe so,
but I'm not quite sure about. Is that a prop? It's not specified. It's not. Yeah, it's not. That's something we're going to have to very vague. Yeah. And so, um, I think it should be a case by case basis as well. Okay. So, Oh, that mean I don't vote on it, but
that's just my opinion. Well, my thought is um the tree is in a backyard of um I don't know. I think it was a twin, so there's very little room to plant another tree and they already have like
about four pine trees in their backyard. Well, think about it in a general sense. If someone has a dead tree and we wave, they have a dead tree and this has to be removed. Do you want generally then to replace at least with one tree?
Uh looking at their backyard, there's really no place to put another tree. Well, I think it should be a case by case basis. Why we have a tree bank? Well, but there is no tree bank right now. Not yet. Not yet. So, and then we have to come up with the
details of that. So, um, so my opinion would be to say no harm, no foul. No tree, no no fee, no tree. Is that an application currently? Uh, it I approved the application to
take the dead tree down. Did we vote on it as a group? And I said I think it was on last month's agenda. I think it was Yeah, that was on last month's agenda. Well, I think if that's your suggestion, it should be a motion in a second.
I mean, I didn't I didn't I I said to them I would check out whether there was the requirement to re replace the tree. I knew there was no fee for a dead tree. I think you should formalize it and say you based on the space, you don't you're suggesting that they
don't have to replace the trees. Okay, sounds good. I think it should be done by a motion and a vote, though. Okay. So, I need to make the motion to Can I a further discussion? I like the case by case basis, but
wouldn't that all come up to the top during the appeals process because then they'll give you um here's the square footage of my backyard. I can't I can't make that happen. I think you're absolutely right, Jim. I think I think we should stick to the
rules and if they don't want to abide by it, they should appeal with the replacement of two. You talking about the two tree replacement? That means we stay consistent even if the tree is dead. Even if the tree is dead because that's I think that's hard and fast in our in
our bylaws or in our in our documentation. Even if the tree is dead, that's different than cutting down a a healthy tree. A healthy tree. But it's not in the code. That's the issue. Well, and and you're speaking for this person. I think if this person wants us to wave
the conditions, they should come to and appeal to us. The condition to replace with two trees. Yeah. Okay. Because we can say, "All right, well, we want the money or or we're sympathetic to the fact that your tree is dead and you didn't do anything to do it." Yeah.
They can appeal to be dying from lack of sunlight because you got too many trees in your back. Well, that's exactly Yes. Yes. So doing a case by case basis like he suggested. I think that's a great idea. Yeah. We we can't appeal for people on the floor. They have to come to us. Yeah.
Okay. All right. And so the other one I think we've already answered if there's limited space on the property to with two trees. It's the tree bank. The elusive tree bank. Oh, it's going to happen. That's Yeah.
Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Anything else? No. No. That's it. Thank you. Anyone else have any comments or discussion? All right. Well, at this time, I'll make a motion that we are finished with today's
meeting and uh motion to adjurnn. I'll make that motion. Or you made the motion. I made the motion. I'll second it. Okay. I think we could just do an all in favor. All in favor? I I fall asleep.
That was fun. Oh, the power. Oh, the power. You only did it once. You need a piece of filled on top of that thing. They used to have a little bell like they do in the in the stores. and I knew that that gavl was a bad idea.
I think we have to discuss this Karen. Thank you.