I hereby announce I hereby announce that this meeting is being held in accordance with chapter 231 of the open public meeting act. Proper notice of meeting dates has been given to the Morris County NewsB the Morris County Daily Record and posted on
the bulletin board in Burough Hall. Notice to staff. Uh notice to members of the shade tree commission and burough staff. Any use of electronic devices during this meeting shall be used solely for the purpose of burrow business. Roll call, please. >> Mr.
>> President, Mr. >> President. >> Mr. President. >> Mr. >> Here. Anyone have any comments regarding the minutes from the May 4th, 2026 meeting?
>> Good job doing them. Good work. >> I do not. >> I do not. >> I'm uh all okay with them as well. So, can I have a motion to approve the minutes? >> So, vote. >> Second. >> I second it.
>> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. uh open the part of the meeting for comments from the public. Uh seeing as there are none, I will
close that section of the meeting and move forward to the budget. Um so our our budget request did get approved. Uh so that's fantastic. Um the only thing that's still missing from
the the budget is the the POS for the serbo trees uh from the spring planting. Um and one line item needs to be moved around. I talked about that last month, but now with the amount of
work around for for this month, we'll get that all squared away for next month's meeting. Only communications that I have are just two. Um, just as always from the shade tree, just a thank you to the Boris Plains Road Department. Uh, they've been
watering once to twice a week when they have the availability to do so. So, really appreciate that. And, um, I was very excited the way this started, but it kind of simmerred down a little bit. post our shade tree article uh for
planes talk. We had two people ask for trees. I was like, "Wow, this is gonna come in hot and heavy." And uh that was it. >> Well, that's two. >> Well, I was like, "Oh, but we had two the first day. They're going to come flying in." But they did not after that, but hopefully uh
>> word of mouth. >> Word of mouth will get that going. That's >> nice. It was a nice article. and then uh moving forward to the lengthy foresters report for tonight. >> Thank you. All right, I'll try to go
quickly through these. Uh 2622 20 Greenwood Road pruning on that tree mostly all dead wood. That's a 12 to 24 inch prune. 2623
18 road large pinnoke that's a prune as well. 36 11 Sun Valley Way. I think everybody in council that tree. So that's a 24 to 36 inch removal and
the stump is the same size in that one. Going to 2625 8 Marsh Plains Avenue. Um that tree can be it's not in great shape, but I think there's enough bite we can prune it back and keep it going. So that's a 12 to 24 in prune.
And then 26 26 which right next door 10 March plans avenue same thing 12. Yeah. Thanks for you know kind of giving a good recommendation there. Obviously we don't want to lose those specific trees of air especially since that would
be really tough to replant that specific caliber in that small strip. So hopefully uh hopefully the pruning will take care of it and it could uh come back strong. >> They're both Those are maples. >> They're both maples. >> Oh, I'm sorry.
>> That's eight and 10 Mars Point. >> 2627 6 Drake Way. Uh, this is actually opposite the residents dead. It's a 24 to 36 inch P. >> Put a memo in today. There's an ash tree down the end too. I saw that all the way
at the end >> 14. >> Yeah, >> we did. Right. There's a memo. >> Yeah. No, I just want to let you know that there's another one. >> Do you know where Drake was? >> I did. Yeah, I did. I remembered it. >> I was surprised. How many people know where that is?
>> 2628 Simons Park. The trees of Malberry is just a kind of a late bloom this year. Looks fine. to do anything there. >> Good. >> Um, we might want to make a note couple of sugar maples along Mountain Way and
Simons along the fence there. Um, start to show dead in the canopy. Um, something you should look at in the future. They should come in fertiliz the very end of Simon's park way that first tree if you're
coming from Hover Avenue I I believe it's the first tree in Simons parking lot. Yeah, that's the tree right there. >> Yeah, I made a note of it. I could put some >> Okay. >> 262945
Canfield. Um I believe can handle that. >> I don't know. Came out of that's fine. But yeah, it's I mean you see this with a lot of trees starting to grow new shoots on the bottom. >> I think go through and trim it.
>> I don't know. Does anybody feel that we should leave it? Trim it. >> I absolutely think we should trim it. I mean, I've trimmed the ones on my street. The cherries on my street. Is it cherry that have the water? >> I think if I'm not mistaken, >> I I can't remember. Trim the cherries on
my street. >> Okay. >> I mean, Dave's the but every home. >> So, the homeowners don't do it, then we'll see. Maybe the homeowner >> it's not in front of the person who called the memo in the house. So
>> okay >> I believe right the person lives on Canfield but the the tree that's in the picture is on >> data. Yeah probably >> yeah on that street would be great.
2630. This was a duplicate memo. >> However, I'm just going to say that tree is not on property that is on school property way. >> Oh yeah.
>> Yeah. Okay, we're okay. We're still on >> Well, he just said 30 is a duplicate. So, now go ahead. 31. >> Yeah. >> So, that's a that's a small tree >> up a mountain way. Yeah. >> I It's not town property. >> And and the reason that's killed is they
keep putting three feet of mulch around. >> You're going to kill it. >> However, I have a thought. Okay. >> Sure. We need a project for the William Porter grant and we're working with the
school. So why don't we get work with the school to replace that tree, take it down and replace the three that will be our grant. I mean I just thought >> I'm not against that. When is the date for that very
>> she need to get it in by August. She said it last meeting. Okay. Look, you can double check. I mean, it would be something. Uh, it could make a real good presentation, I think, out of that. >> Um, I'll give a little grant update. So, we're working through the two want to
give us two proposals to look at that we're going to put together. We'll take a look at everything. They'll be out before the July meeting. We'll talk about it in July, get everything submitted for August. Um yeah, that so the the other thing too with at least with 2631
obviously there's that dead tree that's uh on granice that's on the school property um before anything's really done on the school property. Um I got to make sure it's okay with the school. I know the tree is dead, but I don't want to if it was planted by someone in some
type of memorial. I don't want to be blamed for ripping out someone's tree without >> speaking with everyone first. So, um I'll I'll find out about that. >> Could be a class. >> Yeah, I don't need
>> So, so just so there's two trees here. Sorry, I just want to make clear. So, the there's the tree that is the small tree that's along Grass. It's dead. I talked about it a while back. It has deer rub on it. Thought we said that wasn't ours. if it's just a DPW and they're going to work with the school to
but my other question is is it our uh jurisdiction or responsibility if it's um you know that tree as Frank says that the tree is way inside the boundary there so are we in terms of just in terms of budget you know is that
supposed to come out of our budget or is there a school grounds >> so I need to I need to find out more about that the little one obviously the road department can just pull >> right so that's not a big The other one I did mark it on here. I'm probably going to take that off of the total just because I want to talk to them about it
because to your point talking through it a little bit more. There's probably some type of budget that the school has for tree maintenance. >> I don't know. But but normally the schools are something that's carved out of our municipal land jurisdiction. We are not we do not have my understanding
from the sheetry ordinance we do not have jurisdiction over school grounds. um they have they have their own jurisdiction. Remember that the gentleman who takes care of the grounds came in a couple years back and and our what we said to him is well they're not our trees. Those are borrow school trees
and it's up to borrow school what they do with the trees. So if the trees are on school grounds it's not ours. I don't know how that's handled budgetarily but I just think we need to investigate that. So >> yeah and I'm going to look into that a little deeper and then I'm going to talk with the school as well. They might have
an idea. >> The uh the the one thing I got to tell you about Granwich Avenue, it's a wide street. So >> I saw that. Yeah. When I looked at the rightways after the styles stump and
it's Yeah. And especially on that northern side, it's >> Yeah. Because there used to be railroad tracks. >> Right. Right. >> So I can't see. That one's not as much a concern because that the DPW can take care of that.
>> Yeah, >> the big one in front of M way. >> Yeah, that's the 2632. I'll look into that. We'll scratch the 810 off the off the list there. >> I think well 2632. I think that's
obviously wait on that to find out. 2633 two old stumps at Park's 12 to 246 2634 opposite school view. It's kind of right behind the town sign there. It's a 12 to
24 in tree that's dead on that one. 2635 community park big dead oak tree coming up the the gravel path so it's a 36 plus removal
and the st36 that's drive I know that the worksh follow. >> Yeah, I put just kind of some information on here, but behind drive there's an easy run through back there.
I was just concerned about the trees that are back there just kind take a look there. So, that's something we'll take a look at moving forward. You seem to be in decent shape now. Yeah.
>> Just uh just just for my own edification, what's the easement for back there? It's kind of a I was trying to look is it a utility easement or >> drive between the houses back there?
>> It drains over the valley and >> so are the are the fences the roughly the boundaries there or because I was trying to look and What's what's whose property here? >> Unfortunately, it's not very well marked. There's no like
>> the the one house in particular where three is there's no more fence that's in between the two kind of properties. The one that's actually on Littleton is it's just kind of overgrown like brush. >> I didn't get out because the tree was
helping me. >> There were two little stakes at each corner that we just That might not be a drainage. It could be a reason. No, no, it is I think. Yeah, that's
definitely >> Okay. Thank you. >> It says you know it's >> okay. >> 2637 um 16 Hby. That's along the path
American road. >> So I think everybody a dead stream there. >> I missed it somehow, but I was at the end of my There's a lot of memos here. How many do we have? I don't know. >> It was the last thing I did. So, it's getting dark.
>> It's a big dead oak tree. It kind of hangs over the path. >> I don't know what >> watching a bird. >> Well, there's, like I said, it's a woods. It's actually >> the first time I miss something right in front of me. You can ask my wife.
>> You got walk around like this. the uh I'm suggesting actually just to prune the or top it. The reason is it's a big trunk and we have to take down underbrush to get rid of it and I think it's going to open up that the residence in that path.
>> So my thought is take it low below into the other trees. You won't even notice it. Rob definitely won't notice it. >> Um but I think that would be the best suggestion because I think we're going to put a huge hole in that. >> Yeah, definitely. You know that's at
least they'll be kind of back there. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I think when I went by there I was looking did they do utility work on the other side because there were cuts like way in like 30 35 >> is remember we asked the road department to
>> so they cleaned it up >> I was like wow >> plus you also noticed lights >> do they come through along the they come along the train tracks with the the helicopter they don't they have the helicopter
machine they just on the just on the train tracks >> just on the train tracks like whatever's like the closest and they don't really go out that was uh two last month or month before we got the notice from like JCPN that they were going to do just right along the uh
so that wasn't them that was DVW it was up pretty high for DVW I was surprised >> I I was too >> I thought we could get them to do some more work It stays in >> there's no power lines they got to worry about.
>> 2638. Um looks like this is for servo to take a look at replacing few trees. >> Yeah, this is the this is the four trees that we've identified from the plantings last year that need to be replaced. There's the one in community park didn't make it. uh one in
Portennial Park. Um that tree that we mentioned that was a memo from Kathleen Place. And then um if you're coming up Mountain Way from Canover or the other way, it's the first tree if you're coming down Mountain Way or the last tree if you're coming up Mountain Way.
Uh that's by the burrow school there by the road is uh dead. So there's four trees that uh need to be replaced there. >> I think I I had mentioned this, but I know I sent you a bunch of items in the email, Mike, but there's at least two of those trees that have like pretty if
especially if you go to the backside, which is overgrown now. So, >> yeah. >> But I went in there before and start and they have pretty severe deer rub on them. One of them is almost halfled. >> Oh, in in community park. >> Yeah. On the hill. >> So, I think the deer were rubbing on
those. And so I think we want to get some kind of fencing or something on them because um my understanding Dave correct me if I'm wrong but if it goes all the way around the tree the tree's done >> most likely >> they replace it maybe ask >> I think these are ones that weren't
>> does that mean we need to have additional are they going to charge us or >> if anything if there's any forgotten >> I mean I would like to see it on all of to be honest. >> Yes, >> because I think the deer are very active
right there. >> Yep. Totally with you. >> Thanks. >> Uh 2639's 25 North View. Um we looked at this last year with the res. >> Yep. Last year. And my pictures are from like
few weeks ago. >> Okay. But I I mean as of right now, I don't think there's anything that needs to be addressed. We DPW did a little bit of some dead stuff that was back there last year. Um this up on Northview Drive uh behind this property there's like a huge kind
of wooded area that's like a green acre that's owned by the town up there. So it just obviously kind of you know residents have concern you children. So I just told them not an issue keep an eye on you know take a look this
2640. This is that 14 Drake way. Um dead ash. It's 24 to 36 in take down. I don't get the grindstone. >> I believe that's it. >> When I look there, I think there could be a couple other trees that need some
dead look at it. >> Now, how far off the road? I would think you probably go about uh let me think let me think probably eight
>> 8 to 10 ft off the road. >> Yeah. Yeah. But you see you got to look at it. This is >> I want you to I want this is crazy. There's another crazy way is is >> I know I was out tonight.
>> That's why I'm doing it because no one would believe me. Of course. >> There's a big come up here and I'll show you what I'm talking about. >> Okay. 11. Oh, look at it.
>> You see this? Here's the road >> 15 foot east. You see that little line off of the road? >> Yeah. >> So, when you go from here to here, you're bigger. >> Okay. So, in the beginning is not >> No, in the beginning. >> Halfway. Okay.
>> So, I know offic I'll take a look. Okay. >> I don't I didn't see it. I just saw it. But these here as you can go from the end up to I don't know. >> Okay. All right. Perfect. Thank you. >> The ashtree was tall and if it fell the
wrong way, it could fall a house across the street. So that was right. That's what I get here. >> And then we just had one other item just looked at the worksheet. Um, eight overlook uh trail. This was on the worksheet. It was from memo 2609.
Uh, we waited for this to kind of green in. Greened in way better than we expected. So that was very good. So it's a 24- 36 inch. >> We put that in the total. >> Yep. So um the total originally for for
everything was uh >> 9910. We're going to strip out the um >> the 2632 which was the 810 from the school. So we're going to be 91 flat for this one. >> Yep.
>> I have a motion to approve the forers report. >> So move second. Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Sure.
>> We had a call from a res607 >> 29. >> Yeah. The tree in front of her house is being taken down and she's not going to >> Is that the dead the woman was dead?
>> We We spoke She called we and we spoke to her. My guy spoke to her. >> We started taking it down and she panicked. >> So we stopped and they >> Is that the one that's not that far down from the water utility lot? Like it's
only a couple down on the right side. Correct. >> Yeah, >> that tree was >> we Yeah, that tree was the whole top was dead. >> Yeah. So, we I mean it was on the purchase order, >> right? >> Did you um Did we talk to her about getting a replacement tree? >> We did not.
>> I mean, maybe it's not you, but maybe >> this is >> Yeah. So, the tree was done, but she she paid, but there's no room for a tree there because you have to trees >> because she has one. >> Yeah. So, I don't know if there's room for one else. does have she does have a
lot of fur big mature spruces in the front again >> and some of the I can't forget >> I don't remember which house it a lot of that one side of Silvin is kind of like pitched at the front so it's a little
tough for a tree but we'll take a look and this was 27 or 29 >> 29 go or the house they're taking the house Oh, there's a lot >> How far?
>> Maybe three or four houses from >> Yay. >> But let me go back. Can I go just back to the worksheet? Mhm. >> So you can take eight over look and you can take off the park at Lowe's.
>> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Okay, moving forward to old business uh grants. Kind of touched on this a little bit when we were going through the memos. Uh with the William J. Porter grant application coming up that's due
in August. Uh we're working with the school to have two proposals put together. So we'll be looking at that in July. during July. >> And just to give an update, it's already done. Sorry. >> Yeah. No, >> just to give an update on the uh green
communities grant, I have a draft of the application written. Um I shared it with Kelly and Mike and we're uh going to meet hopefully soon to um talk about that. It's not um completely written because there's some things that need to get uh built in from the town like this.
But I I drafted something so uh so they can take a look at it and uh then we'll sort of we're going to meet on Zoom hopefully soon. Um and and we'll go from there. >> Perfect. Okay. >> Right. I don't have anything else from
old business. Uh moving to new business. Does anyone have anything? I just wanted to ask uh one thing a small but uh so when we get these new trees planted from Serbo I think it's a good idea if we have some
you know I don't want to overdo it but uh requirements because there's been uh the depth that they've been planning them at um but we had problems with them planning in the wrong place so hopefully that won't happen again. So, I just
think that we need to kind of we need to spell out sort of, you know, here's what here's what our expectation is. We expect it to be and I don't know, maybe Dave is willing to say the spring was a little bit better because I did ask someone to have a little conversation with them and I think it did. Well,
thanks for >> it did go a little bit better that way >> because I was noticing even, you know, there's a there's a a tree over on um Canfield that we planted years ago and it hasn't really taken off as much as I would would have hoped it would anyway.
Um and the dirt's mounded very high on it and I don't think the homeowner did that because it's dirt. It's not mulch. So, so I don't you know, most homeowners aren't going to mount dirt on top of a tree. So I just I worry that maybe we're not uh you know monitoring the guys who come here as closely and as I've said
before it's not Frank I'm not saying anything to you. I did some of those too. So but I just think now that we're better informed we need to make sure that and we've seen that some of them have died back and stuff and even some of the ones in community park they look pretty stressed to me in my eye. I know you know it was a weird spring. So, I
just want to, you know, we can't control everything, but let's control the things we can control >> and make sure that they're planted at the right depth, that they're getting watered right. >> I think I think they know how to plant trees. Really? >> What do you think? >> The Canfield tree that I went by
Campfield today and look pretty good. >> I will say like the >> most of the trees look a couple that's kind of normal. >> Yeah, the Dave the conversation that he had with them I think helped with I think it's point to stay on top. >> Yeah.
>> Because you know what? They all get complacent at the end of the day. Where's the dirt go, >> right? They don't want to put the dirt back in the truck because it's, you know, a pain to move the dirt. And if you have a larger caliper tree, it's a lot of dirt. They're planting 25, 30 trees. >> That's big buckets full of dirt that
they got to take, right? So, what they do is they spread it around the base of the tree. But like, you know, Frank, I just got to say to you, like, you know, believe you were my lion eyes. Like, I had a tape measure over there. Um, you know, and it's it's I showed Mike. It's
seven inches. >> Seven inches of dirt, you know, below almost nine inches, I think it was. >> Yeah. That that first tree and that's what the example that Dave and I used when I showed him. And >> it's not a criticism of you in any means because if I were there, it could have been me, too. But now that we know, I
think we need to just moving forward try and make sure we do a better job. >> Yeah. No, absolutely. And that's the example that Dave and I used that we looked at. >> Yeah. But >> just to be like, hey, just friendly reminder, don't go so deep. Don't put the dirt up
so high. And it does kind of boil down to them leaving the dirt there, which we've addressed with them as well. >> I mean, we've gone not so much in town, but a lot is true. We use an air spade. I'm familiar with that. Um so basically just getting rid of all this excess dirt
mulch and everything that's what happens encourage roots growth around the trunk of the tree. So we've seen trees that don't move either the growing roots or they can't get outside the root ball because that's so compacted clay. So we've been using a lot of air does quite a job. >> So do you think I mean we don't need to
have them airated but do you think that we could you know say to them hey you know like because what I read tell me what you think about this. some of this maybe you weren't you were on vacation or something but is that when they take the tree out of the ground the dirt
often times compacts around the trunk right so that then it's it's still there so that when they plant it they need to excavate that down till you get to the root layer part of the trunk so that and then they can see what level so they think they're planting at that level but really there's two three inches of dirt already there
>> generally comes from the nursery that dug like that because they use mechanical they're not hand so point compresses it, protects your soil. The only problem is once like it's a fine line, a couple inches is all right. Eight, nine inches unacceptable. The problem is once you pull back the
burlap, you start removing that, it loosens up the root ball. Then you get trees that are like this. Sometimes they don't take even with staking. So it's kind of a fine line of how much dirt you really want to, you know, excavate. But if they're planting out great from the nursery, you know, an extra inch or
two, I'm fine with that. Um, but again, Okay. Well, so thanks so much for talking to them. I appreciate that. >> Yeah. No, I mean because like I said, I think we have a good relationship like to continue with them, but it's not going to be what we need or want. >> Sometimes they can get complacent if it's every year we contract with them.
So, a little bit of a shadow about to say, "Hey, you know, we are watching what's going on here and we we want to make sure you're doing it right." >> Yeah. So, no, I'm more than happy to speak to them. >> Thanks so much. Um I don't just a friendly reminder to everyone uh the July meeting is July
13th. It's not the kind of typical first Monday. We've moved July meeting out just because of kind of the Fourth of July holiday with people weighing things. So the next shade tree meeting is July 13th. >> I don't have anything else. So if no one
has anything else, I'd like a motion to adjourn this meeting. >> So moved. voice. >> Sorry for coming late, guys. Apologies. Thank you.