Go for it. This call to order the February 5th meeting of the Ocean Township Commission with a roll call person which is me. I'm here >> here.
>> Member Ket is not here yet. He's not coming tonight. >> Okay. >> He's in the Canary Islands. >> Okay. >> Jealous. >> That's some excuse. >> Okay. Anyway, member Gordon, he hasn't called in. Member Karns,
he mentioned to me voting would be on. Um, alternate here and alternate Armstrong >> here. Okay. So, that gives us enough for a quum. to call the meeting to order. The notice requirements of the open public meeting
law for this meeting have been satisfied. Copy of the annual notice was sent to the ASB park press and the coaster posted in town hall involving office of township clerk on June 23rd 2025. This meeting will be recorded and available on Ocean Township's YouTube channel.
So uh there were minutes passed out uh through email for the meeting of which was our last meeting December 11th. So does anyone have any comments or is anyone going to confess that they actually read them?
>> Okay. I read two amazing >> and I was in but I marked as a present. >> Oh where I'm sorry you're in the wrong spot. >> Okay. That's good. I like that.
>> So, um, so any comments or anyone want to make any motions about those minutes? >> The one thing in the minutes, um, in my comments about the community forestry management plan, I'm saying that's about 26 pages, but that's before the appendices. It goes up to like 157. So
might just put in all four appendencies there just for accuracy if anybody's reading the minutes. It's not 26 pages. >> Okay, sounds good. >> Any other thoughts? Any want to make any motions for
the minutes? I'll >> second. Okay, got all in favor? I Okay, >> so the minutes are approved. Now we're ready for the usual highlight of our meeting. Mr. Brooks want to welcome We want to welcome our
new council representative. >> Thank all of you. >> Thank you so much. >> This is your first meeting and I hope it's not going to turn out to be your guest. You know what I mean? yet
to come. Just keep getting better. >> Okay. So, uh Mr. Brooks, uh entertain us. Now, we you we need two months worth nothing, you know, of information. >> Pretty simple. The weather has shut down new construction.
>> No pun intended. >> Yeah. Ever since the glac ever against since the glacier landing. >> Yes. >> Um Aspen Tree is in town. They are doing that trimming the subtransmission line 34,500 volt line that runs down along
the New Jersey Transit Railroad corer >> and there is a stub blade on that. I'm not exactly sure where it goes through short distance of street where it ties in the other one and then continues in the Aspbury substance. No idea when
they're will be done because they're very slowed up because of weather. It's just really really difficult. Um there is ongoing construction but it's basically the excavation removals have all been done. Everything else is just
point and as you can imagine the incidence of new tree permits is about one every third day maybe which gives me time to get other things done for which I'm grateful. Um there will be
um line clearance trimming done this year, but those contracts have not gone out for bid yet. I have been told that the bulk of it is to the east of Mro. So we'll see when that shows up. I have
no idea who's doing it here. >> I thought last year they did it, right? >> They did. there. This is not nearly the scope of the last two-year fail. It's I would be surprised if it's 60% of what they did last year, which was fairly
extensive. >> The biggest thing is this uh subtransmission line in terms of >> circuit security and that's important. >> It's sooner or later something's going to happen with that bridge construction >> and that will require rrooting some uh
poles and lines for the construction. >> Bridge This is the one that goes into >> it's on my neighborhood >> and and they've been told by the county they know where the bridge is going and how far they have.
>> They have already identified the trees that are coming out. >> I cut a couple for the power. >> Yes. >> I I did attend one of the stakeholder meetings that they had. I was very disappointed in First Energy's presentation frankly because they didn't have their engineer and because he was
sick they kept the meeting and yet they weren't able to answer the most basic of questions like diameter, base diameter, height of poles and then they their summary on alternatives. You always have to do alternatives for for any kind of project. They out of hand dismiss some alternatives and just try to use words
like crackout. And I've worked on I've worked on these kinds of projects for many years. I think it was very I did send comments to the Green Acres and I sent comments to >> that's going to >> that's going to be a metal pole. >> I don't know if they're going to put one
of those large poles like there's one onco. >> Yes, I thought >> but that one is right >> seven foot base. I got to look. >> But that's that's because that's right where that subtransmission line makes a turn. And what they're finding out
apparently is the oldfashioned wooden pole. They're having failure unacceptable failure rates throughout the country. So they're going to this but if it's in your front yard like the Eiffel Tower just >> well and the real question was how do
you cross stem line through HD? There are a lot of other alternatives and they're choosing the least expensive alternative without giving too. >> That is the answer right there. I understand and I've been in I' I will be continuing to show up with stakeholders.
>> I don't think they'll move um >> and at least have some remediation. What are they going to do around it? >> The other thing I want to point out is I have been asking homeowners that are taking their three allowed trees out to consider
putting trees back even though it's not required. And we're doing reasonably well. you know, I would say it's not 50%, but it's approaching 50%. You know, yeah, I don't have any problem with that.
>> So, how can we support you in that bill? Is there materials that would be really helpful? >> No, this is something I've really only just started in the last eight months. But when you know, especially if they're taken, they have a lot of dead trees and a lot of it's due to disease, which we have out in town, and they're they'll
take their lives out. Would you consider putting something back? It's only going to help your property value and you don't. And I give them a list of smaller trees, >> not >> not 20 foot ornamentals. No, nope. >> I'm kidding.
>> Bamboo before we let that >> um but trees are more appropriate maturity for these smaller and they seem to be. >> That's great. Well, since education is part of the community forestry management plan goals that we want to work on, >> we we you know that's going to be we're
going to want to create and maybe have something that >> I'll I'll get another ring binder and put in where I'm successful just see >> maybe preparing some brochures. >> Exactly. And I'm sure we don't have to reinvent. >> No, no, there I mean I've seen I've seen
documentation on increasing property value >> and and getting toward that 30% copy. >> That is the goal >> which you don't even tell them about. You just go ahead and do it and then Oh yeah, >> you're just getting it. Now, we did
have, as far as Tracy can remember, we actually had a field panel convened by Mr. Brown for denial of removal of a significant specimen tree. This was a 152 amp year.
Um, Big Red Oak and everybody, the panel was Colleen Mayor who is the director community development. Julia >> Sant's
married. She's got a new new >> Julia who's the chairman of the >> uh environmental commission and then Mr. Higgins who is the director of public works. The appeal was shot down. >> Nice. >> They denied it.
>> But and this is a big problem. So we told him and we gave him suggestions. Shrink the pool, shift the pool a little bit. Reduce the size of your walkway, deck, whatever you want to call it outside the pool coping.
Made no commitment at the meeting. It was very cordial, very civil. He was very professional. He said he doesn't have it didn't have it on the market, but he didn't think he could sell it. And you know everybody said look you're the ordinance spec
specifically states loss of lot yield profitability all the things is not considered to be considered extraordinary or compelling but he came back 24 hours later and said
I am going to put in the pool that I've been approved for. >> So where's the >> So they're going to end up killing it that way though. There you go. >> What was the circumference on that? >> It significant threshold is 3661
and this one was over 40. So it was >> wow >> it was diameter >> 40 40 inch deviation that's measuring 54 off the ground. >> The ordinance the ordinance does you know penalize him if he does anything wrong.
>> I do understand all that. I was going to be too late. The tree will be dead and it's a beauty. >> You can't you can't revoke a permit if you say >> no it's been approved. >> So you can't retroactively >> No, you can't. >> But what should the clear what should the distance be?
>> Well away. Let me let me let me >> So Colleen tied this thing up tight. >> Yeah. >> You know the true protection fence scene will go in, >> right? And I'm the one picking the distance.
>> And I'm going to ask for snow fence on steel posts, not that orange stuff. So not down. >> And I suggested to him because it is so sandy there is relatively high.
It's weird. So to get boring, see where these roots are because since there's doesn't appear to be a clay cap anywhere in the soil over there. Clay cap keeps the water up higher
and very little top soil over there. Very, very sandy. So in all probability, those feeder roots are much deeper than they might be where a tree is in a like out in the middle of one of the golf courses where there's a lot of top soil,
there's been a lot of nutrient introduced. So, we may have a much smaller critical root zone that we might have in better soil. So, I suggested getting somebody with an air spade, which is pretty cool tool.
Well, basically it blows the dirt off. It's nondestructive excavation. It's pretty cool. It really is pretty cool. >> So, it basically drills a hole. >> No, it just it blows the dirt away. >> It just the roots
>> and it just does it. And now they have it where it has a vacuum attached to it. So, you don't have dirt over 26 neighbors homes. >> Yes. And it fractures it. So, it really leads itself to mixing with organic
matter. What? But he is required to tell us who is doing the work, describe the work. She told me going to be there twice a day. I've already been over there checking it every morning on my way in and every night on the way out. >> What's the address here?
>> 152. So we thought we had a win, >> but then it brought out a big disconnect between the construction department and this because this was a It wasn't a board approved action.
>> So if it was this is where it come. They're supposed to locate every tree over six. Sometimes that doesn't happen. But I don't see them. >> So we're trying to come up with a some sort of program where, you know, they're
thinking more about these bigger trees. Hey, go out and take a look at it. See if any of these are significant. Right? So the the appeal process worked, but the framework for the other stuff was a disconnect. So we have to find a
way to attempt >> to bring them in to you know, >> right? Not stop. >> Well, close the loophole. >> Yeah. >> Even though it wasn't intentional, but he's doing what he's allowed to do. So you have to be very, very careful as to
how you restrict them. But we can restrict the things that are delineated in the ordinance which is drip line of the tree or in this case what we may if we can determine critical root zone of the tree which may be much
much tighter in which case there's a good chance that they don't make it. Um, and I also uh said calling in a paragraph stating that I wanted to know what kind of
preconstruction mitigation they intend to do to strengthen the root system of the tree and then post construction, what are they going to do to increase inject stuff into the soil is the short course. >> Well, he said he wants to sell the house.
So, well, that's what kills me. >> Well, this was brought out that you don't have to have a swimming pool, nor does >> and he gave us all the arguments. >> No, no, but I'm saying what if two years later the tree dies, >> he's responsible. >> Even though he sold the house.
>> Yes. >> Okay. >> And it's like it's like a variance transfers of the house. >> What is the what is the financial transfers of the house responsible for the home? The the builder is responsible for a period of two years. It says in
the ordinance that if the actions destroy the tree, which is how they refer to it, builder is liable. >> What is the liability? >> Well, it would be the same. So, the fine would be the $2,000, which is the max.
Um but then he would have to plant the appropriate number of trees or pay the appropriate funding. >> Okay. They go up in steps. The smallest one 6 to 119 is $750 and then each
increment over that adds one tree. >> So but the multiplier is 750. So if you have a tree that's over 40 in that's five new trees. >> Okay. or a payment of $3,750 into the Shade Tree trust fund. But
there can be a combination. In other words, if you don't have room to put five and you can plant three and pay two, we try and get as many trees as we can. >> I I hope we can coordinate permitting with trees. >> I don't Well, I'll be somewhere down
south and all that, but the poor bastard just got to straighten it out. um we don't have any provision test and I don't know that you want to get into that because then you might be opening yourself up to disease that could come in and take a tree out very
very quickly and it might have had nothing to do with construction. You do the two years you could probably defend that in court and I did take pictures of this thing and there is evidence of plant tree maintenance over a period of
time. You based on the rate of callus formation which is covering over the cuts >> and there are different stages different spots. So it's been done you're looking at canopy in the tree you know no water shoots no cross branches no suckers minimal dead work so this tree was taken
care of. So to amplify Patty's comment that you may not have heard, how how do we prevent in the future giving permits to such things? >> This is something that I've spoken to Colleen about and she recognizes it. It's probably going to be a question of
educating the folks in the construction office who look at this and ensuring that all of the trees are in fact located on the surveys that come in and by and large I think that number is
pretty good. I don't think it's, you know, is it 70% or or better? Probably. this one unfortunately you know number but you know we thought we had them but >> was this not on the permit was this not
on the plan >> I do not know >> you know like if it's not on it >> but it excuse me it could have been on the plan but they didn't realize the >> correct that's the problem because >> not to diminish Eric he's doing a good
job down here but he doesn't go look at one and go oh that's close for that species because doing a stamp now. >> Theoretically, it should have said it was >> Well, yes, it should have, but I have no idea if it did. >> I'm saying, let's move on.
>> Yeah, that's enough out of me today. >> And try to prep a couple of little things here. Okay. Okay. So, the next item is the New Jersey urban and community forestry annual report. Actually, it's called the annual accomplishment.
And that's where you you basically every year you talk you talk about what you spent on various things and what things you accomplished and so on. So for what did you do harbor day which was hopefully have some trees given we didn't really have an harbor day program uh in the community forestry management
plan now there's a lot of stuff about day and so on so we still have to do so we need to look into that more in the future but that report so I'm gathering data one of the pieces of data I'm gathering is all the people on the
commissions that have worked on anything that relates to trees trying to give me some estimate of how many hours they did things, you know, metro meetings count and they just it's not like they're crit being critical about things and some but to get those things but how many
trees did we plant? How many trees came down? We didn't plant too many trees, you know, and I got I don't know if some stuff I got from recreation. I think they had the golf course. I think they had eight trees in one operation
that got taken down something like that. They paid for that. so and uh and so on and so forth. So, so that report uh is due next week and it shouldn't be a major problem getting
when I put it all together and you see what kind of lies I told you. So, enjoy. But it's but but it's what it is is it's a good thing and and the people in the they're the people who see the community
for management plan and so on and so forth which I've got something to relate to that but it's difficult to get when we get to the agenda and um and that's where we where we stand uh that now the u there's a shri
commission planning committee which was in cooperation with the environmental commission so on and so forth that Patty has been And um so uh all of those hours for example, you know, no training, you know, I sent the
thing out to both commissions. They ask me for hours, but Patty's not going to give me any numbers that I can see. Although my uh I got to figure what's going on with my Gmail account. Turns out things don't everything's going to my inbox. certain things go I got invited to my
grandson's bar mitzvah and I did not get the invitation >> because it went to important or uh or some other blooming so you got to go to all >> but that's that's I got to figure out a way there's got to be some way to signify what's up one bottom line is
it's pain >> so anyway uh so so so Patty anything to report >> uh that that committee as the meetings was the comprehension of the comprehensive forest management uh so that you know that was
subcommittee that basically for background that was a committee that was meeting uh subcommittee of shri that had members of environmental commission it had Patrick Sullivan from schools it had uh Stephen Higgins pen and myself um
Angel um Angelie Bax from and Julia Valente. Uh so basically we figured out first what we didn't have and we didn't have a tree canopy was sandy and there were a lot and we didn't have the stakeholder information. We didn't have current storm water information. So we
met all the stakeholders including sewer authorities and and you know just everyone's wersheds and public as well and we're able to figure out what it was we needed. So when we hired it, when we got a consultant with the grant, we were all he was up and running and that gave
us all the information we needed then to be able how we're going to manage the trees we have better as well as being able to then create a country and but in the interim we have >> see there's problems we have it's not
just generic with the fact that and especially in residential neighborhoods if we want to plant trees on tip property which is what the shade tree commission is responsible. >> Okay, there are there aren't any places you can plant. I bet they would survive.
Okay, those giant trees you see between the curb and the side at the curb at the sidewalk which is now in some places two feet higher than put in some and so forth. It's not good. Okay. >> Yeah. So, one of the things we look we'll look at some other stuff here uh that we want to we're trying to come up
with a way to possibly have a way of planting trees on private property. A friend of mine lives in Trio Township requested a tree. He got a tree and they said, "Okay, now we take care of they may have some agreement they sign on
take care of themselves." But we something like that is the only way to really get our residents residential neighborhoods back treat. There's other places that the town owns properties and so on and so forth. >> And there's some we manage with the
state, some of our blue properties. So there's there's quite a few things we can do. >> Okay. So wait a minute. So that's uh that's what Okay. So then we have the uh another thing is we which we got we've got all our we have this New Jersey urban and community forestry. One of the
main things that that has it has it provide it provides protection from the town if we sort of told someone not to take a tree down so on and so forth. We've got urban community forestry accreditation
then we uh we're covered from some stuff like that. So >> liabilities >> liabilities. Now by the way for what it's worth I'm going to send out I got to send out a thing. There's there's a couple of places that have um
things that you can use to get continuing education. Okay. There's a bunch of different things you can use. One, two of them. One's called Backyard Forestry and the other one is called forget the name of the one comes out of University of Massachusetts. One comes out of some New Jersey tree
>> is New Jersey Tree Preservation or New Jersey Tree Federation. >> New Jersey Tree Federation, I think. But the point is there's two of them that have these things and one of them had it was actually the third one that they had for that. was called something like street trees and the law and it had
three examples of for some people the municipal trees, private property trees, >> you know, and people, you know, they gave examples where the people were not liable because they had been taking care of the trees, maintaining them and so on and so forth, right? But we we have not
we have not really been doing that since protective or not. We we've had some significant trees as Bill tells us some horror stories every so often, you know. >> And um so we we we need to have a better program just in general which we have to
work up with council the manager >> um to have a bigger program to maintain trees over the >> I'll talk to you independently about that. >> Can I can I interject I was ridiculous Dave Brown and he informed me so sh that
in process and you know moving bill that work under DPW for better coordination basically for so that there's better coordination so part of what the work that they are doing so they're they're aware of it and trying
to get the ship in order okay well we you know but one of the things just is u what are we doing and how you know one of the things that I'll just mention briefly because you may not be aware but right Now, the way the ordinance is written, I don't think we're
you can >> tell the person that giant tree in front of your house, you have to pay to take it down. It's dead. You have to pay to take it down as opposed to the whole town sharing the cost of that because it's a town street really. >> That's where the ordinances come. Things like that
>> between the between the sidewalk and >> so anywhere in the rightway, >> right? Well, yeah. because very often that's 10 feet on the other, you know, it can be quite a ways in on the other side of the sidewalk. Yeah, my my my street it's a whole foot
and a half but uh something. Okay. So I just sort of wanted to extend that. Okay. So then we have the uh so anyway so to get the continuing education units you know there's various things you can get various things this year. It turns out Jean based on the courses that he's been
required to take he his came in handy. But these things are very educational you know and we should and you don't have to be on the commission or anything. anyone who is a resident in the town takes one of these courses and um you know like uh
forgot her first name but the garden club president so what's it called >> Diane Diane it's getting old but anyway she has been taking some various courses over the last few years we got credit for them and so on
>> you don't have to get a lot >> but some of them are actually interesting >> yeah And a lot of them virtual, so they're really they do it over lunch. It's really lovely. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Because you have to you have to take the live one, but then a lot of them will then they they've got a library and they're good. People should watch some of those.
>> But um you have to two people have at least two people and you get a total of eight CUS which is at lunch and every year I say let's get started. Ken and I took something early in the year and then that was it. he retired or something like that and so suddenly
at the end of the year I was like uh oh >> right and Nor is very good about sending around what these opportunities are >> I get some emails from a couple and I just send them out I'll put you on >> I watch stuff when I can't sleep at night almost all the time so
>> veteran has a one of them has it at lunch time and the other one I've already watched one man, so I'm sure it's got to be at least that exciting
that there's one coming up on >> and some of those and most by the way I was going to say that but these people at community forestry they're it's not like they're teacher with the stick you know ready to be they want to help you they want community success
you know they so it's almost anything that makes some sense they'll give you credit as well good education for us at the same time >> it was good to learn every day >> so that so that's where that states okay then we had the community for
management plan that got mentioned okay every five this every plan is a fiveyear plan >> right >> okay and the last plan was about a 10-year plan because combination of two things co hit >> but as much as that they We're trying to change the structure and what the plan
was was going to do for everybody. So also the combination of those things to getting an automatic state, right? But our year we had to have it in by the end of the year, >> right? I remember I had asked that >> and oddly enough and oddly enough the
first year of the plan is that year that you write it, >> right? >> Which of course to me make really makes no sense. >> It didn't make any either. And by the way, for the record, we are one of the first towns in the state to get in under
the new the new guidelines of the compreh >> when I sent it in on December 31st at at 9 p.m. It wasn't quite that >> it was very close though. No, some people are buddies.
>> But anyway, so we got it in but we got it in now and and Donna just gave me this. Okay, so they've been reviewing. They've got a kind of they give you they tell you what the checklist is that they're going to do whatever they do and I haven't read this yet but
the basic thing says that we've reviewed your plan and want to commend us for what we've done. Okay. But uh to make it comp to bring the plan into compliance with the current guidelines, amendments are required. >> Okay. >> Okay. To review for blah blah blah, you know, so
>> so please send it. >> Whatever it is, I haven't had a chance to look at it yet, but I'll uh >> it doesn't look like too much. >> I haven't seen it. >> It's only a couple pages >> and and the person who we hired as a consultant is on the book to do it. >> Yeah. >> So, we have to send it to
>> send it to it probably back in a day. Okay, looks like they got a bunch of X's on the checklist. Okay, for example, an X must mean we had it in there, right? So, here's one we didn't have. >> It says maps including at a minimum community extent and boundary canopy
cover, land use, land cover, extent of overburden EI communities. >> We have as a map >> as a combin >> I'm just saying that's I'm just saying that's what's >> all right. Well, that's that's a tech thing. He's going to have to
>> describe flight plan connections such as master plan, storm water management plan, open space plan, emergency response, wildfire protection, >> whatever it is. So >> I'll I'll look at it and then I'll scan it in and then I'll ship it.
>> Yeah. people in town are going to other people in town who would be a student to what this is. I'm sure that the storm water management this is one of the things they mentioned that mentioned this. I don't know if you'll remember is how much more complicated it
is now and how much it is intertwined. So when that storm water management plan comes up, they're going to be looking for a lot of our your information regarding the trees. So they'll pull it out of that. So maybe copy and paste and you know not that I'm very good at that but
>> but that is probably what they're doing. As long as you're talking about trees I promise really quick. Donna had a great idea. Got 12 months in a year. Plant 12 trees a year. J tree plants parks wherever. >> It's a start. You're not putting anything in the ground.
>> Do it. >> No, we're going to put things in the ground. Well, yeah, but but this this is a very easy way to do it >> and plant them so that certain trees you got your spring call, you know, color, everything else, certain other plants
will give you year round stuff. It's a great idea. >> So, she gets credit for that one. It's a starting point with it. >> Help us when the ground's kind of snow covered.
>> Sure. by pointing out that. So anyway, um Right. So >> So you'll email that. You got it via email. >> No, right. I didn't get it as an email. It came these came in as letters, right, Donna? >> Yes, it came in after I left. I just got
that. So there's no digital >> I have it on my email. Could you forward? I will forward it to you tomorrow. >> Oh, you have this as an email? >> Yes, I did. Yeah, send it to me. I just printed it out as a notes. >> I just printed it out so you could see what I have. >> Okay, we have it. So, okay. So, we do
have it as a >> Yes, I have it in my email. >> All right. So, we'll send it out to to a number of people >> and uh and we'll have to share with Ted. >> Yeah, he's may have all that finger >> and he's contracted to fix any of the
changes that are required as part of his contract. >> Right. Right. You know what I'm saying? So, we'll shift that into >> Yeah. He may have questions about some of that and they'll call the D and say what exactly do you >> Yeah, I sent it to the council. We'll send I'll send it out to
>> Ted wants to keep up on what the requirements are anyway. >> So he can do others, >> right? >> This is a learning experience for everybody because nobody has seen the way the D is going to react to this. This is the first goound. >> Yep. Right. This is the first year of
people being on develop new guidelines. as funny as >> we've always we've always been ahead of the curve in terms of what the state I don't volunteer to be ahead of the curve by this >> by the way I slight aside my one of my
my dear one of my closest friends and my old boss is now at the D and my coworker is now secretary kind of deep. >> Run, Forest. Run. >> I do I do know these people very
It's kind of funny, but it's a bizarre new administration. >> So, possibly there may be some resignations at the top very soon once Patty gets there. >> No, you know, I'm not there now. I'm just going in their side now. >> That was my point. That was
>> good. Well then, you know me well. >> Anyway, okay. Okay. So, Patty also has put together something something new that she shared with me today and she came up with a list of potential candidates for tree planning etc etc
etc. >> Some of which some of which may be easier to do. >> Do you want me to share that with people? >> Yeah. >> All right. Well, I have comments. I can share it with people. This is just a draft outline and this is based on
>> this is based on stakeholder information CFMP. We had maps with all kinds of >> uh you know pins in them and where and everything that we considered here had to do with overburdened communities, heat islands,
storm water management and had to basically check all of the boxes to even be considered. So the first part is possible uh planning uh uh projects uh some of which are private part would require private partner um private public partnership
and the last piece is ordinant changes and working with streets which would require coordination with the environmental commission as well as planning and zoning who are saying that they want to have trees be foundational the work they're doing for that as well.
So these would be in coordination with say you know you did an adopt a tree program and getting people to plant trees on you know their side on private property on their side of public right away then that be part of the complete
streets program. So we don't have to do this in a vacuum. It actually works better if we do it in coordination. So that's why this is in two different sections. I did show this to Jay Brown and he was uh he seemed pretty excited about it. But this is part of a process.
I'm a firm believer that everything we do, this is just an outline, but everything we do, we take back the public and more stakeholder meetings. But this is only possible because of the work with the comprehensive price. Now Chris one just
>> I mean Johnson lives right near I don't know I don't know how big those areas are >> the blue acre property I'm referring to is the one that's dusties of like the sewage authority and behind the senior citizen the one where they had to move buildings because it's flooding it's that area.
>> Oh that was the okay that's >> and that is actual blue acres land. >> Okay. So we and there are D grants to make those blue acres grounds into parks and recreational areas. It would mean it would mean uh and I talked over the last
year. This is one of the ideas that people brought forward about you fixing up the gazbo. You don't even really have to plant trees. You have to stop cutting some of them down and go in there and you just say we're going to put a fence around this one and let it grow because there's a lot there. And instead of
clear cutting it, you just let certain things grow. means getting rid of the garbage and people have been dumping there. It's getting rid of that, creating some pathways. It could be a really nice educational makers park in that part of the township at a pretty low cost because we have all that
equipment now. It could be a really lowcost project that would create a new parking >> there was someone the town owns all that property. state. I believe somewhere near there. Someone was going to do something near there.
>> Yeah, there were those other lots up on the other side there where they turn the houses down. I don't know who owns the lots. >> No, I'm saying there's there's housing on the What is it? I was,
>> but it's where the senior living is. It's right behind there. And it would make a nice little be an inexpensive way to create to create a park and be able to educate people about flooding and trees and the importance of them. And
>> you like this? >> Well, I needed we needed the first thing because I you know, it's not that I didn't we didn't have these ideas, but you got it. get buy in from folks. >> I have the letter that Red Bank is using because we have programs to address the
rest of us and it's their acceptance letter and what they're responsible for. They sign it. This attorney looked at it. He said, "Yeah, this is good. This will stand up. I get you." >> Right. So those are trees. Those are trees that the township is. We're we're
given trees to rest. >> Are you planting them or just giving them the tree planting instructions? I want to in other words, it's an acknowledgement of responsibility for this tree once it's given to them. They
own it, >> right? >> But it it seems to work. The attorney likes the verbage in it. I'll get a copy of it for you tomorrow. >> The other alternative to have DPW put in But the one the one thing about the um I
I you want examples of uh number one and two on this uh city of Lambertville just created a Blue Acres park uh and they're doing this and they got grants from D on this. The um and you know Summit did a
tiny forest Elizabeth has done tiny forests and it does require ripping up concrete and you know It requires getting a grant from either the state or like New Jersey Conservation Foundation,
uh, which is all very doable stuff to buy the land, purchase the land, tax incentives. There's all kinds of ways of acquiring land, uh, for the town. The town will own the land, but we put in a park. And actually any developer who's sitting with a big parking lot with an
empty building like the movie theater in Middle, you put in a park there, all of a sudden that land is a lot more desirable because you're you're adjacent to a park. You're adjacent to a tiny forest. So now you can put in something else actually increases your land values
and you get paid market value for your landing signature by pulling out the impervious stuff >> and you're and that the area from De Lake Commission basically told me if you can put trees in here you're going to help preserve De Lake. They're already
doing the big project up by CB Square and that was the area that middle repair. They said, "Oh my Lord, you can slow water down here and do something that would really help us out." That's key area. And the uh the Pablo Brook Greenway enhancement, not exactly sure where that is. That's going to take more discussion, but we did hear from the
whale pond people. And the people will look at the flooding of Papa Brook. This is another area that we need to have more trees, be able to soak up the water more because it's solar. So that's, you know, they all check the boxes. Well, most days check the boxes of, you know,
especially the first one that's overburdened communities, but flooding heat island trying to, you know, get get everything done with as much benefit as we can because trees are while they're aesthetically beautiful, that's not enough reason
to choose an area. Got to, you know, meet a lot of criteria to really >> warrant tax, you know, taxpayer resident money. >> All right, it's all good. Now, meanwhile, we also have our tree giveaways that we do. Okay. So, I've got to still try to close the nursery again
because I spoke to I saw that on the D website, you can look at their tree uh sale brochure brochures. Okay. So, it turns out the only bare root root tree they're going to have this year at all
is red oak. which which is well according to Bill red oaks actually in the long term are having some kind of problem >> wasn't that a Davies recommended tree for us though red oak red oak is a New Jersey state tree >> right but didn't Davies group when they
did the inventory didn't wasn't that oak trees they recommended but it wasn't that oak trees that they said plant >> well I don't remember the details of what they specifically identified but there's a lot but there's still a lot of there are a lot of red oak that's also a
tree that's kind of now they also have though once we get to school then they have these little tublings okay so I I intended but my intentions usually mean when I talk about it intentions means I didn't do it okay was to print out was to print
out one so I'd have the list of what the you know there's about seven or eight trees I remember red buds were on it there were three greens pine and two others are the smaller ones. >> They're these little things, >> teeny tiny. >> They charge more for that than
>> seedling is the bigger. >> Yeah, the seedlings can be pretty good size. >> Some of them we've gotten in the past. >> Okay, >> but anyway, the point is, but there's a there's a nursery in South Jersey that actually one year I was getting trees from him and he never sent us a bill
like he says, you know, it was too much trouble going with the town. We don't we don't want to deal with nurseries. away. I just donated and even saying donate, but I think that's not a good way to so I'm going to try and call him and say
what because he's got an amazing list of things that you know because we gave out this let's see I I spoke I sent um Pat Sullivan an email and he sent back
to me there's about uh third graders there's about 20 20. So 30 third graders this year and uh so you get a few more for some of the other little school school type things, you know. So it's not a lot.
Then we gave we we we got away we were going to give away I don't know how many trees we ordered last year but the giveaway wasn't as successful as I thought. But I think part of that was some of the things that we got from the state free anyway. And two of them I refused to give out anyway. sweet gums
and black. Okay. So I said we're not forget about it. So that was that. So that was part of what we got from >> Yeah. >> What day is Arbor Day? >> Does that be Arbor Day is always the last Friday, third or fourth Friday in
April? Something. >> So I'm just wondering if you know because we want to do a bigger Arbor Day this year. I'm just wondering. >> Well, they want us to do an Arbor Day thing. Now, one of the things we got a couple few years ago now was we got a
ceiling from the Salem Oak. Salem oak was this kind of historic tree in Salem, New Jersey that was around before the revolution or something like that that just accidentally decided to drop dead one day
over and but they had who knows how many millions of acorns from that tree, something like that. and they threw a bunch of seedlings and so we were entitled to one so I drove out and got right then they said we could have another one but I didn't really feel like driving back out to the grocery again although I wound up getting
another one was kind of dinky now from eating town someone from eating town got two of them and the people in was it eaten west I for town was they didn't want they said we don't want to plant more than one tree so she so so I took that one so I got that one growing a
three gallon container The one the one that was ours is now maybe I don't I don't know four four feet tall. >> It's about about about yay big you know
round but I don't think it's big enough to we could plant it but and then when we plant it we've got to put a big finger around it to keep it away from our viewers. >> So here's here's what >> but that would be a thing to do. I was thinking maybe another year or so before we
>> so what I was thinking um as arbitrary I know traditional arbor everybody standing around tree in the hole and saying yeah tree you know I know that's the traditional but it doesn't mean that we have to do
it what if we coordinated an arbit with the launch of an adopt a tree program and we did a symbolic planting a tree somewhere um And for the whole, you know, tada, we did, we still do our tree giveaway, but we we create and adopt the
tree program. Sarah Gallagher, who did the um remember her, she did all the editing for the student video of of getting people engaged. She is uh more than happy to help us do any kind of production to promote anything we want to come up with, you know, and
digitally, create something. We could launch an adopt the tree program and launch it on Arbor Day. with the symbolic tree planting and make it available people available if they want a tree call public works you know coordinate with public works
>> tell me tell me more where is where's where does the tree that gets adopted come from >> that's uh from from uh I think the shape people like it's like a one tree at a time kind of thing so it would just be
buying a tree from the shade tree fund and then public works put it and they'd be responsible for making >> well because I'm saying at some of these programs that you have this year I see that we would need a lottery sometimes have lotteryies for for people
who say 100 people want a tree >> I would love to have enough people respond to a lottery that would be a great day >> well because if we're only planting one tree we don't need two people to have a lottery >> you know well no we're planting one symbolic tree but then we create a program where we have a budget where
we're going to plant. You know, we could do 50 trees, we could do 60 trees. >> Well, most of those people we until we can we've got a plan to plant on people's property because there are very few there's I would say there's hardly any residences in town that we plant a tree.
>> Well, that's why it's under ordinance ordinance uh changes. >> No, I'm just saying. >> So, we'd have to change. So, yes, I'd like to talk how >> the ordinance changes. This would be a new ordinance >> we're giving trees that would be a
completely new ordinance that we're giving people trees to plant on your propert. >> But that's a change but they're both good. I think they're both excellent things to have and it's the only way we're going to really >> Okay. So, anyone else have any comments?
question because all these ideas are great. Have we ever um discussed with the school district because there's many teachers over we have >> and to do some of this stuff. >> Well, turns out we I this is new. Okay.
>> Turns out though, believe me, the school district is actually it's almost like it's another town. >> Okay. When we started, we're going to do the tree survey and we wanted to do the school progress, too. I had to get them to sign off. >> Okay.
>> That they would participate with us for so that the grant would apply to them, >> which they did. It was it wasn't like I was twisting anybody's >> arms because they were fine, >> but they aren't, you know, their own they're entity. They have their own budget
>> and so theoretically we don't plant we wouldn't plant our stuff on their property. >> Yes, we miss Edson is amazing. Patrick Sullivan and we've talked with the superintendent Kelly who's the name I
so they are yeah they work with us they won the state climate award for the school because of the work they did with us and we did the videos with them and shot them and >> help them write them and you know so that close work they they have a very uh good first experience with us so they
are very happy to work continue to work with us so yeah so that's a great great resource we can definitely good Okay. >> Oh, you want this back? >> Yes. >> My husband accuses me of having No, it's
just a thing. >> Hello. >> Nice call. >> Calling me out. >> Now we all know. Now we all know. >> Okay. So, anyone else have anything uh else to add or
>> magic words? >> A lot of great information. >> Second. >> I'll second it. >> Second, >> Mr. Armstrong. All in favor of a journey. >> I would give you a win the lottery.