1

Tree Planting Programs

Our goal is to beautify the streets of Madison and to maintain and extend the town’s tree canopy. Local Madison groups have been working together for many years on this goal. These groups include the Shade Tree Management Board, Friends of the Madison Shade Trees, Garden Club, Arbor Day Committee, Environmental Commission, Department of Public Works (DPW) and the Parks Advisory Committee. Other volunteer groups involved are the Rotary Club, Boys Scouts, Venture Crew Scouts, the May Day Committee, Little League, Parent Teacher Organizations and the Board of Education. Many individuals also donate trees to be planted in parks. Madison recognizes the need for energy conservation in residential and downtown areas through tree plantings.

Madison has been divided into four quadrants by the Shade Tree Management Board with 2 or more volunteers inspecting each street on each side of the road in their quadrant. The conditions of the trees are checked to determine if maintenance or pruning needed. A list of all trees needing work is made by resident address. Also added to the list is any spot where a shade tree can be planted. Attachment 1 is a copy of Madison’s 2010 Spring tree order for 105 trees to be planted in the identified open spots. This order is typical of what has been purchased and planted each of the last 5 years.

DPW employees and Shade Tree Management Board volunteers will inspect trees during the growing season for stress and other problems. Spring planting runs from March 1 to June 30th. Fall planting runs from September 1 to November 30th

This current program has been going on for over 20 years. The following Shade Tree Management Board web site has the monthly minutes, which documents the tracking of Madison’s tree planting and maintenance programs:

http://gov.rosenet.org/agencies/shade-tree-management

The March, 2010 minutes (Attachment 2), from that web site is as an example of how the tree program is managed.

Besides local streets, parks and athletic fields are reviewed for spots to plant. For many years the Shade Tree Management Board and the other groups have planted ~120 trees each year.

The Borough Council has supported these efforts with funding for new trees, pruning and maintenance. See Attachment 3 - 2009 Community Forestry Management Plan Annual Accomplishment Report showing the Borough of Madison had approved the Shade Tree Management Board Budget for $116,650.

Contracts for planting, pruning and maintenance are put out to bid each year.

  2

The Shade Tree Management Board consists of volunteers appointed by the Mayor and Council. It consists of local citizens, a certified tree expert, a master gardener and also uses experts from the faculty of Drew University which is located in Madison.

New trees are planted by the Department of Public Works, with a crew trained in proper planting techniques. Local nurserymen do other plantings when trees are donated. DPW and volunteers from the volunteer groups share watering. Training in proper planting techniques are conducted with the DPW employees and supervised by the Shade Tree Management Board members-two who are arborists. Trees are properly staked and fenced in areas where deer are present.

The Shade Tree Management Board also works with the Arbor Day Committee in educating the public including school children in proper planting and maintenance of trees. Madison and the Arbor Day Committee has been a Tree City Award winner for 25 years. This was highlighted in an article in the Alternative Press on July 18, 2010 recognizing Madison for its efforts in continued improvement and tree plantings for higher levels of tree care in Madison (See Attachment 4.)

Donated trees are planted in Parks by local nurseries with supervision from the Parks Advisory Committee. Trees in high sun areas are planted with Tree-gator water bags to ease the watering. The ‘Greening of Rose City’ is a multi-year tree-planting program initiated by the Madison Garden Club but includes the Shade Tree Management Board, the Friends of Madison Shade Trees and the Parks Advisory Committee. As an example of this program, the Friends of Madison Shade Trees planted trees in Madison’s Memorial Park. Attachments 5a-5d show the before and after looks in the planting of five trees at Memorial Park Skating Rink this spring Volunteers watered the trees during the dry summer spells.

Each of the other groups is committed to plant similar numbers each year for the next 4 years. See the before and after planting of four October Glory Maples at Memorial Park Skating Rink this spring with volunteers doing the watering.

Other planting groups include various scout groups. Attachment 6 is a report on an Eagle Scout Project begun this spring in an area that was in poor repair. Known as Trestle Park- near a railroad bridge - along Kings Road in Madison. The area was cleared and 25 small native Red Buds and 24 Silky Dogwoods donated from the New Jersey Tree Foundation were planted. The site was supervised and funded by the Friends of Madison Shade Trees. The Eagle Scout was highly organized and set up a watering system for the project.

Madison’s Green Forum Group has been active since 2004. In 2007, The Madison Garden Club awarded an $8,000 grant for reforesting a Madison park area known as Central Green. Native hard wood trees and shrubs were used. Attachment 7, Green Forum Meeting Minutes - April 11, 2007 documents this program. This grant was implemented in 2008-2009. A volunteer group has maintained the trees by watering and installing deer fencing around the trees.

  3

The Friends of Madison Shade Trees, set up as a non-profit 5013c since 1989’ has promoted the replanting of trees in the down town area and set up a special project to re-do all of the landscaping at the Madison Train Station. Over the years they have received over $350,000 in grants of which $100,000 was received for the Madison Train Station. Recently finished, it was an on-going project for several years as much of the work required approval and inspection from NJ Transit before another phase could begin. Fifty trees of various species were planted during the project. Attachment s8a, 8b & 8c are examples of the newly completed plantings but to see more extensive pictures, please access:

facebook.com/photophp?pid=92236&id111283595583361&ref=fbxalbujm#1photo.php?pid91881&id=11283595583361&fbid=114201311958256

There are additional Madison tree planting programs described in the Tree Canopy Goals and Objectives Section as well as Madison participating in the American Chestnut revitalization program. This is described in Attachment 9. Before and after pictures of the Madison park chestnut trees are in Attachments 10a and 10b.

Attachments:

1. Madison’s 2010 Spring Tree Planting Order 2. Minutes –Shade Tree Management for March, 2010 3. 2009 Community Forestry Management Plan Annual Accomplishment Report 4. July 18, 2010 – Alternative Press Article - Arbor Day - Tree City

Madison Arbor Day Committee - Arbor Day Celebrated in Madison 5. Pictures (5a, 5b, 5c & 5d) of Trees Planted In Madison Park As Part of the “Greening of

Madison” Program 6. Trestle Park Eagle Scout Project Report 7. Green Forum News- Shade Tree management Board -2007- Friends of Madison Shade

Tree.org-green forum 8. Madison Train Station Re-Landscaping Example Pictures (8a, 8b & 8c) 9. American Chestnut Revitalization Program 10. Madison Park Chestnut Trees – Before and After Pictures

  4

Attachment 1: Spring Tree Planting Order

  5

Attachment 2 Minutes - STMB, March 2010

SHADE TREE MANAGEMENT BOARD

Borough of Madison

Madison, New Jersey 07940

Minutes of Meeting March 18, 2010

The regular monthly meeting of the Shade Tree Management Board was held at Bayley-

Ellard on March 18, 2010.

Present: Mike Kopas, Gene Cracovia, Alan Andreas, Penny Garman, Christine Hammitt,

Steve Miller, Vince Licari, Parks Liaison Paul Allocco, DPW Liaison David Maines, Council

Liaison Sam Cerciello.

Absent: Jack Kranefuss, Nancy Bruce.

Call to Order

Mike called the meeting to order at 8:15 and read the Sunshine Law for compliance with

the Open Public Meetings Act.

February Minutes

The Board unanimously approved the February 2010 minutes.

The Board addressed the following items of business:

Public Comments/Correspondence

Dave reported that last year the tree at 47 North Street had been pruned and the roots

trimmed. Since then the sidewalk is heaving and a branch fell. The Board voted to cut

the tree down.

Lois Glock of 77 Fairwood is concerned about four big Oak trees at Forest and Fairwood.

Dave will check them.

In two weeks, NJ Transit will start to cut and trim trees on their property.

Borough Tree Status

Work sheets are being handed in.

Trees on Niles and Green Hill are marked for removal however garage construction is

blocking the tree removal at 31 Green Hill. Alan will look at the trees where the

construction is interfering.

Cedar Hill was awarded the spring planting bid (105 trees for $13,795) and will deliver

them in four even batches, two weeks apart. Vince will mark the planting locations. Two

pears will be planted on Main Street.

TCC

No applications were reviewed.

FMST

The Board is open to a formal proposal for trestle plantings.

Council Liaison Report

Sam and Alan are working on the concept of a Town Pavilion at the Town Pool. Trees will

be filled in later.

New Business

DPW professional service (a consulting arborist) was cut from $7000 to $3500.

The Madison Green Team is continuing to fulfill the “Sustainable NJ” criteria and

standards to be eligible for grants.

STMB hopes to offer pamphlets, flyers and a laptop presentation at The Green Fair.

The Board voted in favor of splitting the cost ($4600) with DPW for Woodland to apply

chemicals to control the weeds.

A tree fell down on Albright Circle during the storm.

The Board adjourned at 9:30 am.

Minutes submitted by Christine Hammitt.

  6

Attachment 3 2009 Forestry Management Plan Annual Accomplishment Report

  7

Attachment 4 - Arbor Day Article, 7/18/2010

  8

Attachment 5 Images of trees planted in Madison Park as part of the “Greening of Madison” Program. BEFORE

AFTER

  9

Attachment 6 – Trestle Park Eagle Scout Project Report

Report for the New Jersey Tree Foundation         June 2010   From:   Friends of Madison Shade Trees    P.O. Box  632  Madison, NJ 07940  Attn:  Lisa Simms  Three of us attended your seminar this spring:  Nancy Bruce, Christine Hammitt, and Chris Schorr     We received 25 Red Buds and 25 Silky Dogwoods          The area in which these trees have been planted is one of the major entries into Madison.  Kings Road runs parallel to Route 24/Main Street.  On the right­hand side of the road (as one approaches Madison from the Chatham side) is the Electrical Station, two square and graceless red­brick rectangles fronting huge steel, fearsomely­wired electrical 

towers.                                                                            Kings Road Utility Building 

   Another equally impressive  electrical tower stands on the other side of Kings Road, 

right in front of the raised railroad tracks that are heading toward the train station.   This  area has been a bit of an eyesore for many 

years, but we  never could formulate a good plan for improvement  until we received the providential offer of trees from the  NJTF. 

  Kings          Road near Trestle, south side 

 Kings Rd. looking east      

          The trestle is on the left  The last  two pictures show the 

other two areas by the electric station which are part of the  Madison project. 

    FMST’s purpose, as a non­profit and entirely volunteer organization, is to conserve 

and extend the canopy of native trees in Madison.  What we do is PLANT.  This year, we entered a partnership with other “green” organizations in Madison – The Garden Club, the Parks Commission, and the Shade Tree Management Board.  Together, we intend to plant a great many native trees in our community.  

As a result of the New Jersey Tree Foundation’s Arbor Day grant program, we have been able to establish another partnership – one with Alex Post, who has made the trees – 25 Red Bud and 25 Silky Dogwood – the central part of his Eagle Scout Project. 

In order to gain approval for his project, Alex needed to meet with everyone (Scout leaders and FMST representatives) at the beginning.  Then he needed to draft a proposal – one which included a mission statement, very detailed plans for clearing the area of weeds, trash, and undergrowth – and then plans for planting the trees appropriately  (in terms of both aesthetics and survivability), mulching them, watering them, and protecting them from deer (a very recent and acute problem in downtown Madison). 

He had to obtain Madison Council approval for his project – an unanticipated last­minute glitch, which postponed the project a couple of weeks.  Because the trees were at risk, Alex planted each tree in a gallon pot to sustain it until the planting date could be established.  They thrived under his care, and undoubtedly have a much greater chance for survival at planting time 

As of April 2 

 Kings Road, south side, looking east 

 

 Kings Road, south side, looking west 

 . 

 

   See the electrical tower in the background?  That’s what Alex Post and his crew faced on June 12, when he reached the cleaning up part of his project . 

 

   It was a mighty labor –  on both sides of a busy street 

  

   and beautifully organized.  

  All the bags of weeds and branches were picked up for recycling the next day by the very helpful DPW, who also provided hoses and safety street signs, and have offered a lot of extra mulch from the town supplies. 

One week later – planting begins on June 19th. 

  Because of the delays, Alex has potted each sapling in its own gallon pot.  So far, all of them have survived and are sprouting lovely green leaves. 

 

 

Measuring out the deer­proof fencing 

 

  Younger troops appear, all eager to help ­­ 

 

  and the digging commences.     

   

 

  It’s hot and heavy work, even in the shade. 

   

   Alex Post is everywhere, checking on things, adding an extra pair of hands, making 

sure the holes are being dug correctly, that everyone is drinking enough water, and understands how each “little” piece fits into the overall design. 

 

  And even as the holes are being dug, other friends of this project are preparing the 

watering system.                                                                                                    The first tree to go in – 

  

 

    One down, lots to go . . . 

 

        Alex  Post  and  Gene  Cracovia,  who  is treasurer of FMST (Friends of Madison Shade Trees) and past chairman/current member of STMB (The Shade Tree Management Board). 

 

    Alex  Post  with  Judith  Mullins, President of FMST, long­time green activist and civic leader in Madison. 

 

    And  now  we’ll  just have to wait. 

  Respectfully submitted this 23rd day of June 2010,   

                          C.S.W. Schorr  Friends of Madison Shade Trees 

  10

Attachment 7 – Green Forum News

1

The Green Forum

Shade Tree Management Board Borough of Madison Madison, NJ 07940

Minutes of Meeting: April 11, 2007

The third Green Forum meeting was held at Borough Hall on Wednesday, April 11, 2007. Vince Licari acted as moderator and called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Present: STMB Chair Gene Cracovia and STMB members Vince Licari, Nancy Bruce, Steve Miller, Mike Kopas, Penny Garman; Department of Public Works Superintendent David Maines; Madison Environmental Commission Chair Roy Redmond; Friends of Madison Shade Trees President Janice Piccolo; Garden Club of Madison President Ginny Campion and Garden Club Conservation Committee Chair Lois Wolkowitz; May Day Committee Chair Marsha Ann Zimmerman; Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Committee Chair Christine Hepburn and member Chris Kellogg; Parks Advisory Committee Chair Paul Allocco and members Dan Seidel, Cathie Coultas; and Council President John Elias and Council members Astri Baillie, Donald Bowen. Welcome and Introduction: Vince Licari thanked everyone for attending and participating in another Green Forum, the purpose of which is to coordinate the efforts of all the groups in town involved in keeping Madison green. Each organization gave a brief overview of its mission and current projects. Shade Tree Management Board: Gene Cracovia distributed a list of STMB Accomplishments and Goals. Highlights included 1) the number of street trees planted each year (in 2006 it was 121) has been exceeded by the annual number of tree removals for the last several years – a net tree cover minus and a STMB concern. 2) In 2006, STMB wrote specifications for a GIS based street tree inventory that would catalogue every street tree in Madison. The bid was awarded and work is set to start April 23, 2007. STMB with FMST successfully wrote for a $25,000 state grant for the inventory. 3) STMB reviewed ordinances involving trees. In November, the Council passed a provision to the Land Use ordinance about monitoring and managing soil movement to protect trees based on a STMB recommendation. STMB continues work on a private tree ordinance. In response to a public meeting last year, a proposed ordinance was simplified and sent for legal review by the Borough attorney. Department of Public Works: David Maines, DPW Superintendent, reported that his department works with many Borough organizations, including: spring street trees planting for STMB, working with the May Day Committee on its projects and coordinating watering of trees, hanging baskets etc. DPW also works with Parks to lay wood chip along trails among other projects. The department also assists FMST with its projects, when possible, throughout the year. Electric Department: Vince Licari explained that their job is to keep a path open through tree tops for electrical wires. They may also remove trees that are in their right-of-way. The Electric Department works with STMB but has its own budget.

2

Environmental Commission: Roy Redmond reported that the Madison Environmental Commission was involved with several big projects including 1) work on wetlands delineation in Memorial Park to determine what areas might be used for fields, 2) Deer Management proposals, which do not seem to be getting much traction or backing in town; 3) Green Building requirements in borough buildings. MEC suggested that the schools consider some green energy alternatives to their buildings, but were told that it was too expensive. Friends of Madison Shade Trees: Janice Piccolo distributed the 2007 flier that was sent in the electric bills this month. It featured Cathie Coultas’ granddaughter hugging a large oak on the Coultas property. Janice also reported on FMST projects, which included: 1) distribution of a tree planting video that the Friends produced as part of a grant application to the National Tree Trust. 2) Rail Road station landscaping using a Department of Transportation T-21 grant written with the Friends of Madison Train Station that should be given the final go ahead shortly. 3) Re-forestation study to focus on restoring hardwoods to Madison’s urban forest. 4) Beautification of Kings Road Railroad trestle area that will involve several groups and a possible grant. 5) Working with STMB and other organizations to plant trees at the Green Avenue Merchants parking lot, the Community House, and several sites in the parks for memorial trees. Janice also thanked DPW for all its support. Garden Club of Madison: Lois Wolkowitz and Ginny Campion reported that the Garden Club supports and interfaces with many community groups including 1) restoration of Central Green using an $8,000 grant from the Garden Club of America’s New Jersey Committee to remove invasives, put up deer exclosure and plant native species. 2) Donation of plant material for hanging baskets and the donation of additional baskets this year. 3) Restoration of Luk Oil site at the eastern end of Main Street. 4) Grants awarded for town beautification projects. 5) Support to educational programs. 6) Maintenance of the Mary McDaniel Memorial site at Niles Park. 7) Support May Day. 8) Support the NJ Garden Club of America Global Warming conference which will be held in Princeton on Nov. 1, 2007. The conference will include national speakers; highlight what New Jersey is facing. Borough officials will be invited. May Day Committee: Marsha Ann Zimmerman reported that May Day will be May 5 from 8am to noon, rain or shine. She explained that the committee starts meeting in early spring to research what public areas need work. This year the committee has identified 60 sites in town for projects. She encouraged everyone to volunteer. The committee has received $16,000 in pledges thus far. Marsha Ann announced that “Leading the Way” awards will be presented to Ernie Ciccone, Madison Honda, Mara Johnson, and Gerry Frasso Landscaping for all their support. Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Committee: Christine Hepburn reported that the mission of this committee is to advise the Mayor/Council on buying land. Acquisitions in the past few years have included the Luke Miller property and recently the Livsey property. Chris also reported that the committee continues to look for suitable sites for ball fields, possibly on the old Exxon property. Other goals are to create a greenway connecting parks in the borough and possibly creating an easement along the train tracks connecting into Chatham. She noted that committee members and others produced a brochure offered to the public explaining easements. Parks: Paul Allocco reported on Parks projects: 1) Gibbons Pines Park working with FMST and STMB; 2) Central Green with the Garden Club removing knotweed, planting natives, planting bulbs; 3) Luke Miller property removing hedge along Ridgedale; 4) working at various May Day sites; 5) Belleau Woods clearing woods with SLAP; 6) Summerhill Park spreading mulch, removing knotweed, working with youth groups planting bulbs; 7) working with STMB and FMST

3

on reforestation plans; 8) working with MEC on Deer management; 9) working with groups from Wyeth Pharmaceutical Company and Morris Land Conservancy. Parks also plans to mulch Dodge Field with Rotary on April 21 and clean up Delbarton Park with volunteers from Whole Foods and the Morris Land Conservancy on May 24. Ideas for Coordinated Projects: Participants discussed several possible shared projects from very local, one-time projects to broader initiatives. FMST Kings Road Trestle project: Area will be a gateway into Madison with increased traffic to the new Police/Fire building. Presbyterian Church working on the stone wall; NJ Transit has removed old railroad ties; STMB and Parks to help where they can. Other groups may be asked to work on this project. FMST has budgeted 2007 money for a professional landscape plan; planting will not be done until spring 2008. Livsey Property: Committee formed to work on plan for property. Group includes representatives from Parks, Open Space, Environmental Com., and Kings Road School. FMST will also send a representative. It was suggested that any landscape design should stress minimum maintenance. An idea for the property is to start a reforestation project, possibly make in to a school project. Garden State Preservation Trust Fund: Participants were asked to write letters to State representatives and Governor urging them to renew and strengthen the Trust Fund, the funding mechanism for open space acquisition. Reforestation: It was noted that several groups (Parks, FMST, STMB, and Garden Club) are interested in reforestation. Morris Land Conservancy was asked to assist in evaluating parks and other open space for possible reforestation projects. MLC has an open space contract with the town, but the fee may not cover the work that this project needs. STMB and FMST are attempting to educate the public about planting hardwoods versus ornamentals on property. Conservation Easements: The Open Space, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Committee with the Garden Club and Madison Matters had produced a brochure explaining conservation and historic easements. A suggestion was made to use satellite technology to identify wooded areas in town and try to persuade eligible owners to protect their land with easements. Private Tree Ordinance: Status of private tree ordinance discussed. It was noted that STMB presented an ordinance to the borough attorney last August, but it has not yet been reviewed. It was suggested that residents who support the ordinance let Council know. STMB feels that a major step was taken to protect trees by the approval of a soil movement provision in the Land Use ordinance. Participants agreed that enforcement of ordinances is important.

4

Climate Change: Participants agreed that many things could be done at the local level to encourage conservation. Brainstorming ideas and comments:

• Madison is participating in Sierra Club’s “Cool Cities” campaign. Encourage Mayor/Council to adopt Climate Protection Agreement.

• Encourage Green building by reducing permit fees. • Consider green roofs (are used effectively in Chicago) in office parks and

municipal buildings. • Plant in green way - use low water, non-invasives. • Ask corporate parks to plant native grasses instead of lawns that have to be mowed. • Train our municipal employees to make green alternatives easier to get permits for

and information about. • Make solar energy more appealing for home owners – give credit. • Garden Club, Drew, Environmental Commission have access to speakers on global

warming – use them for public education. • Ask merchants to give a discount to people who ride their bikes to town for

shopping. • On May Day and Bottle Hill Day (and other community events) distribute

information on compact fluorescent light bulbs. • Ask Costco, Home Depot or Jaegers Lumber for coupons for fluorescent light bulbs

for public distribution. • Drew wants a partnership with Madison. Use Drew’s research on green buildings

(they are building a green smart dorm). Respectfully submitted, Nancy Bruce STMB

  11

Attachment 8 Madison Train Station Re-Landscaping Example Pictures

  12

Attachment 9 – Chestnut Revitalization Program

Madison Chestnut Trees In the spring-summer, 2010 three American chestnuts (Castanea dentata) have been planted at Madison High School and two more at the Central Avenue School. There are also three trees planted at James Park downtown. Thanks are due to the Friends of Madison Shade Trees, Inc., the Madison Parks Advisory Committee and the Madison Public Schools for making this happen! These trees have three purposes:

• Before these trees die of the chestnut blight (which they almost certainly will), we hope that they will contribute their DNA to the breeding program that is being used to develop blight-resistant chestnut trees. http://www.acf.org/r_r.php

• If these pure American trees grow well, then Madison will qualify for getting some of the valuable disease-resistant hybrid trees that are being developed.

• These trees will help raise awareness of the importance of the American chestnut, not only to America's past but also to its future, and the dangers posed by the importation of foreign species.

Geoff and Laurie Thomas, who are Madison residents, obtained the nuts from the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation. http://www.patacf.org/ Information on American chestnuts

• Here's the Web site of the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation, which provided our trees and equipment. http://www.patacf.org/

• http://www.appalachianwoods.com/appalachianwoods/history_of_the_american_chestnut.htm

• http://www.esf.edu/chestnut/background.htm • Chestnut trees can help in restoration of areas devastated by coal mining:

http://www.kychestnut.org/kySurfaceMining.php • Chestnut trees can help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere:

http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/fnr/htirc/pdf/publications/Jacobs%20et%20al.%202009.pdf

  13

Attachment 10 – Madison Park Chestnut Trees – Before and After Pictures