Mountain Lakes Shade Tree Commission

Minutes of Meeting  

March 8, 2012

 

Commissioners in attendance: S. Marshall, J. Best, M. Vyff, T. Caine, C. Murtagh, J. Horst, J. Eveleth and H. Carr

Council Liaison: B. Bravo

 

1.     There were no comments from the public.

 

2.     February minutes were approved.

 

3.     Arbor Day preparations are in the works.  Marnie has notified the Markus family that we would like to honor them at Arbor Day but has not yet heard back.  Celebrating Arbor Day on April 27th works best for Wildwood School although Joan will have a conflict that day with Trash Day.  Sue suggested that Arbor Day doesnÕt necessarily have to be celebrated on a Friday but in the end it was decided that it will be held on April 27th.  Marnie will introduce the speakers at Arbor Day and as in past years will coordinate the program.  A tree will be purchased using STC funds, species and location to be determined.  Boy scouts are available this spring to do a civic service project.  Joan suggested that a much needed project would be to remove the vines that grow along the back side of fencing at DPW. 

 

4.     The prune and removal process of yearly tree work has begun.  The contractor is doing both pruning and removal of trees in the Borough.  This contractor is the same person who headed the work last year and whose work was satisfactory.  He is now working for a new company called ÒTuff Greens.Ó  

 

5.     The Ò100 TreesÓ promotion is over and the section on our website needs to be removed.  Tom will take care of this.  Marnie has learned through her position as Environmental Commission liaison that the commission has instituted a new website apart from the Borough.  Blair explained that Council believes having another website for environmental issues may be confusing for citizens and is searching for other website solutions.  STC has been asked to keep up a page included on the Environmental CommissionÕs new website.  By vote, STC agreed to stay on the Borough website but to link from the new Environmental one.

 

6.     Joan reports that tree removal applications are now being passed on to us and that there have been 6 requests for removals as of late.  Commissioners need to keep an eye on downed fencing and violations seen in our areas.  Please report violations to the Borough Manager at rtovo@mtnlakes.org, so he can contact the code enforcer official.  Recently there were site visits by commission members at both 26 Crestview and 26 Lake.  There have been recent violations of both tree removal and lack of neighbor notification.  There is much concern for the enforcement of our ordinances and the protection of our trees.

 

7.     Consuelo is compiling a monthly list of hours put in by STC members.  Please think about how many hours you have worked during January and February and report back to her.  She would like us to keep track of our hours and report regularly from now on.

 

8.     Other/New Business- Marnie reports from the Environmental Commission that four beavers have been killed to end the woodland destruction caused by the building of the dams in the Tourne/Mountain Lakes property.  This was sanctioned and executed by the Fish and Game Department of NJ.  The winter deer hunt resulted in 20 killed.  Janet and Consuelo worked together writing an article explaining why planting trees still makes good sense even after the damaging storms of last fall.  The goal is to submit the article to ÒThe Mountain Lakes LivingÓ magazine.  It was suggested that STC needs a logo.  Janet wants to do a photo article about great trees in town or possibly a contest for kids to identify trees in town to publish in the near future.  The hope is to foster good tree PR through community outreach.                                 

         

 

         

Next meeting will be held on April 12th