Somerset County, New Jersey
Somerset
County, New Jersey
SHADE TREE
COMMISSION MINUTES The meeting was called to order at 7:40 pm. Present: M. Orsini, A. Galdi, J. Gierlich, S. Geoghegan, B. Jacquett, B. Marshall, J. Baumley, B. Ritchick (sub for Mark Evans). Absent: B. Hamilton, M. Evans, B. von Ohlen. M. Orsini updated committee with news re. Earth Day, April 21st. He ordered 200 tree seedlings from State Dept. of Forestry for distribution at Earth Day event at BHEEC for $100.00. This was done because free trees from State for Arbor Day must be planted on public property or potted up for future planting but cannot be distributed to the public. B. Jacquett updated re. banner. Banner will have township seal, silhouette of tree and Franklin Township Shade Tree Commission. Will be 2x12 feet. Everyone agreed to design and cost will be generously picked up by Pulte. Some public recognition of this should be given. M. Orsini will also design a one-page handout with pertinent information about Commission for distribution with seedlings. Table will be staffed from 11-3. Everyone is encouraged to attend for all/part of time. Discussion turned to Arbor Day, Saturday April 27th. 150 trees for free from State. M. Orsini, S. Geoghegan and A. Galdi attended training sessions. We want to plant approx. 50 trees. Will travel from park-to-park to plant. A. Galdi donating, mulch, 55-gallon water drums and truck along with some shovels. Can get approx. 6 Girl Scouts to help. Everyone encouraged to bring shovels and gloves. B. Ritchick from public works will coordinate which parks will receive trees, dig 12 inch deep hole by 12-14 inch wide hole and backfill to prevent accidents. We will dig out the backfill plant tree, water and mulch. B. Ritchick advised that township does not have resources to maintain. M. Orsini replied that maintenance would be responsibility of STC and Treekeepers, which is part of the agreement to receive the trees. Not much maintenance should be necessary initially anyway since the trees are small. B. Ritchick will provide us with list of parks with holes dug and how many. This will determine our final itinerary. It was decided to meet at Middlebush Tree farm at 9 am that day and caravan to sites. Will establish final itinerary at the April 25th meeting. M. Orsini will talk to local pizzeria to donate pizza and refreshments for after the event. Will try to coordinate some local press to meet at one locale for picture-taking. Remainder of trees not planted will be potted up at A. Galdi's farm. J. Baumley will donate pots-approx 100. He will bring them to the BHEEC and Al will pick up and bring to farm. Trees will be potted and put in ground to grow for 2-3 years. Then entire pot can then be dug up with root ball for instant planting. In this way a tree "bank" can be established. This will also need to be done that day. Dunham Lebed Park. The commission again reviewed the blueprints for the park. M. Orsini noted that he visited the site recently and there are only a few places to plant trees. He suggested, short, flowering 15-20 foot trees at maturity on the 15th St. side to avoid power lines and if room permits, some on the Willow Ave. side to provide a nice effect in spring. Can plant on 15th St. side up to end of baseball field. B. Ritchick mentioned that he didn't know if some buffering trees may go on that side, but none were noted in plan. It was decided to let Public Works make the call on that side, depending on room available. Also suggests some shading for tot lot and swings. J. Baumley provided a list of 15 flowering trees that will do well and are not to tall. Suggested to provide the township with 2-3 options in case of availability issues. He also suggested Green Vase or October Glory Maple to shade play areas, probably 2-3 trees depending on space. B. Ritchick noted that he thought 5 foot on center spacing was too close for the 89 pines shown on the plan to screen the neighbors' backyards. He suggested 10 ft. would be better, thus saving money for half the trees that may be applied to plant others. While 5' on center would provide instant screen it leaves very little room for trees to grow and in 5-10 years will be crowding. The commission agreed. M. Orsini will write a memo to Ken Daly and cc. Andy Twiford and Bill to memorialize our suggestions and to see what if any funding exists to procure these trees. S. Geoghegan informed the committee of her meeting with Bill Comerly of the Parmamus, NJ STC. They have a budget of $460,000/year funded by development contributions; city has 28,000 residents or approx. half the size of Franklin. His advice for development of new commissions such as ours is education and publicity to increase public awareness of our existence and mission. J. Baumley updated us with list of Best Trees to Plant. The flowering tree list is done and will be sent to M. Orsini for posting on website. The shade tree list is compiled but not yet detailed and will follow. Commission agreed that it was very nice work and very thorough and should help homeowners find the right tree to plant. B. Ritchick noted that CSIP grant ($9,000) needs to be spent to replant trees on JFK. Noted many trees in the depression in the road after St. Matthias died. When they were removed they were very wet, despite the drought. J. Baumley suggested that October Glory maple tolerates wet conditions very well, and that probably there is shale underlying the soil that does not drain. B. Ritchick suggested seeking 2 or 3 "bids" but that normal bidding process is not needed since money is a grant and is finite anyway. M. Orsini will contact some local nurseries to inquire. Work must include planting and staking of 2-2.5 " caliper tree. Holes are essentially dug, just need to remove fill, plant and mulch. B. Ritchick suggested at least 18 trees need to be wet-tolerant, and it was decided that we would just plant October Glory in its entirety. Any money remaining, if any, can be used to fund other plantings like Dunham Lebed. Meeting was opened to the public. No one was present and the meeting was closed to the public. Meeting was adjourned at 9:30 pm. |