Ridgewood Shade Tree Comission Meeting Minutes 20210209

Ridgewood Shade Tree Commission

Meeting Minutes

February 9, 2021

Opening

The regular meeting of the Ridgewood Shade Tree Commission was called to order at 7:35PM on February 9, 2021 by Andrew Lowry. The meeting was held virtually on Zoom.

Present

Andrew Lowry, Michael Sedon, Melody Corcoran, Ian Keller, Carolyn Jacoby, Declan Madden, Mahmoud Hamzah

Approval of Minutes

Motion to approve the minutes for January 12, 2021 was made by Ian Keller, seconded by Carolyn Jacoby, and approved by all present.

Tree Inventory Completion

For the 2021 capital budget, $110,000 has been requested for tree planting. The question arose as to whether a portion of this amount could be used to complete the tree inventory. Declan Madden will ask Nancy Bigos if it would be possible to use $10,000 of the $110,000 to complete the tree inventory on county roads and village parkland and to also identify hazard ash trees in the wildscapes.

It may be possible that $125,000 will be included in the capital budget for ash tree removal.

Facebook Page

Mahmoud Hamzah has posted items submitted by Carolyn Jacoby on the Shade Tree Commission Facebook page.

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)

The village manager agreed to giving Declan Madden the time needed to inspect the condition of the village ash trees. To date, Declan has looked at 166 ash trees.  Of that number, approximately 40 young ash trees were determined to be in good shape. Declan will cross-reference these trees with the Davey tree inventory to select which ones should be treated for EAB.

A presentation to the village council on EAB will be scheduled for some time in March. The presentation will include a long-term plan to care for the ash trees and information on how certain ash trees will be chosen for treatment versus those which should be taken down.

Tree City, CFMP, Arbor Day, Earth Day

The Tree City application has been filled out and signed. Dina Kat will submit the application next week.

The Annual Accomplishment Report for CFMP has been submitted and accepted.

There will be no Earth Day program this year because of Covid-19. Instead, Carolyn Jacoby is arranging for the distribution of 100 tree whips on May 1, 2021 at the Graydon parking lot.  Scouts will be asked to help with the distribution.

To honor first responders and essential workers, Mahmoud Hamzah had two memorial trees planted at Veteran’s Field. Mahmoud suggested that on Arbor Day an official presentation of these trees and recognition of the honorees could be made at the site. The presentation would also be publicity for the Parks and Shade Tree Department and the Shade Tree Commission. Mahmoud will ask Nancy Bigos if she would approve of this plan; he will also be in touch with Carolyn Jacoby about it.

Public Presentation

The Ridgewood library is hosting a series of Zoom presentations on sustainability. Larissa Brooks, librarian, has asked Carolyn Jacoby if the STC would make a presentation for the series. Manish Shrimali’s power point tree inventory presentation and EAB information are possible topics. Declan Madden has agreed to be available to answer questions at the presentation. A tentative date of May 19, at 7pm has been set.

Central Business District

Andrew Lowry has been in contact with Lisa Simms and Andrew Hillman to discuss what the STC can or should be doing as “best practices” to improve the condition of the trees in the CBD. Pam Perron, village councilwoman, is very supportive of revitalizing the CBD; she is asking the village to fund a $165,000 “business improvement district.” Andrew will contact her for details about her plan; if her plan involves trees, he may invite her to discuss her plan at an STC meeting.

Graydon Elm and Ash Trees

The Graydon elm was pruned and fed in 2020. However, the planned root invigoration and soil treatment of the elm could not be completed. The $3500 funding earmarked for these treatments in 2020 has been lost. It was suggested that the STC could fund these necessary treatments from the STC trust fund.

Andrew Lowry will write to Nancy Bigos to explore using STC funds for this purpose. Also, at the February 22 council meeting, Mike Sedon will make a pitch for these treatments to be included in the operating budget for 2021. Information about these needed treatments for the elm should be added to any Earth Day release and the planned library presentation.

A request will be made to Nancy Bigos to have the new elm on the island in Graydon fed. Also, the 8-10 inch ash trees at Graydon are infested with EAB. Declan Madden will ask Nancy if those trees can be treated; they are a valuable source of shade.

Adjournment

Meeting was adjourned at 9:00 PM by: Andrew Lowry.

Minutes submitted by: Melody Corcoran

Volunteer Hours: 7.5