ANNUAL ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT FORM

Municipality:                             Madison

County:                                    Morris

Address:                                   Hartley Dodge Memorial

                                                Borough of Madison

                                                Madison, New Jersey 07940

Contact Name

And Title:                                 Gene Cracovia - Chair   

Phone:                                      973-301-9139

Organization Name:              Shade Tree Management Board

Date of Management 

Plan Approval:              June 9, 2003

Time Period Covered in

Management Plan:                 April 2003 – March 2008

Date of Annual

Accomplishment Report

Submission:                              January 30, 2008

Accomplishment Report

For Calendar Year:                2007

New Jersey Shade Tree and Community Forestry Assistance Act

REPORT NARRATIVE OUTLINE:  BOROUGH OF MADISON

COMMUNITY FORESTRY PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION:

The Madison Shade Tree Management Board was staffed at 7 regular and 1 alternate members. There was 1 alternate vacancy throughout the year but we have volunteers for that spot and 1 retiring regular member for 2008. The Borough Council Liaison participated in most of the meetings, as did representatives from the Department of Public Works and the Parks Advisory Committee. The Board met each of the 12 months and minutes were placed on the Municipal web site.

TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:

One (1) Madison employee from the Department of Public Works and one (1) volunteer from the Shade Tree Management Board completed 16 CEU credits. Seven (7) members of the Shade Tree Management Board have completed CORE training.

PUBLIC EDUCATION, AWARENESS AND OUTREACH:

·        Arbor Day Celebration:

Ø     Conducted a Landmark Tree Program; 12 new trees were identified and a new pamphlet was developed to document Madison’s Landmark Trees

Ø     Participated in planning and presentation at the Arbor Day/May Day ceremony at Borough Hall; May Day involves over 1000 Madison residents; members of the Shade Tree Management Board pruned and cleaned parks as part of May Day ceremonies

Ø     Submitted articles to local newspapers regarding Arbor Day and Landmark Trees

Ø     Received recognition on Arbor Day for our 22^nd year as a “Tree City USA”

·        Co-authored special Madison Gypsy Moth article in local newspaper

·        Private Tree Ordinance: revised proposed ordinance in order to simplify and fit within Madison’s operational structure; conducted 2^nd special review meeting with Madison builders to solicit their input and support; proposed ordinance posted on borough web site for public comment.

STATEMENT OF TREE BUDGET:

The Borough of Madison continues strong support of the Shade Tree Management Board with an annual budget of $125,750. In-kind 2007 volunteer services from members of the Shade Tree Management Board, the Friends of Madison Shade Trees, Parks Advisory Committee and May Day Committee totaled over 4500 hours. At $18.04/hr, those hours would add another $81,180 to the budget.

New Jersey Shade Tree and Community Forestry Assistance Act

PLAN IMPLEMENTATION

TREE INVENTORY AND ASSESSMENT:

·        Awarded tree inventory bid to ArborPro Urban Forest Management.

TREE PLANTING:

·        Planted 105 new street trees of 10 different specie types which met our planned goal.

TREE MAINTENANCE:

·        Responded to 142 residents requests to assess and maintain public trees

·        Removed 95% of 159 trees, identified for removal

·        Pruned 3% of Madison streets

·        Provided on-site assessment of each tree needing pruning or removal

SPECIAL PROJECTS:

·        Private Tree Ordinance: conducted 3 internal reviews with borough’s attorney, council liaison and volunteer sub-committee; ordinance was revised

·        Provided critical horticultural assessment on proposed 53 acre acquisition by the Madison Open Space Committee; Borough received an $6,000,000 Open Space grant to purchase the property

·        Reviewed and commented on all (17) tree related land use applications; one major project involved the removal of trees at Drew University in order to build a new student dorm – worked closely with Drew’s facilities management to identify and assess all trees proposed for removal, which significant trees should be saved and the development of a tree replacement program

·        Developed 2^nd Community Forestry 5 Year Plan; currently being reviewed by the New Jersey Forest Service.

COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP INCENTIVE PROGRAM:

Madison was awarded a CSIP grant in 2007 in the amount of $25,000 to fund a tree inventory.