Committee Affirms New Tree Policy

The governing body has agreed to a new policy that will allow the Shade Tree Commission to replace trees in public right-of-ways after they're removed. 

Committeeman Kevin Rooney, current liaison to the commission and former member, had suggested the policy in concert with the creation of a tree fund that will provide money for plantings throughout the township. Previously, trees removed for whatever reason were not automatically replaced, even if they were in the township's right-of-ways. After a voice vote of the governing body, new plantings will be automatic if a tree is removed.

Rooney had initially proposed the adoption of a resolution or ordinance to mandate automatic plantings, but Administrator Robert Shannon and township attorney Robert Landel were of the opinion at the last governing body meeting that such an action wasn't necessary. Rather, tree replacement would be considered a policy of the Shade Tree Commission, regardless of Township Committee action.

However, in the interest of getting the governing body on the record, a voice vote was taken, with the four members in attendance (Committeeman David Connolly was absent) offering their "ayes."

Replacement trees will be paid from a newly created tree fund that the Shade Tree Commission hopes will provide the resources for annual plantings throughout the township.

The fund was made possible by the payment of $15,625 from Barrister Home Construction in connection with the Deep Brook home project. The money represents the current cost of 125 trees, which Barrister principle Robert Milanese had agreed to provide the township as a condition of the Planning Board's approval of the project more than two years ago.

Rather than simply accepting a fixed number of trees, the Shade Tree Commission felt that the creation of a tree fund would provide the opportunity  to oversee plantings for years to come.

Rooney has said the Shade Tree Commission expects to focus the initial round of plantings in 2010 on the main thoroughfares coming into Wyckoff.