Shade Tree Commission 5 year Review
2003 - 2007

The Manasquan Shade Tree Commission has responsibility for the regulation, planting, maintenance, care and control of shade trees and ornamental trees in all right-of-ways, parks and wooded areas owned by the borough.  

The Manasquan Shade Tree Commission was recognized in May of 2007 at a borough council meeting for receiving the “Tree City USA Community Award” for the 10th year from the National Arbor Day Foundation.  More noteworthy Manasquan was also awarded the prestigious “Tree City Growth Award” for the 6th year since 1998 and the last four years consecutively under the current Shade Tree Commission.  Growth Award recipients are an elite group with only 18 in the state of NJ and only 484 nationally.  This designation recognizes the commitment and work of elected officials and volunteers who plant and care for the community’s trees. 

Since the total reorganization of the Manasquan Shade Tree Commission in January 2003, the commission has taken a proactive approach to maintaining and growing the size, quality and diversity of our urban forest.   In the past 5 years to this end one of the main accomplishments of the commission was to plant over 260 new trees in Manasquan. 

During the same period, the commission put forth a major effort to develop a systematic approach to elevations and pruning within Manasquan by dividing the borough in quadrants.  The tree elevations and pruning are now done on a rotating schedule of streets, parks and wooded areas based on need and budgetary considerations.  Priorities are developed annually based on windshield surveys taken on foot, bicycle and auto, records charted from prior years and information provided from borough residents.  This planned approach to tree maintenance over the last five years has helped minimize the need for individual tree trimmings and reduced the need for tree emergency calls and related costs.  In 2007 10 streets and sections of 7 parks were elevated and pruned.  In addition, 9 other streets were partially elevated.

As part of the Manasquan Shade Commission’s volunteer effort, members responded to more than 500 calls from residents during the last 5 years.  These calls were concerning ownership of specific trees, branch problems, tree removal recommendations, diseased and damaged trees, sidewalk problems due to roots, interpretation of the Borough of Manasquan tree ordinance and emergency situations.  Maintaining a professional and helpful relationship with borough residents is a goal of the commission.  Additional volunteer activities include the maintenance and care program established by the STC in 2004 and continued through the present.  Trees planted in the prior 5 years were watered for a two year period on an as needed basis (frequently) and in addition the trees were pruned, fertilized, weeded and mulched.  STC members performed this maintenance at the following locations:

• ACME parking lot trees
• Fourth Avenue Parking Lot Tree Farm
• Fourth Avenue Parking Lot Memorial Park 
• Second Avenue next to Coast Guard Station Parking Lot
• Indian Hill Park
• Alex B Carlson Park
• Rear of Borough Hall
• Elementary and High School front lawn
• Mac’s Pond – Charlie’s Tree
• Sports Complex – Hetzii, London Planetrees, Black Pines
• Donovan’s Marina
• Mallard Park

Education is a very important goal of the commission.  Each year the Shade Tree Commission celebrates Arbor Day with the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade children at the elementary school.  5th graders draw posters with a theme of “Trees are Terrific” to enter the National Arbor Day Poster Contest.  The 4th grade students enter our local essay contest sponsored by the Manasquan Shade Tree Commission telling how trees make Manasquan a better community.  The 3rd graders read stories and poems that they have chosen about the environment.   Each year a new tree is planted at the elementary school with the student winners on Arbor Day.  The past two years the Shade Tree Commission has expanded the Arbor Day Celebration to include having an STC member read a book about trees to groups of preschool children during “Story Time” at the Manasquan Library.  The books are donated to the library after the reading sessions.

As part of the education goal of the Shade Tree Commission, a pamphlet was developed and printed detailing how a tree should be correctly planted.  Pamphlets were distributed to the public on Arbor Day and are available at Borough Hall.  They are also included as part of the specifications given to contractors when trees are planted.  This pamphlet has been requested by other communities.

Another goal was developing good working relationships with various groups and organizations both within Manasquan, Monmouth County, The State of New Jersey, and local universities.  Cooperative efforts were undertaken with Manasquan Public Works, Manasquan Code Enforcement, Manasquan Borough Council, Little League, local merchants, borough residents, Monmouth County Shade Tree Commission, other municipal Shade Tree Commissions, County Insect and Disease Control, NJ DEP Division of Parks and Forestry, and Rutgers University – Cooke College.

 
Manasquan Shade Tree Commission entered a partnership with ACME in 2003 to jointly pay for the planting of 16 Ginkgo biloba Trees surrounding the ACME parking lot.  Another partnership was developed between a landscape architect, recreation commission, little league and most importantly residents who donated 17 large London Plane Shade Trees at the new sports complex.

Other accomplishments and areas of involvement achieved during the past 5 years:

• Formalized budget planning and reporting annually
• Initiated a detailed annual report
• Introduced and implemented a new borough tree ordinance
• Established new Manasquan Tree Escrow Fund
• Initiated and controlled a Parks and Woods Tree Safety Project
• Applied business methods to running commission: Agenda, Minutes…
• Established Tree Farm – Fourth Avenue Parking Lot
• Storm Damage Response
• Sidewalk issues
• Insurance Issues
• Coordinated efforts with JCP&L
• Printed and distributed notices to residents informing them of tree elevations
• Oversaw and approved tree elevation and tree contract work.
• Continued education of Shade Tree Commission members at Rutgers and NJ Shade Tree Federation
• Parker Avenue – Trees reviewed and recommendations  reported

Art Harriman, Chairman
Jane Haisser, Vice Chairman
Frank Servidio
Anna Thomulka
Joanne VanStolk
Pat DiSalvo

Written by:  Art Harriman
November 1, 2007