"Free" Trees For Montclair Being Explored

Finally looking into taking $240,000 in "free trees" doesn't make someone a supporter of trees.

Since the town has it's OWN budget for trees, of
$186,000, taking the $240,000 makes someone fiscally responsible.

Number 1, we need to have a careful manager of other people's money!

Since Cary's been telling them about the free trees for months we all know what this is.

Doesn't the town have a front loader? Don't they have crews?

Didn't the head of the Tree program say that you didn't have to be a Tree City.

Why isn't Montclair a tree city. Bloomfield is.
Glen Ridge is. Verona is.

Has the arborist been out for ALL of the months that cary has been telling the town about the free trees.

No one filled in for him?

was he ill or does he have months and months of vacation time???

Joe- please don't lie to us, it insults us and we don't like it.

It's because the word "free" is associated with it. NOTHING is free in Montclair.

It's because the word "free" is associated with it. When was the last time "free" and "Montclair" were used in the same sentence? NOTHING is free in Montclair.

This is too great a "coincidence" to pass up. A few minutes ago, as I drove past the old St. Vincent's Hospital site, I wondered whether I might be able to purchase, at discount, a few of the Evergreens and other trees and shrubs on that property, or, whether the BOE, current owner of the site, might sell some of the trees and plants to raise money for a local charitable purpose. Now I see this thread!

Does anyone know what the BOE plans to do with the lovely trees and plants on that property? Perhaps they could be sold to residents as a benefit, or be replanted on Township streets?

If it turns out to be a good idea, remember, you heard it first from Nana on Baristanet!

I'm sorry Nana but you'll have to wait until our arborist is back. He's been on a tour of Europe looking at European trees. He will probably be back in 3 or 4 months.

In the meantime submit your request in triplicate to the Town Clerk. We will not respond to you until you are ready to go to the press and when we do respond we will say that we decided not to respond because you might want to borrow a shovel.

Now go awa like the nice Nana that you are.

Just one question, have we ever given *YOU* anything for *FREE*???

Barista,

Did you call Kevin Ward's (the Montclair Arborist) number to check on how long he has been "OUT" or do you just accept what is fed to you and consider that reporting???

I'm confused. Does that mean that the free concerts and hula hoop performances aren't really "free" either?

Free, in the case of the concerts and hula hoop performances means you pay.

Free, in the case of the trees means no charge except the town has to be willing to use it's front loader and tree crew to take the trees off the truck and place them in postition. It does mean thousands of dollars of free trees and a lying Joe hartnett trying to cover up Montclair's refusal to plan properly or take advantage of grants and volunteerism.

there is a saying we use in economics..."there's no such thing as a free lunch."

someone, somewhere in Montclair are paying for these trees, and it's probably your tax dollar...

I'm sure it is my income tax dollars paying for those trees and that's why as a resident of Montclair, it pisses me off that I'm paying for trees for every other town except Montclair. Montclair will then need to buy trees with my property taxes, so I pay twice. Once for the trees for Montclair, once for the trees for the other towns that took advantage of the program.

from the Montclair Times Letters from readers 8/15/07

Dollars and sense
Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Montclair needs creative leadership. Schools, the local economy, redevelopment, parking, refuse pickup and more. All require creativity.

We committed to building a new $40-million-plus school. It looked affordable, but now we are scrambling to hold borrowing costs down. And $40M? Do we really think that’s a big enough number? And that’s just the capital budget. How about an operating budget?

Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for spending. Carefully. On the right things. For exmple, I’ve heard that the new school will only add 150 new “seats.” Is that enough to accomplish the reduced class sizes we need?

And while we focus our spending on a new building, what about our teachers, whose salaries haven’t kept pace with inflation over the last 20 years? Moreover, if we expect to keep the best, where do our pay scales fall in com-parison to the best of the schools?

There’s more. How do we accommodate residents who have no parking options other than the street? And, why must we prohibit overnight street parking?

As to trash, in 2005 we invested in a study of our current trash collection methods. Recommendations were made to root out inefficiencies and extra costs. Have the changes been implemented? How many other studies are sitting on shelves, ignored?

Our budgets need more visibility. Our operating budget needs detail so that residents can see where money is being spent. Today’s budget data is just too obtuse.

And as to capital expenses? I think every capital expenditure over $50,000 should have a sign identifying the project and the cost. For example, the recent Woodman Field “upgrade” should have had a big sign telling everyone just what their $750,000 bought. So should other capital projects.

Vision, sensitivity to needs of the entire population, transparency, fiscal responsibility. The time has come.

CARY AFRICK

Montclair

Seems to me that Montclair, among other towns, plant trees on a regular basis. There is a constant need to replace old, damaged and diseased trees. The town would have this as budget item which would include the the equipment, labor and TREES. So where is the problem with 240K in donation to the process? Why would this be anything but win/win?

Curm, who has been on vacation, has some comments (as you would expect).

1. The tree offer was made possible by a settlement. Some corporation, instead of paying a big fine to the state for a pollution violation, agreed to "pay" the violation in trees! Nice work if you ask me!

2. This is the FOURTH go around with the "free tree offer." Africk's numbers might be LOW.

3. As Africk said, we can now apply for the NEXT go round of trees, the Spring '08 planting. And with all the heat on the town "arborist," it is likely we will apply and likely we will START to benefit from the program. But there is no "catching up." We MISSED the first four offers! It's common. You fail to apply for an annual grant, you don''t get a "do over."

Montclair Mommy - Funny! Is Montclair the destination of choice for America's snarkiest?

And, Yes, Ms. Mommy, I get to shovel up FREE, composted leaves when the Township leaf removal truck deposits them in very neat rows down the middle of the street.

"Montclair needs creative leadership. Schools, the local economy, redevelopment, parking, refuse pickup and more. All require creativity."

Mr. Africk, BRAVO - that entire post was dead-on. Please, if you have not, please take a look at the "mess on Maple Avenue" between Elmwood and Monroe Place (both sides of the street), and see if you agree that we need to add Code Enforcement and regulation of multi-unit properties owned by absentee landlords to your list?

Back to the trees....
I've noticed that a significant number of small trees that line the streets have been damaged as a result of the road
repairs and Belgian block installation.
The work has damaged roots and there are a lot of dead branchs and large gouges in the trunks.
I'm curious if anyone has even thought about the removal and repacement of these trees...a completley different problem then the trees lost to the storm.
Did you build "that" into your road repair budget?
lol
right

Many of the trees planted in Montclair recently are either unsuitable for their location (tall trees under utility wires, short trees where there are no utility wires), poor nursery stock, or a monoculture (i.e. an entire block of crab apple, made worse by the fact that crab apple are susceptable to apple rust and other diseases).

Look at Bellevue Ave near Mototophoto, etc. Most of the trees are gone or are severely damaged. Trees that are left in place throughout town suffer neglect, inadequate pruning, etc.

You have to plant trees that are large enough so that their lower branches do not interfere with parked cars, or pedestrian traffic.

Some expertise is called for!

The don't call on Kevin Ward, the Town Arborist as he's been in charge all along.

Maybe a NJ Certified Tree Expert is needed.

Never underestimate the value that really smart people can bring to an enterprise!

Some businesses invest in plant and equipment. Smart businesses invest in people.

Check out Glen Ridge. Curm has heard that they have ONE person, a Certified Tree Expert, and NO shade tree staff -- everything is subcontracted out. Yet I understand their TOTAL annual budget has been something like $60,000.

Curm has heard "from people in the business" that he is doing an excellent job. Nice trees are being planted (they've taken advantage of the Tree Federation's offer on multiple occasions)and if you have a problem the responsible person actually answers his phone.

That would never happen in Montclair without a change in the administration since, as they say, fish rot from the head down.

Lets chop off that head and stop the rot.

Dear Goober,

Actually, there's a just published, comprehensive, study of how best to turn around performance in low achieving school districts.

Since there was so little "data" on low achieving school districts that managed to turn themselves around, the authors sought examples from industry and government.

The number one suggestion? Get rid of the guy at the top! While he might not have caused all the problems, he was there when they happened and if he WAS going to do something about it he would have.

Suggestions for the guy taking over? Get immediate, if small, "wins."

May 13th, 2008. Circle that date on your calendar! It's Election Day in Montclair!

Nana,

Don't know about Africk, but The Curm took a spin by your neighborhood to see for himself what was going on. He's not sure what you are referring to on Maple, between Elwood and Monroe. Is it the businesses that are springing up in otherwise residential neighborhoods, i.e. a zoning concern? Or is it something he'd only see if walking around?

He did pass by Glenfield and nostalgia came over him as he thought of the little Curms that used to go there so long ago!