Council meeting feedback

These are some of the topics discussed last night, July 20th, at Town Hall:

• Mayor Teena Schwartz informed that workshops about public trees and quality of life in Verona are being organized. More information will be available soon. The Mayor gave forestry program brochures to Councilmember Jay Sniatkowski, liaison with the Shade Tree Commission -for their review.

• Town Manager Joe Martin talked about last weekend's festival in Verona Park which was a success and the pedestrian counting –over 800- in Lakeside Ave. corner with Hillside Ave. will increase the possibility of having a traffic light installed there. The Town Manager also reported that a member of the Shade Tree Commission will inspect trees with staff from the utility company before PSE&G prunes any public tree. And that all street projects are presently on time and on budget.

• Regarding the private Bloomfield Ave. vacant lot located in front of the Community Center, councilmembers were informed that it is up to them to keep or change its classification. Currently the lot has a lot of trees and it is for residential use only; but could be develop for mixed-use if councilmembers act upon it. On behalf of neighbors in the area a resident expressed that they will be more than happy if the property continues being only for residential use.

• Recently elected Councilmember Bob Manley informed that he is very impressed after touring all Verona facilities and Hilltop development. Mr. Manley also expressed that he is proud of the amount of open green space that the town and volunteers managed to protect and preserve in Verona.

• Councilmember Ken McKenna suggested that the Town Engineer looks into reducing the existing gaps between fences and containers in the recycle center so materials don’t fall there, or install a garbage shoot to aid in such matters.

• Councilmembers also recommended to consider the use of pervious concrete pavement.

The use of pervious concrete is among the Best Management Practices (BMPs) recommended by the EPA -and by other agencies and geotechnical engineers across the country- for the management of stormwater runoff on a regional and local basis.

• Resident Christopher Bujnowski presented a petition signed by 25 families to request a crossing guard on Peace Avenue. He pointed out that more than 40 kids need assistance crossing that intersection that also lacks sidewalks. Many parents drive their kids to school just because it is not safe to cross that street.

• Verona Environmental Commission Chairman, Gerard Shimonaski, requested a “Please no Idling” sign to be installed at Forest Avenue School, the only elementary school in town without such a sign. He also presented a new VEC brochure regarding the benefits of minimizing idling and mentioned that the VEC is finishing a Power Point presentation in the matter.

• Resident Stephen Machnowski suggested the expansion and inclusion of the Shade Tree Commission annual report in the township’s website as well as posting a contact e-mail address.

• Councilmember Sniatkowski mentioned that information and a contact e-mail for each of the Standing Boards, Committees, and Commissions will be added to the township website. Currently, from the 14 listed groups, only the Environmental Commission and the Public Safety Committee have such information on-line.

• Resident Dominick Balestro pointed out that he and his wife had been sending correspondence to the Verona Mayor and Shade Tree Commission since the year 2000 regarding the multiple tree removals and lack of tree replacements without getting answers. Councilmember Jay Sniatkowski ansewered that the Council is currently taking care of those matters.

• Morningside Resident Ellen Kramer asked what is the time frame and variety of trees that will be planted in Morningside as well as the promised feedback about public trees. Town Manager Joe Martin responded that the main point in the “No Net Tree Loss” petition is taken care of by currently enforcing that policy.

• Town Engineer Jim Helb added that a high amount of Morningside residents requested tree replacements and the trees will be planted soon. Mayor Teena Schwartz added that a variety of maple trees will be chosen to avoid monoculture. The trees will have a bigger caliber, reaching 15 feet in high and 2 inches in diameter.

• I also supported a “Please No Idling” sign at Forest Avenue School to remind drivers. And asked if the total number of trees removed versus trees planted annually in Verona could be disclosed. The Town Manager responded that after gathering such data that information will be included in future reports.

• Resident Edward Kramer asked if the service walks are going to be removed (slabs of concrete installed over the grass area in front of homes). The Town Engineer answered that 6 of the recently installed slabs were removed already in Morningside Rd. due to resident’s requests. Other 3 slabs will be removed in that street. He added that the town will continue installing service walks and that the residents can keep requesting the removal of those slabs.

I would like to suggest if those service roads could be installed upon resident request only, to avoid wasting taxpayer’s monies on further removals. I personally appreciate all the measures that the town authorities are already taking to protect and increase the number of public trees and improve our environment.