Shade tree change put to officials
BY KATHY BARATTA
Staff Writer

MANALAPAN - The Township Committee heard a pitch on April 25 from a state forester and the head of Manalapan's Shade Tree Committee who asked that the committee be converted to a commission.

Shade Tree Committee Chairwoman Beth Ann Fazlibegu introduced forester Mike D'Errico, who said he came to honor Manalapan for receiving its 16th Tree City USA award and to explain why it would behoove the township to change the Shade Tree Committee to a Shade Tree Commission.

D'Errico said Manalapan also received, for the first time, a growth award in recognition of its continued commitment to shade tree programs.

Following D'Errico's presentation, Mayor Andrew Lucas told the News Transcript that the members of the governing body would take the proposal under consideration.

He said making the shade tree panel a commission means the appointed members of the body would have the ability to impact Planning Board decisions. It would also gain budgetary status and have the power to expend township funds.

D'Errico said establishing a commission instead of a committee "shows commitment from the town and keeps volunteers volunteering."

More important, he said, is the fact that a municipality earns "bonus points" for establishing a shade tree commission instead of a committee. The "bonus points" earn a municipality special consideration when it is vying for grants with other towns.

According to D'Errico, of the 566 municipalities in New Jersey, more than 200 have established a shade tree commission that automatically guarantees those municipalities top status when it comes time for the state to decide what towns get grant money for the furtherance of shade tree policies and programs.

According to Lucas, the Shade Tree Committee was able to secure Manalapan $40,000 in state grants for this year.

In another matter, the members of the governing body were asked by Township Administrator Tara Lovrich to approve the expenditure of $7,500 so that an architect can produce a feasibility study discussing the construction of a fire and first aid building that would be built between town hall and the Manalapan post office.

Lovrich said the study is needed "so we can get an idea on preliminary numbers so we can know if we want to make (the building's construction) a capital project."

The committee members approved the expenditure.