Merchantville Shade Tree Commission Request for Authorization to Proceed with Tree Work
The Shade Tree Commission is a 7 member volunteer commission. It plants and maintains all curbside trees (trees between the curb and sidewalk, or within the borough right of way in areas without sidewalks) as well as all public trees (in the parks or on municipal property) in the Borough. The Shade Tree Commission Responsibilities include:
- Removal and/or trimming of curbside and public trees
- Planting trees in public and curbside locations
- Reporting tree related problems to other Borough agencies
- Maintaining Tree City USA status
- Conducting Arbor Day ceremonies
- Providing tips to the public on general tree maintenance
- Providing Education to the public on the benefits of Trees
- Providing guidelines for dealing with tree damaged sidewalks
- Affiliated memorial tree and plaque program
- Looking for someone with a particular interest in data entry, as commission needs to maintain tree inventory records by updating data into a computer program
| Member | Term Expires |
| Aaron, George | 12/31/2024 |
| Diamond, Alice | 12/31/2021 |
| Geddes, Lynn | 12/31/2025 |
| Menk, Ben | 12/31/2023 |
| Skoufalos, Elizabeth | 12/31/2024 |
| Sohler, Monica | 12/31/2023 |
| Vacant | 12/31/2026 |
| Maria Nina Scarpa | Council Liaison |
| Ray Woods | Asst. Council Liaison |
General Information:
The Shade Tree Commission may be contacted by sending an e-mail to shadetree@merchantvillenj.gov. Memorial trees and plaques can be arranged by contacting the Commission.
The Borough code requires abutting property owners to obtain written authorization prior to removing a tree or cutting any part of a tree (including roots) under the Shade Tree Commission’s jurisdiction. This includes trees between the sidewalk and curb. If you are planning to do such work, or to contract to have it done by someone else, complete the authorization for tree work form (see link below) and send or bring it to the Commission’s mailbox at Borough Hall. Include the name of the company doing the work. For pruning of limbs, include the CTE or ISA number of the arborist doing or supervising the work. Your request will be considered at the next meeting of the Commission, and you will be notified of the outcome. We will file the completed application with Thomas Connelly, the code enforcement officer, and return a copy to you.
The foregoing inventory and analysis by Lily Smith, a Merchantville resident and former High School Student, serves as an example how having an inventory of our trees is useful and how we can measure the benefits our trees provide. It is a student project and is not based on professional inventory data collected by the municipality.
SPOTTED LANTERNFLY
Fall is the time of the year when the female adult Spotted Lanternfly starts to lay egg masses. Locating and destroying egg masses (as well as destroying the adult Spotted Lanternflies) can help prevent the spread of this invasive pest. For instructions on how to scrape and destroy egg masses, you can watch a video at https://bit.ly/35gzgoj. An adult female Spotted Lanternfly can lay up to three egg masses during its life cycle, and each egg mass contains between 30 and 50 eggs. While the adult Spotted Lanternfly cannot survive the winter, the egg masses do survive and hatch in the spring. For more information about the Spotted Lanternfly, including homeowner treatment options, go to https://bit.ly/31XN7wl Source: New Jersey Department of Agriculture
Pest Alert Emerald Ash Borer Alert
Shade Tree information links:
Tree USA
Tree owner’s manual
How to prune trees
Pruning mature trees
Spotted lantern fly
Urban and Community Forestry in NJ
Merchantville-Certificate Tree City USA for 40 Years
Care of mature trees
Benefits of trees
Benefits of community trees
Forestry Coloring and Activity Book