Villadom Times Weekly Newpaper Online-September 21, 2011 Issue

Allendale September 21, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 3 Resident asks council to survey, cull dangerous trees by John Koster Allendale Mayor Vince Barra and several members of the borough council told concerned residents they share citizens’ concerns about precarious trees -- so much so that the borough shade tree money is mostly allocated to removing perilous trees or replacing those that topple. Borough resident Hilary Murdoch said she had narrowly missed being hit by a falling tree in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. She urged the council to survey the trees near major roads and cull those that were likely to block roadways or strike cars. The worst trouble spot, she said, was near the West Crescent Avenue and Franklin Turnpike traffic light, where a very large tree came down due to wind and excessive water from Irene. The tree missed hitting her car, she said, by about five minutes. “Those trees on the left side of the road have become unpredictable, unstable, and an accident waiting to happen,” Murdoch said. “I know we have a love of healthy trees in this town. I know that is an issue in this town.” Murdoch added that the menace of half-dead trees or those whose roots have outgrown their base of support had to be considered. “(Planning board member) Jackie McSwiggan was five seconds away from getting hit by the same tree,” Councilwoman Elizabeth White told Murdoch, adding that the trees in the area she mentioned are not of the best quality. “They’re weed trees,” Councilman Jim Strauch agreed. “They’re not trees that were planted there to grow.” Strauch had nearly won election as a maverick write-in candidate whose platform was to save as many healthy trees as possible at Crestwood Lake Park. The councilman, who ultimately won election as a designated Republican candidate, agreed that dangerous or half-dead trees could be troublesome. Mayor Barra and the council concurred that trees growing in all the wrong places present a threat to motorists driving in turbulent weather, but Barra mentioned two problems with tree removal: jurisdiction and finances. “If they’re private trees on private property we don’t really have the right to take them down,” Mayor Barra said. “We generally look at trees that are dead or dying, which give you the idea that they’re about to come down.” He added that while the trees that Murdoch mentioned were not what would be called quality trees, they are located in the Bergen County right-of-way and do not belong to Allendale. Money, Barra said, is also a factor. Allendale, like most other Northwest Bergen County towns, is eager to economize, and the money set aside for the Allendale Shade Tree Commission has been deducted for the past three years to cover the expense of cleaning up windfalls and removing trees that are undoubtedly dangerous. Council members noted that 30 large trees had fallen during Hurricane Irene, a fact that could be seen as both evidence of a problem and part of a solution. �� “A DAY ON THE FARM” HAYRIDES �� BEST NURSERY Non-union salaries get green light The Allendale Borough Council has approved the salaries for the borough’s non-union employees. The salary ordinance, which provides the specific salaries for top municipal executives and a number of part-time professionals, was adopted by unanimous vote. The ordinance as adopted provides a salary of $110,270 for Director of Operations Keith Cauwenberghs and $92,034 for Borough Clerk/Administrator Gwen McCarthy. The council eliminated the position of borough administrator as a cost-cutting measure a few years ago and divided the responsibilities between McCarthy, who handles office management and fiscal supervision; and Cauwenberghs, who handles parks and roads. Jeffrey Picinich, superintendent of the �� Allendale Water Utility, will receive a salary of $85,411. Chief Financial Officer Alissa Mayer will receive a salary of $74,971, and Angela Mattiace will receive a salary of $40,291 as borough tax assessor. John Wittekind, who performs several construction functions, will receive a salary of $64,530 for his work as construction code officer, $4,305 as building sub-code official, $4,305 as plumbing subcode official, $11,118 as zoning and property maintenance official, and $1,720 as fire inspector. Joe Brooks receives $23,736 as electric sub-code official. Ernest Cassidy, a fire protection official, will receive a part-time stipend of $4,105. The ordinance provides par t-time (continued on page 22) ��