OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE – 4-28-2010
Members present: Frank Dobek, Robert Cook, Robert Mumford, Peter Wade, Sue Haley, Steve Gulrich, Steve Smith
Staff Present: Rachel Hutchinson
Mr. Mumford moved the minutes from 3-17-2010 with no corrections, Mr. Cook seconded them. All approved.
There was a Wiley Park work day in which 4 volunteers came out to help. The bridge was sanded and stained. Twelve trail maps are now up and scattered around the Glacial Ponds area parks (Wiley, Nickerson and Cotton Tail.)
Mr. Gulrich read a letter from Steve Buckhoff, the owner of Seaside Arborist, that stated the importance of mulching around elms which had been replanted in the 1651 Forest. Ms. Haley explained that mulching had been discussed at a 1651 Advisory Committee meeting and the decision by the committee was to wait until May or June and analyze the elms trees to determine if it was a necessity. The idea of the 1651 forest is to emphasize the natural processes. There was discussion by the 1651 Advisory Committee of the benefit of some stress to the trees to strengthen them. Mr. Gulrich stated that the interest from the Friends of 1651 was to mulch the elm trees once since the replanting took place to give them an extra boost. Ms. Haley said she would call a meeting as soon as possible to take up this issue.
Ms. Hutchinson had some discussions with Mr. Buckhoff about cutting some trees in Wiley Park that are a safety concern on the trails. At the time he brought up a concern that the cutting would expose pitch pine sap and attract more beetles to the forest and that the stumps would need to be treated. Mr. Cook reasoned that beetles are only going to attack trees that are sickened already and nearing the end of their life. Healthy trees are unlikely to be bothered. Ms. Hutchinson questioned that if the trees were cut, would they be removed, would the stumps have to be ground up and removed, or should everything be chipped on site and used as mulch? Mr. Mumford stated that the trees needed to be cut for safety reasons.
Mr. Gulrich made a motion, to proceed with the cutting of the marked trees for safety reasons with no further treatment required. Ms. Haley seconded the motion. All approved.
Bill Allan is moving ahead with installing blue bird boxes. One more is going in at Cotton Tail and three are going in at Nickerson.
Ms. Hutchinson noted that the community garden proposal fell through and for now is on hold.
The priority property purchase list needs updating. Currently we don’t know what the formula is for the ratings given to previous properties. It was decided that the committee would invite Henry Lind to attend the next meeting so he can share his knowledge of these properties with us.
There is an outstanding question about whether a Conservation Restriction can be bought back, if at some time an owner feels it’s worth the price to pay off all the tax savings from the CR. Mr. Cook was going to look into this.
The Harris property is coming before the planning board once again. The Open Space Committee might be interested in the discussion at the meeting.
Ms. Haley is finishing out her second term in June and after 8 years on the Committee will not be taking up a third term. Since she is the liaison and the committee chair for 1651 Advisory Committee, someone else from this committee will need to fulfill that the role of liaison. Mr. Gulrich will consider this, but as a member of the Friends of 1651 Arboretum board, there may be a conflict of interest. He will check into this.
The next meeting will be held on 5-26-2010 and will be at the NRO office at 7 PM..
Mrs. Haley made a motion to adjourn, Mr. Cook seconded and all approved.
Respectfully submitted by,
Suzanne Haley
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