The Ad Hoc Tick Borne Disease Action Committee held a meeting on Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at the C. H. Booth Library on Main Street in Newtown, Connecticut.
Present: Robert Grossman, Michele McLeod, Maggie Shaw, Kim Harrison, Mary Gaudet-Wilson, Mark Alexander, David Delia, Kirk Blanchard, Pat Boily, and Neil Chaudhary.
Not Present: George Miller and Peter Licht
Also Present: David Shugarts
Call to Order: Dr. Grossman called the meeting to order at 8:00 p.m.
Approval of Minutes: Mr. Chaudhary motioned to approve the minutes of June 23, 2010 as amended. Motion seconded by Mr. Blanchard. Minutes approved unanimously.
REPORT: Deer Impacts on Local Landscapes (Forests, Agricultural, and Residential)
Mr. Blanchard, representing the subcommittee who drafted this report, reviewed the report section by section. All committee members provided input and asked for clarification on several points.
Topics in the report included the following: Deer exclosures; Historical factors affecting changes in the composition of forests; How does forest fragmentation affect deer, ticks and birds; How are invasive plants affecting our forests; How are deer and invasive plants related; The barberry problem and its connection to Lyme Disease; How are deer affecting bird populations; Can the habitat be restored to encourage bird populations; Allowing more light through forest management; Agricultural damage; Damage to landscaping; and Deer effects on the landscape and on Lyme risk. The end of the report listed ten recommendations with each having a list of advantages and disadvantages.
The subcommittee will meet again to integrate the comments and revisions. Dr. Grossman thanked Mr. Blanchard, Ms. Gaudet-Wilson and Mr. Delia for their work in writing the report. An update will be reviewed at the next meeting.
Public Comments – No public comments.
Final Comments – None
Executive Session – None
The committee adjourned at 10:18 pm.
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