Minutes of a meeting of
The Old Lyme Tree Commission
Thursday, April 18, 2019
ATTENDANCE
Regular Members present: Joanne DiCamillo, Michel Gaffey, Joan Flynn, Anne Bing
Regular Members absent: Emily Griswold
Ex-officio members absent: Thomas Degnan, Tree Warden
Guests: Susan Stotts, Eversource arborist
CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Joanne DiCamillo called the meeting to order at 4:04 pm.
CLERK’S REPORT
The minutes of March 21, 2019 were discussed.
Motion: Joan Flynn made a motion, seconded by Anne Bing, to approve the minutes as written. Motion passed.
BUDGET REPORT
Balance remaining in the General Fund: Mrs. DiCamillo reported that as of 4/03 /2019 there was a balance of $9,752.81.
Contracted Services Report: The balance is $5,675.
NEW BUSINESS
Eversource upcoming tree pruning schedule in Old Lyme:
Susan Stotts, Eversource arborist, handed out a map of the tree pruning schedule. Eversource is working on Grassy Hill Road in Lyme right now. Lucas Tree Service is doing the work. There will be some Enhanced Tree Trimming (ground to sky) in Old Lyme near Nehantic State Forest and Stone Ranch. Enhanced Tree Trimming requires the permission of property owners. Ms. Stotts showed the new tree trimming pamphlet and permission form which will be given to property owners if Enhanced Tree Trimming is needed on their trees. If permission is not obtained, standard tree trimming will be performed. A recent law passed by PURA authorizes Eversource to trim tree limbs that touch electrical wires without a homeowner’s permission.
State laws require Eversource to notify each town by the end of January of their annual tree trimming plan. The information arrived in the TC mailbox sometime after the March meeting.
Mrs. DiCamillo thanked Ms. Stotts for attending the meeting and reviewing the plan with the members and noted that it is the tree warden’s responsibility to approve the plan and to authorize Eversource to work in town. The plan and map will be posted on the town’s website after his approval and when Ms. Stotts confirms the start date with Mrs. DiCamillo or the Selectman’s office. There is a waiting period of two weeks before the work can begin.
OLD BUSINESS
36 young trees: The pruning has been completed.
Communications from town hall
4/16 Corner of 11 & 13 Beckwith Lane – A Beckwith Lane resident reported a tree. The information was forwarded from the Selectmen’s office to the tree warden, Mrs. DiCamillo and the Dept. of Public Works. Mrs. DiCamillo followed up with emails to the resident, the tree warden and the DPW noting that the resident should be notified after it is determined who owns the tree.
4/15 302 Ferry Road & Route 156 – A resident reported a tree; the tree warden will look at it.
MEMBERS’ REPORTS
Michael Gaffey reported that it is very hard to get people to focus on spending money to deal proactively with the spotted lantern fly because of the financial pressure that the state is under. He has emailed the tree warden, Tom Degnan, recently and is waiting to hear back from him and is gathering information on interested groups. Ailanthus (tree of heaven) is a good trap plant for the spotted lantern fly. Potted ailanthus treated with pesticides could be put around an infested area and would help to stop an infestation. Michael will report again at the next meeting.
Joanne DiCamillo: The Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center will present a lecture by Neil Pederson on “Centuries of Climate History as told by our Trees” on Thursday, May 9, at 5 pm at town hall.
Mrs. DiCamillo met with Jason Wilcox to discuss tree trimming. When one or multiple roads titled “Roadside Trimming Projects” are being considered for trimming, the bid notice will be posted on the front page of the town’s web site.
ADJOURNMENT: Michael Gaffey moved, seconded by Joan Flynn, to adjourn the meeting at 5:04 P.M. Motion passed.
Next scheduled meeting will be held May 16, 2019 at 4:00 P.M. in Old Lyme Town Hall
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Hansen, Clerk
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