Minutes of a meeting of
The Old Lyme Tree Commission
January 15, 2009
Attendance:
Regular members present: Joanne DiCamillo, Emily Griswold, Pat Moll, Adela Wilmerding
Alternate members: Gerry Foster
Members absent: Tom Degnan (ex-officio), Joan Flynn (alternate), Anne Bing (regular)
Guests: Margo Burns, Ruth Roach
A quorum being present, Chairman Joanne DiCamillo called the meeting to order at 4:15 PM.
Tree Inventory Presentation
Gerry Foster introduced Margo Burns, an environmental planner and conservation officer for CREPA. Margo discussed the procedures involved in conducting a Tree Inventory and presented samples of the inventory she created for the town of Chester in 2002. The inventory assessed and mapped town trees located in the village center. Tree species, condition, and maintenance needs were identified. The data was entered into the town’s GIS database using ArcView 3.0 which allows information to be retrieved, updated, and represented as a map. The trees can be mapped to reflect any kind of data collected - size, species, condition, maintenance needs, etc.
A tree inventory can:
- Identify and map hazardous trees and those that need maintenance
- Provide information on what needs to be planted
- Identify predominant tree species
- Identify Notable Trees
- Provide necessary information for FEMA if funds are needed to replace trees that are destroyed in a catastrophic storm. FEMA can use real-time satellite maps – Google Earth – to verify damage to trees that are identified on a tree inventory.
Margo stated that there is a lot of geographical information available on Old Lyme. It is a coastal town and many studies have been done on coastal and river areas.
Ruth Roach stated that the Tree Inventory project would mesh well with the town’s Emergency Management Plan, the Public Works Department, and the Information Technology Department. She suggested that if the Tree Commission needs to purchase a hand-held GPS device for a Tree Inventory they should collaborate with the departments of Public Works and Emergency Management and present the request to the Finance Board as a package. The Public Works Department could use it to identify and evaluate bridges and culverts, and for debris management. The Emergency Management Department needs to file a plan with FEMA and could use it to gather data on important buildings and structures in town. She also stated that she and Ann Brown of the Zoning Department will be taking the People, Points & Places GIS course at
the UCONN Extension Center in Haddam.
Once trees are identified and evaluated the town should be prepared to maintain them and needs to be aware of the liability involved. The Tree Inventory would also need to be maintained and updated on a regular basis.
Joanne DiCamillo asked if it was possible for Ruth Roach and Margo Burns to work together to create a customized list of specifications drafted by the commission to address our town’s requirements.
Pat Moll asked about the cost of Ms. Burns’s services.
Margo Burns distributed a beautiful pamphlet created by Judy Preston, Tidewater Institute, on Notable Trees in Old Saybrook.
REPORTS
Clerk’s Report
The minutes of the 12/18/08 meeting were reviewed. Adela Wilmerding moved to accept the minutes as presented. Emily Griswold seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
Budget Report
Mrs. DiCamillo reported that the budget balance is $17,940.50.
OLD BUSINESS
Tree Removals/Trimming
Joanne DiCamillo reported that the Sill Lane tree removals and trimming have been completed. There is still some wood left for area residents to pick up. The DiCamillos’ would like to have a tree planted to replace the one that was removed at 68 Sill Lane.
The tree on Lyme Street in front of E .F. Watermelon has not been trimmed yet.
NEW BUSINESS
Election of Chairman
A motion was made by Pat Moll, seconded by Adela Wilmerding and voted unanimously to elect Joanne DiCamillo as chairman for 2009.
Bill Hill Drive – Request for Trimming
The Tree Commission received a postcard from Chris Dahl of 3 Bill Hill Road requesting that some plantings be installed to screen the large utility boxes on Bill Hill Road.
All members are asked to look at the area and prepare for a discussion at the next meeting.
MEMBER REPORTS
Tree Inventory- Gerry Foster
Mrs. DiCamillo contacted Tom Degnan for recommendations of arborists in the area who conduct inventories.
Mrs. DiCamillo quoted prices from a hand-out she saved from an inventory presentation in 2003.There was a discussion about the range in cost for the GPS hand held device, hardware and software needed to conduct a Tree Inventory. More information is needed before a decision is made on what should be purchased. The Chairman also noted that Ms. Burns did not use a hand held device to conduct the inventory for Chester and suggested that a hand held GPS device is probably more practical for the commission’s intended purposes.
Emily Griswold suggested that members could photograph and measure the trees that they mulch in the spring.
OTHER BUSINESS
Review Proposed Tree Work
Joanne DiCamillo reported that she has drafted the bid requests for tree work on Mile Creek Road, at Town Hall, and at the Cross Lane baseball field. She will visit Cross Lane baseball field with the Tree Warden in the next few weeks to discuss the Park and Rec’s request for trimming and removals.
A suggestion was made by Mrs. DiCamillo that all the young trees that have been planted since 2000 on Lyme Street, McCurdy Road and in other areas of town be evaluated and pruned for strength and form. The members authorized the Chairman to send bid requests for the work.
REMINDER
Next Meeting
Next scheduled meeting is on Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 4 PM at the Town Hall.
ADJOURNMENT
Adela Wilmerding moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:40 PM. Pat Moll seconded the motion which was unanimously approved.
Respectfully Submitted
Martha Hansen
Clerk
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